2016 conventions in Las Vegas

A few years back,we didn't know any better. We went during a broadcasters convention that added 110,000 visitors during that week. Really a bad time to be there. The bars,the gaming tables,the restrooms and the eating places were FULL. That was downtown!

Let this be a guide for you to choose if you want to go in early November:

https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/vacationplanner-keydates.cfm

Funny, they are missing the one I am going to in August. 20k people. Venetian. Isagenix

Of course maybe 20k is so small it's not worth putting on there

Speaking of horrible times to be there, worst experience I ever had was the one year they had the NBA All-Star game there. We weren't staying at the Palms, but we went there one day and got to see/meet guys like Shaq, Derek Fisher, Yao Ming, Kevin Garnett, etc. all just hanging out in the center bar.

The strip was crazy. I've never felt so unsafe walking it. I think that was the weekend Pac-Man Jones had his issue at the strip club

I used to worry about conventions.
Once nearly cancelled a trip because of a "big" one happening at time of our visit.
In reality, I never noticed anything different.

Vegas can absorb hundreds of thousands of conventioneers with little bother.

IMO the ones to plan ahead for are March Madness and of course NYE. It may be harder to get comped rooms then, and room rates may be higher.

I will avoid visiting during the Electric Daisy Carnival. What I read about that isn't pleasing, but it also may be overstated.

I will choose to avoid "Spring Break".

In the peak times,spring and the fall,room rates should go UP and give away free rooms during the "it's too hot" season. Fat people die in that heat.

The convention that I spoke of was WAY too many people in town. Never seen it so bloody crowded,then.
I get nervous when I'm in a tightly-packed crowd. Little baby steps? I wanna MOVE!

The Fremont Bar was 3 deep and ALL of the tables were full. Never again.
I really like choices on what games I want to play,not the ones that are open.
Wait in like to use the restroom? It was that bad.
I knew where the other restrooms were.....WAY over there.

3 deep at the Fremont bar is not uncommon on any weekend, thanks to their drink specials. most of them are young, even under 21 it seems, and not tipping.

The first NASCAR race at LVMS turned the town upside-down. I found out about the race before the airlines, hotels and car rental companies did, and made all of my reservations ASAP. I got a great rate on airfare, a great rate on my hotel room and a great rate on a rental car. Large conventions in Las Vegas are somewhat easy to absorb because not everyone wants/needs a rental car. Las Vegas literally ran out of rental cars the 1st NASCAR weekend! It only took a day or two for hotel rates to jump way up and flights to be filled after the news of the race became public. I even took a voluntary bump on my return flight to stay another day as the airlines overbooked my flight by 6 seats. That was a fun weekend!

The city can take on very different looks depending on what is happening on any given weekend. NASCAR weekend will see more T-shirts and blue jeans, and lower table limits. CES weekend will see a more upscale crowd and higher table limits. NFR weekend will see a boatload of big hats and pointy shoes. NYE the city is a zoo. I was in Las Vegas NYE 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. I don't mind crowds, but, NYE in Las Vegas - never again!

Now you know what a 'Vegas insider knows.
The stuff that happens, B-4 it happens.

Like stock market trends..
Good job... Bob.
It just pays to pay attention.
You could have SOLD your Room/flight/rental car for more than you paid for it.
Right place,right time.
Well,you tossed your flight. You got a better offer.