Poll - 2019-03-13 | Las Vegas Advisor

Las Vegas is busy year-round, of course, but some periods are busier, or slower, than others. We're curious about your preferred visiting times: busy or slow, weekends or weekdays, holidays and three-day weekends, major events, conventions, Golden Week, hot weather or cold, etc.

Thank you, as always, for all the great suggestions on the poll-preview page, which narrowed down the selections nicely. And comments are, of course, appreciated.

3295 Total Votes

Sunday-Thursday

18% (579)

spring and/or fall

17% (550)

summer

8% (261)

birthday/anniversary

6% (182)

winter

5% (167)

slower periods between large conventions

5% (157)

tournament invites

4% (146)

I love coming to Las Vegas all days of the week, any time of year, crowded or slow.

4% (146)

Golden Week (between NFR and Christmas)

3% (109)

March Madness

3% (105)

conventions

3% (103)

Friday-Saturday

3% (91)

Super Bowl

2% (81)

The week between Christmas and New Year's

2% (71)

National Finals Rodeo

2% (66)

Thanksgiving weekend

2% (55)

Labor Day weekend

1% (49)

World Series of Poker

1% (43)

I live in Las Vegas.

1% (42)

Memorial Day weekend

1% (39)

July 4th

1% (39)

NFL playoffs

1% (37)

NASCAR weekend

1% (34)

Halloween

1% (27)

I have a second residence in Las Vegas.

1% (18)

Consumer Electronics Show

1% (17)

Easter

0% (16)

SEMA convention

0% (15)

Presidents Day weekend

0% (13)

Martin Luther King weekend

0% (11)

Valentine's Day

0% (11)

I’m a snowbird and come for the whole winter.

0% (8)

Electric Daisy Festival

0% (7)

Analysis

LVA readers know that Sunday through Thursday are the nights with the least expensive room rates and the days that are least crowded in one of the world's most popular vacation destinations. No surprise, then, that nearly one in five respondents come on weekdays, the biggest vote-getter in the poll.

Likewise, spring and fall are climatically optimal in Las Vegas -- not too hot, not too cold, with air-cleaning breezes in the spring and perfect temperatures in the fall. We agree that Sunday-Thursday in April-May and October-November are the best times to visit our fair city weather wise.

That said, a lot of people relish the summers here. It used to be that summertime was all-around bargain time in Vegas and we still conduct an annual July room-rate roundup, with plenty of accommodation deals. But it's not as prevalent as it used to be, so we have to assume that the 261 who voted summer into third place are heat-loving desert rats like us (though we might add that after four solid months of triple-digit temperatures, we're ready for autumn).

Meanwhile, plenty of visitors like to come in the winter too. Though it can and does get cold here (and this year set records for snowfall in February), it's all relative; while we're shivering, visitors from Saskatchewan, Wisconsin, and Vermont, for example, consider forty-degree days downright balmy, especially when it's sunny.

Of course, Vegas lovers don't need much incentive to visit and you can't beat special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries -- and tournament invites -- as enticements.

Slower periods between conventions go hand in hand with Sunday-Thursday when most conventions take place; you won't find weekday deals when CES, Magic, and CONEXPO are in town.

If we lived out of town and had to pick one week to visit, it would be Golden Week. Every year, it amazes us how quiet it is all over the city, especially on the Strip, after NFR ends and before the hordes arrive for Christmas and New Year's Eve. It's almost as if the valley itself pauses, stretches, and takes a long deep breath.

March Madness, currently under way, refers not only to basketball, but Las Vegas as well; it's indicative that it received 24 more votes than the Super Bowl. And this town attracts millions upon millions of conventioneers.

Beyond that, long weekends are popular, as are favorite events, such as NFR, NASCAR, and the WSOP.

But are anyone else's eyebrows raised by the fact that Easter, and even Halloween, received more votes than Valentine's Day? Thousands of couples get married here on and around that day, but given that anniversary celebrations place so high in the poll totals, we can only assume that most of our readers aren't among them!

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Comments

Sharon Mar-13-2019

FLIGHT PRICES!!

We go based on flight prices from Southwest Air... have been to Vegas all months, but must admit, I do prefer when the pools are open! (Usually April 1st), to take a break from the constant gambling!

Pat Higgins Mar-13-2019

When I come to Vegas

The spouse and I prefer to come when it is not busy and the room rates / comps are more generous.  Although we have been in town for the super bowl, NFR, New Years, etc, we avoid these times now because it is so crowded and all the idiots, drunks etc show up.  We like week days (Sun - Thurs) the best, slow times like after NFR and Christmas, etc.  We are retired and like the slower pace.

Roland Bassett Mar-13-2019

Opening Day!

I come every year for baseball's Opening Day!

TIMOTHY Mar-13-2019

2-3 visits a year...

My calendar has shifted a lot from when I first started coming 20-ish years ago.  Back then it revolved around a trade show in the spring and at least two other dates whenever I could afford them.  These days I visit veterans day weekend every year (for the last 6 years) to run the Rock N Roll marathon (side note: Members rewards idea, discount code for race entry? just a thought) and find an opportunity to visit at least one other time each year which is usually dictated by casino offers and airfares.  Thanks for all the hard work!

John Amato Mar-13-2019

The Worlds cheepest Gambler

October with 85 degrees 10% humidity and sun is my favorite time to come out. This is my last week of "summer" every year. I take one of the first flights in on Monday and take the last flight out on Friday, although in the future I think I will stay until Saturday like I did last year. Spring is my second choice.

Fred Watkins Mar-13-2019

Any time

My preference is Sun-Thursday but I love coming anytime any day!

ocliffgirl62 Mar-13-2019

Travel to Vegas

I like to come in the spring or fall.  Have been there for 4th of July when the fireworks were canceled (bummer) and the week between Christmas and New Years when every person in California and their kids were there (nightmare!).

David Liming Mar-13-2019

No NYE

Why no NYE visit to select?

Ray Mar-13-2019

lots of checkmarks

We like to come whenever we are going to SoCal. That can be any time of the year, but usually we will stop over in Vegas during the week when it is cheaper. There is no bad time to go to Vegas, just some that are less desirable due to costs and crowds.

rodfan Mar-13-2019

Sir Rod

Although we visited many times before his residency, we now plan our trips, for the most part, around when Sir Rod Stewart is performing.  My husband, sits in the sports book while I dance, sing and drool.  The Colosseum is just the best venue!

Kevin Lewis Mar-13-2019

To be honest...

I like to visit when the weather doesn't suck; when there's no "special event" used as an excuse to jack up room rates; no big convention in town; when there's no big sports events used as an excuse to jack up room rates; no weekends; no holidays, used an an excuse to jack up room rates; no Get Extremely Drunk and Listen to Bad Music festivals (which are used as an excuse to jack up room rates); and in the very near future, when every last decent gambling opportunity has been snuffed out, when hell freezes over.
Vegas is, quite frankly, a shitty gambling and vacation destination that has degenerated to a ripoff cesspool. And it used to be such a great place to visit! Now, you get gouged at every turn.

Llew Mar-13-2019

Visits

- my first priority has always been BARGE.  Week-long event that always ends on the first Saturday in August.  Most fun trip of the year! 
- I am a semi-snowbird.  Still have family obligations back East around the December holidays.  I hit the road right after New Year's Day and stay until mid-March.  Would stay longer but, well, those family obligations....
- this year I'll have an additional visit.  Taking a tour of seven national parks in late May.  Tour leaves from - tada! - Las Vegas, so we'll arrive a few days early.  Bonus!

Del Miller Mar-13-2019

VERY CHOOSEY

My M.D. will not allow me to go during "flu season" Mid October to early April, My friend & I come Sunday to Friday am because that's when our comps are valid for a room (we each get 3 nights and we are able to put them together. We each have the LVA so it's very inexpensive for us. I don't like heat AT ALL, and neither of us like big conventions so we usually come during Apr-May and Sept-early Oct. She drives and I fly to LA where she picks me up.We stay and mostly play at Boyd properties and up until last fall we've never paid for parking. Two ideal and inexpensive trips a year! I love it!

MrMagooAZ Mar-20-2019

Other Option

We will usually stay 3 days, coming up either Thursday night and leaving on Sunday, or coming on Friday and leaving on Monday.  Any weekend is fine where we can get a good deal on a room.  Since we drive from Arizona we miss out on the rush to get plane tickets and the crowds at the airport.

Dave Brown Mar-21-2019

Summer Heat

Been coming from Oz for about a month once a year since 2008 (follows stopover intro to LV in early 80s en route fm Houston to Oz).  Love the dry heat for the golf (Oz Winter) and normally the WSOP in the evenings.  Resort Fees have forced me from hotels into Airbnb accoms which I now love along with Ubers & Lyfts.

termite Mar-30-2019

My usual visits

Feb - Winter getaway
May - twice; Cauliflower Alley Convention and Money Show
June or July - annual trip with dear wife
Sep - Professional seminar; football betting
Oct - Football betting
Dec - Same as Sep

Edward Press Mar-30-2019

Summer visits

Many teachers are off for the summer and are looking for an inexpensive place to go.  With due diligence, coupons, and a hosy wife and I visited for more than 20 years during the summer. It was usually much cheaper than a tropical island, Hawaii, or a cruise! Now that we have retired to FL we go out to Vegas twice a year when ever we want to!

Edward Press Mar-30-2019

Summer visits

Not a hosy wife!!!     with a host, my wife......

James Mason Mar-30-2019

The good and bad

Hey Kevin, I understand your frustration. Your solution may be  just not come to Vegas. As an out of town visitor I have found a few work-arounds as an advantage VP player(free rooms/food). 
Could not do it with out the LV Advisor to help keep the costs down. I always walk away even or ahead from the gambling :)

Poll : 13 March - 26 March 2019

Analysis

Comments