I just got back from attending a gaming-industry trade show in Boston.
Professionally, the trip was great and there were some fun experiences, but the overall experience reminded me why I like living in Las Vegas.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m fond of Boston. For five years in the 1970s I lived just west of the city (Wellesley and Dedham) while I attended Babson College. It’s a town rich in character and culture and it has an excellent public transportation system, including a free public airport shuttle that dropped me steps away from my hotel, but both the costs and the weather were a real downer.
I travel on my own nickel, so I have to be careful about expenses. I found a reasonable room at the Hotel 140, which was very nice and especially well-located. They have free breakfast and a cheap eatery in the place for other meals, and it’s the home of the Lyric Stage, a first rate Boston Theatre group. But the rooms are very small.
On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, there was a major rainstorm (according to the locals, Boston has been getting a great deal of rain this year). The temperatures dropped and I only packed a sweater, so I visited two shops looking for a jacket, only to be told that outerwear isn’t available because it’s “out of season.” Outerwear is almost always out of season in Las Vegas, but I can pick up a reasonably priced jacket any time. Within a day, I had a full-blown sinus attack – and I promised God that I won’t bitch about Las Vegas weather no matter how warm it gets this summer.
For Monday lunch, Buck Wargo (a member of the CDC Gaming Reports writing team) and I went to lunch at a nearby quick-meal spot selling lobster rolls. We each had a regular lobster roll, a side salad, and a non-alcoholic beverage and the bill came to $70! A quick Google survey of similar Las Vegas lobster restaurants showed prices about 30%-50% lower.
Living in Las Vegas has also spoiled me for wide-open spaces. From my apartment complex, I can see all the way across the valley and the only place I run into traffic is near the 100-year-old construction project known as the Spaghetti Bowl. Several times in Boston, my bus encountered a traffic holdup — with no apparent construction or accident involved.
Boston is a nice place to visit, but I’m glad I live here!
PS: I took Spirit Airlines back and forth. The seats don’t recline, there’s no free food on board (not even water), and it costs $50 to bring a bag. Whatever the base rate is, please add $100 per flight for seating, baggage, and other necessities. My return flight was delayed by four hours due to a maintenance issue. I’m a big fan of JetBlue and Southwest, but I wouldn’t recommend Spirit to anyone.
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I love the way that you tell it like it really is. Keep up the great work.
While visiting several times a year wince 1969, I often thought about moving to Las Vegas, but never did. I miss certain aspects of it when I’m away, but even in the 1970s I could tell that living there would get old in a hurry. And that was before the corporatization of the strip–and now, downtown too.
These days I fly only when absolutely necessary; but I just got back from a round-trip Phoenix to Houston on Southwest. The boarding process was the only thing I might have complained about, but mostly it was trouble-free and even enjoyable. I’ll remember your advice about Spirit.
Good luck and good counting.
Spirit has its value but imho, flying cross country isn’t it. A friend, who didn’t check a bag, flew from las to San last week on one days notice for $28. No question Boston is generally pricier than Vegas but before dining why not check prices on line or find a place more to your liking. In 2019 it’s pretty easy to research everything you need ahead of time so you’re not shocked by the bill. Next time, instead of a bus take the t to your hotel from the airport. It’s very easy and affordable with less traffic issues. As for the weather, yeah it can be hard. Lol