The Family just returned from five days in sunny and warm Las Vegas, NV while I attended SAS Global Forum 2011 to present a paper entitled Using SAS to Help Fight Crime: Scraping and Reporting Inmate Data in the Data Integration section. The paper was based on the work I’ve done with Dakota and Scott inmate dashboards as well as the Level-3 Sex Offenders and the analysis I’ve done, and not always posted publicly, on the massive datasets I have collected from that work.
We arrived early Sunday morning and spent the day driving to the Utah border and back to add states to my geocache found map and The Rooster’s States Visited Map. Aside from that we spent a lot of time eating overpriced and mostly mediocre food, I spent a lot of time at Caesar’s Palace for the conference, and The Wife and The Rooster spent a lot of time wandering around sight-seeing before nap times.
We stayed at the Flamingo, directly across the street from the conference hotel and directly adjacent to the hotel we stayed at during our 2006 visit to Vegas. The Flamingo is showing its age externally, however, our room was very, very nice—especially when compared to the more expensive Caesar’s Palace.
While I had chosen a large number of places I wanted to try to eat, we ended up doing the usual: buffets or hotel cafes for breakfast, small and fast restaurants for lunch, and random selections for dinner. On Wednesday night a group of us (a SAS employee, another Minneapolis SAS user, a coworker, and me) headed to Bobby Flay’s MESA at Caesar’s Palace for dinner.
I spent the entire day with some sort of 24 hour stomach virus (we had just come off three days of fever/elevated temperatures for The Rooster so perhaps I had some of that) so I did not get to fully appreciate the food but from the half portion of Chile Relleno I had, I was as impressed as I could have been but mostly depressed that I did not get to live out my food-loving self in such a famous restaurant.
After MESA I went over to the PURE nightclub for the final event of the SAS Global Forum. Another famous Vegas institution, I walked in and was not impressed at all. Knowing that Vegas nightclubs, and PURE in particular, charge exorbitant cover fees I could not see one single reason why anyone would enjoy that experience. Even the ever so famed PURE outdoor deck with views of the strip was a bit of a letdown due to the glass fencing and plants blocking my attempts at any photos.
Overall, I took a lot away from SAS Global Forum, being a SAS geek and all, but Vegas again disappointed me as a destination location. I cannot understand how people can enjoy coming here as it’s way overpriced for everything, they let people smoke everywhere (although this was lessened from my 2006 visit), and it’s just way too busy.
I’m looking forward to the chance to attend SAS Global Forum 2012 in Orlando and I really need to start working on my paper submission for that conference now.
Have you ever been to Vegas? What do you think about it? Do you agree that it’s overpriced in every way? Do you enjoy gambling (we didn’t do any) and if so why? Have you been to any of the trendy restaurants or nightclubs? Do you find them better or worse than other options around town? Whatever you have to say about the trip to Vegas this week go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say.
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April 8th, 2011 at 7:55 am
I’m a veteran of many a Vegas trips having lived in Los Angeles in a previous life. A majority of my trips have been of the “guys trip” nature…think of the movie The Hangover. So if that’s what you are into (it’s not a family place IMHO), Vegas is your oyster with the gambling (craps is my game), scenery, restaurants, clubs and golf. Is everything overpriced? Absolutely. But it’s no different than what you would find at good/hot places in Los Angeles or New York, which is probably why I’m not as price sensitive. I find the food quality, choices and variety at the trendy restaurants (see: strip hotel restaurants that are NOT buffets) to be better than those that you are calling the “other options” (which I’m assuming is those that are off the strip). Bummer you were sick and didn’t get to try more of what Vegas has to offer.
April 8th, 2011 at 8:42 am
I got back from Vegas last Thursday, and I had a horrid time, but that was because I was so sick I didn’t leave the hotel room for three days.
Other than that, I enjoy gambling (not a ton, but I like playing the more fun slot machines) and I loved my meal at Mon Ami Gabi.
They only allow smoking on the casino floors, not in restaurants or anything, from what we read when we were there.
We went on a chocolate factory tour that was free and fun though!
April 8th, 2011 at 8:43 am
nerd.
April 8th, 2011 at 8:46 am
spent 6 or so hours in LAS coming home from boot camp in two or three previous life’s. other than the airport i haven’t been back. That was san diego to fargo, nd on a greyhound bus. i think it took a week or 10 days to get home:)
bb
April 8th, 2011 at 8:46 am
dm, but in order to get anywhere in Vegas you have to walk through the casino’s floor.
Apparently the law changed prior to our 2006 visit but no one had yet received the memo. This is the explanation for the very different smoking trends experienced by us but it’s still just as annoying to go in and out of smoke every single time you walk through the doors of a hotel.
April 8th, 2011 at 9:28 am
I had about a 40 minute layover in Vegas a few years ago on a 2am business trip flight.. That was about 38 minutes too long for me. even at 2am, all the slots in the concourses were full of people.
I really have no interest to give away my money, eat mediocre food and stay at a hotel.. I can do all of that in the cities!
That being said, if I was offered a full expense paid trip, I would consider it, but not if I have to pay..
April 8th, 2011 at 9:40 am
Glad the trip went well! Sounds like a very interesting conference. Ben and I went to Vegas with another couple to celebrate our graduation from college in 2004. We basically got the cheapest package we could find to stay somewhere on the strip so ended up at Tropicana. The hotel was pretty gross, but cheap and served our needs fine. I think Ben enjoyed gambling, he lost some money but not a ton. I didn’t gamble at all, but liked laying out by the pool. We went to one club and no shows, and didn’t eat at any really nice restaurants. I don’t feel like we did even close to all Vegas has to offer, but it just seemed too overpriced for us at the time. Even now I’d rather go almost anywhere in the country than Vegas. The only way I think I’ll go back is if a group of my college girlfriends decide to all take a trip together. I just can’t justify the expense of a Vegas trip based on the enjoyment I’d get out of it. It felt like a really large overpriced mall dumped in the middle of the desert for the sole purpose of ripping people off, and I just kind of felt icky the whole time I was there. So, not in a huge rush to go back, but I might enjoy it more under different circumstances. My dad has gone quite a few times and gets things comped left and right, so I wouldn’t mind going with him and seeing that happen. It’d probably also make me a little queasy to see how much money has to be lost gambling to get to the point of getting things comped, but he claims to know the system pretty well by now. He might even read this comment, and if so, hi dad!
April 8th, 2011 at 9:57 am
When Steve Wynn can build the Bellagio, put millions of dollars alone into the artwork on the ceiling of the lobby, then sell that place to build Wynn and Encore, I think that says enough about the idiots that spend money there on gambling and 400 dollar bottles of Skyy vodka (not kidding, that is how much some places charge in a bar for “bottle service).
Seriously, if you think you can get the attention of the opposite sex by spending that much for booze, you should just hire one of the many available prostitutes in the vicinity and you will get what you were going for anyway.
I have been to Vegas twice, both on the company dime and I am cool if I don’t go back on anyone’s dime. I agree with the “mall in the middle of the desert” comment. If I need that feel, I can swing over to MOA during Christmas shopping season and blow my money and have something to show for it as well. Also, the restaurants at the Mall are about as good as most in Vegas (except for the Thomas Keller place which I hear is amazing-the exception to the rule, I suppose).
April 8th, 2011 at 10:00 am
I’ve been to Vegas twice, both times for just a night as I was going through the town. Both times I drove the strip and both times I went straight back to my hotel. My wife says I should at least get out of the car and walk the strip one of these days and I’m sure it will happen. I’m not a gambler though and am much more comfortable on a trail along the North Shore than I am in a casino or restaurant or at a show in Vegas. I have no desire to go back.
April 8th, 2011 at 10:33 am
It was great to meet you and the other SAS users at the conference. I’m with you, Vegas is way over-priced! I can’t wait to get to fun in the sun in Orlando. I’m sure it won’t be inexpensive, but at least there won’t be any smoking or casinos. See you next year!
April 8th, 2011 at 11:08 am
Las Vegas is just like any other place, but amplified about 1,000x. In any city in the world, including Minneapolis, you can get sucked into the excess and ridiculously overpriced crap (see Stella’s Fish Cafe rooftop/Seven Sushi and Steakhouse in Mpls) for the sake of “scene”. LA, NYC, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Vegas…it’s all the same.
And just like any other place, if you ignore that, you’ll find a whole lot of great and unique things to see, do, and eat.
In the few visits I’ve had there, I’ve enjoyed it for what it is. In March and October, the months I’ve been there, the weather has been spectacular without fail. Last time, I biked up and around the Red Rocks Scenic Drive which was beautiful (almost identical to your photo) and only 10 minutes off the strip.
The people watching, soaking in the over-the-top architecture and decor, and the under-the-radar restaurants are as good as anywhere.
Las Vegas is, in my opinion, the exact antithesis of Minnesota so, yeah, it’s easy to see why Minnesotans wouldn’t find it their cup of tea. It’s far from my first choice in destinations, but like anywhere else, I avoid the nonsense and have found a lot of good stuff there. Given the chance, I wouldn’t hesitate to go back.
April 8th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Oops…that didn’t sound right. “All the same” in regards to the existence of tourist trap ripoffs, scene, and overpriced/overhyped stuff.
NYC is one of my favorite places on earth. Vegas doesn’t even hold a candle in my mind. But NYC does have a lot of excess and scene as well.
April 8th, 2011 at 11:19 am
You forgot to list Eagan
Tourist Trap Ripoff:Cascade Bay
Scene: Jake’s City Grille and the Thomson Reuters Thursday Night Cougar brigade
Overpriced/Overhyped stuff: Four Paws Pet boarding
April 8th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
My wife likes to gamble, so she has no qualms about visiting Vegas as she sees it as a place where she can win. Gambling for me is simply a way to spend time and if you’re smart, not pay too much for the time. With that in mind, if I can think of anything else to do other than gamble, I do that. Most of the things I can think of doing to pass the time don’t cost me anything.
I’ve only been to Vegas twice, and both times were supporting and working a booth at the World of Concrete convention. Both times I was staying at pretty cheap hotels around the strip. The strip, casinos, and area around the strip I literally can’t think of a more useless thing. Maybe it’s just that the seedy underbelly that exists just about everywhere isn’t quite as underbelly in Las Vegas, thus it turns me off more.
I like the region, I’d love to do and see things in and about the Las Vegas area. Someday I’ll do a road trip and have to spend some time in the region.
April 8th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
I really have no desire to go back to Vegas, but both of my trips there were before my hubby was in the picture. He’s never been there, so I have a bad feeling that I’ll end up there again sometime! Oh well, at least it’s a drivable distance to the Grand Canyon, and some other natural beauties!
April 8th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
My answer exactly matches that of woodz. Including the layover.
April 8th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
Went to vegas last year for the Reservation Economic Summit, a huge American Indian business and government procurement expo. I had a great time because a couple of guys sharing our booth had grown up in Vegas and led us to many really neat places off the beaten path (where you can still get a $4 steak). My absolute favorite part was old downtown Las Vegas with the overhead light show and the great old-time feel (the pretty girls selling $5 pints of Guiness in their underclothes did not hurt the experience. And how the Guiness got in their underclothes, I’ll never know…) I also found one of my all-time favorite fast food joints, Rubios Tacos, at one of the casinos we visited in the north suburbs. The fish tacos and their hot sauce bar are. the. bomb. Will be going back for a conference in October and I’m looking forward to it (maybe it’s because I’m now in the Rat Pack demographic)
April 9th, 2011 at 11:10 am
I’ve been to Vegas three times and have enjoyed every trip. For me, I think the appeal of it is that, like MPSD said, it’s the antithesis of what Minnesota is about. It isn’t wholesome, practical, or family-friendly, and I love being able to escape to that now and again. Sin City, baby.
I’m not much of a gambler, so I only spend a few bucks at penny slots when I go, and maybe a little time at a craps table. I figure if I want to gamble, I can just head over to Mystic Lake. I tend to spend my time hanging out at the pool, looking at the architecture, or seeing a show.
That said, I agree that the Strip itself is pretty overpriced, and that you need to get off the beaten path a bit to find the good deals and more interesting sights. For example, downtown Vegas (as UPTM mentioned) has a totally different vibe than the Strip — definitely less pretentious and more of a big party, especially at night.
I don’t plan on going back soon, but when I do return, I’ll probably rent a car and see more of the surrounding area, like Hoover Dam and whatnot.
April 10th, 2011 at 8:09 am
Love me some vegas. Crap tables, free booze.. fab pools, worlds best people watching. love it
April 10th, 2011 at 10:16 am
I’ll be just fine if I never go to Vegas again. Too many other interesting places to spend time.
April 12th, 2011 at 7:00 am
[...] week while attending SAS Global Forum 2011 in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to take two different different forms of bus transit to and from [...]
April 13th, 2011 at 12:17 am
I used to go to Vegas frequently, but that was when you could get a $130 rt ticket and stay on the strip for $75. I would play at a $5 Pai Gow poker table until 6am socializing and sucking down drinks for less than I would spend at a midwest bar where the waitresses are fully clothed and last call is at 12:45. It was a no-brainer. Coincedentally, that was pretty much my status after a night like that.
April 13th, 2011 at 9:36 am
Love Vegas! Just returned from my 12th trip there. I love it for the people watching, all the great people I meet when I’m there, the lights and the entertainment. I don’t know where else you’ll meet so many people from around the world. You don’t have to spend a ton of money if you avoid the big name restaurants and clubs. My friends and I dance at a bar outside Harrah’s for free every night we’re there. And it’s not hard to find a promoter to get into the big clubs for free if that’s your thing. (though it’s easier for women to do that than men) Left the strip for the first time this last trip and visited Red Rocks. So nice to finally combine my love of the outdoors with my love of constant action. There really is something for everyone in LV.
April 14th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Forgot to congratulate Sank on comment #400!
May 18th, 2011 at 8:20 am
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