Las Vegas Strip vs Miami South Beach (vacay) (people, ranking, cons)

[FLnative1989]

Ain't nothing like South Beach, the women are gorgeous!

[That_One_Guy]

Two of the best places in the US and the world! You can't go wrong with either!
I know that Vegas is tacky, but I love the rediculousness of it. I went for the first time in Summer 2015 and have been obsessed ever since. Also I wanna second the claim that Vegas has beautiful nature around it. Someone already mentioned the Grand Canyon and Death Valley being close enough for a day trip, but if you're too short on time to go to those places you could also try Red rock Canyon and Hoover Dam which are much closer.


But Miami has those beautiful beaches tho that you can't get in Vegas. So that's something to consider as well.

I have never been so stumped by a citydata poll before. Lol
OP have a great time!

[c_blumpkin]

I chose Miami... There's just something about that south Florida vibe... The beaches, the ocean breeze, the nightlife, the international/European vibe... Vegas has more of a carnival/party/bro feel about it, whereas Miami has a more sexy/Euro/Latin vibe...
I understand why some people might choose Vegas over Miami, but for me it's Miami....but both places are a blast..

[theurbanfiles]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for.
1. Urban Form/Neighborhoods: So The Strip is more unique and contiguous in terms of providing almost an "resort theme park"/adult Disneyland type experience. But, Miami Beach obviously has much better urban form, surrounding neighborhoods, and true cohesiveness. Quite different, but purely based on how urban a place is, Miami Beach easily.
2. Arts/Culture: This one again would be Miami Beach easily as it is overall much more arty than Las Vegas. That said, that doesn't incorporate traveling shows and performing arts, which could definitely make it a much different story, if that is the priority.
3. Attractions/Entertainment: Obviously, the big attraction with Miami Beach would be of course, the beach and the nightlife. Nightlife it competes directly with Vegas on, beaches of course is a unique factor many would prioritize. However, overall, I feel like Las Vegas has to have it as far as entertainment goes.
4. Safety/Comfort: Not sure-I feel like on the main Strip, average tourists might feel a bit more comfortable in Las Vegas overall, though I consider the overall city of Miami Beach to have a safer and better feel than Las Vegas. So, a wash.
5. Traffic/Transit: Miami Beach IMO has much worse traffic but also much better transit. So this one depends on what you're looking for. I'll say Las Vegas because the Strip is closer to the airport and easier to navigate for tourists.
6. Location/Day Trips: For me, I'll say Las Vegas on this one because I like the ability to travel to the western national parks and maybe even LA.. but in Miami you have the beach and islands right there, cruise ships, the west coast and even Orlando and Key West as possibilities. It depends on what you like.
7. Parks/Scenery: Again... massively subjective. Do you like rugged desert, mountainous scenery, etc? Vegas. Do you like beaches, greenery, palm trees? Miami. Indeterminable honestly.
8. Food/Drink: To me this one has to be Miami Beach, though I guess I'm biased. It just seems like a much more developed and refined food scene rather than one catering to traveling tourists tastes 100%.
9. Overall Preference: I live in Florida currently so the beach aspect is not all that special to me really. Las Vegas is also much more unique at least compared to what I'm used to in terms of natural and man-made scenery, so it would have more appeal for me. With that said though, Vegas for an initial visit, but just considering city factors, fof a 5th/10th/20th visit, I think Miami Beach would have more to appeal to me because it is much more a "real" place than Las Vegas is.

[Emil Torres]

Miami is very limited compared to Vegas. The variety of food on the Vegas Strip, variety of entertainment, true 24 hour experience is World Class. Miami Beach has a beautiful sandy beach. Outside of that it is overpriced for what it is and most of the dining is contrived. Entertainment is extremely limited on Miami Beach. Vegas is at least 10 times more dynamic and larger than life than Miami South Beach. There is just no comparison.

[elchevere]

Miami Beach by a mile...I don’t gamble but I do lie on the beach, swim in the ocean and it hosts year round pool parties with gorgeous women (try laying out at the pool in Vegas from mid November - early March on a consistent basis or going to the beach). Great nightclubs from local entrepreneurs (David Grutman and Roman Jones) as well as Europe (France’s Baoli)...great restaurants for different budgets including high end, top tier NYC outposts (Scarpetta, Lure, Quality Meats, etc), South America (Los Fuegos), top European outposts (Le Sirenuse), and top chefs (Jose Andres, Thomas Keller, Stephen Starr, Michael Mina, etc. Joe’s Stone Crab is not only iconic but the top grossing independent restaurant in the entire US, surpassing Tao in Vegas.

Both are international, though I find an overwhelming presence of Southern Californians in Vegas (makes sense, due to proximity) whereas Miami Beach will be a little more diversified (NY’ers but also Canadians, Europeans/Russians, Turks, South Americans). Great happy hour bars with awesome views (Smith & Wollensky when cruise ships head out to sea, Juvia, 1 Hotel rooftop overlooking the ocean).

The only thing, besides gambling, that Vegas has that Miami Beach does not are strip clubs (though they exist on the mainland). Vegas has an added edge in shows (if Siegfried and Roy is your thing) though Miami Beach has improved in recent years—besides Fillmore the 5 star Faena has a theatre with shows.

If one somehow gets bored with or wants some diversity, The Standard pool area is on the back bay, mainland Miami is only 12-20 minutes away with even more options such as The Deck at Island Gardens, E11even (24 hour night club/strip Club), big name concerts and NBA at AA arena, Design District, The River (The Wharf and Sunday Funday at Kiki on the River or Seaspice) , Brickell, Little Havana, etc etc etc. I am open to suggestions to other nearby areas one can go to in Vegas besides the Strip with as much diversity.

[Emil Torres]

Las Vegas is the real deal. Miami relies on marketers descriptions constantly trumping it up. Without the never-ending marketers and hucksters, Miami would dry up and blow away. It's simply a beautiful beach and near perfect weather. Outside of that it's uncomfortably over-developed. lacking adequate resources and completely overpriced for what it is. Anyone who thinks entertainment in Vegas is limited to Strip Clubs and Siegrfried and Roy has got to be extremely mentally limited. On any and every day of the week each of the hundred or so casinos have residencies and performances by many of the biggest names in entertainment and also many performers you simply cannot see anywhere else at the volume and ease that you can in Vegas. Food options in Vegas and so far and above what is available in Miami it seems ludicrous to even discuss.

[elchevere]

Sure, that is why wealthy people, and others, from around the world want to not only visit but also live here and own in Miami. Vegas is a great place to visit for a weekend; Miami Beach for a longer visit or to live—that is clearly demonstrated in real estate values, aka supply and demand 101. You come across as one of the Miami bashers whose income could not keep up with Miami’s increasing costs and was forced to move to a lower COL area...back on topic, I also forgot to include the numerous events—not talking business conventions—that attracts tourists such as Art Basel, South Beach Wine & Food Festival (largest event of its kind in the country), Art Deco Weekend, etc...oh, and have you already forgotten SoBe hosted NFL Live for the nation’s largest sporting event, The Super Bowl, for a record setting 11th time?

if I have the need for what you refer to as top entertainment, NYC is far ahead on my list than Vegas, unless I move to the West Coast...many Euro restaurants have launched their first ever venture in Miami, not Vegas: La Petite Maison, Le Sirenuse, Nusr-et, Zuma, etc and as I stated earlier we, too, have restaurants from the late Robuchon, Keller, Andres, Mina, Jean-Georges, Starr, Boulud, etc but if a desert built city that relies far more on marketing and gimmicks than Miami ever will suits your needs, don’t let me rain on your parade.

Forbes seems to have a different opinion than you, with its recent 2020 listing of 4 and 5 star hotels and restaurants in Miami...I’m too lazy to look up Vegas listings—perhaps you will care to do so:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mia...240315531.html

I also prefer the climate in SoFla—never gotten an awful and painful dehydration headache nor lost my voice as I almost always do when visiting the desert. If the term “dry heat” is not a marketing gimmick then I do not know what is.

Originally Posted by Emil Torres

Las Vegas is the real deal. Miami relies on marketers descriptions constantly trumping it up. Without the never-ending marketers and hucksters, Miami would dry up and blow away. It's simply a beautiful beach and near perfect weather. Outside of that it's uncomfortably over-developed. lacking adequate resources and completely overpriced for what it is. Anyone who thinks entertainment in Vegas is limited to Strip Clubs and Siegrfried and Roy has got to be extremely mentally limited. On any and every day of the week each of the hundred or so casinos have residencies and performances by many of the biggest names in entertainment and also many performers you simply cannot see anywhere else at the volume and ease that you can in Vegas. Food options in Vegas and so far and above what is available in Miami it seems ludicrous to even discuss.

[NDFan]

Both are fun for vacation, but really depends what you're looking for. I'd probably pick Vegas by a little.

[Emil Torres]

Originally Posted by elchevere

You come across as one of the Miami bashers whose income could not keep up with Miami’s increasing costs and was forced to move to a lower COL area[/b]

You're the moron that said entertainment in Vegas was limited to strip clubs and Siegried and Roy. As for your commenting on my ability to afford to live in Miami or not, you should not flatter yourself. You have no idea what the wealth of other people are (especially on the Internet), and generally someone like yourself chirping about how much money they have to be able to afford to live a city like "Miami" (geezus), is usually someone with an inferiority complex.


Many people, including myself can afford to live well wherever in the world we please. It's not that big a deal. Get over yourself.


Hard for some douchebags to understand but many people who can afford to drive a Lambo down Ocean Drive will choose not to do so. Believe it or not, not everyone with money where's a heavy fake gold chain. Anyway, yes, NYC is a wonderful city as are many others - good point.