[dmlandissf]

I saw a statistic stating it is the top domestic travel destination in the USA. I know some people love Las Vegas but personally for me - it is overpriced and tiring (particularly the strip). I used to enjoy going but hotels, food, and entertainment are so pricey that I prefer to go other places on holiday. I live in the So Cal desert and if I want casino gambling I can go to the 5 - 6 Native American casinos a few miles away.

So my question is to you, Vegas lovers - what draws you here. And Vegas haters, what makes you stay away?

As an aside, it would not be a bad place to live (Henderson for example) but after a few days walking through endless shopping malls in strip hotels, I need a vacation from my vacation..

[movin1]

I live here (Henderson) for the weather and low cost of living. I don't gamble, but strolling through the hotels and casinos to people watch is fun now and then. Great bars everywhere. I would eat out more and go to more events, but prices have gone up a lot.

IMO, people come here for the weather, entertainment (shows and gambling), and enjoy the high end dining options. Good restaurants and entertainment is expensive everywhere now. I used to live in or near Chicago, it's a great city, but cost of living is high and the weather isn't very good most of the year.

[KiwiKate]

I retired to NV -- specifically Henderson -- in 2011 for the following reasons:

- easy access to domestic and overseas air travel
- no state income tax
- affordable housing
- gorgeous mountains
- a choice of several excellent 55+ communities
- great weather 10 months of the year

Gambling and entertainment were not a priority for me, but are nice to have for out-of-town guests. I have absolutely no regrets about my choice.

[City Guy997S]

I'm not a "Vegas" guy (4 trips in 28 years). Its ok and I could see where the numbers point to it being a big destination but I would have thought Orlando (theme parks, beaches an hour away) would have been the top draw.

The strip is what I consider Vegas, the suburbs are just the sprawl along for the ride (along with the big box stores/chain restaurants, etc).

[himain]

Literally flew back last night and it was out of control busy. I know EDC was in town but these weren't those people.

[Hemlock140]

I suppose someone might think so, but not from what I'm seeing, Las Vegas is not even in the top 12. I used to go there every April for a week, from 2010-2019, but only because my company sent me there for a business conference.

https://www.thetravel.com/top-travel...ons-in-the-us/

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/article...sit-in-the-usa

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by movin1

I live here (Henderson) for the weather and low cost of living. I don't gamble, but strolling through the hotels and casinos to people watch is fun now and then. Great bars everywhere. I would eat out more and go to more events, but prices have gone up a lot.

IMO, people come here for the weather, entertainment (shows and gambling), and enjoy the high end dining options. Good restaurants and entertainment is expensive everywhere now. I used to live in or near Chicago, it's a great city, but cost of living is high and the weather isn't very good most of the year.

I do not see how Las Vegas is less expensive than Chicago in almost any way. Please do tell how Henderson offers a low cost of living.

[movin1]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

I do not see how Las Vegas is less expensive than Chicago in almost any way. Please do tell how Henderson offers a low cost of living.

Henderson/Las Vegas has no state income tax, low property taxes, low power bills, low water bills, and low homeowner's insurance costs.

Other than about 3.5 months when I need AC, my HVAC system doesn't get used much. I have desert landscaping on a drip irrigation system. I don't have to water grass, I don't have any.

Pretty much every item on my monthly budget costs less here than it did when I lived in Chicago.

[clevergirl67]

We love Vegas. We used to fly out there once a year at the end of November/beginning of December to catch the NASCAR awards banquet and other related events, plus the NFR runs the same time, so we would catch those events too.

We were also married there, although the ranch we got hitched at has now gone on to become a subdivision in the red rocks.

We have a timeshare so we don't pay for our hotel rooms the way others do, and we avoid the strip except to do the free stuff like walking through the casinos and checking out the offerings inside. We spend all our time downtown where it's more Old Vegas and a lot more affordable.

We actually haven't been in awhile, not since NASCAR moved their awards banquet to Nashville, but we are planning on in it the next year or so because we miss it.

[Futuremauian]

Las Vegas is always fun!

I used to go 4-5 times per year when I lived in California and could drive there in 4 hours, with a stop at In-n-Out in Barstow.

Now that I've lived in Maui for a decade, once a year is my average. Hate those 6-hour flights each way, but it allows me to get my In-n-Out/gambling fix.

I will be doing my annual 4-nights at the Palazzo in a couple of weeks, then going on to California, Florida, New York, Boston, Quebec and Montreal.

It's hard work being retired but somebody's got to do it!