[rushx1]

I have been on the strip quite a few times over the years and each time it never fails.
Location Location Location. It is the single most important thing you need to be aware of.
Thousands upon thousands are there and one thing is for sure. Getting through the crowds are t-o-u-g-h!
As it was pointed out, Casino's will not let you enter if you are not staying there. One year, I made reservations at the Venetian for dinner at Pinot Brasserie. We were able to get a early seating as there were only two seating's for the night. Upon credit card confirmation, we received tickets that allowed us to not only park in the Venetian lot but enter with these tickets. We ended up staying all the way till 12:00.
In my opinion, this was the wisest decision we had ever made for a new years. We were allowed on to the square smack dab in the middle of everything. Since it is barricaded, we could go back and forth into the casino for drinks ,restroom and eventually outside where it was a comfortable area to see the fireworks.
I cannot tell you what it is like on the "other" side, as it is a pure nightmare. People urinating in the streets, puke everywhere and side by side concert like squashing.
I really have no desire to do it again at all...to me, it just isn't worth it. And please, do not bring the kids!

[VLWH]

Originally Posted by skisickie

We have visitors coming from out of town and everyone thinks they want to go to the Strip. Should we drop em off by 5:00pm
When can we pick them up? When do they open the Strip back up?

Drop them off at 5pm Dec 29th and pick them up 9am Jan 3rd, just to make sure you avoid that holiday traffic.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by rushx1

I have been on the strip quite a few times over the years and each time it never fails.
Location Location Location. It is the single most important thing you need to be aware of.
Thousands upon thousands are there and one thing is for sure. Getting through the crowds are t-o-u-g-h!
As it was pointed out, Casino's will not let you enter if you are not staying there. One year, I made reservations at the Venetian for dinner at Pinot Brasserie. We were able to get a early seating as there were only two seating's for the night. Upon credit card confirmation, we received tickets that allowed us to not only park in the Venetian lot but enter with these tickets. We ended up staying all the way till 12:00.
In my opinion, this was the wisest decision we had ever made for a new years. We were allowed on to the square smack dab in the middle of everything. Since it is barricaded, we could go back and forth into the casino for drinks ,restroom and eventually outside where it was a comfortable area to see the fireworks.
I cannot tell you what it is like on the "other" side, as it is a pure nightmare. People urinating in the streets, puke everywhere and side by side concert like squashing.
I really have no desire to do it again at all...to me, it just isn't worth it. And please, do not bring the kids!

Sorry...I have done three on the strip and one at Fremont. Never even saw anyone puke or urinate in public. Heavy crowds but generally peacable. No shoving and no great crowding. Cops pretty heavy and present.

Never had any trouble passing freely from hotel to hotel either. Note though we are "mature" which often provides immunity to the hassle given those of younger years.

Note that the Casinos literally remove all seating from virtually everywhere. You have to stand at all the bars and even at the slot machines.

It is a pretty good time. Mostly all over by 1:30...

Being a local also sometimes works...so make sure they know..got us into Mon Ami Gabi one year...and the late seating.

I recommend having a room. Though I would try and do it late so you don't have a three day minimum at a high rate. Works good some years...not at all others.

[inveritatemonstra]

Personally... this year I'll be at City Center since it will be the first year open... and should be a really, really good time...

The rest of them will just be thinking about the good ole' days where they just had to open their doors for business...

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by inveritatemonstra

Personally... this year I'll be at City Center since it will be the first year open... and should be a really, really good time...

The rest of them will just be thinking about the good ole' days where they just had to open their doors for business...

Got married on NYE, 2001 in Las Vegas. Woke up right before the fireworks and watched from our window at The Orleans. 15 minutes later...right back to sleep.

So much less pressure when you're old.