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Gambling!
Alcohol! Porn!
No, we're not talking about college; we're talking about that glorious
Mecca of corruption that lies in the middle of a desert. Though
Las Vegas is known as the City of Sin, in recent years, it's become
one of the family-friendliest tourist destinations in the U.S.,
replete with theme parks, video arcades, tacky shows, and 24-hour
buffets. It's degraded morals the Brady way! But you're no fool
- you still know that most people go to Vegas to get a little
taste of Lady Luck. Well, you're lucky already! This SYW will
help you get to Las Vegas, have a good time there, and return
as happy as can be (at least, for a person who stupidly decided
to hit on a 17).
But
before we get to the details, we need to address a hugely important
question:
Q: |
SHOULD
I GO TO LAS VEGAS IF I'M UNDER 21? |
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A:
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It depends. If you're under 21 but you're going on a family
trip, you'll probably still have fun - there are tons of
things for the underage crowd to do (especially younger
kids). However, if you and some 17- to 20-year-old buddies
are planning to hit the town, know this: you won't be able
to gamble or drink. Casinos and bars are surprisingly
strict with IDs and will boot you right out. Okay, maybe
you'll be able to sneak a few pulls of the old one-arm bandit,
but there are tons of security people walking around - you'd
be so tense about getting caught, that even if you do manage
10 minutes at a table, you probably won't have any fun.
Also, almost all hotels require a valid ID that proves
you're 21 to check in. So the long and short of it is
that if you're under 21, don't go if you're ONLY interested
in the gambling scene. |
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First,
decide how long you want to be in this neon wonderland. It's a 24-hour-a-day
town, so it can get very tiring, and if you're a gambler, the longer
you stay, the more money you'll probably lose. Hence, four or five
days should be plenty of time to do (and drink) enough to wipe out
a good portion of your frontal cortex.
As for a good time to go, well, it's always crowded and it's always
hot. Always. It's a desert. Deserts are hot. But we do have a bit
more guidance for you:
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We recommend that you try to stay away during the July-September
season, when temperatures break 110°F. However, because of
the searing heat, the summer also tends to be a bit less crowded.
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One way to avoid some of the crowd is to schedule most of your
trip during weekdays (that's when hotel rates are lowest anyways).
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Stay away during major holidays, especially New Year's Eve, Memorial
Day Weekend, and Labor Day Weekend. It gets downright crazy during
those times.
Still
interested in the land of excess and indulgence? Like we even need
to ask. But how will you get there?
Drive
Fly
Walk
Drive
If
you live on the West Coast or anywhere somewhat close to Vegas,
you can save some money if you road trip it. Also, it can be handy
to have a car if you want to see some stuff that's not on the main
Strip of hotels. If you do choose to hit the open road, then check
out "SoYouWanna Drive Cross-Country?"
However, we must remind you that there really isn't a lot of stuff
surrounding Las Vegas except a whole lot of desert. So if you drive,
don't expect to see interesting things along the way (except lizards,
cacti, and the occasional lost prostitute).
Fly
This
is the standard option for most people. We'll tell you right now
that there are many, many great deals to get cheap tickets to Vegas.
Those casinos really want your money, so they make it as easy as
possible for you to get and stay there: plane tickets and hotel
rooms can be found at very cheap prices. So look in your Sunday
paper under the travel section and see all the sweet deals-especially
if you fly Sunday through Thursday. The package deals can be especially
tempting, and often, a hotel will "comp" you with casino
tokens.
Another
option: at the Las Vegas Reservation
System page, we found several deals for a trip for two from
New York City to Las Vegas costing under $350 for airfare and
hotel. Go to that site now and see what turns up.
And
don't forget to check out "SoYouWanna
Find Cheap Airline Tickets?" for a more complete scoop
(we love them plugs).
Walk
We
salute you, you crazy purist. We'll also laugh when they find your
dried-up skull in the desert.
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Go
on to Step 2: FIND
A PLACE TO STAY --> |
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