How I Prepare for a Trip to Vegas

Hi Vegas fans,

I put a lot of thought before I visit my home away from home. Some might say too much. Even my best friend told me recently, "you're not happy unless you're planning a trip to Vegas." True. I often start looking at prices, flight schedules, and events 6 to 9 months before my trip.

And I've done this enough now that I have a kind of mental list and timeline. If it looks kinda scary, well, it is, but I do leave a lot of wiggle room. After all, planning an entire trip to Vegas is really not possible, and even if it was, it wouldn't be much fun. But here's a typical scenario for me:

6-9 Months Before Trip:

• Visit websites to find typical pricing and flights
• Compare package deals vs. separate deals with coupons/discounts/comps

3-6 Months Before Trip:

• Narrow down hotel choices
• Visit hotel websites obsessively to see fun stuff to do, promos, etc.
• Purchase trip online
• Reserve rental car
• Start thinking about music for trip

2-3 Months Before Trip:

• Look for shows, events, concerts, etc. available during my stay
• Frequently email/call friends going with me
• Revert to ultimate cheapskate mode to save funds

1-3 Months Before Trip:

• Ignore signs from friends that they are tired of me contacting them
• Watch The Vegas Minute weekly video on www.vegas.com
• Surf the Vegas Tourism website (www.visitlasvegas.com) frequently

3 Weeks Before Trip:

• Confirm reservations
• Print itinerary for trip
• Practice blackjack

1-2 Weeks Before Trip:

• Try to get some sleep
• Start countdown with friends, which risks annoying them even more
• Watch friends get caught up in frenzy as they start counting the days with me

Week of Trip:

• Pack clothes
• Prepare toiletry bag (little toothpaste tube, ibuprofen, Tums, vitamins, electric razor. Anything else is a bonus)
• Check Vegas weather
• Kindly ask friends/family NOT to give me $10 in quarters to play in the slots for them (yes, I have some old school friends/family)
• Burn cool CD for friends to remember our trip
• Charge camera batteries
• Charge Kindle

Day Before Trip:

• Pack remaining stuff (Kindle, camera, phone charger, etc)
• Review checklist and travel documents
• Put bags near door; ensure iPod, headphones, Kindle, phone are easy to access
• Print boarding pass
• Double-check flight schedule

Day of Trip:

• Relax and enjoy. After all, I think I have pretty much everything covered...
  
  So how 'bout you? What do you do before your trips to Sin City?
  Viva,
  Mike