Ready for New Year's, Vegas fans?

Hi all,
With Christmas in the rear-view window and Santa taking a well-deserved break, it's time to start thinking about the New Year. What's in store for 2012? If you are a Vegas fanatic, you'll notice a lot of activity this year. The trend toward upscale and fancy-pants continues, especially on the Strip, with new nightclubs in the works for many MGM properties, new restaurants (of course) to whet your appetite, and the inevitable switcharoo for entertainment venues.

So far, we know that Barry Manilow is leaving Paris (... and Las Vegas until at least July). Jersey Boys will fill the vacancy at Paris, leaving a hole in Palazzo. Shel Adelson is also losing entertainment at Venetian: Blue Man Group is moving to Monte Carlo.

These are just a few of the changes that occur regularly in Las Vegas. It's hard to keep up with what's going on in Sin City, so stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on all the news. In the mean time, you are probably thinking about that next trip and how you will win enough money in 2012 to finally pay off the Christmas credit cards. Or, maybe you are planning a trip to brave the crowds and stay in Vegas for New Year's Eve (if so, I hope you like sharing your personal space with about a gazillion people... it will be a little cozy and difficult to get around, so be prepared!).

Whatever your plans, I wish you the best for 2012! If you are planning a trip to Vegas, post a reply here and let us know what you are most looking forward to, when you plan on visiting, and anything else you'd like to share with the rest of us Vegas nuts. The more the merrier.

Oh and by the way... for those of you who received Amazon.com gift cards or Barnes & Noble gift cards for the holidays, I hope you consider purchasing my book. It's only $4.99, so you will still have some left over to read all about that girl with the dragon tattoo or another book of your choice.

Viva,
Mike

2010 Vegas Year in Review

Happy New Year's, Vegas fans!

As I look back on 2010, I have a lot of good Vegas memories and some scars to remind me that Sin City is one tough town. Here are some of my favorite highlights from this past year, in no particular order:

• CityCenter: This is one groovy, high-end property with art sculptures, swanky bars & restaurants, Viva Elvis Cirque show, and a dark casino. Good times.
• Birthday Blowout Bash: I turned a milestone age this year, and I celebrated with family and friends in Las Vegas. The first night of my trip, I had a few cocktails at Bill's Gamblin' Hall and then... well, the rest is somewhat fuzzy. I do recall having to call my wife to help me find my way back to the room. Good times.
• Cosmopolitan: The new property, not the drink. I have not been there yet (if you have, let us know what you think!), but it looks nice and I plan to go there on my next trip.
• Increased visitation: While gambling revenue has not rebounded quite yet, there are more and more people visiting Las Vegas these days. Slow but steady increases are good news after a few years of negative numbers.
• Harrah's becomes Caesars Entertainment: Meh. Let's see what happens.
• Might as well Jump at the Stratosphere: A new attraction at the Strat temps visitors to jump off the building. I think they strap a bungee cord or parachute to you or something.
• Gillies at TI offers mechanical bull: You can ride it, or you can watch cowgirls wearing little more than their boots on it. Ah, I love legitimate theater.
  
• Simplifying Las Vegas new website, 2011 electronic book versions available on Kindle, Nook and as a Flipbook: Gotta plug SLV. It's been a great year, thanks to you all!

I'm looking forward to 2011. My New Year's resolution is to continue providing great content, fun, and news to readers.

Here's wishing you a happy, healthy, prosperous 2011!
Viva,
Mike

Vegas 2009: A Look Back

Hi Vegas fans,

Well, it's getting closer to New Year's. And I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the past year and look ahead a little bit. It was a difficult time for Vegas in many ways, but in true Vegas fashion, the city endures. Here are some of the stories I wrote about this year:

• Folies Bergere closed in March after 50 years at the Trop. I saw it about 7 years ago and enjoyed it very much. It was a Vegas classic.
• Danny Gans, only 52 years old, died suddenly on May 1st. He was a talented impressionist and a Vegas headliner at the Mirage for years. He will be missed.
• The Hangover was released in June. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I mean, I could see myself in these guys. I hope one of my close buddies decides to get married soon so I can throw a bachelor party in Vegas. The movie is now out on DVD and Blue-ray.
• Lance Burton re-ups at Monte Carlo. This is one of those cases where you can't believe everything you read. Rumors floated for a while that once Lance's contract came to an end, contract negotiations would not work out and Lance would not return. Not true. Not only is Lance back, but his contract is for 6 years, and all parties seem happy with the deal.
• Mike Tyson marries at La Bella. Maybe he was reacting to the high coming off his part in The Hangover.
• Bob Stupak died at the age of 67 after a long illness. Bob epitomized the Vegas entrepreneurial spirit. I think of him every time I go to the Strat, which is a lot.
• Charo fell and put her show on hiatus. Just one of the many show closings for the struggling Riv this year, which is having financial trouble but still afloat. What will 2010 hold for it? I hope it hangs on.
• Wayne Newton is back! His Once Before I Go tour is at the Trop. See him now before he retires.
• Simplifying Las Vegas 2010 available on PDF and Kindle. And I got on the social media bandwagon with Facebook and Twitter. Who knew. And the website got a facelift, too. Hard work, good fun. Thanks for coming along with me!
  
• CityCenter opened in December, and wow is it big and upscale! You've got a lot of stuff going on in one space: Vdara, Aria, Harmon, Mandarin Oriental, and Crystals retail center. And you thought the economy was bad. And speaking of...

I also reported on the economy and its impact on Las Vegas, of course. And while the pundits predict, the oft-quoted Mark Twain bit rings in my head: "the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Indeed. Vegas is alive. It may not be well, but I think that's temporary, and it's certainly showing signs of rebounding.

Looking ahead to 2010

People work hard. Too hard. They need a break from reality. Vegas accomodates. It's really that simple. Casino execs look at all kinds of numbers (comp values, player averages, etc.) and focus on target markets (whales, promotions to high rollers, and so on) because they have to, but I think sometimes they miss the bigger picture.

People like to have fun on vacation. They like to be treated like royalty whether they are playing nickle slots or $1000/hand blackjack. Everyone likes to win, but most of us going to Vegas know that it's risky business. So, we take what we can afford to lose, and we want to be entertained while we're there. Vegas does a very good job of this overall, which is why I continue to return.

But sometimes the chain properties get very big for their britches, and when they expand, they try to squeeze every dime. 6:5 blackjack is a good example. Think about how many empty pits you have. Would you rather make a little bit of money from many 3:2 full tables, or a moderate amount from half-empty 6:5 tables. I'm just sayin'.

So, casino execs, I hope you take this into consideration in 2010. Make sure your dealers are fun and entertaining, cocktail waitresses are bringing drinks a-plenty, the casino is clean and has at least some games where the odds aren't terrible (i.e 3:2 blackjack), hotel rooms have fluffy towels, the buffet is freshened often, and the check-in line doesn't stretch to Henderson. That's pretty much it. The rest is details.

It's part of my philosophy: simplify, simplify, simplify. Well, that and diet & exercise.

Here's to a prosperous 2010 for all you Vegas nuts (like me) out there. Thank you so much for a wonderful year.

Viva,
Mike

Happy Holidays!

Last time I wrote about my Wish List for Las Vegas. Today, I am counting my blessings as we wrap up 2009. Yes, I know it's not New Year's yet, but I'm getting warmed up:

• First, thanks to all of you for supporting Simplifying Las Vegas. It's been a great year for the website and book, and 2010 is going to be even better! I have a lot of ideas for fun, informative stuff, so stay tuned and let me know if you have suggestions.

• I'm very grateful that I've had help from friends at the Las Vegas Advisor. Great site, even better people. If you are not a member and visit Vegas even once per year, you are missing out on some great coupons and information. Join (or rejoin) in 2010; it is well worth it.

• I'm happy that I've been able to publish my book via Kindle and as a PDF on my website. It is a lot of work, but it sure is fun and I'm proud of it. By the way... if you still haven't found a gift for the Vegas fan in your life, an electronic book is the perfect way to show you care. It's inexpensive, Eco-friendly, and you can wait till the last minute to order it!

• Mostly, I'm thankful for family and friends who have supported me in my many endeavors. This is a good time to take a moment to reflect on all the great opportunities I've had this year and how incredibly lucky I am in so many ways. Thank you!

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays!

Viva,

Mike

Vegas and New Year's

Hi Vegas fans,

Recently, a friend asked me about going to Las Vegas for New Year's Eve. While I've never hit the Strip on NYE, I have heard and read about how crowded and nuts it is during the whole holiday weekend. I typically don't mind people crowds, but car traffic tends to get my blood pressure way up there, so I would avoid driving in Vegas during this holiday.

Speaking of "way up there," rates tend to be higher during the holidays, but considering they've dropped significantly due to the economy, you can probably still find a reasonable room rate. Word of advice? Book now if you haven't already! Rates will only increase the longer you wait, and even last-minute deals won't be discounted.

The Strip is closed to traffic on NYE, and the hotels put on quite a fireworks display. Typically properties will also be closed during this time to everyone but registered guests, so make sure you have your room key with you.

If you don't want to deal with the Strip, there are plenty of great off-Strip hotels where you can enjoy a great Vegas vacation. Consider somewhere like the Rio or the Palms. Downtown is also an option, but Fremont Street will be crazy packed - one of the only drawbacks of having all of the properties centrally located.

Be patient and plan to wait - either in traffic, in line for the buffet, or at a club. This may be one time to visit Vegas with less of an itinerary and more of a "go with the flow" concept. If you're flexible, you will still have a good time, but you may not get to do everything on your list.

Overall, is it worth going to Vegas during New Year's? Well, you know my motto... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.

Viva,
Mike