Safe?
By the way, I work in the industry, so I'm used to the type of people that hang around outside Casinos and that area, but I still would be hesitant.
ZCore13
The area may have been considered sketchy several years ago, but things have changed. My wife made that walk many times alone. Most recently this past July.
Quote: mwalz9However, how safe is the walk from Fremont (and by Fremont I mean the Experience area where the majority of the crowds gather) to the El Cortez?
Remember the scene in Silence of the Lambs where
the woman FBI agent is walking down the aisle
in prison between the cells? The men in those
cells are the kind of men that hang out on the walk
to the El Cortez.
Quote: mwalz9OSheas and Bills are now defunct. !
Osheas open. Its now a casino inside the Quad but they do now have an entrance off the new Linq alley.
http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/24316338/to-much-fanfare-osheas-casino-reopens
Quote: EvenBobRemember the scene in Silence of the Lambs where
the woman FBI agent is walking down the aisle
in prison between the cells? The men in those
cells are the kind of men that hang out on the walk
to the El Cortez.
That's complete and utter bullshit.
Quote: KeyserSozeThat's complete and utter bullshit.
Whoa! I think we found someone that hangs in the area...
ZCore13
Quote: KeyserSozeThat's complete and utter bullshit.
It's called using exaggeration to make a point.
Would I let my wife walk to the Cortez alone
after dark? I would use my story to dissuade her.
I didn't see anyone shady looking actually in El Cortez, as I recall, but it was a pretty dead night by the standards of any casino. The people with whom I did interact, such as these few Hispanic guys with whom I shot Craps (we toasted beer bottles every time the PL won) were really friendly. El Cortez was a great time!
I probably wouldn't send my wife by herself, but that's more over-protectiveness than anything, she'd probably be alright. As a couple, I'd be surprised if anyone bothered the two of you, but anything is possible.
It's the sort of street that jumps out at me as, "Appearing foreboding," but not one where I actually think anything would happen. Like I said, I'd go with my wife (or by myself) down that street in the middle of the night, but I would strongly discourage her from going down that street by herself, so that's about the best way I can put it.
Quote: Mission146I don't know, the Strip didn't look that safe to me. You sure don't see all of the low-end dive motels in the pictures of the big pretty resort casinos, though they sit right in front of them...
Give an example.
Quote: EvenBobGive an example.
I don't know, there's a Motel 6 right smack in front of one of the major casinos, but I forget which one. I was on the Strip twice, once on the way to Downtown and once on the way from Downtown back to the airport, so I didn't memorize the location of every resort casino as relates to every seedy hotel, every dive-looking restaurant, and every pawnshop...
She'd probably be fine during the day, but I'd never let my wife/girlfriend make that walk alone at night.Quote: mwalz9However, how safe is the walk from Fremont (and by Fremont I mean the Experience area where the majority of the crowds gather) to the El Cortez? Is it safe/close enough for my wife to make that walk alone if she'd wish without me having to worry?
Do you mean the one just right off the Strip on Tropicana? If so, I agree with you that I wouldn't let my wife/girlfriend walk alone around there. But walking alone on the Strip itself is generally pretty safe. As long as you stay between MGM and the Wynn, you should be fine at any hour.Quote: Mission146I don't know, there's a Motel 6 right smack in front of one of the major casinos, but I forget which one.
Quote: Mission146so I didn't memorize the location of every resort casino as relates to every seedy hotel, every dive-looking restaurant, and every pawnshop...
Where the motels and pawnshops are is not
considered the Strip, even though it's on
Las Vegas Blvd. It's very seedy and a long
way from the part of the Strip where everybody
walks. I find it amazing you have such disdain
for something you visited exactly once and
can have little actual knowledge of. You're
a Strip Snob for no apparent reason.
All the thugs, whino's, hillbillies, and homeless bums are hanging out under the canopy these days. They have all been run out of the Fremont East area by the Fremont East Rangers.
A woman walking alone is more likely to be hassled, hit on, or hear rude comments under the canopy as opposed to Fremont East.
Quote: KeyserSozeThese days, the Fremont East area is heavily populated with yuppies. I call 'em Zuppies, because many are Zappo's employees. Are these the people that many here are concerned about?
No, but they're not the ones I see in that area at 3am. I pretty much agree with you about that area being generally OK, but some of us still have reservations about a woman walking alone there during graveyard hours.
That being said, I've never been afraid to not walk anywhere. Have something in heavy in your hand weapon-ready and a wad of dollar bills to throw up in the air as you run the other way. My main weapon is talking them out of it and making eye contact and saying hello. The robbers smell fear and you won't show it this way. They'll wait for someone else to come along who is easier and weaker.
Quote: onenickelmiracleHave something in heavy in your hand weapon-ready and a wad of dollar bills to throw up in the air as you run the other way.
You've seen too many movies. I've been around
real violence and real crime. It happens very fast
and is over before you really know what happened,
most of the time. It's ugly and scary and should be
avoided if possible.
Well I always think about white men can't jump when I stroll through the ghetto, but that's just a coincidence. They prey on the weak and look for easier targets than me.Quote: EvenBobYou've seen too many movies. I've been around
real violence and real crime. It happens very fast
and is over before you really know what happened,
most of the time. It's ugly and scary and should be
avoided if possible.
Quote: Mission146I don't know, there's a Motel 6 right smack in front of one of the major casinos, but I forget which one. I was on the Strip twice, once on the way to Downtown and once on the way from Downtown back to the airport, so I didn't memorize the location of every resort casino as relates to every seedy hotel, every dive-looking restaurant, and every pawnshop...
I think this is the kind of thing Mission is talking about...between MGM and PH, there is a pretty long, pretty sketchy stretch.
Quote: AcesAndEightsI think this is the kind of thing Mission is talking about...between MGM and PH, there is a pretty long, pretty sketchy stretch.
I don't think that part of the strip is sketchy. A couple weeks ago, I tool the Westcliffe Express from Downtown to the MGM. From the MGM, I hoofed it with a rolling suitcase all the way to Ballys. Felt perfectly safe. I think the downtown walk to El Cortez just became a lot safer due to the Container park across the street. El Cortez almost always has some security guy outside keeping an eye on the neighborhood. Same with the Container park. What is somewhat sketchy is Las Vegas Blvd between downtown and the Stratosphere.
Quote: terapinedWhat is somewhat sketchy is Las Vegas Blvd between downtown and the Stratosphere.
I agree. You always see the worst kind of
people in the daytime, let alone at night.
The area around Gold and Silver Pawn
was always bad, but since the TV show
it's improved a lot in the daytime because
of all the tourists going to the shop.
Quote: terapinedI don't think that part of the strip is sketchy. A couple weeks ago, I tool the Westcliffe Express from Downtown to the MGM. From the MGM, I hoofed it with a rolling suitcase all the way to Ballys. Felt perfectly safe.
That's because when you walk down the strip with a suitcase you look like a homeless person, and no one is going to bother to mug a homeless person :)
Kidding.... (kind of)
Quote: AcesAndEightsI think this is the kind of thing Mission is talking about...between MGM and PH, there is a pretty long, pretty sketchy stretch.
That's it, that's exactly it, except it's Travelodge, not Motel 6. I remember seeing the Henna Tattoos place. That looks exactly like the street near the first place I stayed when I went to Orlando, three words: No. F'ing. Way.
That is supposed to be safer than Downtown? Not walking there at night. No way. I'm only thirty, I still have some stuff I want to do before I die.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceThat's because when you walk down the strip with a suitcase you look like a homeless person, and no one is going to bother to mug a homeless person :)
Kidding.... (kind of)
Anywhere else in the country, yea, I agree :-)
Vegas, hmm, not really unusual to see somebody dragging a suitcase with 2 wheels. Its a real common sight.
Pushing a grocery cart nowhere near a grocery store, now that screams homeless.
Quote: terapined
I don't think that part of the strip is sketchy. A couple weeks ago, I tool the Westcliffe Express from Downtown to the MGM. From the MGM, I hoofed it with a rolling suitcase all the way to Ballys. Felt perfectly safe. I think the downtown walk to El Cortez just became a lot safer due to the Container park across the street. El Cortez almost always has some security guy outside keeping an eye on the neighborhood. Same with the Container park. What is somewhat sketchy is Las Vegas Blvd between downtown and the Stratosphere.
You're doing it wrong.
Quote: Mission146Quote: AcesAndEightsI think this is the kind of thing Mission is talking about...between MGM and PH, there is a pretty long, pretty sketchy stretch.
That's it, that's exactly it, except it's Travelodge, not Motel 6. I remember seeing the Henna Tattoos place. That looks exactly like the street near the first place I stayed when I went to Orlando, three words: No. F'ing. Way.
That is supposed to be safer than Downtown? Not walking there at night. No way. I'm only thirty, I still have some stuff I want to do before I die.
I've actually walked past there at night. When I was dragging my suitcase from MGM to Ballys, it was around Noon.
Next night, I wanted to play 25 cent 9/6 JOB at NYNY. I walk at night alone from Ballys, passing Paris and PH, past the so called sketchy area to MGM and take the bridge to NYNY. 10PM at night, I walk back to Ballys following the same route. I was fine. Lots of people walking that part of the strip. Safety in tourist numbers. I actually remember considering stopping by the tattoo place just to look and gawk as I was passing by but simply changed my mind.
That reminds me of a funny story about my Mom. She was watching CNN one night and saw a segment on cosmetic tattoos. She wanted to get one, found a tattoo shop to get one. I drove her into a real sketchy area of Baltimore. Felt really uncomfortable about the neighborhood. I suggested we turn around but my Mom said no. Walked into the tattoo shop with my elderly Chinese Mom. Tattoo shop was great, assigned her a female tattoo artist that was real friendly and my Mom got her eyebrow tattoo that she used to have to draw on her face every morning.
Quote: terapinedQuote: AcesAndEightsI think this is the kind of thing Mission is talking about...between MGM and PH, there is a pretty long, pretty sketchy stretch.
I don't think that part of the strip is sketchy. A couple weeks ago, I tool the Westcliffe Express from Downtown to the MGM. From the MGM, I hoofed it with a rolling suitcase all the way to Ballys. Felt perfectly safe. I think the downtown walk to El Cortez just became a lot safer due to the Container park across the street. El Cortez almost always has some security guy outside keeping an eye on the neighborhood. Same with the Container park. What is somewhat sketchy is Las Vegas Blvd between downtown and the Stratosphere.
Eh, it's a spectrum. I've walked that part of the strip at all hours; heck I've walked pretty much any part of the strip at almost any hour. I usually have no schedule when I'm in Vegas so often times I'm up until sunrise and then take a nap in the afternoon.
Mostly I just wanted to confirm that was the part of the Strip to which Mission was referring.
Quote: BeardgoatWho lets their wife or signifigant other walk in any city alone at night?
+1
Quote: AcesAndEightsI've walked that part of the strip at all hours;.
Walking on the Strip has always baffled me.
I never, or rarely hear people who live there
say "I was walking on the Strip the other day."
I don't think the Wiz has ever mentioned him
walking on the Strip. I've been going since 75
and I've never done it once, it's never even
occurred to me. That's why god invented cabs
and rental cars.
Quote: terapinedWhat is somewhat sketchy is Las Vegas Blvd between downtown and the Stratosphere.
The area behind the Strat is called Naked City. It should be called Crack City.
Quote: mickeycrimmThe area behind the Strat is called Naked City. It should be called Crack City.
There's a Burger King right there and I go
to it a lot on my way to my room DT. I
use the drive-thru and it's still dicey at times.
My god, I actually agree with terapined about something. wtf is up with that?!? (j/k) ;)Quote: terapinedI don't think that part of the strip is sketchy.Quote: AcesAndEightsI think this is the kind of thing Mission is talking about...between MGM and PH, there is a pretty long, pretty sketchy stretch.
I walk that area during graveyard hours all the time and have never had a problem.
Quote: terapinedWhat is somewhat sketchy is Las Vegas Blvd between downtown and the Stratosphere.
My god, I agree with you again! I consider pretty much the entire area north of the Wynn (other than right in front of the Stratosphere) to be sketchy. I would never let my wife/girlfriend walk that part of Las Vegas Blvd alone.
That area is very, very sketchy. One time I was coming out of the Stratosphere parking garage and accidentally made a right. It was about 2am. I got a very uneasy feeling and turned back around immediately.Quote: mickeycrimmThe area behind the Strat is called Naked City. It should be called Crack City.
Quote: EvenBobWalking on the Strip has always baffled me.
I never, or rarely hear people who live there
say "I was walking on the Strip the other day."
I don't think the Wiz has ever mentioned him
walking on the Strip. I've been going since 75
and I've never done it once, it's never even
occurred to me. That's why god invented cabs
and rental cars.
Bob, I'm a relentless cheapass. Also I'm young and able, always need more exercise, enjoy people watching, and am usually working on a couple of packs of cigarettes when I'm in Vegas. Walking the strip is a no-brainer.
I'll take a cab if I'm with other people who don't want to walk or if I'm headed downtown (although lately I've been using the SDX or the Deuce for that). But anywhere between WynnCore and Mandalay Bay and I'm walking 99% of the time.
Quote: AcesAndEightsBob, I'm a relentless cheapass.
Cheapass people don't fare well in Vegas.
They're so concerned with squeezing every
dime till it screams, they miss the point that
time is the currency to a visitor, not money.
Time is what you have precious little of and
must use wisely. Walking anywhere takes too
much of it. That's why I always rent a car,
even a bus takes too long.
Quote: EvenBobCheapass people don't fare well in Vegas.
They're so concerned with squeezing every
dime till it screams, they miss the point that
time is the currency to a visitor, not money.
Time is what you have precious little of and
must use wisely. Walking anywhere takes too
much of it. That's why I always rent a car,
even a bus takes too long.
When I flew down from Ely to the Wynn opening I walked the whole casino floor and their wasn't one accumulator slot. So I figured to cut my visit short and fly back to Ely. Nothing to do but play some poker for a few days, I thought. I was taxi'ing back and forth between Wynn and Bellagio. When you've got an advantage, time is money. I didn't waste any time walking the strip.
Quote: mickeycrimmWhen I flew down from Ely to the Wynn opening I walked the whole casino floor and their wasn't one accumulator slot. So I figured to cut my visit short and fly back to Ely. Nothing to do but play some poker for a few days, I thought. I was taxi'ing back and forth between Wynn and Bellagio. When you've got an advantage, time is money. I didn't waste any time walking the strip.
Wow, I thought I was the only one to have flown into Ely. Sadly, no longer commercial air service. I wonder if it is affecting The Big 4? Lol
Quote: mickeycrimmI was taxi'ing back and forth between Wynn and Bellagio. When you've got an advantage, time is money. I didn't waste any time walking the strip.
Yup. I'm going soon and am planning every
minute of what I'll do. What casino's I'll go
to, how long I'll play there, where we eat
dinner, what time I go to bed. My wife is
going and she knows she's mostly on her
own, just pretend she's there alone. We
haven't gone sight seeing in 15 years.
Quote: DRichWow, I thought I was the only one to have flown into Ely. Sadly, no longer commercial air service. I wonder if it is affecting The Big 4? Lol
When I first started flying in and out of Ely it was from the North Las Vegas airport. I can't tell you what kind of plane it was but it was made for sightseeing. This airline ran several flights a day over the Grand Canyon. The flights to and from Ely were bouncy as hell. They later put some kind of sleek 19 seater on the route and ran between Las Vegas, Ely, Elko and Reno.
Quote: mickeycrimmWhen I first started flying in and out of Ely it was from the North Las Vegas airport. I can't tell you what kind of plane it was but it was made for sightseeing. This airline ran several flights a day over the Grand Canyon. The flights to and from Ely were bouncy as hell. They later put some kind of sleek 19 seater on the route and ran between Las Vegas, Ely, Elko and Reno.
One more thing, for the most part Ely-Las Vegas wasn't a straight up profitable route and many times was subsidized by the feds as essential air service.
Quote: EvenBobCheapass people don't fare well in Vegas.
They're so concerned with squeezing every
dime till it screams, they miss the point that
time is the currency to a visitor, not money.
Time is what you have precious little of and
must use wisely. Walking anywhere takes too
much of it. That's why I always rent a car,
even a bus takes too long.
You have a fair point. But for me, walking the strip is part of the experience. Public transit is fun for me as I enjoy the people watching and need some time to listen to to my daily podcast anyway. With proper planning, it works out for me. Next Vegas trip is 5 nights 4 full days, so I'll have plenty of time to spread around. Rental cars are insanely cheap in Vegas though; I will probably get one for part of this next trip since the fiance will be there.
I would say "agree to disagree" but I know you'll never agree to that :).
