Vegas Traffic?
However, we want to go to the downtown area one afternoon/evening and spend some time there before returning to our hotel for the night. We would probably want to go downtown around 3pm and leave downtown around 10pm or so. We'll be using either cabs or the bus for traveling.
From a traffic (i.e. travel time) standpoint, does anyone know if it would be significantly more advantageous to go downtown on a Thursday night versus a Friday/Saturday night? My initial thought is that traffic shouldn't be as congested on a weeknight compared to a weekend night, but I don't know.
Be prepared, downtown these days is full of freak shows and to be honest, there really isn't a whole heck of a lot worth seeing downtown if one isn't chasing advantage casino plays.
My parents took me to Vegas for my 21st and even though I really enjoyed learning the ropes of the casino, my first trip there I almost enjoyed taking in all of the non gambling aspects of Vegas like the architecture, culture and the people than the gaming.
We are both wanting to see the Fremont Street Experience light show and check out a couple of the non-strip casinos. We are hoping it will be fun and entertaining.
I'm assuming safety shouldn't be an issue for the time-frame we're planning to be down there? Mentions of being prepared for freak shows makes my nervous radar start to go off just a bit. :)
Quote: blount2000
I'm assuming safety shouldn't be an issue for the time-frame we're planning to be down there? Mentions of being prepared for freak shows makes my nervous radar start to go off just a bit. :)
Me and my wife walked from Cashman Field back to the El Cortez on a Friday night last summer, and were only accosted by three weirdos. Not a bad night really.
If you stick to Fremont Street you should be fine, just follow the usual advice of being aware in a crowd of people, especially when most of them are looking up. Other than that youre as safe there as on the Strip.
Quote: JIMMYFOCKERWould go on Thursday night.
Be prepared, downtown these days is full of freak shows and to be honest, there really isn't a whole heck of a lot worth seeing downtown if one isn't chasing advantage casino plays.
Actually there is quite a bit to do downtown between the free bands on Fremont and all of the vintage Vegas.
What do you mean by freakshows? I was there a few months ago and I'm not sure what you are driving at.
Quote: JIMMYFOCKERWould go on Thursday night.
Be prepared, downtown these days is full of freak shows and to be honest, there really isn't a whole heck of a lot worth seeing downtown if one isn't chasing advantage casino plays.
I would also say it's pretty empty of advantage plays. I wanted to check out the Golden Nugget once, but the parking lot
charged $3 per hour or so except for invited guests. So I have never been in there. Now, if you want to spend an hour or so signing
up for a slot card to get $5 of free play, you might find it downtown. Or, go to the Palms and let them pay you $10 an hour or so playing their deuces progressive.
Quote: dmI would also say it's pretty empty of advantage plays. I wanted to check out the Golden Nugget once, but the parking lot
charged $3 per hour or so except for invited guests. So I have never been in there. Now, if you want to spend an hour or so signing
up for a slot card to get $5 of free play, you might find it downtown.
One can have their parking ticket stamped at the GN casino cage, thus parking in the garage is totally free when doing such.
There are many advantage plays downtown.
Quote: DeMangoOh and don't play 6:5 bj!
True. One important thing I've learned from this site is to proactively pay attention to the odds/payouts of the various games and then try to play the best ones available.
I haven't actually played blackjack before at a casino, although I plan on trying it on this trip. And without the knowledge I've gained from reading posts on this forum, I'm fairly certain I would have just walked up and played at the first BJ table I came to that was at my bet level. I just assumed all games of BJ were exactly the same except for what the minimum bet was set at.
Which is not the case!
Quote: JIMMYFOCKEROne can have their parking ticket stamped at the GN casino cage, thus parking in the garage is totally free when doing such.
There are many advantage plays downtown.
Wonderful. I didn't know that. I didn't guess that. I took them at their word - invited guests only. I wasn't going to pay a fu..... cent to go in and see if they would invite me.
Quote: JIMMYFOCKERThere are many advantage plays downtown.
How come they have never surfaced? You mean a free pack of cards, trinkets, various junk that takes a lot of time to collect?
If I went for 3 months at a time maybe it would be worth it.
Quote: dmHow come they have never surfaced? You mean a free pack of cards, trinkets, various junk that takes a lot of time to collect?
If I went for 3 months at a time maybe it would be worth it.
There are advantage plays involving blackjack, poker, slots, video poker, and sportsbetting in the downtown area on a daily basis.
Quote: JIMMYFOCKERThere are advantage plays involving blackjack, poker, slots, video poker, and sportsbetting in the downtown area on a daily basis.
OK, Jerry, whatever you say. Yeah, I forgot how much money was being made on those penny slots.
There are some good beer drinking opportunities at Four Queens and Main Street Station. Get him started on the good stuff!
Quote: PapaChubbySince it's your son's 21st birthday...
There are some good beer drinking opportunities at Four Queens and Main Street Station. Get him started on the good stuff!
Thanks for the tips on the beer drinking opportunities!
I do a little homebrewing as one of my hobbies, so I'm always excited about visiting local breweries/brewpubs when I travel. And whenever I find a particular brew that I really like, I may try to recreate the profile myself at home. Sometimes I have gotten it pretty close, sometimes not! :)
Quote: JIMMYFOCKEROne can have their parking ticket stamped at the GN casino cage, thus parking in the garage is totally free when doing such.Quote: dmthe {Golden Nugget} parking lot charged $3 per hour or so except for invited guests. So I have never been in there.
Or, if your time is precious, park at the Golden Nugget or El Cortez valet. It's free, except for the couple of bucks you tip the guy.
Quote: blount2000I'm assuming safety shouldn't be an issue for the time-frame we're planning to be down there? Mentions of being prepared for freak shows makes my nervous radar start to go off just a bit. :)
I've never had any major safety concerns down there. "Freak shows", to me, is shorthand for the costumed Elvises, Jack Sparrows, and Spidermen hustling photos for tips. It may also refer disparagingly to the more salt-of-the-earth clientele that downtown gets compared to the strip (see also: O'Sheas, Casino Royale, WalMart).
My only minor safety concerns downtown was a sketchy guy near the pawn shop between El Cortez and the rest of the Street, and a general comment to my wife once the Experience started, "keep an eye on your purse", because it seemed like a good opportunity for pickpockets.
As to the original question, traffic's not an issue, weekdays or weekends, as long as you're comfortable driving in U.S. urban environments.
