Ten Common Mistakes of Las Vegas, NV Visitors

"We won't EVER do that again!". Both experienced and novice Las Vegas visitors make mistakes before and during their trips simply because of their humanity. The English poet Alexander Pope coined the phrase " To err is human..to forgive is divine". Planning and executing an enjoyable Las Vegas getaway is truly a learned art and individual visitor's accounting of their own real or perceived mistakes varies widely due to personal likes, dislikes, budgets, and Vegas visitation experience. Yet, there are some common mistakes that many Las Vegas trekkers have made (including this author). Ten common misplays are described here.

1. Underestimating scale and size of hotel - casinos on the strip:

I once rounded the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard in front of MGM Grand on foot with my significant other. This was our initial trip to Las Vegas and we were in awe of the kitschy visual spectacle that the town is partially famous for. As we walked north in front of MGM, I spotted Caesar's Palace which appeared to be on the not-so-distant architectural horizon. Wrong , Bubba! As we approached Caesar's, I was fully prepared to pay someone to toss me into the Las Vegas Boulevard traffic. The sheer inherent size of the monstrous concrete monoliths we refer to as casino - hotels can render us error - prone in judging walking distances. On each and every subsequent Sin City trip , car rental has been a standard occurrence due to this experience.

2. Remaining too long at gambling venues :

Overstaying at an individual table game or slot / video poker machines in attempts to recoup losses is both common and foolhardy. It's almost always wiser and cheaper to get up and do anything else.

3. Poor or inadequate overall trip planning :

This error can add significant costs to a Vegas trip budget for those who consider costs important. That said, it's enjoyable to leave some time slots for unplanned, spontaneous activities as well (see next entry).

4. Over - planning Vegas trips :

Visitors who plan out every last detail and minute may exhaust themselves and their entire travel party into a condition of extreme fatigue...or anarchy.

5. Failure to sign up for player's club and / or casino website email memberships :

This is a massive no-brainer if any gambling at all is anticipated, particularly in light of the current economic environment in Vegas.

6. Gambling at casino games that have an insurmountable house edge :

Keno comes to mind, despite the fact that this may upset a large collection of sweet grandmothers.

7. Poor driving habits :

That unique Vegas adrenaline can be a detrimental factor when behind the wheel. Driving as if one's hair was on fire in order to arrive at the next exciting event can be dangerous. At times this author has committed said crime.

8. Failure to bring comfortable walking shoes :

Simply navigating within a single casino on foot can resemble a Trail of Tears at times. Have you ever roamed around and within MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay in uncomfortable footwear?

9. Failure to utilize valet parking services when toting luggage :

This particularly applies for those locales that have parking garages which are a county away from hotel check-in desks. It's a hike at some of these (eg MGM Grand) even without luggage. Consider valet services anytime toting luggage to and fro , such as arrival and departure days or during hotel changes within the trip. The minimal costs ( visitors can still elect to maneuver their own bags) are usually worth avoiding a marathon trek on concrete.

10. Failure to use alternate access routes to strip hotels when driving :

Driving down Las Vegas Boulevard in heavy traffic conditions can be prohibitively time - consuming. There are some well-known alternate driving routes that can save considerable time and frustration. There are some thoroughfares that roughly parallel Las Vegas Boulevard on the east (Koval Lane and Audrie Street) and west ( Frank Sinatra Drive and Dean Martin / Industrial Road) sides that allow access to the strip properties from behind.