Yeah, I know it is a bit far off, but thought I would throw the dates out there to see anyone is interested. Plus, by giving ample time, maybe some foreign Dopers might be able to make plans to attend?
So, why August? It is hot as hell here during that month!
Precisely because it is so hot, many tourist avoid Las Vegas in August. That generally translates into cheap(er) room rates and flights. And as I mentioned on another thread, the keyword for a successful Dopefest is CHEAP.
They crank up the air conditioning to the point of freezing all over this city, plus there are pools at every casino - so why not August? Specifically, I am thinking the first or second weekend in August (let’s see which one is cheaper).
This is just a “feeler” to get an idea of who, if anyone, is interested. Assuming there is some interest, I will try to bump this thread a couple times before August (with Mod’s approval) to keep a tally. We can discuss specifics as the time nears.
So - anyone interested and able to plan a few months ahead of time for a trip to Las Vegas?
You should have been here last weekend for the NBA All Star Game - it made New Years Eve look like a slow weekend.
And even though it looked like “a billion bloody people” - August is a SLOW month. Glad to hear you agree that the heat is nowhere near as bad to experience as people think, even though the temps do indeed get into 110 and higher by day and dip down to 95 at night.
But, it’s a dry heat (shields herself from the slings and arrows) and since I grew up in the Prairies, I prefer that to the humid heat we have on the East coast.
Let’s see…school’s out, we never have to pay for our hotel, it’s just as hot at home, 3.5 hour drive, comped meals, restaurants we want to hit…yeah, I think you can count us in!
Often, the difference between a Doper and a Hooker is a six pack of beer…but I digress…
OK then, looks like at least a couple people are interested. I will either bump this, or start a new thread in a month or two and we will see how many people we can get together in Las Vegas in August!
August: 110 in Fresno vs 110 in Las Vegas.
Let me think.
I’m all for Vegas any old time. You touch down at 9pm, A/C taxi to A/C hotel and, if by some crazy chance you accidentally find yourself in actual outside air, get a strawberry margarita—one for each hand is safest, and open the nearest gilded door.
Phantom, Emeril and Jimmy Choo!
I know it’s a dumb question. I know they are different states. Thing is, I am going to the Grand Canyon in August, so, well, it seems doable, in an east coast is very far away, and heck the next state over couldn’t be all that far away sort of view.
No, not a dumb question - half the people I know who come here ask the same thing. It depends exactly where at the Grand Canyon you are (it is a rather large canyon)…but assuming you are at the South Rim, you can probably leisurely drive here in about 4 hours or less, and cross over the Hoover Dam along the way. By the way, you might be interested in this website: www.thetrain.com if you haven’t book already. Nice hotel, cool steam engine train ride, ample time to view the canyon.
I just got back from Las Vegas yesterday, so I won’t be able to make it in August. Y’all drink some of those yard-long Margaritas for me!
It’s…different.
I really enjoyed Red Rocks Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Star Trek Experience, the IMAX rides at the Luxor, and being able to walk around with a drink in my hand.
The casinos and the Strip were weird. Lots of waddling tourists and touts. There was that hard-bitten underclass that you often see in touristy places. The whole place just screamed unsustainability.
I’m glad I saw it, though. It was definitely a unique experience, and I’d do it again.
What’s up with all the smoking, though? I’m not a wuss about being around smoking, but the casinos were Smoky McSmokopolis to an extreme. There must be some kind of correlation between smoking and gambling or something.
Yeah, I know August is a long way from now, but thought it might be good to let others know far in advance (especially foreign Dopers who need to book months ahead) - and as I mentioned, generally it is one of the cheapest months. You might actually get a deal on a room at one of the high-end properties and live it up for cheap(er) or at least get cheaper flights and really cheap rooms in some of the off-Strip properties.
As I mentioned, I will keep tabs of who is interested and either bump this, or start a new thread later - but anyone interested in coming to Las Vegas in August for some hot fun (and I do mean hot temperature-wise)…let me know!
As long as it’s a dry heat, I’m ok. I lived in Tucson in August, when temps got up to 130 deg., and I adapted pretty quickly.
As for the Dopefest, I’ve driven to Vegas before and I’ll happily do it again. Whether or not I’ll be able to afford my own accommodations is debatable. I don’t know anyone there I can crash with, either. If someone is looking to split some expenses, I might be game, but we’ll have to see what my financial picture is at the time either way.
The vices all go together. Gambling makes you want to drink, drinking makes you want to gamble and smoke. It depends on which casinos/restaurants you go to, also–they’ll all be packed to the brim with smokers, but the really ritzy Strip casinos have such powerful ventilation that you can hardly tell if someone’s smoking right next to you.
Smoking is no longer allowed in restaurants or buffets - but still allowed in bars and casino gaming areas.
Hope you can make it fetus. and when the time gets closer, you might have some luck finding someone to share a room with while you are here.
Although I can hear some guy now telling his wife, “Don’t worry honey, while I am in Las Vegas I am sharing my room with a fetus…no, really I am…seriously…”
