Going to Vegas for first time! Need help, suggestions

[Freezebyte]

Sup my XDers, i'm gonna go to Las Vegas for the first time ever and Im so phsyced! My girlfriend is working down their for her job so we decided to have some fun and meet together down their after not seeing eachother for a month.

Having never been to very many big cities, especially one like Las Vegas. I need suggestions and tips on how to stay safe and secure in this large of a city. I understand the northern area is teaming with crime as well as the downtown area. We do plan on staying in highly populated area's, especially at night with lots of lights. We dont plan on carving any "new" trails through the city.

That being said, I could use some suggestions in how to prepare for the big life in a big city like Vegas. Were going to be staying at the new M-Resort, thats not even open yet The M Resort

I do not have my CCW, nor would I have any idea how to deal with airport security on that, so no, my XDm will not being going with me FYI. Oh, I also plan on doing NO GAMBLING whatsoever. Where coming down to see the sites and the attractions, not the machines.

 

[lesterg3]

Go to a National Park and camp, you'll be better off for it.

Vegas has nothing I am interested in, it's just sin city.

 

[Freezebyte]

Heh sorry, but me and the girl have already planned on seeing some "sinful" sites

 

[lesterg3]

May God bless you and protect you from EVIL.

 

[MisterMike]

I'm not an XDer, but I'll be happy to share some advice. My thoughts are not specific to Las Vegas, but generally apply to traveling to any big city.

First, it's essential that you know where you're going and how to get there. A lot of crimes are perpetrated against folks in rental cars who get confused and disoriented, then end up in the wrong place. Unless you need a rental car, get a taxi or hotel shuttle to run you to your destination(s). If you rent a car, know exactly where you're going and/or use a GPS to navigate.

You should be aware of the fact that property crimes--snatching of wallets and purses--are the most likely threats. Before you leave on your trip, make photocopies of the ID documents and credit cards in your wallet. Keep that info in a safe place and be ready to call your bank if that stuff is stolen or lost.

Be aware of how you and your lovely girlfriend carry your valuables. For her, a lot of purses get snatched from the backs of chairs or under tables. She should keep it in her hand, or at least someplace where she's physically touching it. For you, carrying a wallet in your front pocket makes it more difficult for pickpockets. If you're the type who pulls out your wallet and puts it on the table when you sit down, one word: don't.

As far as assault or strong-arm theft are concerned, there are a million different "bad" scenarios. In general, you should know where you're going and try to not place yourself in situations where you are alone and/or do not have an exit strategy.

To be realistic, the odds of being the victim of a crime are pretty low if you use common sense. Enjoy yourself, but don't abandon your sense of situational awareness. If you sense that you're in a vulnerable position, trust your instincts and get out of there pronto.

And win a lot of money.

 

[CWL]

Been going to LV for prolly 20+ years on business and sometimes for pleasure. Las Vegas is a safe city. If you are going to hanging out on the Strip or walking thru Fremont Street you won't have any trouble 24-hrs a day. Never heard of the "M" before, but if you are staying off the Strip, taxis make more sense than driving because of congestion and parking lot hassles/expenses.

LV is a playground for adults and the casinos/merchants want to keep it that way. It is well-policed, lots of private security and hundreds and hundreds of surveillance cameras.

The most likely trouble you will encounter will be drunken fools and these people get rousted & hauled off by Metro pretty quickly.

Unless you are looking for trouble, you won't find any.

 

[Butter]

Enjoy the stay! Never considered Las Vegas to be a big city though, but it has its share of attractions depending on what you want and expect. And I suppose everything is relative to your experience. BTW, there are more cops in disguise than you can shake a stick at. For one, it doesn't benefit anyone who owns establishments on the Strip to jeopardize their patronage by having hoodlums attack the willing sheep who want to open their wallets to buy what is being offered.

My feeling, since I have been there many times, for work mostly and for pleasure a couple of times (I don't generally gamble though) is that it is eye candy with all the appeal of eye candy. Neat once or twice, but if your cake is all frosting you get tired of it pretty quickly. If you've never been, then go and see what you can see and enjoy. Take a gander at a few shows, though they can be pricey, but the Blue Man Show was enjoyable and they have a few other acrobatic or aquabatic shows at different hotels.

The food, however, is good depending on where you want to eat, and plentiful. It is interesting to note that you can drink alcoholic beverages while walking down the Strip in public. That always gets me....and the crowds.

 

[Six]

I've been going to the strip for several years and love the place.

I feel very safe in Vegas. The crowds are big and people are often drunk, but they're also in a good mood so it's a very different vibe from many other places where the mood can get pretty aggressive. Security is everywhere, and while you don't see many police, when something does happen, they're right there.

When I'm in Vegas I lock everything up in the safe in the room, except for my room key, ID, cellphone, the cash I'm spending, and one credit card (For emergencies).

Money in one front pocket, everything else in the other. When you go out you will be taking money out constantly, so having it in a wallet or with other stuff just means more things to manage and risk dropping.

The biggest risk IMHO are pick pockets and someone taking chips or coins from you. Just keep them secured, and relax and enjoy.

 

[Art Eatman]

Probably a better website, somewhere, for which this would be on-topic.