• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Las Vegas at year's end

dsmrp

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Messages
2,527
Reaction score
1,847
Points
398
Location
MI Washington
Resorts Owned
Sheraton Vistana, Waikoloa Bay Club, Hyatt Pinon Pt
I'm considering a trip to Las Vegas the week after Christmas.
Is that a time to avoid similar to the crowds at Disneyland or DisneyWorld?

Our alternative is Palm Springs area since DH has never been there.
But we're not golfers. I just think there'd be more to do in Las Vegas than Palm Springs. Opinions appreciated. thanks!
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,668
Reaction score
9,088
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
New Year's week in Las Vegas is the highest demand week of the year.

It's New Year's - It's Las Vegas.
 

tschwa2

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2008
Messages
16,002
Reaction score
4,676
Points
748
Location
Maryland
Resorts Owned
A few in S and VA, a single resort in NC, MD, PA, and UT, plus Jamaica and the Bahamas
I think the new years weekend will be very crowded but I doubt Dec 25-Dec 30 will be bad. Christmas itself is kind of a family holiday and Vegas isn't the family holiday kind of place.
 

dsmrp

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Messages
2,527
Reaction score
1,847
Points
398
Location
MI Washington
Resorts Owned
Sheraton Vistana, Waikoloa Bay Club, Hyatt Pinon Pt
Sorry, I should have said we would return home by New Year's eve, so considering Dec 26-30 or so. I'd use my HGVC poiints or Starwood options. Thanks.
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,668
Reaction score
9,088
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
I have spent this week in Las Vegas and it was very busy - lots of families on Christmas break. We had Christmas with the family in the morning and then flew to LV in the afternoon - even on Christmas day, the strip was crowded with families in their holiday attire.
 
Last edited:

PigsDad

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
10,072
Reaction score
7,075
Points
898
Location
Colorado and SW Florida
Resorts Owned
HGVC Elite: SeaWorld, Surf Club, Charter Club, Valdoro
We have been there between Christmas and New Years, and it is busy but it is not "Disneyland / Disneyworld" busy. Yes the crowds are larger but very manageable. I would not hesitate to go again during that period.

Kurt
 

easyrider

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2005
Messages
15,044
Reaction score
8,001
Points
948
Location
Palm Springs of Washinton
Resorts Owned
Worldmark * * Villa Del Palmar UVCI * * Vacation Internationale*
What I have read is the strip gets closed down in the afternoon on New Years Eve and the casinos gate off.

My question is where is a good place to be for New Years Eve if your staying off strip and what activities besides standing on the strip are available ?

Another question is transportation. I will be a mile or so away from the strip on E Flamingos Road. We will be drinking so my options are walk, taxi or bus. The free shuttle stops about 3pm on New Years Day is what I was told. I was told getting a cab is tough after the fireworks. I was told the bus is tough after the fireworks.

Is there an activity that we could do after the fireworks ? Do the casinos reopen to non guests ?

Thanks

Bill
 

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
28,462
Reaction score
17,213
Points
1,299
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
Bill, I've been in Las Vegas dozens of times over New Years. For years I had booths move into Consumer Electronics Show starting Dec 26th. Since retiring, I took DW there 3 times. We've stood in the middle of LV Blvd & been rooftop guests of celebrities to watch the fireworks. We've shuffled the length of the Strip with a million of our closest friends afterward, and wished there were more porta-potties. There are no taxis, buses, shuttles. To enjoy yourselves, be where you want to stay on New Years Eve- or at least within walking distance.

As to the drinking, New Year's Eve is amateur night. You can drink with pro's 364 nights a year. Let the once-a-year crowd have New Years. You'll enjoy the next day a lot more.

Jim
 

presley

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
6,313
Reaction score
1,121
Points
448
Our alternative is Palm Springs area since DH has never been there.
But we're not golfers. I just think there'd be more to do in Las Vegas than Palm Springs. Opinions appreciated. thanks!

I don't golf and I've never had enough time in that area.
I like Joshua Tree national park, riding the tram up the mountain, visiting coachella valley preserve, going to the Living Desert... just driving around and looking at all the cool old houses.

Apparently, it's also a great place for foodies and those who enjoy shopping.
 

dsmrp

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Messages
2,527
Reaction score
1,847
Points
398
Location
MI Washington
Resorts Owned
Sheraton Vistana, Waikoloa Bay Club, Hyatt Pinon Pt
I don't golf and I've never had enough time in that area.
I like Joshua Tree national park, riding the tram up the mountain, visiting coachella valley preserve, going to the Living Desert... just driving around and looking at all the cool old houses.

Apparently, it's also a great place for foodies and those who enjoy shopping.

Thanks! I do enjoy shopping :) not sure I can afford some of those prices, but nice to window shop. We decided to go to Palm Springs/Desert area cause there's plenty outdoors to keep DH busy, and had more starwood options to use. And we extended our Hawaii trip by one day so a better way to use those leftover HGVC points !!
 
Last edited:

VacationForever

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2010
Messages
16,196
Reaction score
10,607
Points
1,048
Location
Somewhere Out There
I would Palm Springs area over Las Vegas. Lots of fun stuff to do including Living Desert... weather is warmer in Palm Springs compared to Las Vegas. It has a more relaxing atmosphere... plus Starwood has 2 resorts in Palm Springs area and none in Las Vegas.
 

b2bailey

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2007
Messages
3,682
Reaction score
2,620
Points
598
Location
Santa Cruz CA
Coming from Hawaii... Just be prepared that it could be cold in PS at that time of year.
 

VegasBella

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Messages
3,307
Reaction score
1,017
Points
398
Location
Vegas
Resorts Owned
Carlsbad Inn
Avenue Plaza
Riviera Beach & Spa
Aquamarine Villas
I live in the Vegas valley and do not have trouble getting cheap rooms for family to visit during Christmas or shortly after. New Years is very busy but right before New Years is not too busy.

Some fun things to do that time of year:

Visit the Ethel M's Cactus Garden. For the holidays they decorate all the plants with lights and the enormous garden is a huge spectacle. Definitely worth seeing, plus you can tour the chocolate factory and get a free candy.

There will be an outdoor ice rink set up on the Strip that could be fun but if you want to save a little money go to the one that will be set up at Downtown Summerlin.

There will be snowfalls at Town Square - fun for kids if you have them.

See the Nutcracker at The Smith Center. Good excuse to get all dressed up.

Go skiing - http://www.leecanyonlv.com/site

Find snow and ice out at Red Rock Canyon on a hike. Hiking in Vegas is great because you never have to worry about ticks or mosquitoes and during the winter you don't have to worry much about rattlesnakes either. We have some fantastic rock formations and interesting plants and animals in the desert - people who don't see it just don't want to see it.
 
Top