Jen and I are sitting in an empty house with nothing but a folding chair, folding table, a 13″ TV, some food, and our computers. At least we still have internet and DirecTV for a few days! Actually, we have our bed until Sunday, but then the people we sold it to pick up. So, we borrowed an air mattress from Robin for Sunday night. I think we are going to go to my grandparents from Monday to Tuesday, so we will be fine. In the interim, we are car-less and stranded here. I am waiting for a call back from the rental car agency, so hopefully I can have a car later this afternoon.
I have to say… This has been an incredible experience. The goodbyes that I have had in the past week have been a bit sad, but that’s life I guess. In the immortal words of John Fisher, I prefer to say “Ciao” instead of “Goodbye”. I have been blessed with being surrounded by some amazing people in my life – from family, to friends, and colleagues. I will miss them all as I begin my next chapter in life, but this is the path that needs to be taken. And I am looking forward to turning the page.
I am often asked what I like about Las Vegas so much… So I decided to outline the things that I like and the things that I will miss when I leave the Northeast.
What I like about Las Vegas:
Weather – Hot in the summer, warm in the spring and fall, mild in the winter. I like the dry weather, but just because it’s dry does not make the summer heat any less intense.
Nature – I love the mountains, the National Parks, the desert, Lake Mead, the Colorado River, etc… There’s something about the west that is captivating
Food – Las Vegas has some of the best restaurants in the world.
Entertainment – I can see a show or concert and not have to make an entire day out of it. There are lots of things to do beyond “the strip”. There are lots of community activities and events. I am looking forward to having all of this in my backyard without having to make it an all day event, like I would have to do now.
City benefits without being in the “city” – Las Vegas is unique in its composition. Our house is in a very nice neighborhood, surrounded by nice neighborhoods. It is not like the suburbs of New York or Philadelphia at all. If you came to our house in Las Vegas and were not told that you were in Las Vegas, you’d think you were in a regular town in the west.
New Opportunities – There is a world of new opportunities for me. It’s all new… Going from a small town to a big city opens up a world of new things for anyone.
What I will miss about the Northeast:
Rain – I love rain, especially at night in the summer. I love falling asleep to the rain.
Family – I’ve had them all close for all of my life, so this will be a change.
Friends – I will certainly miss them as well.
Fall – I love the changing of the leaves in the Fall, especially in the mountains. (But I won’t miss it that much)
Animals – My backyard is like a zoo. Deer, squirrels, turkeys, chipmunks, groundhogs, birds and foxes.
What I will NOT miss about the Northeast:
Snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain – Need I say more? I am all done. If I desire snow, I’ll go skiing or sledding at Mt. Charleston, about 30 minutes away. No more snow plows or shoveling. No more driving in icy or snowy road conditions.
Lawns – I do not have a green thumb. I’m tired of cutting the lawn, mulching, weeding, etc… Bring on the desert landscape!
Bugs – Bees, hornets, mosquitoes, gnats.
Taxes – State Income Tax and Local Tax. When my PA house finally sells, I will add Property Tax and School tax to this list.
We are so excited about this house. It looks better than I thought it would. Another month and we will be closing on this. And no, we are not moving to Las Vegas next month. We’d love to move there but I don’t think it’s in the near-term cards. (But you never know)
The economy stinks. Home prices have been pulverized. The stock market is a disaster. People are losing their jobs. Hey, I have a great idea… Maybe we should build a new house 2,500 miles across the country in the nation’s worst-hit city – Las Vegas! Let’s not rent it out or anything, let’s just keep it. Don’t you already own a condo in Las Vegas that you already pay for? Yup… We can rent that out I guess…
It’s all true folks. We figured it’s a great time to build a new house in Las Vegas. It’s a great time to buy, and since one day we are going to move there, we might as well secure 2009 prices. We surely go to Vegas a lot though. Last year, I think we were there for more than 30 days total. This year I estimate that it will be about the same, maybe a little more. At least we will use it.
Anyway… The house has 3-stories plus a rooftop deck looking out at the mountains. It will be done at the end of October! We are really excited… Maybe a little bit nervous, but excited.
The house is located in Mountain’s Edge, about 10 miles from the Strip. We got everything that we ever wanted in this baby. It will have a beautiful kitchen with all granite counters and back splashes, stainless steel appliances, extra tall cabinets with crown molding. My favorite part is the rooftop deck. Our lot borders US Government land, so our view of the mountains will never be obstructed.
I am constantly asked about Las Vegas, the best things to see, where to stay, what to do, etc… So I’ve decided to write some tips and tricks, which I’ll add to as time goes on.
Where to stay (and how to book it)
Many people want to stay on the “strip” their first time in Vegas and for that I can’t blame them. While I’m not going to provide a review on each hotel, here is some advice for you:
Any of the top, newer, or high-end casinos are your best bet for amenities and service, but it may cost you: Caesars, Venetian, Bellagio, Wynn, Palazzo, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, Monte Carlo
If you are more value-conscious but still want the strip, check out Treasure Island, New York New York, MGM Grand or Paris
I wouldn’t bother with the following for your first time in Vegas: Flamingo, Sahara, Circus Circus, Excalibur, Luxor, Bally’s, Stratosphere. Even though the price of the rooms may be tempting, for a few dollars more you can stay at a place that will be a better first experience.
There is more to Las Vegas than the strip. Only two city blocks away are the Palms and the Rio. If you are under 75, you will at least want to check out the Palms on a Friday or Saturday night. Red Rock Casino is a few miles away, but it is a high end place and worth at least a visit to.
Book your hotel rooms directly through the hotel. Don’t buy a package through your airline or through a reseller like expedia or travelocity. You will not always get the best deal this way. The days of airline/hotel packages are over. Then, periodically, recheck the rates online – they frequently drop. Just call and rebook or cancel and rebook. I have saved 50% from my original reservation by doing this.
Never pre-pay for a hotel room unless you must stay there. Some hotels like the Golden Nugget require this, but not most. Again, rates change. Pre-pay rates are sometimes non-refundable and have restrictions.
You won’t spend that much time in your room, so keep that in mind when choosing how much to spend.
Some hotels have Movie Theatres: The Palms, The Orleans, Red Rock, MGM Grand, South Point
Others have Bowling Alleys: The Orleans, South Point and Red Rock
Some have Kids Quest childcare onsite so parents can also enjoy adult activities on their own: The Palms, Red Rock, Sunset Station, and some other Station Casinos. The Orleans has Kids Tyme, which is pretty much the same thing.
Bring your kids’ vaccination records if you are going to bring them to Kids Quest or Kids Tyme
