This week, I was sitting in a panel at Duck Duck Shed, reflecting on Las Vegas—its past and where it’s headed—and I couldn’t help but think about how I’ve personally evolved here. It’s kind of come full circle since I first started visiting just after I turned 21.

When I began visiting Las Vegas, I stayed off the Strip because it was more affordable. Now that I live here, I find myself in similar places.

How has your Las Vegas changed? Drop a comment below or wherever you’re reading this.

Here’s a look at my long, winding journey evolving with Las Vegas. The dates might be a little mixed up, but follow along—it’s how I remember it.

The Early Days of Las Vegas (For Me)

This is a good way for me to remember that the Vegas Strip has never been cheap. It might have been less expensive but it was never “cheap.”

When I was barely 21 and started visiting, we’d stay near the Strip—but not on it. Sure, we would’ve preferred staying on the Strip like we saw in the movies, but it just wasn’t in the budget.

Gold Coast and Rio were less expensive crash pads than the Strip hotels. Since we traveled in groups, splitting cab fare didn’t add much to the overall cost. I’m a numbers dork and did the math before booking, because we wanted to hang with the cool kids if possible.

We’d mostly stay and play off-Strip, but always dedicated one night to a great steak dinner on the Strip. It was an acceptable compromise.

Exploring the Vegas Strip

The first Strip hotel I stayed at was the MGM Grand. It was so big that I hated it, even though Vegas showed me a great time that weekend.

Starwood Rewards linking with Planet Hollywood finally gave me access to a Strip property at a price I could afford. That continued even after it became a Caesars (Total Rewards) property.

Planet Hollywood was my go-to for years. The staff was amazing, and I always (always) had a great time.

Total Rewards was my gateway to exploring Strip properties. Comp rooms were easy to come by for this East Coast gambler. I stayed at most of the casinos since the room rates matched my mid-rolling budget. 

Similar to sampling the Strip when we couldn’t afford it, we did the same with luxury properties when we could only afford the mid-tier casinos.

Moving On Up During the Economic Downturn

The last great recession made luxury affordable. Rooms at The Venetian and Wynn were going for what Caesars used to charge for their meh rooms. I could even afford upgraded experiences. It was fantastic! Plus, the comps offered were plentiful.

If you don’t remember the last recession, Las Vegas offers were similar to what we saw just after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Bookmark this for a future discussion on today’s economy)

Having access to these great properties changed how I viewed Las Vegas. I was finally able to experience the version of Vegas I’d seen on TV—and I appreciated every minute of it.

Eventually, the economy bounced back and prices normalized. I returned to mid-tier properties on the Strip. Around this time, another part of Las Vegas was starting to shine.

Downtown Boom!

I wasn’t a downtown guy for years. My first visit to the area was to Glitter Gulch for a bachelor party. We might have gambled somewhere, but all I really remember was hearing Bryan Adams when I walked into the strip club—way too early in the afternoon.

The first time I remember gambling downtown was at El Cortez. Blackjack was $3, the tables had cigarette burns, and the beer came in dented cans. 

Cocktail waitresses would wander the casino asking, “Can the El Cortez buy you a drink?”

The experience was the opposite of the Strip—and I kind of loved it. Downtown was still a bit sketchy, but it was so different that I really enjoyed my time there. The Strip was still my go-to, but we often built in an afternoon downtown.

When the Downtown Project launched, the area began to change. I liked the direction, though not everyone did.

After I moved to Vegas, I spent a lot of time downtown, working from coffee shops, drinking, and gambling. I really liked the Fremont East area, so I usually stayed and played nearby. The D became home base, and Pizza Rock Happy Hour got the party started with discounted Delirium Tremens.

I stopped visiting the area as often after the Covid-19 pandemic for no other reason than I changed a lot. More on that shortly.

Back to the ‘Burbs

Since moving to Las Vegas, I’ve lived in the same ZIP code—a block or two away from Summerlin. I love the area and have spent a lot of time in the three nearby casinos: Red Rock, Rampart, and Suncoast.

Red Rock was my out-of-home office before the pandemic. I’d be there several days a week for both work and play. I moved over to Rampart for a bit, but moved on again after the pandemic. 

Between local businesses and coffee shops, I found other places to spend my days since sitting around casinos for hours on end didn’t appeal to me at the time. 

Not being inside casinos for a while shifted my habits. I found other places to enjoy the same things. I’ve been betting on sports since high school, and even that lost its luster for a while.

The pandemic changed me—a lot. But it also gave me a reason to return to the Strip more often.

Identity Brought Me Back to the Strip

As I mentioned, the post-peak COVID-19 era revealed some amazing deals—if you didn’t mind being around people, which I didn’t.

I was never a big player at the Cosmopolitan, but that changed when they started sending wild weekly and monthly offers. To fill rooms, my favorite Strip casino began offering locals weekly food credits, free play, and two complimentary terrace suite nights per month.

Since opening, I had always loved the Cosmo, but couldn’t justify the cost of staying there. That changed, and for almost two years, I spent at least two nights a month in a terrace suite—until MGM Resorts took over.

I still love the property, but the rewards just aren’t the same, so I don’t visit nearly as often.

Completing the Circle

I don’t spend nearly as much time in casinos as I used to. When I hit the Strip, it’s usually for a meal or drinks with friends.

Downtown trips are even rarer. Most of the people I know don’t want to leave the Strip when they visit. I’ll still make the trip if there’s something going on, but it’s not quite the destination it once was.

Most of my time is now spent in off-Strip casinos, just like when I first started visiting. Durango is my current favorite, with Red Rock close behind. Lately, I’ve been hanging out at what I like to call the “Flamingo Trio” of casinos—Gold Coast, Rio, and Palms.

Not a Perfect Circle

So, it’s not quite a perfect circle, but my evolution in Las Vegas started off-Strip and I’ve ended up there again. Listening to Dayvid Figler at Duck Duck Shed reminded me that, just like the city, my preferences have evolved.

So again, I ask… How has your Las Vegas changed over the years? Drop a comment below or wherever you’re reading this.