The Insiders Guide: Memorial Day Weekend
With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, Las Vegas will see an additional 300,000+ people flock to our beloved city to celebrate their three day weekend. Picture if you will, 96% of the area’s hotels filled to occupancy with travelers from Southern California, Arizona and Utah. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is estimating $186.2 million in non-gaming revenue will be generated within the next three days. It’s surprising to say but this weekend and Labor Day Weekend trump New Years Eve in terms of visitors and revenue.
So, now that all the facts are out of the way….what’s that mean to you?
To break it down, there are classes of people who come to Las Vegas on holiday weekends such as this. People who have never been to Vegas at all, people who have been to Vegas before but not on a holiday weekend; and then there are those who have been to Vegas religiously every single Memorial Day Weekend, as if it a rite of passage.
Whichever category you fall into, we want you to know, we’re here to help. We’re going to let you in to some of the secrets and how-to’s to not only survive this weekend in once piece, but to enjoy it the whole way through.
- Cash is King- We hate to be the ones to say it. It sounds so shallow, but it’s true. If you want to get in to the hottest pool parties and nightclubs, be prepared to shell out some dough. Weekends like these, everywhere charges cover, usually more than on normal weekends. If you really want to be VIP and avoid the general madness, spring for a bottle service package because at the end of the day, the person who spends the money gets better taken care of. Granted, this won’t always be the case everywhere, but if you want to find yourself the next day in the background photo of Megan Fox, that’s not going to happen anywhere you can get in for free.
- Be Prepared to Wait- You have to think about this in pure mathematical terms. If 300,000 more people are in Las Vegas, the lines are going to be that much longer. And just because you purchased your tickets online or in advance, that doesn’t mean you get to waltz up to the front of the line just because you pre-paid. Think about when you buy a concert ticket. You’re not anymore or less special than the other 5000 people who bought tickets. And from the insiders point of view READ THE FINE PRINT. A lot of times you have to arrive by XYZ time, or you have to pick up your ticket at XYZ location. Make sure you know what you purchased before you start an argument with someone. As an FYI peak times in Vegas for example are from 11AM-3PM at pools and from 11PM-1AM at nightclubs, so it’s a good idea to arrive before then.
- Patience is a Virtue- Be courteous and be patient. Remember what your parents told you when you were a kid, say your pleases and thank yous. That applies in Vegas as well, more than ever on Memorial Day Weekend. With the influx of people, as well as the influx of money, everyone will be trying to get in everywhere. Yelling at people, grabbing their arm as they walk by, touching the rope (which in Las Vegas is a cardinal sin) won’t earn you any brownie points. Wait your turn, they’ll come to you at some point, it’s in their best interest to get you in, because otherwise you’re not spending money. And remember most importantly, nightclub staff and security staff are people too. They’re just trying to do their job, they’re under enormous stress, many of whom haven’t slept or have slept only a couple hours. So give them a break and put yourself in their shoes.
- Dress to Impress- It may seem simple enough, but so many times people get it wrong. Listen, it’s like this- shorts are only acceptable during the daytime, at night jeans or slacks and dress shoes. Ladies, you can pull off shorts any hour of the day. Nothing ripped, torn, extra baggy or bejeweled. If you saw it on the Jersey Shore, you’re not getting in.
- Don’t Drink and Drive- We know, we know…you’ve heard it many times before, but seriously…DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. At the end of the day the cost of a cab is much much less than the cost of a DUI, or worse having to live with the consequences of what else could happen.
- Pace Yourself- Granted it may seem like a great idea at the time, but going to the pool party, then the nightclub, then the strip club then back to the pool party, is not always the best route. Drink lots of water, as dehydration can put a damper on your weekend, eat when you can because drinking on an empty stomach is never good.
We know there are a ton more things we could say here, but those are our main pointers, what we feel are most important. At the end of the day, know yourself, know your limits and have a great time.
We want to know your best tips for surviving Memorial Day Weekend. Leave your comments and suggestions below!
-kz
