“How much money you carrying?” The US Customs and Border Protection Agent at Toronto Pearson Airport leafed through my passport as he asked the question.
He took me by surprise. I hesitated.
The Agent repeated the question, “Sir, how much money are you taking to Las Vegas?”
“Err… Around four hundred dollars,” I mumbled.
He didn’t seem impressed as he handed me my passport and boarding pass and said, “You are good to go.”
I didn’t blame him. You can’t do much these days in Vegas with that kind of money.
As I walked away, I felt that the interaction was odd. The officer did not ask me about my bank cards which I could use to draw money in Las Vegas. Then it dawned on me that perhaps it had to do with money laundering. After all, I was flying into Sin City!
I put the incident behind me and made mental plans on how best to utilize the three days and nights I would spend in Vegas as part of a stag party.
A trip to Las Vegas is unlike any other trip that you are likely to make. In 2003, when the Convention and Visitors Authority came up with the slogan, “What happens here, stays here,” they may not have envisioned its impact on future visitors to the city. There is more than one way to get in trouble in Vegas. And, in this digital age, not all of it stays in Vegas!
You don’t go to Las Vegas to sleep. There is a lot to do and many ways to part with your money.
Iconic casinos, high-end restaurants, exclusive nightclubs, fancy bars, unique shows, and shopping are just a few entertainment options in Vegas. However, there’s no disputing that gambling is the main tourist activity in Sin City.
A twenty-five-dollar cab ride from the McCarran International Airport to my hotel on Las Vegas Blvd seemed fair. Uber and Lyft were substantially higher.
My hotel room at The Cosmopolitan had not come cheap. Vegas hotels are famous for adopting an Uber-like surge fare when the demand warrants it. My search for a better rate at one of the other hotels of my choice had come up short.
The Cosmopolitan is close to the iconic Bellagio, best known for its dancing fountains and glass-sculptured lobby. The Cosmo is one of the few hotels on The Strip that offers rooms with balconies.
Over the three days, I did most of the touristy things you would expect to do in Las Vegas. I gambled, partied, and indulged in excessive eating at buffets and brunches. I walked the Strip, took pictures, sampled cocktails at swank-looking bars, and watched a Golden Knights hockey game at the T Mobile Center. Since Las Vegas experiences are best shown through images and videos, a web story that gives you a quick preview of what you can do in Las Vegas is shown above.
If you have plans to visit Las Vegas and are unsure where you should stay, check out the second web story above that shows you your best hotel options along the Strip — a 4.2-mile stretch of the Las Vegas Blvd. Hotels along the Strip tend to be pricier than the ones that are off it or in Downtown Las Vegas. However, if your budget permits, the experience is worth it.
I will leave you with a closing thought. Las Vegas playfully encourages you to get into trouble. Many visitors would heed that call. You don’t have to. The idea of “adult freedom and empowerment” you feel in Las Vegas is ephemeral.
And don’t forget: The house always wins!
