newelty

Las Vegas pretty much stands for everything that I hate in the travel industry.

Artificial everything. Horribly unsustainable. Tacky to no end.

I was recently there for work, and I walked around like a wilted flower. If you’re there on business, most likely you’re staying at the conference hotel and are forced to walk through the casino from the hotel to the meeting facilities. It’s of course all part of the master plan to get you to gamble.

These hotels are massive…thousands of rooms. I walked for miles in recycled air. The blinking lights and clanging of bells from the slots were torturous, and brought on daily migraines. I got lost once and almost burst into tears out of sheer exhaustion.

The tourists drive me absolutely nuts. I guess I have to remember that most people who come to Vegas on vacation are the same people who think Carnival Cruises are fun.

Exhibit A: This dude riding an escalator smack dab in the middle, with arms on each rail so as not to allow anyone to pass. (This is a huge pet peeve of mine). And the shorts? Fail. Blue socks and sandals? Kill me now.

I’m puzzled by this behavior. Las Vegas is still a big city, and there are very expensive hotels, shops, and restaurants. Don’t people want to try a little bit to look good?

Sin City is so not my bag.

However, Vegas has one serious redeeming quality. The hospitality.

They know how to treat its visitors right. From the taxi drivers to the bell hops, everyone is friendly, helpful, and articulate. And I mean everyone. During that moment when I got lost, a kind security guard was empathetic to my plight and walked me to the nearest elevator. He then gave me perfect directions back to my room. He wished me a good evening. That meant a lot.

The waiters, concierges, limo drivers, etc. know that hospitality is part of what makes Vegas a serious destination. They’re well-trained at making the customer feel like they’re always right.

While this will never be enough to surmount all the annoying things I feel about the town, I appreciate the workers who made my stay just a tad more bearable. Kudos to you guys.

Especially that security guard.