(Okay, I know that was a completely weak attempt at a suitable title, but finally I’m beginning to blog abt something more than just reporting where I’m going.)
You actually only need 24 hours’ worth of Vegas on The Strip. Catch all the free performances in many of the themed hotels (all the hotels have a unique theme of its own), and even have time to catch a Broadway show, like Mamma Mia!. Then spend whatever time you have left on the tables, winning and then losing. Note to self: walk away.
Vegas is completely safe for the the solo traveller as everyone else there is a visitor too, all just wanting to be entertained, and entertained they will be from this massively constructed strip built solely for pure entertainment for the soul. Just be amused and wowed and don’t think about all the money involved in creating the whole fantasy land. Anyway, I was saying, it’s totally safe, so don’t even bother hiding your money in your shoes because removing them out of desperation at the tables is awfully “unglam”. Resist the free drinks too. They are out to get you to lose your inhibitions and by extension lose your money. Forget about tipping the dealers even if they did a good job because it just goes into a common fund for all dealers. Make loads of friends at the tables though, since it’s us against the dealers.
I took the Megabus there, which have far lower fares than those of Greyhound, though I needed to transit at Los Angeles first. People might have mistaken me for one of the homeless when they saw me, dishevelled from not having showered nor slept since I was engrossed at the tables desperately trying to win back the winnings lost, picking at my leftover food after waking up from sleeping while hugging my bag and keeping all other belongings between my legs at Union Station.
Vegas is a very conducive place for the beginner. Lessons are available at certain hotels for certain games, and dealers are very friendly and willing to help when you play. Macau is more for the advanced gambler, as everyone is serious and intent in the casinos in Macau. In Vegas, we all just wanna have fun, and I certainly did.
(Click on the image for slideshow of pictures I took in Vegas)

The money-sucking tables