Thursday, December 30, 2010

Cold NYE party

OH – it’s going to be a cold New Year’s Eve party here in Vegas. The hotels are not complaining as it seems almost every place is 100% booked for the weekend. That’s 149,000 + rooms occupied, so even with the poor economy at least some people plan on having a nice time moving into a new year.

The big storms back East don’t bother the hotels, since just as many people have to stay longer when flights are cancelled as those that can’t get here, it’s almost a wash. The majority of NYE partygoers in Vegas are from California anyway, and a heck of a lot of them drive. The I-15 between Vegas and LA becomes a big parking lot most Sunday afternoons as everyone takes off after checkout time. Even the Christmas weekend, usually a slow time, was pretty good for the casinos. Two years ago we spend Christmas Eve in a nice room at the Venetian. I don’t know what the occupancy was then, probably just under 50%, which means the place was fairly empty. The room was cheap (well, for the Venetian) and nice, we had a fancy dinner and breakfast and enjoyed ourselves without having to drive far.

But this year it’s cold: tomorrow the high is only going to be around 4c (40f) with a nighttime low of -3c (27f) and it’s really windy. But the sky is a bright blue and the sun is shining on my shoulders through the window behind me and it looks really pretty outside from the warm inside. We will not be down on the Strip, that is just too big a party for us old folks. It’s nothing like Times Square, but still there will be 350,000+ wandering the Strip and looking at the midnight fireworks, the biggest display west of the Mississippi (as our Visitor’s Bureau advertises). Us old folks will probably be in bed asleep as usual.

Blue sky, travelers from LA headed east


Hit the City Center, next door to Bellagio, the place where the biggest crowd on the Strip gathers


Happy New Year!

11 comments:

Jammie J. said...

The new year seems to come, whether we're out partying or in bed sleeping. So, Happy New Year, where ever you want to be. :)

Can you see the strip fireworks from your home?

Anonymous said...

Hi Joe
I really enjoy your blog and have been reading it for a while now. I love your updates on Vegas. I have spent two new years eves there and have enjoyed them very much. Now that I am older I probably wouldnt enjoy it as much. Your gdaughter is adorable - I have 3 of my own - and they sure make life interesting. Happy new years to you and your family and I am very envious of you living in the Vegas area. Take care and keep up the good blogs.

Vancouver, BC Canada

The Blonde Duck said...

Happy New Years!

Fragrant Liar said...

We're going to be making our own Strip here in Austin! It'll be chilly but not bad, and the Bailey's will be flowing, so . . . woot-woot!

Karen said...

Wishing you all the best! As always! :-)

SOL's view said...

Hope you had a great new year. I spent it sleeping! Party animal, me. :) Was woken however at about 20 past midnight by my daughter drunk dialling.

4C! Gosh, that's sooooo cold. Mid winter minimum for us!

AiringMyLaundry said...

Happy New Year!

It's been about that cold over here too.

The Blonde Duck said...

Hope you had a good new year!

SOL's view said...

Thanks Joe. I heard you had a light snow!

Yes, the floods are much further north from where I usually am. This year, silly me spent Christmas much further north than I usually do. :)

Virginia Gal said...

I am dying to see your pictures of the snow that hit Las Vegas!

The Blonde Duck said...

Thanks for your kind words!