A question about Vegas

[Rajah]

Has anyone with asthma and/or allergies to cigarette smoke been recently, and if so how was Las Vegas for smoke? My mom said it was pretty bad when she went a couple of years ago. I'd like to see Vegas, but if the smoke is bad I'd be in trouble. So, how is it?

 

[supercarrie]

I cannot be anywhere near smokers. I used to have asthma, but I still cannot handle it at all. I went to Vegas in June, and am going again tomorrow. It is always fine for me, but then again, I stay out of the casinos and bars since I am underage. When I do have to pass through them I go through as quickly as possible. My parents always make sure to get a non-smoking room and we always sit in the non-smoking sections in restaurants, etc. I have been able to have a great time seeing the hotels and other attractions without getting sick.

 

[Jeafl]

I have asthma too, and I didn't find it to be a problem. Most of the newer hotels have great ventilation systems, and even thoguh there are people smoking, I didn't find it too smoky. Some of the older hotels and casinos (especially downtown on Fremont street) were much smokier, and I would avoid them.

 

[Rajah]

Okay -- any suggestions for which hotels would be the best for someone with asthma to stay in and which to avoid?

 

[disykat]

I went in November last year. The only places I had to leave were the oldies at the end of the strip like Circus Circus (Ugh! it was horrible). Some of the newer places were better. We stayed at the Luxor and could get around it pretty well since the aisles in the casino were much more open and you weren't as surrounded by smoke while passing through. I could tell pretty quickly when entering a building if it was going to be a problem and was able to access every where we wanted to go.

I did have all my medications, and got my steroid inhaler ramped up several days in advance (I do that any time I fly)so I was prepared for the worst. It really wasn't the problem I thought it would be for me - but we spent very little time in the actual casinos.

 

[supercarrie]

I have stayed at the MGM Grand and the Tropicana the last two times - DO NOT stay at the Tropicana - it was awful. The MGM Grand, on the other hand, was not that bad - it is so big that maybe the smoke disperses or something. The hallways did not smell like smoke, either.

 

[Rajah]

What about the Hilton, where Star Trek: The Experience is? That's one of the things we would like to see.

Or how about the Mirage? How is it?

 

[Dan Murphy]

There is smoke everywhere in Vegas, must be the smokiest place there is. I will say the the Bellagio, Venetian and Paris are not bad, even in the casinos, due to more up to date ventilation systems. I would suspect Aladdin would be similar. The other places, like Ceasar's, Ballys, MGM, New York New York and the like are pretty horrific, IMO. But then, I can't stand be around the smell of it.

 

[Jeafl]

The Mirage is very nice, and I don't remember it being that smoky. The ones that I felt had the least amount of smoke were the Bellagio, Venetian, Paris, Mandalay Bay. Luxor and Caesar's Palace.

 

[dcgrumpy]

DH can't stand to be around anyy smoke. I don't recall him complaining at all while we were there.

The Hilton is off the strip and quite a walk down a seedy block to get to the there.

 

[DopeyRN]

We stayed at the Venetian in December...got a GREAT deal at $79/night. I did spend time in the casinos...I was not crazy about the Venetian casino...LOVED Paris. Mirage was very nice. I remember Caesar's being kinda smoky. I hate smoke and to me it really was not that bad...no urge to go burn my clothes LOL. Have you inhaler with you, just in case, but hopefully you will be fine.

 

[Cindy B]

Lets see, I was in the Flamingo, (didn't smell), Mirage (didn't smell), Statrosphere (didn't smell), MGM (not too bad)

The older downtown ones were more smokier than the others....

 

[Carl]

Avoid the areas with low ceilings. Even in the same casino there are areas with higher ceilings. For example, the MGM. We stayed at the MGM the last 2 times we were at Vegas. As has been pointed out, the hotels have great ventilation systems and smoke is only a real problem if you sit next to someone who is smoking. Unfortunately, smoking and drinking seem to go with Vegas, so there are quite a few people smoking. You just have to be prepared to get up and leave your slot if someone sits down near you and starts to smoke.

On another note, Rajah, we found Vegas to be really bad last March in the respect that the slots were set to really bad return rates. I have heard that it has been that way ever since 9/11. They have suffered a real loss in attendance and are making up for it by having the lowest payback rates allowed. My mother was so disgusted by it that she says that she will never go back. It's not that we expect to come away winners. All we want is a little play off the machines for our money. In March all the machines did was take, take, take. No bonuses - nothing.
On a positive note, since 9/11 there have been some GREAT hotel offers. We stayed at the MGM for $59 per night - in the Grand Tower.

 

[Rajah]

Considering we're not looking at going to Vegas to gamble, we're looking to go to Star Trek: The Experience, see some of the themeing, eat in a few restaurants that DH has been wanting to visit, and see a few of the free shows and possibly one that isn't free, it doesn't matter to me that the slots aren't paying off.

Of course, right now I'm saying we're not going at all unless DH brings it up again. He told me to price out a trip there and a few other places, but every time I try to discuss what I found he tunes me out. So I'm through humoring him for a trip unless *he* brings it up.