INTERBIKE PART 1--VEGAS ON THE CHEAP! Last night I returned from Interbike, the bicycle industry annual trade show in Las Vegas. It was a very good show and well worth the expense. And after many years attending this event I have developed a way to make the trip at minimal cost. Many people see Las Vegas as an expensive vacation destination. It certainly can be. There are plenty of hotel casinos where room rates START at $200+ per night. And if one chooses to dine where meals START at $100 per person there are plenty of places that will oblige. If you look around, however, there are real bargains. Interbike for many years was held at the Sands Convention Center which is on the north end of The Strip. I had stayed at the Riviera which is about a 3/4 mile walk north of there. But last year the show was moved to Mandalay Bay which is over two miles further south. Thats a more expensive area to find a hotel room. The north end of The Strip has fallen on hard times during the last few years. There were formerly hotel casinos extending north continuously from Spring Mountain Road where the Sands is located. Around ten years ago deep pocket investors had grand plans to build several mega-casinos north of there so they bought and tore down several of the older places including Frontier, Stardust and Westward Ho. Construction began in a big way and one of the new places--Wynn Hotel and Casino--was completed. Construction at two others--Echelon and Fontainebleau--continued until the economic collapse of 2008 sent shock waves around the world. The Echelon stands today, six years later, as a massive skeletal framework of gigantic proportions. Over $1 billion has been spent on it and word is that a Malaysian investment firm will complete construction of it as an Asian themed casino--someday. The Fontainebleau was brought much closer to completion. It stands today as an imposing, blue-windowed skyscraper that dominates that part of The Strip. In height it is just a bit shorter that the Devon Tower which overwhelms all other buildings in downtown Oklahoma City. But the Fontainebleau is both wider and longer. It has probably 2-3 times the floor space of the Devon Tower. From a distance it cuts a dramatic figure. But then you get closer and realize that the bottom three floors are open to the elements and steel girders sit waiting for...something. Over $2 billion was spent on this building prior to the construction halt and bankruptcy in 2009. In foreclosure it was purchased by corporate raider Carl Icahn for $150 million. He said that The Strip already has enough hotel room space so he has been letting it sit since then as an investment. Wow. So what does all this have to do with Las Vegas being a cheap trip? Well, there are two remaining casino hotels--the Riviera and Circus Circus--isolated by themselves in this part of The Strip, sitting among the unfinished monuments to excess. There used to be a lot of foot traffic from farther south but now there is mostly just empty property for more than 1/2 mile to the south of these two isolated places. They are both nice places to stay. The Riviera is the oldest hotel casino on The Strip, having opened in 1955. Circus Circus is newer. They are both desperate for business (although they both seem busier than they were 2-3 years ago). That desperation has resulted in hotel rates that are mind bogglingly low. A decent room at the Riviera will cost you $18.90 per night. That is not a typo. My son, Peter, and I got a room for two for $25.65 per night. There is a resort fee of $15 per day so that drives up the price a bit but you still wind up paying less than you would at a run down motel in Tucumcari. There is the issue of getting to the show since a walk of 2-3 miles in the Las Vegas heat along the maze called The Strip is not really practical. There are city buses which I used last year and again this year. This time around we found them to be very crowded and, on one occasion, the driver decided that he did not have to stop at Mandalay Bay so we had to go to the next stop about a mile further south, make a kamikazee run across The Strip, and catch the next northbound bus. Kind of annoying. Alternatives include renting a car which is a bit of a hassle or taking a taxi which is what I will probably do next year. Las Vegas is not a place I would ever choose to live. But it has the infrastructure that makes it ideal for attending conventions or trade shows. You just have to figure out what works best for you. And its a very cheap trip once you figure out how things work there. Overall, our total expenses for two days in Vegas were: Room (plus fees) $62, Meals (2 breakfasts,~$70--a bit too high but they were good buffets), Taxi fare ($40), Bus fare $28, Airfare Free (Southwest Miles) so...the total cost of the trip for 2 people: $200. Not bad! Tomorrow--Interbike!
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:50:56 +0000
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