One of those go or don't go issues

I didn't realize there were other casinos that still require masks, but at least you're used to that. My DH and I take separate vacations also. I guess you both have to be at peace with all possibilities. I've been to Vegas 3x since I was vaccinated and I went once before being vaccinated. I was scared at first, for sure. My DH has asthma, and I don't want to get him sick, but our feeling is that we're pretty confident in the vaccines to avoid severe illness if we were to get sick. I think the most important thing is to talk it out and be on the same page.

 

My husband is homebound with health issues. He's on heavy amounts of oxygen that a portable machine can't deliver so he's tethered by an air hose to a monstrous machine at home. I'm in AC twice a week. I've been to Vegas 3x this past year. I understand your concern and guilt but people have stated very compelling points. Be safe, wear a mask everywhere. By now you know what you should do. Do it. As was stated, Covid has been around for 2 years now and may be a permanent fixture in our lives. Live life. Be as careful as you can but live life. If you're careful then there's nothing you're going to pick up that you couldn't get at the local grocery store, restaurant or Walmart. Don't kick yourself just for living life.

 

This time 1000 + get a COVID self test that you do upon arrival home (or go to any place a professional can do it).

 

Just a couple of observations.

1) You can definitely social distance in the casinos if you get uncomfortable. They've gotten busier, but if you're concerned, you can play at off times and have plenty of space. Not so much at the bars in the evenings, and mask compliance at the bars is very low, but you don't have to be there. I've felt quite comfortable on the casino floor, less so in the restaurants (although not bad at all), and less than that at the bars. But if you get near a rowdy crowd not wearing masks and coughing up a lung, you can always just move on.

2) The air in commercial aircraft changes over very, very frequently (like every three minutes) so the only place I'm really concerned about while flying is at the gate and in the terminal.

3) It truly comes down to what you and your husband are comfortable with. Some of us have high risk tolerance, some of us don't. I don't think this is going away any time soon, if ever, so do whatever you and your husband can deal with. I'm 100% certain something will kill me, just not sure what/when.

 

All good points, @irishdave. If it was just me I wouldn't give it another thought, I'd just go. Like you say, something is going to get us all. I've ordered a supply of better quality masks to wear and contacted my Dr to see what testing procedure she recommends when I return. I guess all that remains to see if what new catastrophe threatens to wipe us out in the next two weeks and go from there.

When I went in May I ordered most of my food to go and ate in my room, not because I didn't want to eat in a restaurant, but because I didn't want to wait in line to be seated.

 

...Exactly. My wife survived ovarian cancer, so in retirement when the Vegas 'urge' was there, we would make every attempt to go, not knowing what the next day/month/year might bring. Now she is in an assisted living residence, suffering from advanced dementia. In the last six months after being away for nearly two years, I have made two solo trips and have a third planned in two weeks. I don't hunt or play golf or ....?? Vegas, even post pandemic, is a welcome diversion in my life.
I know my wife would approve if she could and that I would want her to do the same if it was me.
'Crabby' should ease up a bit.
I have the luxury of being 'only' 275 miles away and can drive. With all the proper precautions you mentioned, go for it. I am 79.

 

Judgmental Stink Eye would generally deepen my belligerence. If I wanted to go, I'd go

My determination to do whatever I want aside,..... these are very strange times. Regardless of external pressures, decisions related to communicable disease spread are personal. I go to LV often, and as a single person, answer to no one. But I canceled a few trips late '20, early '21 due to the Delta surge and to play it safe for myself.

I'll be watching the very latest news on the Omicron variant that was reported in many European countries this weekend. IF it spreads to North America and IF it is resistant to our vaccines for transmission AND severity of illness, I may curtail my travel.

Emphasis on IF. I don't want to start a debate on Covid, vaccines, variants, etc. Just sharing what I'll be monitoring.

 

Such a personal decision. I think the vast majority here are ok with whatever you decide. We are going tomorrow but, not without some thought and hesitation. To the best of my knowledge we are all healthy but, taking some precautions. I booked the weekend part of trip away from Vegas and most likely won’t be going to busier casinos later evenings. On the other hand we have dinners and shows booked…

 

I’ll be 70 this week. Two of my buddies and I (less than pre Covid) decided to take the trip to Vegas at the beginning of the month, to see the Breeder’s Cup, NFL, etc. Because we/I are Canadians, it is infinitely more complicated because of the Covid testing requirements and entry of data.

Still, off we went, buoyed by the fact that Las Vegas takes Covid seriously and the requirements ARE very similar to Toronto. I.e. Masking is required everywhere! The difference is, that proof of complete vaccination is not required to be shown everywhere as it is here- for Restaurants, Concerts, Sports Events, etc. In addition, people can drive to Vegas- without being vaxxed as opposed to the 100% requirement on airlines.

Thus, I/we did things in a bit more subdued way, avoiding certain aspects, at least until we got the Negative test result- < 3 days from our return flight. However, just the very fact that we were able to go somewhere after 20 months being restricted, was a positive experience for us! We toasted immediately upon arrival.

One of us stayed another week.
Another has already returned to see his Grandchildren in California.
ALL of us are well.

Don’t do anything really stupid and you’ll be fine!

 

My feedback pertains to this particular part of the story and I hope everyone can take it as general philosophy and not political in nature.

It's a simple matter of fact that COVID-19 is endemic at this point. It's never going away. We will likely have some quantity of recorded cases and deaths for the rest of our lives in the same way that we still have influenza cases and deaths that can be traced back in origin to the 1918 pandemic even to this day.

The tools to protect against COVID-19 are widely available at this point and it sounds like the wife and the friend had both availed themselves of those tools so what else could they have possibly done other than to step back from living life and forgoing in person relationships with other people indefinitely? The wife probably feels awful but she should not feel guilty. Even if she hadn't brought it home, someone else eventually would unless they were willing to defensively quarantine until old age took them.

So my non-political and purely philosophical take in all this is that it's time to make a decision regarding how you want to live the rest of your life and what risks you are willing and not willing to take and go from there. I wouldn't judge you any way you choose to go with that. It's your call.

 

My advice. Only do what you are comfortable with. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of a Vegas trip, don't go. You wont have a good time if you are constantly worried.

That said, if you are vaxxed, boosted and wear a mask all the time (and not around your neck)... you're likely good. I use a KF94 or KN95 mask which actually filters way better than a cloth mask and are very breathable. I wear a new mask daily and toss the older one. Hand sanitizer of course all the time. Oh and if an area gets too crowded or people are getting too close, then leave the situation or ask for some distance. Lastley, those self covid tests are cool but if you are exposed, you wont get symptoms for a few days and it wont register on the tests. Maybe stay away from anyone who is having health issues for a week after returning to be on the safe side.

Enjoy your trip!

 

@tvon Yeah, I've been rolling the self covid test around in my brain. I still think it could have some value. If I leave on Monday and come home Saturday, that's 6 days. If I was exposed at the beginning of my trip, possibly at the airport, it could show a positive already, couldn't it? But assuming it's negative, if I wait several more days then take it again, and assuming I have no symptoms, maybe that would work. If I go to the pharmacy drive thru when I get home, I think their turn around is 2 or 3 days. I did order some KN95 masks from a place called WellBefore. They're nice, individually wrapped and I can breathe okay in them.

@woodsie I do agree, at some point we have to just start living again. In the next day or two the decision will be made and I'll second guess myself either way. I know me. There are other issues that make travel a pain in the butt now. The airport shuttle I use is running at bare bones. Instead of every hour, they are running every 2+ hours, which gives me a 3 hour sit at the airport. It's not quite an hour ride from where I get picked up. I don't drive in Portland. I asked if when business picks up will shorten up the wait time. Their answer...they can't get help.

 

Well I hope you enjoy yourself fully and without reservation when you are ready to make that call.

 

Can you split the difference and go on your trip but self-quarantine for a couple days when you get back and take a COVID test? At least that way if you can confirm you're negative for the virus you can all feel comfortable you didn't bring the virus back with you.

 

the antigen tests are easily available at CVS/Walgreens. Test your self daily if you are concerned! And i prefer the KF94 masks, a little more comfortable. Easily available on amazon

 

I know I am in the minority but I would wait a year. The Omnicron variant is weaker in terms of symptoms. In a year it might even become less deadly.

 

I did end up going. I've been home almost 2 weeks now with no symptoms, so covid didn't turn out to be an issue. As I mentioned elsewhere, there's a lot about Vegas that has changed and much of it was already starting before covid. Then when you toss the covid changes in on top of that it, Vegas is less to me than it used to be. My old home away from home, Gold Coast, is looking for a different customer. So when that happens, that customer starts looking for a different home. Whether that turns out to be just different casinos when I frequent Vegas or going local, I don't know. It's going to take me a few more trips to figure that out. Next one's in May.

 

The Gold Coast has always been our place to stay. We like the video poker and the location. Since we haven’t been there in two years due to Covid I am wondering what changes you saw. I realize the buffet is no longer and we will miss seeing the same friendly faces we encountered there. We are hoping to try this spring as my husband and I are not getting younger ( in our 70’s ) and vegas has always been a good get away .

 

In addition to the buffet, Noodle Exchange is effectively gone. They reduced their menu to a one page sheet and there's just nothing left on it that I like. They still have the hot pots. To me what's left maybe caters toward an Asian diner. So what you have left is Ping Pang Pong, Cornerstone, TGIF and Subway. I like Ping Pang Pong, but not as well as I used to like Noodle Exchange. When I'm solo I don't go to Cornerstone, but I'm assuming it's still good. Subway is Subway. TGIF was just awful this last trip. For me that's just not enough places to eat. I spent one night at Sam's and they have a better variety of food. Didn't check Orleans this last trip.

Depending on mobility, there's a chick-fil-a, taco place and Walgreens across the street now. (same side as Palms, but in the other direction, cross the street, go left) I'm not sure when Palms is scheduled to reopen, but that might be a better option for food if Gold Coast doesn't add any more options.

They continue to replace a lot of the older slot machines. I don't know what amount you play, but many of the new ones are .75 or .88 minimum. If you're a .50-.60 a spin player like myself, they are getting short on machines. I don't play VP at all, so I couldn't tell you what they've done with those. The drink service on the floor was decent.

I don't do table games, but they seemed pretty busy. It was smokey in there.

The rooms have certainly not changed since you've been there. They haven't changed since I first went there. The room was clean and housekeeping was available daily to see if i wanted service, which I didn't. You can get a refrigerator now for $15 for your entire trip. (at least that's what I was offered)

Taxi service is $28 from the airport. I rode the city bus around quite a bit during the day, $1 for senior, and it was fine. That $1 ride from Gold Coast to Sam's is a good deal although it takes about 45 minutes.

I don't know what else to tell you. Senior day is Tuesday, but there's not much left of it anymore, 10x multiplier and a bingo promo.

 

Glad to hear you went to LV. I try not to let anything stop me in life. Careful, yes. Responsible, usually. But I've only got another couple of decades to be traipsing around this globe and I want to do as much of it as I can. Hope a positive attitude rubs off on you!

I always loved the GC. I love Chinese food and Noodle Exchange was just great by me. Also loved PPP, but NE was my favorite. Sorry to hear it's so scaled back. Love the vp offered at GC but I agree about the smokiness. In fact, the smokiness is why I've moved my Boyd play to California and ST. Don't really get back to GC much anymore.