Vegas is a lot different than I thought it would be.

It’s really nice.

I always imagined that it was kind of trashy and dirty, a seedy place with drugs, drunks and hookers roaming the streets.

But in reality, it’s a lot like Disney World.

Things are very nice, very clean and well controlled.

It’s no place for kids, but it’s a nice place.

The worst part is solicitors that hand out cards advertising hookers.  They’re not hard to avoid, but there are a lot of those cards just lying around on the sidewalk.

Most of the people in Vegas are relatively well off.  If you’re there to gamble, it carries a pretty high price tag.  The riff-raff, most likely, have other places to go.

If you’re gambling and taking part in everything, Vegas can be expensive.  But Melissa and I have made a game out of it.

We go out and see how little we can spend, and how much we can get.  There’s a lot to be had for free here.

Sunday night we went to the Bellagio, got $10 in free play and free drinks as long as we were there.  We actually left with $2.50 in our pocket and spent nothing other than tips for the drinks.

These deals are all over the place.

In fact, in moderation Vegas could be one of the cheapest vacation destinations available.

There is so much competition here.  Free game play, free drinks, discount dinners… everybody is working so hard just to get you in the door.

Gambling is expensive, but Vegas itself is great.  Make the most of all the morons wasting their retirement in the Flamingo and take advantage of the deals.