I went to Vegas for Labor Day Weekend, along with about 8,000 other kids from the University of Arizona, and had the time of my life! Although it was a blast and a weekend I will always remember, there were definitely a few circumstances in which I was met with the Vegas reality and my expectations were shattered. Here is some expectations vs. reality lessons learned in Vegas.
Expectation: Everyone is newly 21 or pretty young.
Vegas is the go-to place when you just turn 21 and the place you continue to visit until you are married and have kids.
Reality: So many old people and so many kids.
I was shocked to see so many older people and even a ton of kids! Parents, please don’t bring your children in strollers to Vegas, take them to Disneyland, or your local park, or anywhere else where there isn't a bunch of drunken adults.
Expectation: You'll stay up till 5 a.m. every night.
You rage all day and all night; no naps are needed, you can keep going until the night ends every night.
Reality: Nap for two hours every day and sleep for over eight hours every night.
Drink, sleep, drink, sleep, repeat.
Expectation: Everyone is barely clothed.
Everyone is in their bathing suits by day and in tight dresses and heels by night.
Reality: Hotels won’t let you be barely clothed.
Fun fact, you actually can’t get into pool parties unless you are covered. You also can’t walk through the hotel without clothes on, you will be given a plain white t-shirt.
Expectation: The drinks aren’t that expensive.
You think drinks will be 10 dollars. maybe, no more than 20 dollars.
Reality: No, they really are.
Lies. They are 20 dollars plus. It's not worth it unless you get a Fat Tuesday.
Expectation: You can easily steal a tiger.
Vegas is just like the hangover!
Reality: Security will tackle you to the ground in .2 seconds.
Honestly, if you tried, you would be under five security guards and in jail in a matter of 10 minutes.
Expectation: Slot machines are so fun.
Cha Ching Cha Ching, these are so fun, I’m going to play all night and win so much money!
Reality: All you do is pull a lever.
And then lose money over and over.
Expectation: I’m going to win so much money!
I’m going to gamble the weekend away and come home rich!
Reality: You come out down 500 dollars, not up.
Between gambling, drinks, and food, you come home broke.
Expectation: Nice restaurants and buffets for every meal.
You’re going to try every hotel buffet for lunch and eat at all the fancy places on the strip.
Reality: Starbucks, McDonald's, Repeat.
When you’re drunk, you want greasy food, and you want it fast.
Expectation: You won’t want to drink for a while afterward.
You get so sick of being constantly drunk for three plus days that you want to take a break from drinking for a while after the weekend.
