Is Las Vegas living up to, well … being Las Vegas 🤔 There’s been a lot of talk about our town losing its mojo this year, especially on the Strip as tourism drops, spending drops, and everything else seems to drop (except the prices). So as Vegas enters its malaise era, what other cities are picking up the slack?
🎰 Laughlin
At first glance, Laughlin looks a lot like Vegas with bright neon lights, entertainment, and casinos, but with one big perk — the Colorado River running alongside it. This small Nevada town is about a 90-minute drive outside Vegas and while it’s tiny in comparison, offers a cozy, comfortable vacation experience for a fraction of the price. Hotels run $61 per night on average, the resort fees are dramatically lower, and yes, the parking’s free wherever you go.
🏰 Orlando
According to a recent study, Florida is “more fun” than Nevada 😕 And a lot of that has to do with Orlando. The city is famous for huge theme parks like Disney World, Universal, and Legoland — and has nearly as many hotel rooms as Vegas. Orlando is taking aim at our convention and expo business too with a major expansion of the Orange County Convention Center getting underway next year.
⛳ Mesquite
There was a time when lush, green golf courses were a standard amenity at Strip resorts. The concept has run dry these days — thanks drought 👋 — but it’s a different story 80 miles north in Mesquite. The golf courses are busy and beautiful, fed with an ample underground water supply and the casinos advertise on affordability while gradually improving accommodations and dining options.
🎸 Nashville
There’s a reason the phrase “Nashvegas” came along. Music City is leaning into its reputation as an entertainment and drinking destination — and even staking its claim as the top place for bachelorette parties to go wild in the United States. Nashville is like Vegas in another big way too: It recently announced plans for a new underground Tesla tunnel system similar to the Vegas Loop. (Sorry. We tried to warn you.)
🇲🇴 Macau
Formerly a Portuguese colony, Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal. That allows the somewhat autonomous territory to have much of the Asian casino market to itself — with gambling revenue that’s three times what Vegas generates and more than 50% of the local economy 🤯 Macau borrows a lot from Sin City, especially on the Cotai Strip (à la Vegas Strip) with its own Venetian, Wynn, and MGM casino resorts inspired by the ones back home. However, Macau is quieter than Vegas, focusing more on gambling than partying and entertainment.
- Did we miss one? Let us know about cities you’ve visited that score high on Vegas vibes 📫
