Places to Avoid, Las Vegas

Sahara Casino is advertising $1 Blackjack tables, which they do have, four of them the day I was there. So that was a good thing, but...read on...
They were full, which I kind of anticipated as $1 Blackjack tables are getting to be as rare as a $9.99 AYCE dinner buffet, especially on the strip, anymore.
I was lucky and didn't have to wait long and also had the luck to get on a table with a friendly dealer and nice co-players. I sat and played for over 3 hours and we all enjoyed our dealers, Lisa and Terri. After about 3 hours one of our co-players was getting a little too full of Christmas cheer and let out with some loud expletives. We calmed him down, he wasn't angry, just having a good time, but a little too boisterous. The floor boss heard this and told the dealer to have us keep it down. Which we did. But then he told the waitress, without telling us, that he cut us off from ordering any further drinks. When we tried to order again, the waitress told us the floor boss cut the table off. I thought that was rather cowardly of him to exert authority in that way, as did the guy who was being boisterous. He went over to talk to the floor boss to tell him not to punish us for his indiscretion. But he would not hear of it. He just blew the guy off. All he told him was that we were all "an annoyance" at that table. So, we all left upon hearing this. I cashed my chips and on the way out a security manager cut me off and asked if I knew the guy who had confronted the floor boss. I told him, I didn't and I didn't talk to any management personnel directly or indirectly. He just kind of grunted and bid us a good night.
I don't know what to say except that it seems Sahara doesn't want their guests to have too good a time. We weren't rude to the dealers, the waitresses or managers until they started their heavy, under-handed tactics on our table. I feel management could have dealt with the situation with a little more tact and diplomacy. I thought businesses who are customer service oriented were suppposed to be more sensitive and respectful towards their customers, but I guess this is not the case with Sahara. Because of this experience, I doubt I will be going to Sahara again, if I visit Las Vegas in the future. If they want to ban me, fine, there are 60-odd other casinos in Las Vegas I can frequent.

I've lived in Vegas for a year now and feel I can share a little bit of what I've learned. No matter where you are in the city you really need to be vigilant, as crime can happen anywhere. If you're planning to go to the main strip area (Caesar's Palace, Bellagio, Mirage, Treasure Island, etc), you should be pretty safe as long as you stay on the boulevard. Don't go down the alleys or side streets as a lot of drug deals etc happen there. Also be alert in the parking garages. Once you get past the Encore casino heading north, you should be extra cautious.. between there and the Stratosphere is more dangerous. If you're planning on visiting Fremont Street and downtown, be very cautious and stick to the boulevard. Stay where there are lots of people. Downtown is a very scary place, especially at night. As far as other areas besides the strip and downtown, I know the area around the air force base is dangerous and the area of Martin Luther King Blvd between Cheyenne and the I-15 has a lot of shady neighborhoods. North Las Vegas definitely has it's share of run-down neighborhoods but they're mostly as you get closer to downtown going south. The farther north you go, the nicer the areas tend to be.

I generally follow this as a rule of thumb, no matter what city I happen to be in. For sure in Vegas, stay away from any streets that are numbered or lettered. (i.e. 1st street, 2nd street, A street, B street, etc....) Numbered and lettered streets marks, obviously, the oldest part of town and is usually, therefore, the bad part. I've had to drive through these areas before and might as well have has a neon sign asking to be the victim of a drive-by... I wasn't, but driving through that area was one of the most nervous, scary experiences of my life. JUST STAY ON THE STRIP.

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As fun and exciting Las Vegas may be to many. There are many areas you need to always be aware of. Vegas has tried to make this area as safe as they can, but you need to be responsible for your own safety too. Fremont Street is exciting and fun, but I would recommend you stay within the confines of the main strip. When myself and my hubby ventured along Fremont street enjoying the Neon Displays they had along in the middle of the street, it was sort of outside the confines of the main area and we were a little uncomfortable. Although, we did not encure any trouble, but just something to think about. You should always keep that in mind even when in the parking garages on Fremont Street and the Las Vegas Strip

Stay in lighted areas and do not wonder off in areas you are not familiar with.

LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
3141 SUNRISE AVENUE
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89101

Be careful about getting ripped of for drinks in caisno bars and clubs.
Most of these places will let you in for free but when you get to the bar they'll fleece you and take the shirt off your back.
One example is the House of Blues bar in Mandalay bay casino. Now I'm not talking about the HOB club/venue itself but the bar right next to it where they have a little stage at the front, some seating/stools and a bar at the back.
Beer not so bad ($7/8) but we ordered a Red Bull & Vodka and got hit for 16 dollars! Also the bar girl was a real misery, spilled our beer all over bar wehn she slammed it down and could have turned the milk sour with her face when we refused to budge until she gave us another. Silly girl!

There are two major casino areas. The Strip and Downtown. Do not walk from the strip to downtown. It is not safe. Also, if you are in the downtown area, stay in the Casino zone. The surrounding area is questionable for safety.

At night avoid the side where the Flamingo is I was approached by a very disrespectful young man and it took a lot for me not to slap the spit out of him. For some reason that side of the street has a lot of hustlers. Even in the daytime some of the salesman over on that side of the street were very rude. They call people names and make fun of them if they don't buy what they are selling.

This is why I prefer to walk where Ceasars, Bellagio, Mirage, Treasure Island side of the street. The Ballys and Bill's Gambling Hall and saloon area is not to bad either.

As with any major city, there are places in Vegas that you won't need or want to go. You may think you've been here so many times that you know it like the back of your hand, but there are places around the tourist traps that even locals don't like to go. Dark alleys and run down industial areas are pretty close to the Strip and dowtown (Fremont), but definitely not a place for out-of-towners. The Strip is where the fun, pretty stuff is. If you must venture off the Strip (to, say, a strip club) take a cab or your own car if you have one.