Anyone been to Las Vegas?

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I have just got back from a 2 week holiday in America. I went with a friend from work, we spent a few days in Las Vegas then hired an RV and went driving for 10 days, through Death Valley and Yosemite national parks, then to San Francisco and down to Los Angeles, finally ending up back in Las Vegas.

Now Vegas has really struck a cord with me. It was by far the highlight of the trip, so much so that I am now thinking about moving there to live. I have been toying with the idea of moving abroad for a few years, I am planning a few more trips to different countries looking for the right place to move to over the next year or so, although I am beginning to think I have found the place I want to go already.

I loved the sunshine in Vegas (I am very tired of the endless cold here in the UK). I am not really a gambler, I only spent about $4 in the casino at the hotel I stayed in so loosing all my money is not likely to happen (I am too sensible for all that!). I found the people really friendly, the city has a great open feeling to it, not claustrophobic like London can be. Endless things to see and do, the always changing skyline, Lake Mead and Mt Charleston only a stones throw away not to mention a number of other cities like LA less than a days drive away.

There was a lot of new housing developments I saw down in Henderson, a quick Google turned up loads of houses and apartments to rent. I don't think I would have much trouble finding an IT job (famous last words). I think I have the makings of a plan....

So has anyone been to Las Vegas, what did you think of the place?

 

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I got called about an IT job a while back in a Casino in Vegas Casinos pay REALLY well, which is a bonus but the Vegas scene isn't really for me, kind of fallen in love with the Northwest, but I kinda knew that before I moved Vegas does have the benefit of being a larger market area than my current locale, and there is lots of high tech, as well as being one of the most well connected places in the US (not sure how the fact that there are thousands of fiber links there translates to HOME connectivity, but from a business perspective things are good)

 

Been there a few times and its always fun, but kinda Disneyland for adults, not sure if I could live there. I expect the citys different if you're a local.

Did a road trip around the US last year, people seem really friendly and I also fancied working abroad for a bit, looked into getting the visa but it looks like a royal pain in the a$$ plus at least a 50% pay cut.

 

Try to take the cost of living different into account

I will be taking a pay cut, yet my spending power is increasing, the market average for my skill set is between $70k and $100k, + performance pay

when the $ was 1.9ish that would of been almost £35 - £50k, its a bit different now as the currency is fluctuating like hell but if we continue to look at US products vs UK products at a £:$ ratio as is often the case (a £500 product is often around $500) then my spending power is increasing, as if I was earning £100k + performance pay in the UK

and there are many cases where the ratio is even BETTER (petrol being one of them, but I'm looking at renting a 2500sft home, 4 bedrooms + game room, living room, 3 bath and 3 car garage) for just over $1000 a month My 2 bed FLAT in London cost over £800 a month!

 

All good points Phoenix, thanks for the info.

Well another big concern of mine is I don't own UK property. If I were to live and work in the US on a temporary work visa for many years I could come unstuck. I recently met a college lecturer who was deported after 11 years when he lost his job. I wouldn't want to have to buy a UK property on US dollars and be forced to move back after such a long time.

Yeah I figure I'd be looking at $80-$100k if I was lucky in the US, it would be a big drop for me.

Since I will need a work sponsored visa it seems I will be competing with Russians, Brazilians, Indians etc on salary.

Obviously the whole point of the move would be to increase my general enjoyment of life and standard of living, if I end up much worse off then it might just take the edge off the sunshine.

 

It sounds like he didnt actually have permenant residence status
possibly a long term work visa

Work visas do not constitute permenant residence, in fact depending on the actual visa you are tied to the company that sponsors your visa, and changing jobs means the new company must agree to sponsor your visa

As a permenant resident you can become a citizen after 5 years (3 if your married to a USC like me), I cant imagine not doing it if I plan to stay here really

 

I am going to do some research on getting a Visa. I have a little bit left to complete my MCSE and will need to save up a bit of cash, so I doubt anything will happen for 12 months or so. I don't own a UK property either, but that doesn't really bother me much. Based on some quick calculations my standard of living would be at least the same or likely better than currently, with the added bonus of the great whether and the life experience to be gained.

 

I grew up there. I was 9 when we moved there. My father was in the Air Force and he was stationed at the Mercury Nuclear Test Site. I left when I was about 22. Nothing for me to do there. Of course, that was back in the 1970s but I have a few friends who still live there and things haven't gotten any better.

It's dirty and crime ridden. I hope you like sand, because, depending on where you live, a good sand storm will send very fine sand seeping through any cracks or vulnerabilities in your house or apartment. Also, they are totally dependent on the Colorado River for water and a lot of communities want that water, including Los Angeles.

The heat used to be a dry heat back when I was a kid, but the massive growth of the place has resulting in more lawns, more swimming pools, and more humidity. Summers there are incredibly hot. It usually gets over 100 degrees F by the end of May and pretty much stays that way for months at a time. You have to move from your air conditioned house to your air conditioned car to your air conditioned job to...well, you get the idea.

Some things I like. The town is totally 24/7, which means you can do anything at anytime. Want to go to a bar at 4 in the morning? No problem. Same for grocery shopping and any other activity. I don't know if this has changed, but booze and dinner could be pretty cheap depending on where you go (and it can be pretty expensive). I miss the old MGM Grand Hotel. They had a movie theatre that would show brand new prints of the old MGM classics. Theatre seats were two-person sofas, not chairs. There was a table in front of you and if you pushed a button on it, a cocktail waitress would show up to take your order and deliver your drinks. Total film watching luxury. It's gone now.

The Valley of Fire, north of Las Vegas, is a magnificent sandstone monument, ideal for photographers, or it was back when I lived there. If you can get far enough away from the city and suburbs (the light, that is), it's great for star watching and astronomy.

I'd never live there again. When my parents retired and moved away, I lost all motivation to visit the place. I year or so ago, an old friend from high school who still lives there with his wife managed to track me down via the Internet. We've kept in contact and he's invited me to visit, but I'd have to have a really good reason to be in that neck of the woods. If money were no object, and I could live anywhere, I can say, it wouldn't be Vegas.

I really miss Yosemite, though.

 

You'd be looking at about (starting at) CI$6000 per month for that kind of place here (around US$7000) no exaggeration. A one bedroom apartment about the size of a mosquito's earlobe will set you back about CI$1800 per month plus all utilities and tv etc (about US$2500 + utils etc).

Bringing my reply back on topic, I have been to Las Vegas once, although I only saw the airport as I was on a 500 million hour layover on a flight to Charlotte when I moved to Grand Cayman from Vancouver. Taking off at night is a bit special when you look out the window at the spectacle of lights down below.

 

Thanks for the info trip, there is no better qualified person than a local. I figured there would be some crime, maybe a little above average due to the gambling nature of many of the city's visitors. Every major city has it's share of crime, hopefully some areas of Vegas are better than others to live in, that is the sort of information only a local can give guidance on.

I didn't realise the wind could carry fine sand into your home, how much of an issue can it be, worse in winter or summer?

It was a very dry heat still. A driver that picked us up from the hotel to take us to the airport showed us a cup of cola he had in the front with ice in it. There was no moisture on the outside of the cup, even though it was cold and the air was warm. He explained this was because there was less than 7% humidity, when its over 7% there would be moisture on the outside of the cup. Not sure how accurate he was with his figures but it made sense.

I am prepared for the heat, I desperately want to get away from the cold.... month after month of cold in the UK is wearing me down. Cold when I get up, cold when I go out, cold when I get home, cold when I go to bed.

It is still a true 24 hour city, I came down early a few mornings in the hotel to get some breakfast and orange juice in the Starbucks (this was like 06:30) and there were still people in the casino on the slots and dealers dealing blackjack.

I believe the old MGM hotel is now Bally's. I did a little reading on the history of the city. I really liked the Luxor, and the Stratosphere is a great hotel, the view from the tower is amazing day and night.

I did think of astronomy, I have a bit of an interest in star gazing. There seems to be so much to do in Vegas, also in the surrounding areas. I like the fact Mt Charleston is only a few hours away and due to its altitude offers a break from the desert heat.

I think I need to go back next year and test the waters again, spend a few weeks living like a local and see how I feel after that. Right now I feel like its still the place I want to be.

 

I arrived on the plane at night, the lights are an amazing sight

 

I went there a little while back.

To be honest, I found it a bit oppressive.
Everything was too 'busy' - lights, noise, people - and it all came across a bit surreal and false.
Gave me a headache.

In the areas around the city, the heat was frightening.
I remeber the soles of my shoes starting to melt on the pavement and the swimming pool was like a hot bath.

It also comes as a bit of a shock leaving all the glitz of the strip and seeing the outlying areas, as they are as bigger sh*thole as anywhere else - but the contrast is just bigger.

Not my kind of place...

 

I haven't been a "local" for decades and haven't even visited for about 20 years, so as you can imagine, my information is somewhat dated.

The lights on the Strip are truly amazing. I heard the only time they were ever turned off was during WW II during a drill or for energy conservation (I can't remember the exact reason).

I can only imagine that in a well insulated and chalked residence, sand wouldn't be a problem. I remember it being a problem more in the summer, but again, I'm reaching waaaaaaaaaaaay back in my memory.

 

My wife and I went to Vegas for our honeymoon over 9 years ago. Great entertainment, very scenic, lots of stuff to do, so I enjoyed it.

But would I want to live there? Probably not. There was WAY more stuff to do there than we could possibly see in a week... but I'd probably grow tired of it, long term. Plus, I actually enjoy having four seasons.

 

lol, I think they only get summer and very hot summer in Vegas. Your right about there being too much to do in a week

 

Been several times, and always came out craps, even when I was lucky -- you can't beat a man at his own game. I never really understood how someone could live there though, but then I've never lived in the UK. There are so many *much* better places to live in the US than Vegas. Still, if that's your thing, then it's all good. I just think its a 'nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live' kind of area.

I waaaaassss gonna say that SoCal is great if you like nice weather, with plenty of work in and around the L.A. area, but we have a bit of a fire issue at times

 

I was there for a couple of weeks, when I was in the Military. We stayed at the MGM and had massive drinking sessions, but avoided the tables. There is tonnes to do there, as everyone is saying. Personally I wouldnt work there unless I had a really good job waiting for me. Americia is a great place. I lived there for 6 yrs and Vegas is one of many brilliant places to go. (Just my 2 cents)

 

British Expats.

 

Have you shared this with Phoenix?

 

Nice link Math, thanks.
Looks like they have a lot of info there for folks like me looking to get out of the UK.