Vegas, New Orleans or Miami/Ft. Lauderdale for Vacation..Where Go?

Three options for myself and Mrs. DX for vacations in early January are Vegas, New Orleans or Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. I've never been to Vegas and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale before. I've been to New Orleans. Any recommendations/insight?

Ft. Lauderdale, spearmint rhino and a short drive north to visit a certain magazine. Depending on when in January you could catch the roar before the 24 in Daytona

Need background info - what have been your favorite vacations in the past?

A it south of Miami are the Keys. Really great place to kick back.

I've been to the Keys the last two winters and loved it. I didn't care for Miami as much. I can't speak for the other places.

Vegas is for drinking, under aged drinking, gambling and expensive shows (and extreme heat if you went in the summer). I like to think of it as a aliens cheap amusement park ride version of the US. It's interesting at first, but ultimately sad. (you may see lizard people though, especially in old town... freaky)

Not a fan myself (if you can't tell )

I've been to all 3, in order of preference it would be New Orleans, Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale. But since you've never been to Vegas it might be worth the trip. New Orleans is just one of those places with a lot of variety, great food, and a real genuine local flavor.

aircooled wrote: Vegas is for drinking, under aged drinking, gambling and expensive shows (and extreme heat if you went in the summer). I like to think of it as a aliens cheap amusement park ride version of the US. It's interesting at first, but ultimately sad. (you may see lizard people though, especially in old town... freaky) Not a fan myself (if you can't tell )

Don't forget the box trucks with women for rent that cruise the strip...

JThw8 wrote: I've been to all 3, in order of preference it would be New Orleans, Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale. But since you've never been to Vegas it might be worth the trip. New Orleans is just one of those places with a lot of variety, great food, and a real genuine local flavor.

Never been to Ft. Lauderdale myself, and not being a gambler/drinker/partier my view is probably somewhat skewed. That said, everyone needs to do Vegas at least once. Although personally I much prefer the desert around the city than the city its self. Hint: If you have time/transportation, book a tour of the Techatticup mine in Eldorado Canyon and check out the dry lakebed on the way out...also drive past the mine to the Colorado river and enjoy the views.

On the other hand, New Orleans is a city I enjoy visiting - even as someone who hates large cities. I wouldn't recommend Bourbon St. after dark(unless that's your thing), but the French Quarter in general is awesome. The street cars are also a nice way to spend the afternoon when it gets too hot and/or rainy.

New Oreleans= E36 M3hole Vegas=fake place to lose your money

So, I guess my vote is for FL.

T.J. wrote: New Oreleans= E36 M3hole Vegas=fake place to lose your money So, I guess my vote is for FL.

Vegas = don't berkeleying gamble and enjoy the great food, drink a bit too much, take in a show or two, visit the Grand Canyon, rent an exotic and drive out into the hills and enjoy some neat roads, do some people watching.

I enjoyed Vegas. I won more than I lost, so there's that. We did a lot of stuff outside the strip including riding RZRs in the desert, which was a blast. We also did the usual activities on the strip...eat, drink, shows, etc, which was fun through the week, but a little too crowded and crazy on the weekends. I've stayed in the Cosmopolitan, New York New York, and Caesars Palace...liked Cosmo the best, then NY, and couldn't stand Caesars....only stayed there one night then ditched it and moved to NY. We plan to stay at Aria next.

I couldn't wait to get out of New Orleans....

That area of FL is fun and if I was heading that direction I'd be in the keys.

If you want to be a tourist, Vegas is a fun place to spend a few days. For a destination city, Hotels in Vegas are CHEAP. Check out rates for Sundays - Wednesdays. Both times I went, I stayed in the center strip. Parking is generally free, too. Everything else is expensive, though. Bring your own booze for drinking at home base.

Come to Vegas. I'll buy you a beer :)

turboswede wrote: Vegas = don't berkeleying gamble and enjoy the great food, drink a bit too much, take in a show or two, visit the Grand Canyon, rent an exotic and drive out into the hills and enjoy some neat roads, do some people watching.

This. I don't gamble...or drink...but I love Las Vegas. Plenty to do, cheap hotel rates (at nice places), great food, lots of nearby stuff.

Just got back from a week in New Orleans. I always enjoy my time there, and this time was no different. We ate great food everywhere we went, strolled the garden district, toured a swamp, shopped the French Quarter, rode the streetcars, checked out the Aquarium, relaxed, slept, hit the WWII museum, ate some more, caught some great live music, watched a parade...a great town with lots to do and see.

I also enjoy Vegas, but I am not a gambler. That means that I enjoy shows and the theatrics of the casinos and shopping and renting a Harley for a trip to the mountains and sitting poolside at Mandalay Bay and clubbing and eating and stuff like that.

Miami is kind of a dump. Sure, there is South Beach, but your money does not go too far there. To me, Miami is the place where I pick up my convertible to head to Key West.

None of the above except maybe the Keys.

Been to Ft Lauderdale once in the Navy. Meh. Never been to Vegas but no burning desire.

Lived in New Orleans for a year, visited many times. I want to go back soon... (you see my choice.)

I have been to all of them. I like New Orleans - lots to do good food, street cars etc. Vegas - stayed at the Aria which is nice. Not in a hurry to go back. Ft Lauderdale/Miami I would not bother. Keys I like on the other hand.

Yeah I kind of agree and I used live nearby Ft Lauderdale. It's a concrete jungle, but not the good kind. Tons of sprawl and traffic.

Update: Vegas got shot down. New Orleans was too expensive. We're doing a cruise that leaves out of Miami on a Monday afternoon and goes to Key West, Cozumel, Mexico and back in port on Friday Morning. Going to be flying in Sunday and meander around Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Any recommendations on to fly into Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. I found cheaper flights into the second one. Also, any good eats around there?

Find seafood.

92dxman wrote: Update: Vegas got shot down. New Orleans was too expensive. We're doing a cruise that leaves out of Miami on a Monday afternoon and goes to Key West, Cozumel, Mexico and back in port on Friday Morning. Going to be flying in Sunday and meander around Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Any recommendations on to fly into Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. I found cheaper flights into the second one. Also, any good eats around there?

I found the same thing. I flew Southwest into Ft Lauderdale and took a Supershuttle to Miami Beach. I think it was about a hundred cheaper, and I got to stay on Southwest, which I kinda prefer.

I think I'd suggest some other shuttle service there, because Supershuttle doesn't have a physical desk there, so it's a "call someone on the phone and then sit for thirty minutes on what you hope is the right bench while watching other buses and shuttles go by" sort of experience. There were other incidents. I normally like them, but I'd just Uber in future.

Also, do not, under any circumstances, book the Aqua Hotel in South Beach. Just don't do it.

Fly into FLL.

Good eats:

• Michaels Genuine 130 Northeast 40th Street Miami, FL 33137

• The Butcher Shop 165 NW 23RD ST. MIAMI, FL 33127

What area or hotel are you going to be staying at?

Regarding hotels, now is probably not the time to find cheap deals. I also try not to travel south of Boca, but I had a friend stay at this hotel and it looked really nice and well located.

Victoria Park Hotel 855 NE 20th Ave, Ft Lauderdale 33304

You can walk to the beach and you are very close to East Las Olas Blvd where you can find plenty of places to eat or grab a beer.