Why You Should Skip Vegas and Visit These Awesome Places Instead

This news might come as a surprise, but not everyone wants to play in Las Vegas – What! We know! This news comes as a surprise, but in some ways, it’s a good thing. If everyone went to Vegas and nowhere else, the overcrowding would take the joy away from the rest of us.

Thank goodness we are not all the same and don’t have the same taste, so with that view in mind, here are some alternatives to Las Vegas that offer the same fabulous vibe, just not in Nevada and not limited to the US, with some online adventure thrown in the mix.

What alternatives are there to going to Las Vegas?

What are the best Vegas alternatives? We hear you ask, and the answer is – there are loads of incredible options! Some of these alternatives are in unusual places, and some will be places near you that you might not have considered visiting until now. Let’s start with Atlantic City and move on to Reno, and if that’s not enough, try Monte-Carlo, Lisbon and a budget alternative to Vegas outside Paris.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

If you’re looking for the best alternative to Vegas, Atlantic City in New Jersey is the first palace to try. Atlantic City matches Vegas for fun but scaled down. Las Vegas has 266 casino hotels, while AC has 131. If you check the reviews for Atlantic City, the Borgata Casino comes in first place, followed swiftly by the Caesars Atlantic City.

Just like Vegas, AC has some fantastic restaurants and shopping opportunities. Unlike Las Vegas, which is a relatively new resort, Atlantic City was a health resort way back in the 1800s, which is old by American standards.

The other thing to love about Atlantic City is it’s on the sea in New Jersey, so if you love fresh seafood, massive prawns, delicious lobster and amazing clams, AC has it all (and more). If we had to mention one downside (we don’t have to, but we will) – AC doesn’t have the weather Vegas has. 

You can expect between 240 and 450 hours of sunshine a month in Vegas but only 200 to 340 in AC. January is a cold month in Atlantic City, so if you’re looking for a sunny vacation spot with the best casino location, choose Reno.

Reno, Nevada

Okay, Reno isn’t far away from Vegas as the crow flies (compared to Atlantic City). Reno is in the same state, but it’s a world apart in style and history. Reno is actually 50 years older than Vegas, and with 50 years more experience, Reno is way more laid-back, and the weather reflects its relaxed attitude.

Reno is one of the best casino destinations because the hotels are well-run, and the people who live and work in Reno are uber-friendly. Casino hotels like The Atlantis in Reno offer an excellent alternative to Atlantis Hotel and Casino in Vegas.

We love Reno as one of the best casino destinations because you can ski at Lake Tahoe in the morning and play the slots in the afternoon, and you definitely can’t do that in Vegas. 

Where are the best casino destinations outside of Vegas 

It’s no surprise that some Americans never leave the USA; with so much choice in one country, why would you leave? If, like me, you love a casino vacation, imagine the fun you can have in New Orleans, Palm Springs or Niagara Falls. All these fantastic locations have gorgeous casino hotels plus loads more – Jazz in New Orleans, anyone?

However, if you’re looking for the best casino destinations outside of Vegas and not in the USA, you must travel to Europe to find comparable but completely different casino hotels, and the top of the list must be the Casino de Monte-Carlo.

The Casino de Monte-Carlo

If you decide to take the plunge and visit Europe, then fly to Monaco or Nice Airport and stay for a few luxurious days in either town just to acclimatise to the cultural change. Either city is delightful, and the view from the cliff top in Nice across the Côte d’Azur is mind-blowing, a true delight for the senses and sets you up perfectly for your stay at the Casino de Monte-Carlo.

The casino in Monte-Carlo is the setting for a particularly famous scene in the James Bond film Casino Royale; nevertheless, just by reputation alone, it’s Europe’s most illustrious casino. The Monte-Carlo casino and entertainment complex was built in 1878 as a health spa by Charles III, Prince of Monaco, to offer him some debt relief by offering stylish holidays to the wealthy.

Designed by the architect of the Paris Opéra, Charles Garnier, the building reflects the opulent Belle Époque style, standing in formal gardens with a sweeping view over the sea and the small but perfectly formed principality of Monaco.

Even if you don’t go to gamble, you can enjoy a stylish stay and a cocktail at the Casino de Monte Carlo’s beautiful Blue Bar, but with so many gaming tables and play options, only 007 would visit for the scenery alone.

If you want to stay in France and don’t have the cash to stay at the Casino de Monte-Carlo, then a budget alternative to Vegas and Monte Carlo is the Casino Barrière d’Enghien-les-Bains, located just outside of Paris – full of European style but at a fraction of the cost.

Some budget alternatives to Vegas

While we are talking about budget breaks, we have to mention some gorgeous locations that give more bang for your buck, more pound for your pound, and more yin for your yuan. Starting with Casino Estoril, Lisbon. 

Portugal must be on your European bucket list, and the Casino Estoril, Lisbon, offers the best value alternative to Vegas in Europe. Plus, Lisbon is the home to history and heritage after all the Portuguese discovered America – and before you shout, Chris Columbus was a Portuguese nobleman and not born in Italy, as some will have you believe. 

You can’t stay in the Casino Estoril, and it is not open 24 hours; the laws in Portugal don’t allow all-day and all-night activity, but the casino is open until 3 am every day, which is more than enough time to play when there are Pasta De Nata to eat and Vinho Verde to drink.

Lisbon is beautiful and in the heart of Europe, but what if your budget doesn’t extend to any sort of travel? Then you have options – visit a casino online.

Some comparisons between land-based and online casinos 

We have to say from the start that you can’t compare land-based casinos to online casinos like for like – that’s impossible. The experience is completely different; there are pros and cons to land-based and online casinos, and all are valid.

The way to think about an online casino experience is a bit like a 4 pm cake break – it’s a filler, a delicious filler, mind you, but nevertheless, a filler until you can get some funds together for your visit to any of the above locations plus visiting an online casino has some other benefits that you might not have discovered.

You can play at an online casino in your underwear, but you can’t do that in Vegas (unless you’re in a burlesque show) or starring in the Moulin Rouge in Paris. The online casino has no dress code, no closing time and no limit to the all-you-can-eat buffet. Admittedly, you have to provide the buffet and the snacks; they are not on tap as in a land-based venue, but that’s a small detail.

Land-based casinos and resorts are fantastic, and whether you prefer Las Vegas, Reno, Palm Springs, or Lisbon is irrelevant because each offers a unique adventure where you’re the tour guide (without the ridiculous commentary), and you call the tune.

Online casinos are a snapshot of fun. They offer a budget alternative to Vegas unless you live in Vegas, and then that’s another story; an overload of fabulousness might lead you to the online casino. 

We hope you enjoyed this snapshot of Vegas alternatives. If you didn’t keep it to yourself, as the famous 2003 R&R Brothers slogan says – what happens in Vegas stays there; the same is true for us – only funny or informative comments will get a reply.