What's going on Aug 6-10?

[jchillerup]

Hey all,

I'm kindda new to DEFCON, so I was wondering why people are seeking rooms for past August 6. Does the convention somehow continue after August 2? Should I be bummed about having ordered my return flight on the 5th?

[Voltage Spike]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Does the convention somehow continue after August 2? Should I be bummed about having ordered my return flight on the 5th?

Nah, you'll be fine. While there's some stuff that goes into late Sunday night, almost everyone flees immediately after Dark Tangent finishes the closing ceremonies (and a good many are gone, sometimes against their will, before that). If you want to find some Defcon fun after the conference, you'll have to make friends with the stragglers.

[erehwon]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Does the convention somehow continue after August 2? Should I be bummed about having ordered my return flight on the 5th?

While not officially, there are plenty to keep you busy after DT closes down the show, see a show or grab some dinner, hit a buffet with some new found friends. Use Monday to decompress, sober up. You should calling your airline on Monday to see if you can fly stand-by, you might get out Monday, Tuesday.

[shrdlu]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

While not officially, there are plenty to keep you busy after DT closes down the show, see a show or grab some dinner, hit a buffet with some new found friends. Use Monday to decompress, sober up. You should calling your airline on Monday to see if you can fly stand-by, you might get out Monday, Tuesday.

Leaving Tuesday's better than Monday. Leaving LV on Sunday sucks most of all. The freeways are a nightmare, the airport is worse. Cabs are overwhelmed, and the drivers are cross (people tip much better arriving than leaving, for the most part).

Hang around, and take a couple of tours. I saw elsewhere that you'll be arriving from Europe. Go see the Grand Canyon, and the Hoover Dam. Some things are simply worth seeing; you only live once.

[jchillerup]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Hm. I'll be leaving Wednesday, so I guess I'm good?

Regarding the sights, how do I manage to get to them? Will there be shuttles going to the Grand Canyon, for example, or do I have to rent a car? Being 21, I suppose the latter is virtually impossible without paying for some ridiculous insurance--or what? And how about getting around in the city itself?

All in all, I don't know much about Las Vegas--or the US, for that matter. I've only ever been in Europe, and to be honest navigating around Las Vegas is one of my bigger concerns at the moment, seeing that I might not get a Riviera room in time. Through my travel agency I can order rooms at Renaissance, Four Queens and Hampton Inn. If I cannot get a room at Riv I'd prefer to choose one of those three, since I have a voucher for that company (which also made it possible to even go to DEFCON :) )

Sorry for plastering this post with more or less irrelevant questions, but most people (understandably) take these matters for granted :/

[krma]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

hey jchillerup,

regarding your concerns about getting around,
let me offer my opinion on the matter, It was my first time in vegas last year for defcon, I also traveled alone.
I found getting around Vegas itself very easy, taxis are plenty though the more expensive option, if you do manage to stay at the Riv, I used the monorail which is only a short walk from the hotel, and that had me getting all over the "strip" area.

Getting to the other sites, while i didn't do that myself there seemed to be an abundance of tour companies etc offering trips to these places, I'm sure organizing a trip to somewhere wouldn't be all that difficult, I would imagine it wouldn't be hard to find a group of individuals who would also want to do something like the hoover dam or the grand canyon either, I know i would be keen!

so I wouldn't worry about getting around Vegas too much, but, what makes it hard is the HEAT! I'm actually coming from, well pretty much the Sahara Desert, and I was actually humbled by the Nevada Heat last year, that made getting around a little bit harder! (unless it was not in an air-conditioned vehicle)

[noid]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Vegas practically caters to the carless. As Krma states, taxis are available everywhere, but are the more expensive option. Most hotels offer shuttles to various places though. There is the Las Vegas monorail which will take you up and down the strip in addition to the buses. In terms of some of the remote 'things to do' (i.e. grand canyon, hoover dam, etc) they may even have shuttles that come and get you.

A little walking won't hurt you either, just make sure to wear sunscreen, a hat, and drink lots of water. Folks from Europe always seem to have some trouble when they come to DEFCON in regards to the heat, because I don't think theres anywhere in Europe that gets as hot as Vegas in the summer. I am surprised that our desert summer is more brutal than the Sahara though. Then again my idea of the Sahara is based on what I have seen in National Geographic films..

[b0n3z]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Folks from Europe always seem to have some trouble when they come to DEFCON in regards to the heat, because I don't think theres anywhere in Europe that gets as hot as Vegas in the summer. I am surprised that our desert summer is more brutal than the Sahara though. Then again my idea of the Sahara is based on what I have seen in National Geographic films..

if it's anything like the middle east I'll be fine...

cherry colored...but fine

[shrdlu]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Vegas practically caters to the carless....In terms of some of the remote 'things to do' (i.e. grand canyon, hoover dam, etc) they may even have shuttles that come and get you.

There are always tours; ask the concierge at the hotel to arrange it. It's their job. You've gone to the expense to get to Las Vegas. It would seem a shame to miss out on the Grand Canyon. I always think that the Hoover Dam trip is perfect for the random geek.

Here's a linky: http://lasvegasgrandcanyontour.com/

Just an example; there's a bazillion of them.

A little walking won't hurt you either, just make sure to wear sunscreen, a hat, and drink lots of water. Folks from Europe always seem to have some trouble when they come to DEFCON in regards to the heat, because I don't think theres anywhere in Europe that gets as hot as Vegas in the summer.

Pay attention to noid's advice here. I'll echo it. A hat is required. Sunscreen's a good idea too. Water is required. You will become dehydrated, and heat exhaustion is not a pretty sight. Hydrate or Die.

I am surprised that our desert summer is more brutal than the Sahara though. Then again my idea of the Sahara is based on what I have seen in National Geographic films..

It has to do as much with the enormous amount of pavement and insistence on "water features" as it does with the heat. The Sahara is largely soft sand, while the pavement everywhere in Las Vegas really accelerates the effects of the heat. I've spent most of my life in one desert area or another (including Palm Springs and surrounding areas), and pavement is always your enemy.

While I'm thinking about it, you might want to consider bringing light colored loose clothing in addition to the standard hacker t-shirts so favored at the con. Consider how the arabs dress; certainly not in skin tight spandex (thank god).

[sintax_error]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Just to kind of add on to the getting around Vegas bit, a few things to remember when you're out walking around (and you will be, a lot) for the 1st timers:

Booze is no substitute for water, common knowledge, yes, but a bit ignored by the masses. If you insist on walking around in the sun with alcohol, make sure to keep yourself hydrated; water, gatorade, etc. If you stop sweating... drink more water.

A Vegas block is not as short a trek as google maps makes it out to be, cabs and the monorail are your friends.

The monorail doesn't run 24/7. Thursday it'll be running 7am-2am, and Friday-Sunday it'll be running from 7am-3am. So if you're out past 3, and you happen to not be able to remember where you are, or where your table went... or what stardate it is (ahem!) grab a taxi.

All i have for now.

[erehwon]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Just to kind of add on to the getting around Vegas bit, a few things to remember when you're out walking around (and you will be, a lot) for the 1st timers:

Booze is no substitute for water, common knowledge, yes, but a bit ignored by the masses. If you insist on walking around in the sun with alcohol, make sure to keep yourself hydrated; water, gatorade, etc. If you stop sweating... drink more water.

I'd highly recommend packing light colored clothing for wandering around Las Vegas and the tourist spots, I'd also recommend looking into a hydration backpack that will keep water or Gatorade always at hand, keep a second bladder handy for night-time and you'll always have plenty of booze. ;)

A Vegas block is not as short a trek as google maps makes it out to be, cabs and the monorail are your friends.

Cabs won't stop on the street, or on the strip, only at cab stands and in parking lots.

The monorail doesn't run 24/7. Thursday it'll be running 7am-2am, and Friday-Sunday it'll be running from 7am-3am. So if you're out past 3, and you happen to not be able to remember where you are, or where your table went... or what stardate it is (ahem!) grab a taxi.

There is The Deuce (PDF) which runs on the strip 24/7, its a double-decker bus that seats 97 and has a neat vibe late at night. A 24 hour pass is less than $10.

[sintax_error]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

I'd highly recommend packing light colored clothing for wandering around Las Vegas and the tourist spots, I'd also recommend looking into a hydration backpack that will keep water or Gatorade always at hand, keep a second bladder handy for night-time and you'll always have plenty of booze. ;)

Excellent pointers. The camelbak can be a life saver. Most military surplus type stores carry backpacks with a bladder pocket so you can carry all the crap you normally would and still have it there.

Cabs won't stop on the street, or on the strip, only at cab stands and in parking lots.

Yes very true. My statement was intended for hotel to hotel travel. Vegas isn't New York, so don't make an ass of yourself trying to hail a cab randomly.

There is The Deuce (PDF) which runs on the strip 24/7, its a double-decker bus that seats 97 and has a neat vibe late at night. A 24 hour pass is less than $10.

Also a great tip, I've only taken the deuce a couple of times myself (yeah, go ahead, laugh it up. I know I did.) But the monorail can definitely be quicker depending of course on your starting point/destination. It's usually not very crowded either.

[bascule]

Re: What's going on Aug 6-10?

Vegas practically caters to the carless. As Krma states, taxis are available everywhere, but are the more expensive option. Most hotels offer shuttles to various places though. There is the Las Vegas monorail which will take you up and down the strip in addition to the buses.

Having just gone to a trade show and used the monorail I can attest to its awesomeness, although I was using it to get from my hotel to the Las Vegas convention center. There's a station at the Hilton so it's fairly easy to get to from the Riviera.

That said it will probably be cheaper to split a cab if you have multiple people trying to get somewhere, but if you're going somewhere on the strip by yourself the monorail will probably be cheaper.