Get to Know the Back Roads

As of lately, holy smokes, massive freeway construction that sometimes gets you stuck during the worst times. You need to get somewhere in a timely normal manner and you see signs and cones up ahead that are funneling three lanes into one! What do you do? There's just one word: EXIT!

But wait! Do you know where you're going??? If you exit the freeway can you effectively weave your way through the city and across town to your destination? Well, start to get familiar with alternate routes in Vegas. Sometimes you may have time to ride the break and to stick it out on the freeways at turtle pace but sometimes you just can't take the risk.

It's not only knowing one alternative route, sometimes you run into other uber-smart locals who have also decided on the alt route. Now what do you do? Plan C! Know a second alternative route. This becomes extra handy in the long run.

Traffic in itself, even without construction, has gotten pretty crazy over the last few years. In a city that also never sleeps, certain parts of the day are when many shifts let out and it causes some clogging of the highways. Yes, I can say that the freeway on ramp meters have helped but when it comes to lane sways and mergers, it hasn't cured that.

Sometimes getting lost is the best way to discover. Go on an adventure and experiment. Get off the freeway and see if you can find your way to your destination. Experience in this is key because it may one day save you a lot of grief.

StayCation in Vegas

While everyone else in the world has to drive or fly for hours to get to the fab Las Vegas, we, as locals, have a distinct advantage. We're right here! Now, I know there are many valley residents who avoid the Strip like the plague, but for me, I enjoy the freedom and the options of having great overnight stay in town and being a part of the group of tourists.

Just because I have practically every players card offered doesn't mean that I'm pouring bucks into gaming machines or tables, it means that I've decided to stay in close touch with the casinos to see what the next hot promo is. Opt-in? Absolutely! Why?! Well, I am totally responsible for recommending Rio's $21/night special to many of my friends and yes, they booked! When I verbally told them about it, they went on Rio's reservations booking system and couldn't find it. They only way we knew how to get there for that awesome rate was to go through the email they sent me. I forwarded the email to my friends and the link led them to a $23/night total for the room.

I did it. I had a StayCation and it was relaxing. I had dinner and didn't have to drive home, I walked to the elevators and it took me to my room. When you're a business owner, it's hard to get away. Being a local in Vegas has infinite perks. Use them!