A few months ago, while Tracy was visiting San Diego, we went to see a Tears for Fears concert film. Both of us were blown away by The Tipping Point, which featured their biggest hits along with tracks from their latest album. After the movie, we checked their tour schedule and saw that they had only a few dates in Las Vegas—but the ticket prices were beyond Tracy’s concert budget. After she headed back to Florida, I thought, Why not?
Looking into
their remaining shows, I decided on the Wednesday,
February 5 concert. Weekend flights and hotels were pricey, so I opted
for a midweek trip. I booked a direct Alaska
Airlines flight from San Diego to Las Vegas and, thanks to Reddit, found
advice to avoid the expensive event hotel and stay nearby for half the cost. I
also scoped out the venue layout and picked what I hoped would be a great seat.
Boom!
Done.
My flight left
late morning on concert day, and I was back home less than 24 hours later.
Being a budget-conscious traveler, I took the San Diego Coaster and Flyer to the airport. I had planned to use public transit in Vegas as well but
ultimately took an Uber from the airport (more on my return later).
The last time I
was in Vegas was for a business conference in 2014. I remember stepping out of
the Aria Hotel into the thick night air—85°F+
and swarming with people. This trip felt different. The weather was perfect—low 70s during the day, high 50s at night—and
the crowds were noticeably thinner.
I stayed at the Sahara, and since I arrived before
check-in, they offered early access for $25 or free luggage storage. I did a
quick wardrobe swap, secured my passport in my bag, and set off to explore.
Since this might
not be my last Vegas concert, I took time to check out potential future stays.
The Circus Circus Casino was
closer to the venue, but walking through it confirmed its terrible
reviews—definitely not my scene. Lunch was at the Peppermill and Fireside Lounge—a bit pricey, with oversized
portions, but delicious.
Navigating
Vegas? Not As Easy As It Looks
Despite its flat
layout, Vegas isn’t pedestrian-intuitive. Most walkways funnel you through
casinos rather than direct paths, and even Google Maps struggled at times. Still,
the lighter crowds made it manageable.
I grabbed a 24-hour Monorail pass—a fantastic
deal. Later, I realized a cheaper hack:
Uber to MGM Grand, hop on the Monorail’s south end, and ride it up to the
Sahara. The Monorail was great—fast, reliable—but like everything in Vegas, you
still end up walking a lot.
Back at the Sahara, I squeezed in a quick nap
before the show. The room? Very nice.
The Concert: Tears for Fears at the
Fontainebleau’s BeauTheater
I lucked out with
my mezzanine front-row seat—unobstructed
view, great sound. Meanwhile, floor seats were a chaotic mess of people
constantly moving or standing. The lower mezzanine looked solid too, as long as
everyone stayed seated. If I go again, I'd avoid the floor section.
Tears
For Fears Were Phenomenal
The venue’s food and drink prices? Outrageous. $28
for the cheapest beer. $15 for a tub of popcorn. Pro tip: drink beforehand.
After the
concert, I walked to Tacos El Gordo
for a late-night bite—delicious. Then, I hopped back on the Monorail to the Sahara.
The Return Trip
The next morning,
I realized I could take the Monorail to
its closest airport stop and Uber the rest of the way. I made a Denny’s breakfast stop en route, and
the money saved on transit covered my meal. Win!
Las Vegas Observations
- Surprisingly
few homeless people—I
saw fewer than five.
- No wild
street chaos,
unlike my last visit.
- Lots of
police presence,
including foot patrols and bike officers—friendly and approachable.
- Met a fellow
SoCal traveler at the concert who flew in on a new airline out of Carlsbad—worth investigating for
next time.
All in all, a
quick, efficient, and fantastic trip. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
More Pics here
Prices:
- ·
Livenation
concert ticket: 215
- ·
Sahara
hotel: 99
- ·
Flight: 97
- · Monorail/Uber: 59
