Wife and I like to get away from everything at least once a year. We need some down time, some “us” time, and time to study and pray together. A 5-day stay there is about right. And we are comped. We stay at the Station casinos, especially Sunset Station, next to Galeria, Walmart, good food. Parking is free. The hotel is large, and has the best race/sportsbook I know of.
We have driven to the strip a few times to see, say, the Jersey Boys at Paris, Kelly Clarkson at Mandalay, and the Lion King. Otherwise, we could do our entire stay right there in that customer-friendly neighborhood hotel casino.
We live in AZ next door, so the trip is just a nice drive for us.
But you guys are right — the strip and downtown are just a bad trip made worse.