5 Reasons to Visit The Neon Museum in Las Vegas
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In April, TPG Editorial Intern Nick Ellis and several other TPG staff members took a food-fueled trip to Las Vegas with Chase Sapphire Preferred and visited their Vegas Uncork'd event. Along the way, they visited The Neon Museum, a place you just have to visit while in Vegas. Read on for Nick's impressions and why you should head to this classic Sin City exhibit. (All photos by TPG Editor in Chief Zach Honig).
Neon signs occupy a storied place in the history of Las Vegas — the warm glow of these brightly blinking signs has compelled countless gamblers to step inside the adjacent casinos and spend their hard-earned cash on a few rounds of Blackjack or Roulette. With Las Vegas looking toward the future, many of these famed signs are coming down in favor of more efficient LED signs.
The Neon Museum is a massive outdoor homage to the signs that once adorned the casinos and hotels of the Las Vegas of the past. It's a highly recommended attraction for guests of all ages and provides a glimpse into a Sin City that not many would recognize today. Here are five reasons why you should visit this nostalgic exhibit on your next trip to Las Vegas.
1. You Don't Have to Wait in Line — And it's Off the Strip
We purchased our tickets to The Neon Museum online before leaving New York, which allowed us to arrive just a few minutes before our tour was scheduled to start. There was no need to wait in line, which was a welcome change of pace compared to some of the other attractions here. Also, since it's located off the Las Vegas Strip, you'll get a nice break from the usual crowds and chaos.
2. It's Easily Accessible Thanks to Uber
Before Uber's arrival in Las Vegas, it would have been much more of a burden to visit The Neon Museum because of the extremely expensive cab rides involved. Nowadays, more reasonable Uber prices in Sin City make getting to this attraction a lot easier — and more affordable — for families to visit.
3. It's a Good Place to Meet the Locals
Unfortunately, many Vegas visitors don't know anything about the city besides the casinos, resorts and bars — a tour of The Neon Museum gives you the chance to meet local residents and learn about other aspects of the city that you'd never hear about unless you leave the Strip. Our guide was born and raised in Las Vegas and shared a fun fact that few would probably be aware of: if you never leave the Strip during your stay, you actually never set foot in Las Vegas because the Strip is technically located in Paradise, Nevada. Who knew?
4. It's Fun to Spell Your Name Out in Individual Neon Letters
At the very beginning of our tour, our guide mentioned that one of the most popular things to do during The Neon Museum tour is to take photos of each letter of your name from the many different signs. You can then use your phone or computer to paste together each letter to spell your name out in a unique neon design, creating a little piece of Las Vegas that you can take home with you. Here's my name in neon:
5. You Can Get Admission to the Mob Museum As Well
When purchasing tickets to the Neon Museum — which you should always do ahead of time online since tickets tend to sell out fast! — there's an option to buy a package that also gives you access to The Mob Museum, which contains three floors of exhibits tracing the history of the Mafia in Las Vegas. There, you can view photos, articles and other types of memorabilia that show the extent to which the Mob was once involved in nearly every aspect of Sin City life.
The Mob Museum is housed in a former courthouse where one of the Kefauver Hearings, formal investigations by a US Senate Special Committee into the role of organized crime syndicates in interstate commerce, took place on November 15, 1950.
Overall Impression
A visit to The Neon Museum in Las Vegas was a great way to spend an afternoon before kicking off the Vegas Uncork'd event we were in town for. It's a fun and interesting way to learn the history of the city and hear the stories of the people who shaped it from the beginning. Now that it's easier than ever to get to, there's no reason to skip this shrine to neon signs during your next trip to Sin City.
Have you ever been to the Neon Museum in Las Vegas? Tell us about it, below.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.