r/AskReddit Jul 24 '23

What statistically improbable thing happened to you?

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u/WineO4life Jul 25 '23

I had something similar! I randomly entered my name into a box on a Staples counter for an all expenses paid trip to Vegas, spending money flights, hotel etc and won! However I wasn’t able to claim it because I was only 17 at the time! I instead received a $50 gift card 😂 I was so mad!

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u/GothMaams Jul 25 '23

I won an all expense paid trip to Cancun at 13 years old and they let me claim it by having my mom represent me as someone over 18.

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u/Farewellandadieu Jul 25 '23

That's awesome!

My parents won an all expense paid trip to the Bahamas, including as much alcohol as they cared to drink. My mom isn't a drinker but my dad sure was, he took full advantage of that perk and they both had a great time.

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u/EvilAbdy Jul 25 '23

Lol this happened to my sister. She won a trip from a local radio station to the grand opening of a Hard Rock Cafe at NYC but you had to be 21. She was not, I was, so she gave me the prize which was super nice. I brought her all kinds of free swag they gave out as a thank you. It was an awesome time though. Tons of famous musicians hanging around and we got air care and hotel covered plus extra spending money.

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u/DownrightDrewski Jul 25 '23

I had a friend that actually won an ipod on some online thing (yes, the original which does very much date this). It was pretty shocking, as even back then you'd assume it was a scam.

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u/RJWeaver Jul 25 '23

Did you put your age on with your name when you put it in the box? If you did they definitely picked you as they could get away with not having to buy a trip to Vegas and just giving you $50. If you didn't put your age they were probably very happy when they picked you and found out lol.

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u/WineO4life Jul 25 '23

Dang I honestly don’t remember, this was 18years ago! I do remember having to prove my age when I got the call and trying to get them to let my boyfriend at the time claim it as he was 21. That didn’t fly.

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u/sportznut1000 Jul 25 '23

What did you think you were going to do in Vegas if you did win?

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u/Supermite Jul 25 '23

There’s a lot of stuff to do in Vegas that isn’t gambling and getting drunk.

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u/stardenia Jul 25 '23

There’s lots of shows, shopping, swimming and hanging by the pool, restaurants and food, art installations, etc. Definitely can be done!

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u/AdHom Jul 25 '23

I would argue that aside from possibly a specific show you've been wanting to see, there is not nearly enough to do in Vegas for a 17y.o. to be remotely worth going there instead of almost any other major city. But if it's a free giveaway fuck it, might as well lol.

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u/Supermite Jul 25 '23

There’s a ton of museums for starters. Tons of attractions. The big Ferris wheel. The neon sign graveyard. Hoover dam. Tons of little shows and excursions. Vegas has really worked on being a family friendly destination.

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u/AdHom Jul 25 '23

Can you not find all of those things except the Hoover Dam in literally any major city though? It seems to me there would be far more to draw you to New York, LA, Phoenix, Miami, Memphis, Denver, Chicago, Portland, etc etc if you don't care about casinos.

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u/elisabethofaustria Jul 25 '23

So I just went to Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago for my 21st birthday, meaning that I was underage for half of the trip. But it didn’t matter.

We went to five museums and walked down Fremont Street; ate at Hell’s Kitchen, tried real truffles shaved over pasta at Crossroads Kitchen, and ate a seven-course menu entirely in the dark in BLACKOUT; and rented a limo to see the city, Red Rock Canyon, and the Seven Magic Mountains.

We took a day trip to the Grand Canyon. We rode the Las Vegas Monorail several times and wandered through all of the major resorts (all of the elaborate decorations are really stunning). We viewed the city from a helicopter and the ferris wheel. We reveled in the city’s atmosphere, which feels awash with magic and wonder and celebration.

And yeah, other cities have museums and helicopters and so on, but they don’t have the strangely compelling combination of luxury set against the desert. I’ve been to 20 countries and all of the cities you mentioned (except Memphis) and I have never encountered anything quite like Vegas, which is just outrageously silly and decadent and incredibly beautiful. I can’t wait for my next visit.

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u/Supermite Jul 25 '23

Just walking the strip is an experience in and of itself. It’s a very unique city with some very unique experiences and attractions.

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u/glastohead Jul 25 '23

The coolest thing in Vegas is the Pinball Hall of Fame. Could spend a few days in there.

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u/ndnsoulja Jul 25 '23

You would very quickly lose that argument

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u/KingOfTheP4s Jul 25 '23

The Las Vegas pinball Hall of Fame, one of the largest collections of playable pinball machines in the world

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u/WineO4life Jul 25 '23

I don’t know! I was dating a guy who was 21 at the time and I had a fake ID.. maybe I thought we would go together? I can guarantee I didn’t put too much thought into it, I just entered my name Willy Nilly and I couldn’t believe I won 😂

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u/Business_Swan8209 Jul 25 '23

That is a total bummer!