What you take to Sin City depends on what you plan to do there. If  attending a formal or semi-formal wedding at a big church or major resort, you'll have to lug a suitcase stuffed with traditional clothing. You'll need it for the ceremony, as well as for social activities involved.

For women, a dress or pants suit and shoes for dress-up events. For men, a suit and/or sports coat with trousers, shirts, ties and leather shoes. If the schedule is for more than two days and nights, consider taking another outfit.

There’s an old cliché that seniors are the most vulnerable to scams, because we’re more trusting than younger people. However, one of the biggest scams in history, Bernie Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme bilked millions from supposedly aware younger people. They included actor Kevin Bacon, producers Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katsenberg, as well as other wealthy and supposedly savvy young victims.

They put misguided trust in the sleazy carnival pitchman because they believed his wild promises of big returns on their investments. Of course, it’s easy to ridicule those investors for being so vulnerable as to entrust billions to this con artist. However, every day, both rich and poor, young and old, fall for scams they should know to avoid.

Las Vegas is the easiest vacation spot anywhere to plan and implement a budget vacation. The reason, of course, is that the business of Sin City is gambling. Resorts there expect gamblers to come, and further, to lose. To entice gamblers, Vegas hotels offer bargains in rooms, food, entertainment and in many other ways.

Budget-minded visitors, especially those who are modest or non-gamblers, can take advantage of those benefits. For instance, while an upscale resort hotel in New York, Paris, London, San Francisco or Singapore may charge $500 a night for a basic room, the most luxurious Vegas resorts may offer a suite for $150, and throw in a free buffet meal or two.

The secret is compatibility. If that doesn't happen before the trip and maintained throughout, no one will enjoy the time together. And if it gets too contentious, that troubled journey may be the first and last for what will become former pals.

Before departure, sit down together to determine how decisions will be made and who's in charge. When a group sets out on a trip, forget about democracy. One person should be responsible for planning the entire enterprise, mapping out the general schedule and then call all the shots throughout the trip.