During our December 2008 trip to Las Vegas, we noticed (it's hard NOT to notice) that the escort-ad-passer-outers are now sporting t-shirts that read "Girls Direct To Your Room" and some have lighted electric signs STRAPPED TO THEIR BACKS. (It's right there in the photo.) I don't know if they get paid by the hour or if it's a piece rate paid per ad handed out... but they're obviously motivated and making money. Just for fun I took an ad from one guy and then stood next to him, trying to get pedestrians to take the ad from me. I had a taker by the 7th or 8th passer by. It was a single guy but again as you can see in the photo, they'll hand escort ads to ANYONE who walks by. A mom with a stroller, a group of 90 year old nuns, they don't care. The ads might be rated "PG" at best - they consist entirely of photos of models in bikinis and skimpy attire, prices, phone numbers, and names. "Kim $89 702-123-4567". It's nothing shocking or outrageous so you don't need to be TOO concerned about bringing children to Las Vegas.

If you do an online search, you won't find many customer reviews of these "sidewalk ad" escorts. Do you wonder why that is?

Las Vegas Girls Direct To You Shirt by urbanphotos
See other urbanphotos Vegas T-Shirts

We think two things are at work here, one is the urban legend we mentioned above, the other is the "embarrassment factor." A group of guys who just turned 21 are walking the Las Vegas strip, taking escort ads, talking about "hey did you know that prostitution is legal in Las Vegas?" While the escort ads are completely honest and upfront about what you're getting... a "girl to your room"... a young man's hormones and overactive imagination lead him to expect something more. After all, prostitution is legal here! (He thinks.)

So our 21-year-olds go back to their rooms, dial the numbers on the ads and order some $89 escorts. When the escort arrives, she announces "that's just the agency fee... if you want me to stay it's $300 (or whatever number she likes to use) more."

And what do you think Mr. 21 with the hard six is gonna do? Yeah, he's going to give her more money. Prostitution is legal! (He thinks.) Ms. Escort knows exactly what Mr. 21 is thinking. She's been doing this for 2 years. This guy is customer number 1,428. But this is his FIRST Las Vegas escort. He's at a huge, almost insurmountable disadvantage.

"You want the SPECIAL Show? That includes EVERYTHING. It's $1,200. Oh, you don't have $1,200? How much do you have? $500? OK, I will give you a discount since it's your FIRST TIME in Vegas."

As soon as the $500 leaves Mr. 21's hands, Ms. Escort's tone may change dramatically.

(cell phone ring tone) "Hello? OH MY GOSH, my mother was in a car wreck, I have to go to the hospital!" (Ms. Escort runs out of the room with Mr. 21's $500.)

That's an extreme example of being ripped off. Something like that may or may not happen. What's essential to remember is that PROSTITUTION IS NOT LEGAL in Las Vegas. Mr. 21, not knowing this, is going to feel ripped off no matter what happens. And there is the embarrassment factor. When he goes back home to Kansas, he may warn his pals about the scam... or he's just as likely to play the big shot and make up a story about the wild sex he had for $89. Which helps keep the legend alive.

The main thing you NEED to know if you're visiting Las Vegas for the first time is this: if it sounds too good to be true, it's not true. The sidewalk ads deliver exactly what they advertise: a GIRL TO YOUR ROOM for a specific price. That's exactly what you get. A girl comes to your room. NO MORE, NO LESS. It's that simple. You can get the same thing by ordering a pizza delivery.