Weekend trip planning - what to consider

Good points in this thread. For a weekend trip, I'd add that it really depends on whether the venues are actual clubs or more laid-back college bars. College nightlife spots near campuses often have way more chaotic bouncer interactions—they're used to busy lines and barely glance at your stuff. But I've had a bouncer snapped it from me at a nicer club with venue security checkpoints that were more thorough. Best move is to scope the place out for 10 minutes before even trying.

Research the specific venues you want to hit before you go. Some cities have well-documented stricter spots.

Yeah, you're totally right about that. I've seen the same thing firsthand — it's not just a rumor. Honestly, the variance can be wild even between venues in the same city, but that coastal vs. mid-country divide is real. I think it comes down to a few things. Coastal cities just see way more foot traffic, especially from tourists and out-of-towners, so bouncers and bartenders tend to be more jaded and experienced at spotting fakes. They've seen it all. Mid-country spots, especially in smaller or more college-oriented towns, often have a much more laid-back vibe. The staff might not be as rigorously trained, or they just don't care as much on a slow Tuesday night.

It's also worth thinking about what kind of venues you're hitting. College bars in a coastal city? Probably hell on earth for strictness. Dive bars in a mid-country town? Could be smooth sailing. One thing I've found helpful when planning a weekend trip is to scope out the venue's Yelp or Google reviews beforehand. See if anyone complains about their IDs getting rejected — that's usually a good indicator of the scrutiny level. Also, it helps to look at the local scene — if a city is known for a big festival or a huge bar district, they tend to have tighter enforcement on weekends. It's all about doing a little recon before you go.

The scan vs look question is the key one. Most of this forum covers scan-capable venues as the harder test.