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Las Vegas is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nevada. Nicknamed the Entertainment Capital of the World, it is situated in the Mojave Desert of Southern Nevada. The city features many mega-hotel/casino complexes decorated with lavish care and attention to detail creating a fantasy-like environment. The casinos often have names and themes that evoke romance, mystery, and exotic destinations.
Compared with other cities in the western U.S., Las Vegas (literally, "the meadows" in Spanish) is a relatively recent arrival. It was founded in 1905, and for many years it was merely a small settlement in the middle of the desert. However, several pivotal events would come together in less than twenty years that would help Las Vegas grow into what it is today:
* The construction of Hoover Dam in 1928 brought thousands of workers to the area. What is now known as Boulder City was established for the workers.
* Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, and downtown Las Vegas became an entertainment center for the dam workers, with casinos and speakeasies. Business became so good that it surpassed [wiki=77b6e24f5b78b6eb0697aa8994ce15e9]Reno[/wiki] as the gambling capital of the world in less than 10 years. During the same period in the 1930s, Los Angeles was also growing rapidly from a mid-sized city to a global center for the entertainment and manufacturing industries. but because gambling was banned in [wiki=356779a9a1696714480f57fa3fb66d4c]California[/wiki] at the time, [wiki=68731e74eac6e5073e7034c81f1f1fd7]Southern California[/wiki] workers began traveling to Las Vegas for vacation, recreation, and entertainment.
* In 1941, the luxurious El Rancho Vegas resort opened on what would later become the Las Vegas Strip. Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel later opened the Flamingo Hotel in 1946. The opening of these two resorts started a building boom and established a tradition of one-upmanship with each new hotel/casino trying to outdo another. That tradition continues today. It also initiated a long tradition of organized crime involvement in Nevada's gambling industry. By the 1990s, the enactment and enforcement of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (the RICO Act) as well as investments by established corporations and the installment of professional management virtually eliminated any remaining organized crime involvement in Las Vegas.
The city is laid out as follows: Main Street as well as the numbered streets run north-south, starting with Main Street in the west. The bus station is on Main Street. Downtown has several hotel-casinos, as well as the "Fremont Street Experience", a pedestrian mall lined with casinos, near the western end of Fremont Street. A couple miles south of downtown starts the "Strip" (Las Vegas Boulevard South), a north-south street lined with large casino-hotels, shopping malls, and other attractions.
The northern end of the Strip is marked by the tall Stratosphere tower. The Regional Transportation Commission runs buses up and down the Strip that connect the Strip resorts to downtown. The Las Vegas monorail and the convention center sit just east of the Strip, and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) is located slightly more east of the Strip on Maryland Parkway. The airport is at the southern end of the Strip.
Importantly, the City of Las Vegas only controls the Strip as far south as Sahara Avenue. All of the Strip south of Sahara, is located in the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Enterprise, which are both governed directly by Clark County. These unincorporated townships, however, use the name "Las Vegas" for postal purposes.
Both the city and the unincorporated county areas share a single law enforcement agency, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Incorporated cities such as Henderson and North Las Vegas have their own police departments.
Southern Californians crowd Interstate 15 every weekend going back and forth to Vegas. Expect this drive to be congested with frustrating stop-and-go traffic going northbound (towards Las Vegas) on Friday evenings and southbound (towards Southern California) on Sunday afternoons.
Note that the drive can be extremely dangerous. The long straight stretches which encourage speeding, the frequency of sudden emergency braking, and the massive volume of vehicles together result in wild multi-car pileups, and that issue, combined with the sheer remoteness of the area, means that the stretch of I-15 between Barstow and the California/Nevada state border at Primm was [url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700012247/I-15-stretch-is-deadliest-road-in-US.html?pg=all]the single most deadly stretch of highway in the United States from 1994 to 2008[/url]. If you are involved in a vehicle accident in that area and are badly injured, you should be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes before first responders arrive and one hour before reaching a hospital emergency room (as paramedics will have to evaluate you and then summon a helicopter if it appears you will live long enough to make it to an ER). Therefore, the journey should not be attempted by road unless you are well-rested and in excellent health; are driving a well-maintained vehicle; and are carrying a first aid kit, a fully charged cell phone, and a car charger for that phone.
Despite these dangers, many find the roughly four-hour drive from the Los Angeles area 280-mile (450km) drive along I-15 restful and scenic (when attempted during off-peak hours and on off-peak days). Attractions along Interstate 15 include the [wiki=356779a9a1696714480f57fa3fb66d4c]California[/wiki] towns of [wiki=60c22ba7c32920b012b9f632676cdcbc]Barstow[/wiki] and [wiki=c500d426f827b2cc1eab4d5b779e3d0e]Baker[/wiki]; the [wiki=d6a7f34379109fb84af39164dda61a1b]Mojave Desert[/wiki]; and small hotel-casinos in Nevada at [wiki=8a9d91c2aa49040a8d39ba67f4657eff]Primm[/wiki] (at the California border) and Jean, respectively. Those who traverse I-15 should remember that they are crossing a desert, and should carry (and drink) ample amounts of water, especially on hot summer days where temperatures can reach 110°F (43°C).
From east of Las Vegas, travellers typically drive on I-40 through [wiki=3fe5003edc0cb6c83962dbd74d35dd50]Arizona[/wiki], and then head north toward Vegas on US-93 in [wiki=c38613cbcb9e328dc0af34e3d1fba63c]Kingman[/wiki], before finally picking up I-15. This route will take you along the [wiki=e31d943ba53e71775980213fba3fe2b1]Lake Mead National Recreation Area[/wiki] and directly through [wiki=3f654c496515b3084e7f9f4d8b68b8fc]Boulder City[/wiki], near the Hoover Dam. Traffic there can be extremely congested and slow-going; although less so than in past decades since US-93 was rerouted to bypass Hoover Dam, using a new bridge. Still, this stretch is usually the slowest part of an otherwise sparsely populated desert area.
From the North I-15 meets the Arizona border at the more relaxed town of [wiki=08ba0e597992a20badcae82056175a87]Mesquite, NV[/wiki] and shortly goes into [wiki=6a382f5bfa3db109c81ec4adbf70ff26]Utah[/wiki]. The junction of I-70 and I-15 is where most people driving from the east will take. Those from further north may meet I-15 from I-80 in [wiki=c91861082e1f5c54d7a723f28fbf1be1]Salt Lake City[/wiki].
Those travelling from the north drive on US-95 from [wiki=77b6e24f5b78b6eb0697aa8994ce15e9]Reno[/wiki] and [wiki=424ab329878b01bdd484ab2a30030e6c]Tonopah[/wiki]. US-95 is a two-lane highway for much of the route until it reaches the community of Mercury, where it widens into a four-lane highway. The route is sparsely populated, with few gas stations. Travellers should ensure that their fuel tank is full before setting out and consider refueling well before their tank hits empty.
[url=http://www.greyhound.com]Greyhound[/url] operates buses between [wiki=c91861082e1f5c54d7a723f28fbf1be1]Salt Lake City[/wiki] ([wiki=6a382f5bfa3db109c81ec4adbf70ff26]Utah[/wiki]), [wiki=c38613cbcb9e328dc0af34e3d1fba63c]Kingman[/wiki] ([wiki=3fe5003edc0cb6c83962dbd74d35dd50]Arizona[/wiki]), [wiki=d0aa2dffa0da83f1f34681308d04db5d]Los Angeles[/wiki] ([wiki=356779a9a1696714480f57fa3fb66d4c]California[/wiki]), and [wiki=5047bc596a4bab2dc7f7c120bb22dec5]Phoenix[/wiki] ([wiki=3fe5003edc0cb6c83962dbd74d35dd50]Arizona[/wiki]) and Las Vegas.
*[url=http://www.luxbusamerica.com/]LuxBus[/url] operates four daily trips to and from [wiki=d0aa2dffa0da83f1f34681308d04db5d]Los Angeles[/wiki], [wiki=4047530ecbc0170039e76fe1657bdb01]Anaheim[/wiki], and [wiki=a1edff17ec0464c4c048d25d25bce75a]San Diego[/wiki].
*[url=http://www.starlinetours.com/las-vegas-tours.asp]Starline Tours[/url] operates tour bus service to the [wiki=9167398895f4d220f99826c9f3b1c5cc]Grand Canyon[/wiki].
*[url=http://www.tufesa.com.mx/home.html]TUFESA Bus Lines[/url] offers bus service to various points in Mexico.
*[url=http://us.megabus.com/]Megabus.com[/url] Express bus service to/from [wiki=335fdb83bb546d226c01a8911b94f647]Riverside[/wiki] and [wiki=d0aa2dffa0da83f1f34681308d04db5d]Los Angeles[/wiki]. Double Deck Coaches with Wi-Fi, WCs, power outlets and seats starting at $1. ☎1 877 462-6342
[url=http://www.mccarran.com/]McCarran International Airport[/url] is the main airport serving the Las Vegas area. It is the 24th busiest airport in the world in terms of passengers and 8th in terms of takeoffs and landings. There are 2 passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 services Allegiant, American, Delta, Omni, Southwest, Spirit Airlines, and Vision. Terminal 3 services International carriers such as Aeromexico, Air Canada, British Airways, Condor, Copa, Edelweiss, Interjet, Korean Air, MagniCharters, Sunwing, Thomas Cook, Virgin Atlantic, VivaAerobus, Volaris and WestJet and domestic carriers such as Alaska, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Sun Country, United and Virgin America.
[url=http://www.hnd.aero/]Henderson Executive Airport[/url] has two runways, 17R-35L which is 6,500 feet X 100 feet and 17L-35R which is 5,000 feet X 100 feet and a 26,000 sqft terminal. HND is an alternative to LAS for private, air taxi and charter air travel.
[url=http://www.vgt.aero/06-airport-information.aspx]North Las Vegas Airport[/url] services a lot of air tour operations along with other forms of general aviation.
There are NO direct rail services into Las Vegas per se. The below are the nearest train routes with an [wiki=493c158656016c396f0db480f5da87a9]Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach[/wiki] shuttling passengers between Las Vegas and the nearest Amtrak station:
* Amtrak's Southwest Chief [url=http://www.amtrak.com/southwest-chief-train]]operates daily service from [[Los Angeles[/url]], [wiki=356779a9a1696714480f57fa3fb66d4c]California[/wiki] and [wiki=0a9353caefcec354dbf88ae14ae0564f]Albuquerque[/wiki], [wiki=8c669d3f16b83378ababcd478514d35a]New Mexico[/wiki] to [wiki=c38613cbcb9e328dc0af34e3d1fba63c]Kingman[/wiki], [wiki=3fe5003edc0cb6c83962dbd74d35dd50]Arizona[/wiki], 112mi or 179km south of Las Vegas. From Kingman, there is [wiki=493c158656016c396f0db480f5da87a9]Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach[/wiki] service to Las Vegas, with a stop in Laughlin.
* Amtrak's San Joaquin Route [url=http://www.amtrak.com/san-jaoquin-train]]operates between [[Stockton[/url]] and [wiki=ec6a6a6719ac490420240dd248a50b36]Bakersfield[/wiki]. From Bakersfield, Amtrak operates 2 daily [wiki=ae936567ae4a1ff7c932e698de2c77b3]Thruway Motorcoaches[/wiki] to Las Vegas.
The hotel-casinos are close enough to each other to make walking a reasonable means of travel. The most straightforward option is to walk along Las Vegas Boulevard; however, be aware that during the summer the heat during the daylight hours may make walking uncomfortable for long periods. For this and other reasons, many hotels are connected to each other either by bridge, by underground, or by complimentary rail shuttle, allowing one to travel between them often without stepping outside at all.
Keep in mind that the grand scale of most Strip buildings and attractions can easily give the impression that destinations are closer than they actually are. For instance, the faux-Eiffel tower of Paris Las Vegas is visible from Mandalay Bay on the Strip's south end, but they're 1.6 miles apart, and it will take at least a half-hour to walk from one to the other. If time is a factor, be sure you know how far away your destination is before you decide whether to walk.
The Las Vegas Monorail [url=http://www.lvmonorail.com/],]☎ +1 702 699-8200, runs along the east side of the Strip with stops behind several of the hotels and at the Las Vegas Convention Center [http://www.lvcchotels.com/[/url]. It costs $5 one-way, $9 return and $15 for a one-day pass. Do the math before boarding, it could be cheaper for a small group to take a taxi. Because the monorail stops at the back entrance of the hotels, it takes a long time to wind through the maze of casinos, often taking 30 minutes to an hour to get from one point to another on the Strip - if you're in a hurry, take a taxi. The monorail's carrying capacity of 4,000 people per hour is woefully insufficient to handle the evening exodus from the larger conventions which have as many as 150,000 attendees. Nevada residents with a valid Nevada drivers license, State of Nevada government-issued identification card or Nevada Sheriff’s Card qualify for a reduced fare of $1 per ride. Maximum purchase: two (2) single ride tickets per person per day. The discounted fare can be purchased from the customer service booths located at each station.
Due to high prices, inconvenient station locations, low passenger ridership, and the fact that it does not connect to downtown or the airport, the Monorail is widely regarded as a failure. It has been operating under the supervision of a federal bankruptcy court since January 2010 while it tries to reorganize its finances under the protection of Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Buses can be an inexpensive and convenient option, especially if just traveling up-and-down the Strip, or to-and-from downtown. A bus ride is a good way to recuperate during those hot summer months after a long and tiring walk on the Strip since the buses are air-conditioned.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) [http://www.rtcsnv.com/], +1 702 228-7433, operates 49 bus routes throughout the valley. Most routes operate 5:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m. daily, but some routes operate 24 hours per day. The standard single-ride fare is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for kids and seniors for all standard routes, which RTC calls "residential routes." If purchasing a child or senior fare, be prepared to show some form of picture ID to prove age to the driver.
The RTC operates two routes on Las Vegas Boulevard: the Deuce, a London-style double decker bus, and the Strip and Downtown Express (SDX), an extended-length accordion-style bus. As of 2012, the RTC has completely abolished single-ride fares for the Deuce and SDX. The most affordable option for the Strip routes is a two-hour pass which costs $6.00 for all riders above the age of five (children below the age of five accompanied by an adult ride free).
Deuce and SDX buses stop only at marked bus stops on the Strip which all have ticket vending machines where passes must be purchased in advance before boarding. The SDX operates on a pure proof-of-payment system, meaning that passengers can board and disembark SDX buses on the Strip through any bus door, but risk a substantial fine if caught riding without a valid pass. Indeed, SDX bus drivers sit inside a secure compartment, with a sign telling passengers to not bother them. However, Deuce buses have a more traditional layout. You must board through the front door and show your pass to the driver. Valid Deuce and SDX passes can also be used on all residential routes prior to the expiration date and time printed by the vending machine on the pass.
During the larger conventions (such as CES, NAB, and MAGIC) the Deuce also operates on a special one way service from the Las Vegas Convention Center. This service operates only in the afternoon from the convention center to the Strip, and the bus travels southbound and services all regular stops from Circus Circus onward.
Bus drivers do not give change. However, all the ticket vending machines accept credit/debit cards and some (but not all) give change. Transfers require payment of an additional fare.
A residential 24-hour day pass ($5 for adults and $2 for kids and seniors) covers all routes except The Deuce, which costs $0.50 extra, and an "all-access pass" for $7 covers all routes on the system. If you will be staying for a long period of time (at least 8 days for adults or 4 for children and seniors) and plan to buy an all access pass, a more economic option is to purchase a 30-day bus pass. These can be purchased from either of the two bus terminals (both can be reached by riding the Deuce to Downtown terminal, or to the South Strip Terminal), or from any ticket vending machine.
It is important to note however, that if you would like to purchase a child or senior fare pass, you will need to do so from the customer service agent at the terminals. These passes are valid for 30 days following the first use and can be used on all routes.
If the Strip buses are crowded and the Strip is jammed with traffic (as is often the case), a good way to avoid waiting for the next bus is to use buses running on parallel routes. Either walk one block east from the Strip and use route 108 on Paradise Road or walk one block west to Industrial Road and use route 105, Martin Luther King Blvd and Koval Way.
One of the easiest ways to get around is by taxi. It is relatively cheap to go from hotel to hotel, but be aware that since traffic is often so congested on the strip, taking a taxi often isn't much faster than walking. Many taxis will cut off the strip to use a parallel road--this is often faster but can double your taxi fare. The taxi driver is required to use the meter and to take the shortest route to your destination. There is a surcharge for rides originating at the airport, but not for extra passengers. Taxi lines (queues) are typically found at the front of hotels. You would be unwise to attempt to hail one on the street, especially on the Strip, as it is illegal for a taxi to stop traffic to pick up or drop off a passenger. The best way to hail a taxi outside of a cabstand is to use the following method: if you are wanting to go north on the Strip, stand on the east side about 20 feet before a turn off. The taxi you want to wave over will have the yellow lights off. Standing like this allows the taxi to turn off the road and pick you up. It is customary to tip the hotel taxi dispatcher $1 and tip the taxi driver 15% of the meter, and about $1 per piece of luggage.
If you are traveling with a large group, consider hiring a limousine, as you will often forgo a wait and the price per person may even be lower than that using a taxicab. Limousines usually queue in front of the taxicab line and can be approached directly.[http://www.travelvegas.com/article/las-vegas-taxi-tips/]
Driving Las Vegas Boulevard (the "Strip"), especially on weekends, is an exercise in frustration. Due to extremely severe gridlock at all hours, you could easily spend an hour (or more) sitting in traffic on the Strip just to travel a couple of miles. The Strip's most critically congested section is the 1.7-mile-long portion between Spring Mountain Road/Sands Avenue to the north and Tropicana Avenue to the south, which happens to be where almost all of the major hotel-casinos are located.
Do what the locals do and avoid driving long distances on the Strip altogether. Instead take I-15, which parallels the Strip, and get off at the exit nearest your hotel and park there. Frank Sinatra Drive (which dead ends into Industrial Road) lies just west of the Strip, runs behind the casinos, and provides another option. Koval Lane and Paradise Road provide similar access on the eastern side of the Strip. If you need to do an east or west traverse of the northern half of the Strip and I-15, consider using the Desert Inn Road superarterial, which was built specifically to provide a fast grade-separated route for east-west traffic.
Virtually all major casinos on the Strip, and downtown, offer free parking and many also offer valet parking for an additional charge. On Friday and Saturday nights, the self-parking lots fill up fast. Consider splurging on the valet to avoid cumbersome delays and endless circling around.
Scoot Vegas Moped Rentals [url=http://www.scootvegas.com/]](+1 702 275-2379) offers scooter rental, a great way to see the sites. Free delivery to all strip hotels. Must be over 18 with a valid drivers license and major credit card.
* Vegas Scooters [http://www.vegasscooters.net/[/url] (+1 702 624-4326) Offers scooter rental with free gas, mileage, taxes, pickup and delivery.
The Roller Coaster will lift you up 203 feet, drop you down 144 feet and leave your pulse trying to catch up to 67 mph. Simulating a jet fighter's barrel roll, you'll turn 180°, hang 86 feet in the air, take the famous "heartline" twist and dive.
* There are 3 intense rides on the top of the tallest hotel on the strip: Big Shot - Shoots passengers straight up 160 feet at 45 mph (over 4 Gs) until they are 1,081 feet above the Strip. X-Scream - A giant teeter-totter that propels you 27 feet over the edge of the Tower, 866 feet above the ground. Insanity, the Ride - A massive mechanical arm extends 64 feet over the edge of the Tower and spins you at a force of 3 Gs for a truly mind-bending experience. For the people who do not like rides but still want to do something at the top, there are shops and a great view.
* SkyJump is a controlled free fall, similar to a vertical zip line. The launching pad is located on the 108th floor, 855 feet above the Las Vegas Strip. Jumpers are harnessed in and attached to a cable that is connected to a descender machine. Guide wires keep the skyjumper on course and on target. Just before reaching the rapidly approaching ground, the skyjumper is slowed down for a controlled and safe landing.
* America's 2nd largest indoor theme park with 25 rides and attractions for all ages.
Opportunities to gamble are found in most places in the Las Vegas metro area, even at McCarran Airport and small supermarkets.
Las Vegas 51s, Cashman Field, [url=http://www.lv51.com].] Triple-A baseball club affiliate of the [[New York Mets[/url]], the 51s have been in Las Vegas longer than any other professional sports team. The 51s began as the Las Vegas Stars in 1983 and were affiliated with the [wiki=a1edff17ec0464c4c048d25d25bce75a]San Diego Padres[/wiki]. In 2000, the Stars cut ties with San Diego and became the affiliate of the [wiki=d0aa2dffa0da83f1f34681308d04db5d]Los Angeles Dodgers[/wiki] and changed their name to the 51s, a reference to Area 51. The 51s have won 2 Pacific Coast League crowns and 8 division titles.
* Las Vegas Wranglers, Orleans Arena, [url=http://www.lasvegaswranglers.com].] ECHL hockey affiliate of the [[Calgary|Calgary Flames[/url]], the Wranglers began in 2003 and are the longest active affiliate of the Calgary Flames hockey club. In their first 5 years, the Wranglers have becoming a decent ECHL team that can be fun to watch. The Wranglers have won two division titles and two conference titles.
* National Finals Rodeo [url=http://www.prorodeo.com/series_home.aspx]]- Arguably the city's most prominent sporting event is the finals of the annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit, held over 10 days in December just off the Strip at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus.
* PBR World Finals [url=http://www.pbr.com[/url]]- Another major rodeo event is the finals of the Professional Bull Riders series, a separate circuit dedicated to bull riding. The PBR finals, held in late October at the Thomas & Mack Center, have more of an international flavor than the NFR-while the NFR is exclusive to the US and Canada, PBR runs national series in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Australia, and all of these countries, especially Brazil, are represented on the U.S. circuit.
* UNLV Rebels [url=http://www.unlvrebels.com[/url]]- The athletic teams of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, better known as UNLV, are also popular in the area. The Rebels are members of the Mountain West Conference along with 10 other schools in the western third of the country, plus one in [[Honolulu[/url]] that is a member only for football. The most famous UNLV team is the men's basketball team, known as the "Runnin' Rebels"; though not as strong as in their heyday from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, they remain solidly competitive and very popular. Most of the school's sports venues are on campus, but the football team plays at Sam Boyd Stadium in the suburb of Whitney, well to the east of campus.
* USA Sevens [url=http://www.usasevens.com]]- From an international perspective, however, this may be the city's most prominent sporting event-at least among those who do not consider poker to be a sport. The "Sevens" refers to rugby sevens, a variant of rugby union played on a full-sized field but with seven players a side instead of 15. The USA Sevens is part of the [url=http://www.irbsevens.com]IRB Sevens World Series[/url[/url], an annual circuit of nine events for national rugby sevens teams. Games are very fast-paced-each half lasts only 7 or 10 minutes, as opposed to 40 minutes in the full version of rugby union. This allows many games to be played in a day, and a full tournament to be completed in a weekend. The event, held at Sam Boyd Stadium in the second weekend of February, features 15 other national teams beside that of the U.S., and encourages a festival atmosphere. If you're so inclined, it can be a great opportunity to meet people from other parts of the world.
Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world. To get married, first go to the County Clerk's Office and apply for a marriage license. Both parties must have valid ID, such as a driver's license or passport. The cost is $60 per couple. The Las Vegas Wedding Bureau is open from 9AM-midnight seven days a week, including holidays. No blood test or waiting period is required. The marriage license itself is valid for one year. The minimum age to marry is 18; a 16 or 17 year old may marry if one parent is present or has given notarized permission.
Once you have a marriage license, the wedding ceremony can be performed by any priest, minister, rabbi or Justice of the Peace authorized to perform weddings with in the Las Vegas area. Numerous wedding chapels are located around the Wedding Bureau and on the Strip. You can choose an elaborate theme wedding, such as an Elvis impersonator as officiant, or a simple ceremony and reception celebration.
Most major hotels and Vegas wedding chapels offer wedding packages for those who wish to plan a larger wedding ceremony. But don't let a lack of planning stop your nuptials; all Vegas wedding chapels can perform immediate weddings with no prior appointment, although it is recommended to make a reservation for your wedding. If you make a reservation most chapels will provide courtesy limousine transportation from your hotel to the chapel and back. Making a reservation also decreases the likelihood of having to wait.
Finally, you can check with the Las Vegas Better Business Bureau before making any arrangements with any wedding chapel or service provider. You may check the local BBB reports online [http://www.vegasbbb.org].
Las Vegas is a great place for tennis fans. Not only do many of the hotels offer excellent courts but public courts abound as well. Vegas is also home to many amateur tournaments, UNLV tournaments.
Given the very high temperatures during the summer it maybe a surprise that ice skating is popular, but at inside rinks!
* A twin-rink facility.
* Vegas' only ice rink integrated into a casino/hotel complex.
Catering to a large contingent of tourists from China, and delighting everyone else as well, many Vegas casino resorts stage elaborate celebrations of the Chinese New Year, each year from January to March.
Traditional lion and dragon dances take place in hotel lobbies and even march through the casino floor. Live music performances abound, and many restaurants prepare specialty menus for the holiday. Look especially to Monte Carlo’s Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar, Fleur by Hubert Keller at Mandalay Bay, Rice & Company at Luxor, China Poblano by Jose Andres at The Cosmopolitan, Beijing Noodle No. 9 at Caesars Palace, Mozen Bistro at Mandarin Oriental, and Wing Lei at the Wynn.
Downtown, Chinese New Year in the Desert hosts a series of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cultural celebrations throughout five blocks of Fremont Street.
The combined state and local sales tax in all of Clark County (meaning the entire Las Vegas metro area) is 8.10%. Only groceries and prescription drugs are exempt.
Like most U.S. states, Nevada has not implemented a tax refund mechanism for international travelers. The only retailers that can sell tax-free items to international travelers are the duty free shops at McCarran International Airport.
Most hotel/casino resort complexes in Las Vegas have a gift shop open 24/7 that offers basic traveler supplies and sundries. Hotel gift shops are outrageously expensive and should be avoided except for emergencies.
If you are planning to not rent a car and to simply go up and down the Strip on foot or bus, the pharmacies are your best bet for basic supplies. They are all open 24/7 and accustomed to dealing with tourists from all over the world.
Like most U.S. pharmacies, they carry a very large variety of products besides pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, including snacks, soft drinks, beer, wine, bottled water, cosmetics, toiletries, hats, sunscreen, maps, postcards, and so on. CVS/pharmacy has two branches on the Strip, one located on South Strip between CityCenter and Monte Carlo, and the other located on North Strip between Circus Circus and Sahara Avenue. Walgreens has one branch on Central Strip at Palazzo and another on South Strip in front of Planet Hollywood. One sign of their popularity is that they routinely rank among the [url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701194345/http://www.losangelesregister.com/articles/strip-601536-vegas-south.html]top three locations by annual sales[/url] for their respective chains.
There are also multiple 7-Eleven convenience stores open 24/7 throughout the Strip, as well as several am/pm convenience stores. However, convenience stores tend to have higher prices than the pharmacies and their product selection is not as broad.
Another option is ABC Stores, Hawaii's leading discount convenience store chain, which was specifically founded to target tourists fed up with getting ripped off by gift shops at Honolulu hotels. ABC Stores eventually realized that the Las Vegas Strip had the same problem and now has eight stores covering the length of the Strip. ABC Stores are larger than 7-Eleven and am/pm stores, to compete against the nearby pharmacies (which because of their popularity are also much larger than the average U.S. pharmacy).
Importantly, there are no major supermarkets on the Las Vegas Strip near the resorts. The closest one that sits on Las Vegas Boulevard is the Whole Foods Market at Town Square (see below). Other than that, one has to travel as far west as Valley View Boulevard or as far east as Maryland Parkway to find supermarkets such as Vons, Albertsons, Food4Less, and Smith's. You can also have groceries delivered directly to your resort with a grocery delivery service such as Quick n Easy Couriers.
There are a handful of shopping malls that are not affiliated with casinos:
* Offers nearly every major and deluxe U.S. retail chain store. Also offers numerous others often associated with major designers, plus a large food court and several excellent restaurants, all in a fully-enclosed, air-conditioned facility. The mall's plaza on the side facing the Strip is covered by a giant silver oval shade called the "Cloud" so it's hard to miss. Features extensive, free covered parking that often gets very busy by midday.
* About half a mile south of Mandalay is an outdoor mall in the shape of a small Mediterranean town and stands out as such amidst all the other, air-conditioned indoor malls. The idea of open-air shopping in the summer in the desert might seem crazy at first, but an extensive network of trees, shadow alleys and water sprayers let you actually enjoy sunny afternoons outside. And as such, Las Vegas' temperatures are not as heat prone in the seasons of fall, winter, and spring. All shops and restaurants here have their own distinctive one- or two-story structures. The "town" actually centers around a real town square featuring trees, ice cream and coffee stands and benches to rest.
Many of the larger casinos include high-end shopping areas with designer stores, including:
* A huge high-end shopping area that also offers free animatronics shows at Fountain of the Gods and Atlantis located at either end of the mall.
* Another massive shopping area that features the tacky objets d'art shop featured in Martin Bashir's interview with Michael Jackson.
* In addition to 170 specialty stores, 15 restaurants and three live entertainment venues, the Miracle Mile Shops also features a multi-million dollar fountain show and an indoor rainstorm.
Las Vegas is a hub for factory outlet malls.
The two largest and most prestigious are the Las Vegas Premium Outlets centers. Both are owned by the Premium Outlets chain, which is part of Simon Property Group. The southern one was originally independently developed by another company as Las Vegas Outlet Center and is still described by that name in older travel guidebooks. Both share many of the same tenants. The northern one features a few designer brands not found in its southern sibling, like Armani Exchange, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Elie Tahari, Kate Spade, Salvatore Ferragamo, St. John, Tory Burch, and Tumi, while the southern one features a Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th store.
* At the gateway of Downtown - 150 designer and name-brand outlets in an outdoor setting.
* 140 outlet stores in an indoor setting complete with two food courts.
This store is stacked with books that can teach you how to count cards and bet on sports. Try to visit when former owner Howard Schwartz is around for some interesting Vegas lore. This is the oldest gambling book store in the nation; if you need to learn how to play a game, this is where you go.
* Contemporary art gallery presenting sophisticated and edgy emerging artists from around the corner and around the world. Named Best Gallery in Nevada. Offers new exhibitions/murals every month. Sin City Gallery produces Las Vegas' only international annual juried erotic art exhibition.
Buffets are extremely popular in Las Vegas and the city has a plethora of them. They are popular with locals and tourists alike. The best buffets typically run about $30 a person for a weekend dinner. Lunch is a better value at most buffets as it is typically half-price but serves some of the same types of food that can be found at dinner hours. Breakfast is the least expensive and often has a good spread too. Don't forget that tipping your buffet waiter 10-15% is customary. You can leave cash on the table at the end of your meal or tip the cashier at the counter on a credit card.
* Featuring dishes from five French provinces, the Village Buffet offers exquisite classic French foods, some made to order, and seasonal specialties under a faux sky in a village-like setting. Patrons may, for example, choose to sit in a town square or French country home. Lines can be long. For an extra $10 per person, patrons can go to the head of the line.
* The casino changed names, but the buffet is the same. All styles of food including good seafood. Line moves fast.
* This buffet is one of the better buffets in Las Vegas, with an extensive seafood collection (as well as other items). Lines can be long. Note that the Rio also offers the Carnivale World Buffet, which is cheaper but does not offer a total seafood oriented buffet, but features a changing variety of dishes featuring seafood. Tables are close together, and can be noisy.
* 16 exhibition cooking stations and a luxurious selection of extraordinary dishes. Dress is casual. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served, with champagne brunch on weekends.
* Arguably the best buffet on the Strip, with the dinner menu including pre-split crab legs, venison, Kobe beef, and wild boar. Gourmet Friday dinner includes Beef Wellington, Rack of Lamb, Veal Ossobuco, Grilled Swordfish, and Curried Duck Legs. The Buffet has spectacular selections from Italy, China, and Japan as well as fresh seafood and traditional American food. Wait to enter can be 90 minutes or more.
The Heart Attack Grill is an American hamburger restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada (formerly Chandler, Arizona). It has courted controversy by serving high-calorie menu items with deliberately provocative names; main menu items are mostly named after heart related health problems.
The establishment is a hospital theme restaurant: waitresses ("nurses") take orders ("prescriptions") from the customers ("patients"). A tag is wrapped on the patient's wrist showing which foods they order and a "doctor" examines the "patients" with a stethoscope. The menu includes "Single", "Double", "Triple", and "Quadruple Bypass" hamburgers,[1] ranging from 8 to 32 ounces (230 to 910 g) of beef (up to about 8,000 calories), all-you-can-eat "Flatliner Fries" (cooked in pure lard), beer and tequila, and soft drinks such as "Jolt" and Mexican-bottled Coca-Cola made with real sugar.[2] Customers over 350 lb (160 kg) in weight eat for free if they weigh in with a doctor or nurse before each burger. Beverages and to-go orders are excluded and sharing food is also not allowed for the free food deal. There are no "healthy" low-fat options, vegetarian items, or substitutions on their menu. You should not eat here if you know you have certain medical conditions or dietary restrictions. Two of their "unofficial spokespersons" have since died of heart related complications. For reasons that are too evident, they accept cash only. All this being said, if you're still adventurous, eat here at your own risk.
Cheap downtown bar with live music. Friendly with travelers and frequented often by the staff and guests of the nearby hostel.
* Circular shaped bar/lounge; every hour the bar staff dances on the bartop or lounge tables.
* Cuban-themed lounge offering more than 100 different cigars and a good selection of whiskeys. Try the $40 Opus X cigar.
* A luxurious floating lounge in a ornate replica of the barge that transported Cleopatra down the Nile.
* The finest dive bar in Vegas! A bit out of the way, but plenty of atmosphere.
* Nice bar off the Strip with a very large beer selection and live music on weekends.
* minus5° is an ice bar where you can touch, feel, and explore handcrafted ice sculptures and ice architecture made from 100% pure Canadian ice. Everything inside minus5° is made of ice; the walls, the bar, the sculptures, the seats and even the glasses that you enjoy our famous vodka-based cocktails in. Walking into minus5°, guests are given insulated jackets, gloves and boots. Once inside the bar, visitors are greeted with an icy wonderland of intricately hand-crafted ice sculptures and furniture.
* This pub was actually constructed in Ireland and then shipped to Las Vegas. A great Irish band plays most nights starting around 9PM, the crowd is always energetic, and the Guinness and Bass flow easily.
* The very best of Mexico with atmosphere, tequila, buckets of beer and of course, tasty Mexican food.
* hot strippers male that is
* Sports bar with great pastrami sliders and over 30 beers on tap.
* Pricey, but enjoyable for a couple of quick cocktails.
There is a club or lounge in nearly every hotel and casino. Most clubs remain open until 4AM, with various after-hour clubs available for the truly hard-core partiers. Drink prices can range anywhere from $4-8 for a domestic bottle of beer, $8-10 for well drinks made with cheap generic liquor, and $200 or more for a bottle of spirits. Clubs are always busy on weekends, and may also be packed during weekdays at places that have Service Industry Night (SIN), usually Tuesday to Thursday, when locals working in the service industry have their night off.
A good way to find out what places are currently hot in Vegas is to ask service staff who look like party-people. People working inside hotels are bound to recommend the hotel's institutions, so rather go for waiters or shop-assistants in restaurants or malls outside the hotels.
The top clubs will charge entry of $15 or more. Exceptions may include those who have reserved a table, those who get there early, ladies, and locals. Expect to wait in a line for 10 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the night. It is usually best to arrive before 10PM; while the club may be emptier, the line will be shorter and you may avoid paying a cover charge. Sitting at a table often requires a bottle purchase and if you stop making purchases, they will ask you to vacate the table so that someone else can occupy the table. The dress code varies by club. The general rule of thumb is most of the time women know what to wear when they are going out, and men should avoid wearing tennis shoes, tank tops, hats, t-shirts, and blue jeans.
* The club is huge with over 30,000 sq feet of dance space. Prince used to play shows here often. Closed in 2007. Crown Nightclub now in its place.
* Chateau Las Vegas bottle service prices are unmatched at this triple-decker nightclub in the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
* Just like the movie, expect beautiful 20-something women serving you drinks and getting rowdy on the bar.
* The most popular place for after hours on weekends, so expect long queues especially from 5AM. Two dance-floors: the main floor features trance and Euro dance (otherwise rare in Vegas), the VIP floor (extra charge) features hip hop. Temporarily moved to Ballys while Bills is getting a face lift.
* Designed by the Light Group. 25,500 square feet.
* Burlesque club. Now Closed.
* A 15,000 square foot dance club, featuring three distinct rooms: house, hip-hop and rock.
* Where young Hollywood goes to party. Exclusive club with an exclusive guest list. 26,000 square feet.
* The first-ever nightclub turned on by Cirque du Soleil, it has merged cutting-edge creativity with incredible music to produce a new kind of nightlife experience. The chic, fashion-forward 38,000-square-foot venue featuring state-of-the-art production, theatrics, and, of course world-renowned DJs and performers will turn on a new kind of passion and creativity
* Marquee nightclub is a 60,000 square foot venue containing seven different bars and three rooms-the main room, the Boom Box, and The Library.
* The décor of Surrender Las Vegas expertly blends the enticing theme with the upscale standards guests have come to expect from Wynn Las Vegas properties.
* A 10,000 square foot nightclub. There is an outside terrace with Strip views, 3 bars, two main rooms playing a variety of hip hop, house and rock.
* The Bank Las Vegas is a premier nightlife destination, catering to a discerning audience with higher sensibilities. The exquisitely designed space encompasses everything a guest at the Five Diamond rated Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas has come to expect in nightlife
* 14,000 square feet, 64 VIP booths, Terrace overlooking Hard Rock Beach Club.
* Officially, this $100 million 40,000 square foot club is the most expensive nightclub ever built. Popular among NBA stars.
An Ultra Pool is a mix of a pool, and club all in one.
* Located next to the MGM Grand, this Ultra Pool is the Ultimate Maximum Vegas Day Club. Have a blast swimming around in one of the many pools, or swim (yes, swim) up to a bar and order your favorite drink. Not into getting wet? Relax at a cabana or day bed. Bottle service is available. On select days be sure to stop by as live DJ's will spin the hottest music to cool you down on a hot day in Las Vegas.
* A Daylight Las Vegas daybed is a swank; classy sultry getaway that is inspired by European hotspot Ibiza and can hold an astounding 5,000 guests. The getaway will be centered on a pool with three wet decks and with 50,000 square feet of flexible outdoor space.
* The majority of the 27 cabanas at Ditch Fridays surround this pool, with your choice of the “caves,” which are cutouts that rest below the upper area and come complete with misters, flat-screen TVs and lounge-style seating.
* The Newest pool party in Las Vegas located in the center of the Las Vegas strip on the top of the Cromwell Hotel and Casino.
* Encore Beach Club Las Vegas is a 60,000 square foot venue features a lush and luxurious oasis with three tiered pools, daybeds featuring private safes and 26 cabanas outfitted with refrigerators and flat screen televisions..
* Marquee Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan are the premier location for the Las Vegas daylife experience. Perfect for a bachelorette party or regular weekend soaking up some sun, the stylish and sophisticated venue offers a full range of beverage options and cabana service.
* Rehab is the grand daddy of all Las Vegas pool parties. Known for over the top live performances and and celebrity appearances.
* TAO Beach features all of the same attention to detail, service and décor that have made Tao nightclub the place to see and be seen for the jet set and celebrities since opening in September 2005.
An ultra lounge is a mix between lounge and a night club, but the difference to "real" night clubs is tiny and vanishes completely, when the DJ pulls out hard-core dance hits.
* On the 1st floor of Wynn's with an open-air section. Very posh, and accordingly not very energetic music and crowd.
* Located on the hotel's roof, this bar features a section of floor that is made of thick glass with nothing beneath it -- the glass is the only thing between your feet and the ground 55 stories below.
* Mix Lounge, located on the 64th floor atop THE hotel at Mandalay Bay, offers guests stunning 360-degree views of the Strip and the Vegas valley from its floor-to-ceiling windows.
* Located in the Forum Mall, Caesars Palace, OPM is one of the worlds premier RnB clubs. Located above a restaurant, Budda statues, black decor and red mood lighting, gives it a slightly underground feel. Two rooms play RnB/Hip Hop and Dancehall. Regularly frequented by celebrities.
* Pure claims to be the hugest disco/club in Vegas with 40,000 square foot of space. On weekends, be prepared for huge queues unless you are an attractive woman or a wealthy man. The 14,000 square foot open air terrace on the 10th-ish floor is the only area open also on weekdays. It features a panorama view of the Strip glitter with all strip hotels in sight. Other areas, only open on week-ends, include the Pussycat Doll Lounge and the ultra exclusive (and expensive!) VIP Red Room, frequented by many celebrities.
* A small but sophisticated bar, this is a great place to linger over a cocktail.
* Overlooking the iconic Fountains of Bellagio, Hyde Las Vegas delivers a spectacular 10,000-square-foot, indoor/outdoor venue.
Two hotel towers, nine bars, 17 restaurants, 1,840-seat theater, gift shop, 800,000 square foot spa, three huge pools and 300,000 square feet of meeting space means you need never to leave.
* A moderate hotel and casino, but the location at the center of the Strip and the large rooms makes it one of the best values around.
* One of the most upscale hotels in Las Vegas, the Bellagio features an art gallery, a massive indoor flower garden, and the Cirque du Soleil show "O". Cool.
* Renowned for its originality and features, Caesars Palace offers 3,300 hotel rooms and more than 26 different restaurants and cafes.
* A smaller property recently purchased by the Best Western Hotel Chain. Located center strip between Harrah's and the Venetian and directly across the street from the Mirage. 152 newly remodeled guest rooms
* A cheaper and less upscale casino that caters to families. The Manor is in poor shape; the Tower rooms are somewhat better. Scheduled for demolition and rebuilding.
* The resort's uniquely vertical multi-tower design offers spectacular views of the vibrant city. The new 2,995-room resort features oversized, residential-style living spaces with expansive, one-of-a-kind private terraces.
* Formerly Bill's Gambling Hall, the Cromwell is a newly remodeled boutique hotel located at the northeast corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvd next to Flamingo.
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* Named after the mythical sword of King Arthur, this family friendly hotel has a large pool and rides for the kids.
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* Occupying the top four floors of Mandalay Bay's main building, the Four Seasons is one of the most exclusive and high-end accommodations in Las Vegas.
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* An Egyptian-themed hotel with a massive pyramid that offers interesting room layouts. This hotel is a good option for those looking for a lower-priced but still upscale room on the Strip.
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* Located at the far southern end of the Strip next to the Luxor.
* The most luxurious, nongaming hotel in CityCenter. 47 floors. The guest rooms and public spaces subtly reference Asian design with art and decorative accents, paintings of kimonos, panels that slide like shoji screens, pendant lamps that resemble Japanese lanterns, and high-sheen built-in drawers that suggest the lacquer and tiers of Tansu chests.
* An upscale hotel located near the middle of the Strip, the Mirage features a "volcano" that erupts every hour, a white tiger exhibit, a 200,000 gallon tropical aquarium, and a tropical rain forest.
* Opened in 1993, this Hollywood themed resort has 5,044 guest rooms. The theme "Maximum Vegas" refers to the point that almost anyone can find something to do. With 6.6 acres of swimming area, 2 wedding chapels, 3 theaters, multitudes of resturaunts, a spa and salon, a 380,000 square foot conference center, shops galore, and 165,000 square feet of casino floor.
* Modeled after the opulent Place du Casino in Monte Carlo. Features Blue Man Group at the Blue Man Theater.
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* Luxury condos on top of the MGM Grand.
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* 2,500 rooms, 2 swimming pools, casino, spa, fitness center, shops, 24-hour room service, free parking, restaurants and bars.
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* This Riviera Casino Hotels accommodations and service is above average and the best value for the money. The location is preferable because it is located on strip but not smack in the heart of the strip so you're not overwhelmed with hordes of crowds and traffic.
* The 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower is a Las Vegas landmark.
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* The Travelodge Las Vegas has cable TV, free parking for motor coaches and buses and a heated outdoor pool that’s open all year.
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* The Venetian's sister property located right next door, The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino has an extraordinary 50-floor luxury tower with 3,066 suites, along with a 100,000-square-foot gaming casino, and a 450,000-square-foot meeting and convention facility. It is home to over 60 international boutiques, Barneys New York, the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, the 40/40 Club, the Broadway smash Jersey Boys, and 15 incredible restaurants.
* A luxury suite hotel behind the MGM Grand.
* 57 floors. Includes a sizable spa, pool complex, restaurant, bar and nearly 1,500 suites. Vdara is one of the few upscale Las Vegas hotels hospitable to families. 250 Panoramic rooms, include a four-person dining room table, a washer-dryer and full-sized kitchen appliances. A non-smoking hotel.
* A high-end hotel located near the center of the Strip which offers everything from the Grand Canal Shops to gondolas.
* Built at a cost of $2.7 billion, this is the most expensive resort in the world, with the money plowed into (among other things) a private golf course, an artificial mountain with a 5-story waterfall and a million-gallon water tank for the nightly show.
This 192 all suite hotel is located directly across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center.
* This 137 room, 12 suite hotel is located across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center and nearby the monorail station.
* A small non-gaming boutique hotel.
* Adjacent to McCarran Airport, across from Thomas and Mack, UNLV. Minutes from the Strip. Free complimentary shuttle service to the Strip and las vegas airport, free continental breakfast, free internet.
* Three blocks away from the Las Vegas Monorail Convention Center stop and 1 mile away from the Strip. 3 miles from UNLV. Free complimentary shuttle service to the Strip.
* Rooms with double bed, deluxe king bed and suite, all equipped with Air-conditioning, Safe and Plasma cable TV. Facilities and services are High-speed Internet access and Swimming pool.
* Offers lodging accommodations near the convention center, Strip attractions, with a wedding chapel, deals, discount specials and vacation packages.
* Business traveler oriented hotel near the Las Vegas Strip and other area attractions. Complimentary parking. Non-smoking. 148 rooms and 6 suites. Breakfast and dinner available at The Bistro on-site restaurant.
* Within walking distance of UNLV and the Thomas and Mack Center sports arena.
* .Spacious 284 condo-styled suites with the comforts of a vacation resort. Sparkling resort pool and hot tub, surrounded by lush foliage.
* Fully furnished premium and deluxe style suites. Located near to the Mob Museum.
* A full service hotel with a casino, eight restaurants, a 70 lane bowling alley, 711 hotel rooms. Free shuttle to the Strip, free valet parking, fitness center. Views of the Strip and great value.
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* A premier destination entertainment resort located on 16.7 acres on the corner of Harmon and Paradise Road, inside the Paradise Corridor.
* New hotel. Great location just off the Strip near UNLV, the Convention Center and the airport.
* Located right behind the Tropicana and quick walk to the Strip or monorail. Guests can expect to see the Hooters Girls throughout the property.
* Popular for business travelers. 42" flat panel HDTV and free wi-fi in each room. Free breakfast and airport shuttle.
* Includes the 40,000 sq foot Aquae Sulis Spa & Salon.
* This 3000 room hotel/casino is situated just north of the Las Vegas Convention Center, a couple of blocks east of the Strip. A monorail station is located next to the lobby.
* The rooftop foyer presents beautiful sweeping views of the landscape.
* Next to Nellis Airforce Base and minutes from Las Vegas Speedway. Free complimentary hot breakfast, and free internet. Newly renovated with oversized 42" Flat screen TV's.
* A great view of the Strip from the Ghostbar. A Maloof casino.
* Boutique non-gaming hotel, all rooms are suites with kitchen and private balcony. Two blocks from the Strip, near the Bellagio.
* Three blocks away from the Strip and 2 miles away from UNLV. Free complimentary airport shuttle service.
* Non-gaming, non-smoking hotel convenient to Las Vegas Convention Center, McCarran Airport, Monorail, and the Strip.
* Non-gaming, non-smoking hotel convenient to Las Vegas Hughes Center, UNLV, Restaurant Row, and the Strip.
* Claims to have some of the largest standard rooms in Las Vegas.
* World's Largest Super 8 located only 1 block away from the Strip.
* 64 floors. Sweeping panoramic views of the city against a majestic backdrop of surrounding mountains. 1,232 suites and 50 penthouse suites, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows. The Spa at Trump and Health Club.
* One and two bedroom villas equipped with a full kitchen, whirlpool tub, spacious living room and a fireplace. 2.5 miles from the Strip.
* 826 rooms and suites offer understated style and the utmost elegance.
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* Offers a variety of stylish deluxe suites, as well as standard accommodations. Amenities include a swimming pool, patio deck and large palm trees.
* 300 rooms, 2 restaurants and a sandwich counter. Recently remodeled with a great rewards program. Oldest continually operated hotel-casino in Las Vegas.
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* 32,000 square foot casino and 4 restaurants.
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* Clean rooms, quiet, downtown near Fremont Street
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* Victorian theme. Includes not-to-be-missed Garden Court Buffet.
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Many modest hotels, well-away from the Strip and downtown, cater to "locals"; many offer lower rates and (often) better games. Many are full resort hotels. Among them are:
* (Formerly Aliante Station) A casino-resort hotel on the northern side of the Las Vegas valley, about a 30-minute drive from the Strip.
* The Station Casinos. Located throughout the greater LV area, includes deluxe resort properties.
* Sam's Town. On Boulder Highway toward Henderson. Large property with considerable parking, including excellent facilities for RVs.
* Suncoast
* Fiesta Henderson. At intersection of I-215 and I-515. Standard rooms, economical and tasty dining, and excellent games. Room rates for players are especially attractive.
When the flashing neon lights of Vegas get too much, try this great alternative. Capturing the essence of an Alsace-Lorraine French country farmhouse.
*Milo's Inn at Boulder 534 Nevada Hwy, Boulder City, +1 702 294-4244 [http://www.milosinnatboulder.com/] Quiet bed and breakfast at Milo's Wine Bar in historic Boulder City near Hoover Dam. Remodeled rooms.
Easy access from interstate and reasonable prices; great for overnight stays passing through Vegas.
* Sites are cramped but cheap. They take your name but don't take reservations if they are nearly full (beware!).
* Nice clean RV park south of the Strip, 50 amp full service hookups. Two pools and hot tubs. Need to drive or take shuttle to the Strip. Easy access from I-15.
A definite budget option. A reasonably well kept hostel with very friendly staff. Free beer and BBQ at the weekend is not to be missed. Surrounding area is not overly safe. Walking alone at night is not recommended. The pizza parlour next door does a deal on a soda and a generous slice of pizza for around $3. Fremont Experience is roughly a 20 minute walk from the hostel.
* Hostel located near the north end of the Strip. Simple, clean, efficient. $15 per night in a 6-bed dorm includes continental breakfast.
* This HI-affiliated hostel is on the north end of the Strip.
* This is a good hostel with friendly staff. There is constantly something going on here. Whether it is beer pong, a tour of the strip or a movie night, you are bound to have a good time.However, the location could be better.
Despite the advertising slogan What happens here, stays here, Las Vegas has laws that are vigorously enforced. If you fail to comply with the Nevada Revised Statutes, you will draw the attention of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, which has jurisdiction over both the City of Las Vegas and all unincorporated areas in Clark County. Contrary to popular belief, prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas and all of Clark County, although it is legal at licensed brothels in a few rural counties of Nevada. Pedestrians may drink alcohol from an open container on "the Strip", but not in automobiles (not even for passengers).
Remain vigilant while driving. Las Vegas Boulevard ("the Strip") is notorious for fender benders and other traffic collisions as a result of the heavy stop-and-go traffic and the numerous distractions (pirates, volcanoes, women) offered to drivers.
Some part of Interstate 15 is always under construction to relieve its perennial traffic jams. The construction zones tend to have inadequate signage and poor lane markings, which combined with the large number of tourists results in frequent last-minute lane changes and in turn, many multi-vehicle car accidents. Many people are also driving intoxicated as well; Nevada has an unusually high frequency of traffic deaths with alcohol involved, and most of them happen in and near this city.
Expect extremely low humidity and temperatures above 105°F (40°C) May to September. Bring sunscreen and wear loose, light-colored clothing that substantially reflects sunlight. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
If you are on foot on the Strip in the summer, air conditioning is your best friend. The summer heat is brutal and unforgiving in Nevada; you will realize soon enough why the national park to the northwest of Las Vegas is called [wiki=824014ecbc75f42007ab1e3af9b92714]Death Valley[/wiki]. You must pay attention to where you are relative to the closest enclosed structure and be prepared to duck inside immediately to recover from the heat if you began to experience symptoms of heat exhaustion. This is especially important if you have children or elderly relatives with you. Pushing onward in order to get maximum value out of your vacation means risking an unscheduled trip to a local hospital for heat stroke.
Mail service is provided by the United States Postal Service.
There is a full-service post office in the main esplanade of McCarran Airport on the departure level overlooking the baggage claim area, which has a slot through which outbound mail can be deposited at all hours. If you forget to stop there before entering the secure area, there is also a mail drop at the D Gates concourse.
The airport post office is actually a branch of a much larger USPS facility located on Sunset Road on the south side of the airport, which has a retail lobby open to the public.
Unfortunately, the airport and downtown post offices are the closest to the Strip; there are no post offices located on the Strip itself. However, both of the CVS and Walgreens pharmacies on the Strip do sell stamp booklets.
Most hotel charge a separate fee (typically $13/day) for WiFi usage. An alternative option for occasional WiFi users are Burger King joints - WiFi is free for all customers and you don't even need a password.
McCarran International Airport has free WiFi. On the Strip some Internet cafes provide Internet access with prices from 20¢/minute.
* $3/hr, or connect to it for free!
Las Vegas hotels are notorious for high prices for laundry, dry cleaning, and tailoring. If you will be staying for more than 2-3 days and need laundry services, consider going to a laundromat or taking your items to a retail cleaner. If you need clothing repair or alterations, finding something near The Strip can be difficult.
* . Offers 24-hour emergency service.
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Inside all large casino (generally those casinos exceeding 15 slot machines), strip clubs and standalone bars not serving food, smoking is permitted. In large casinos, there are areas which are smoke-free, but they may be very close to smoking areas. Poker rooms are typically smoke-free. Smoke-free table games and slot areas are also available. Restaurants inside casinos are non-smoking. Nightclubs and lounges may allow smoking if they do not serve food.
For all other standalone restaurants, bars, convenience stores, grocery stores and airport facilities smoking is banned in all establishments which sell food other than prepackaged snacks. This ban will be obvious in most places by the absence of ashtrays and the required clearly posted signs. In most cases, smoking areas may be provided outdoors, so always ask your server since various options are almost always available. The penalty can be a $100-$600 ticket if you are caught by authorities.
In practice, there is extremely lax official enforcement in most informal off-strip locations due to a lack of enforcement personnel, and some will even offer ashtrays "at your own risk" if you ask for one. Smoking is still permitted in any stand alone bar or club (with or without gambling machines) that do not serve food other than prepackaged snacks (such as chips, pretzels, candy bars). Although a gray area, some smoking-permitted bars which do not serve food will let you carry food in from adjacent/attached non-smoking restaurants so ask. Many stand lone restaurants now also provide a physically separated (separate entry doors and separate ventilatation) non-smoking dining area and a smoking bar or gaming area to accomodate both smokers and non-smokers.
Casino ATMs tend to impose outrageous transaction fees. (They have mastered the art of sucking away your money even before you place a single bet.) It is a good idea to load up on cash before going to the casino. If you forget to get cash at home or at the airport ATMs, several major banks have ATMs located on the Strip:
*M&M Store, 3rd floor (Bank of America).
*Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (Bank of America).
*CVS Pharmacy and am/pm stores (Chase).
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