Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas travel guide

Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the world full of lavish casinos and famous for its entertainment and shopping. It is also known as 'Sin City' so if you are on a family holiday some venues may not be suitable. Las Vegas is situated in the middle of the Nevada desert and has a population estimated to be 1.8 million in 2006. The main strip running through the heart of Vegas is 4.5 miles long aligned with glitzy and glamorous hotels. The hotels are unique and very much a tourist attraction on their own; you can spend a day just hotel spotting. It's hard to decide whether they are casinos with rooms or hotels with casinos! Caesars Palace is probably one of the best known hotels and as the name suggests depicts scenes from Rome. Once you are past the casinos sudddenly you're transported into a huge Roman shopping mall. The ceiling is painted a beautiful blue sky and fountains are lined by swanky shops. If you are looking for an Italian ambience Caesars Palace is a good enough subsitute for Rome if you cannot get there. Shows are also available to see some famous celebrities and up until recently Celine Dione had been performing regularly. Boxing matches are also held here along with the MGM Grand.

If you are staying for a few days in Vegas and do not intend to gamble the entire time staying at Mandalay Bay Hotel will allow you to have access to a man-made beach and pool and a wave machine. This will make you the envy of all passers by because Vegas as a sightseeing destination can be quite tiresome so a relaxing beach will be very welcomed to rest your feet.

There are however plenty of hotels on the strip to choose from and all have their own themes. Below is a list of hotels from North to South on 'The Strip'.

Vegas is not a place full of organic beauty but very much 'man made' entertainment. If you are a tourist that likes space and freedom to roam than it can feel very noisy and claustrophobic at times. Pre-plan your trip to vegas so you know how many days you would like to spend there however it is not usually necessary to pre-book trips out of Vegas as there are other natural wonders to see outside the city.

The Grand Canyon, Arizona is usually on everyones top list of things to see; most people if not all do stay in Vegas to go and see the Grand Canyon. Trips vary considerably from price to duration and you will be able to book this at your hotel. You can have a choice of a helicoptor tour which will fly you through the canyon and land at the bottom for a glass of champagne or take the bus but this can take up a few hours in travelling time; the later being the less expensive. The bus tour however long it maybe does have its advantages over the helicoptor tour as you have the opportunity to stand over the Canyon which somehow gives a greater impression of its immense size.

The Hoover Dam is also very popular, you can see this on the way to the Grand Canyon or as a tour on its own. It is worth seeing as a tour on its own to be able to appreciate the construction and immense size of the Dam.

Las Vegas can be walked however there is also a good public transport system. You can take the 'Monorail' which connects hotels together or you can take the 'Strip Trolley' or the 'Catride'.

Flights to Las Vegas

Las Vegas International airport is McCarran and is a ten minute ride from 'The Strip'.

To and from Las Vegas airport

Car hire - There are many car hire companies - car hire deals.

Activities and sightseeing in Las Vegas

Themed Hotels and casinos with exhibitions and shows (see above for hotel links), shopping malls in and outside of the hotels, rides - Insanity, X-Scream, Big shot. Tours - Grand canyon, Bryce Canynon, Zion National Park, Death Valley National Park, River rafting and Hoover Dam, Colorado river jet boat, London Bridge and Oatman ghost town tour, Area 51, Anasazi Ruins, Lost city museum, and the Great Spiritual center 'Valley of Fire', Red Rock canyon -'Howard Hughs Ranch'.

Eating and Drinking in Las Vegas

Ten of the best Las Vegas restaurants

RM Seafood Restaurant - south Las Vegas Boulevard, Alize - French restaurant on Flamingo Road, Mix- American restaurant on Las Vegas Boulevard, Jasmine - French restaurant on Las Vegas Boulevard, The Country Club - steak house on Las Vegas Boulevard, Top of the World Restaurant - American restaurant on Las Vegas Boulevard, Rosemary's Restaurant - American restaurant on West Sahara, Demonico Steakhouse - steakhouse on Las Vegas Boulevard, Michael Mina Restaurant - Seafood restaurant on Las Vegas Boulevard, Antonio's Italian Restaurante - Italian restaurant on Flamingo road.

Las Vegas night life

Blush - inside the Wynn hotel, Coyote Uguly - inside New York New York, Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce - inside Mandalay Bay, Jet - inside Mirage, Poetry - inside Caesars Palace, Risque - inside Paris, Rumjungle - inside Mandalay Bay, Studio 54 - inside MGM Grand, Tabu - inside MGM Grand, Tao - inside the Venetian.