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Las Vegas looks the way you'd imagine heaven must look at night
~ Chuck Palahniuk
These vtravellers love Las Vegas
Few cities bring to mind such images of sheer excess as Las Vegas. Located in the middle of the arid Mojave Desert, at the southern tip of the state of Nevada, Las Vegas is an oasis of life, energy and money - a city whose raison d’être is entertainment.
Over 35 million people visit Las Vegas year round, staying in the city’s 150,000 hotel rooms. According to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Las Vegas is now the fastest growing city in North America with an estimated two acres of land being developed every 24 hours, and seeing approximately 50,000 people annually choosing to make the city and suburbs their home.
Ironically, Las Vegas’ beginnings were, if anything, humble. In the 18th century, the spot where the city now stands earned the named Las Vegas (Spanish for ‘The Plains’), because of a natural spring that created greenery in the dry desert. The city itself was founded in 1905 (as a stopover on the Union Pacific railway between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City) but it remained a remote backwater until the 1930s.
In 1931, however, gambling was made legal and Las Vegas quickly began to assume its present character. At first, it drew the droves of workers building the nearby Hoover Dam. Soon, it became a gambling and vacation mecca for the entire country - it attracted stars like Frank Sinatra, Elvis and Liberace and became America ’s premier entertainment hub.
The 1990s saw a trend towards building enormous hotel complexes competing with one another for the title of largest hotel in the world, and it has not let up to this day. The competition was won by the city-like MGM Grand, whose capacity of over 5,000 rooms has yet to be bettered, although the Bellagio, the Wynn Las Vegas and the newly opened Palazzo have certainly raised the bar in terms of lavish luxury and unchecked hedonism.
Today, Las Vegas is booming like never before. Entertainment so dominates Las Vegas that it is the backbone of the city’s economy, creating vibrant hotel, retail and hospitality industries. The city’s sheer exuberance in attracting visitors has created something along the lines of a city-sized theme park. Its residents lead normal lives in normal suburbs, but to visitors, it is an endless playground of neon lights, hotel lounges, topless revues, live entertainment and casinos.
By 2010, the face of the Strip is expected to be completely transformed following the completion of Project CityCenter and Echelon Place, two multiple high-rise, mixed-use residential and commercial developments that will boast the latest in contemporary urban design and architecture.
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd.
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Feature
Public Transport
Although Las Vegas is a bustling metropolis with over one million inhabitants, its public transportation service is mostly limited to buses. These are operated by the CitizensAreaTransit - CAT (tel: (702) 228 7433 or 1 800 228 3911; website: www.catride.com). Some bus lines run 24 hours. Transferring between different buses is free of charge and transfer tickets are available from the bus driver. Fares can be purchased upon boarding. Tokens are available from the Downtown Transportation Centre, 300 North Casino Centre Boulevard (tel: (702) 229 6025), open daily 0600-1845 and the South Strip Transfer Terminal, 6675 Gilespie Street (open daily 0700-1730) or online (website: www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/cat/buy.htm). These allow a 20% discount.
Privately run trolley services are also available and are used more by visitors than locals. The LasVegasStripTrolley (tel: (702) 382 1404) runs the length of the Strip every 15 minutes 0930-0130. There is no longer a DowntownTrolley service going to Fremont Street, making the only option for transportation taxi or CAT transit buses.
A 30-day CATPass bus pass is available from the Citizens Area Transit, specified vendors, by post or online at the CAT website (see above).
Monorail
The LasVegasMonorail (tel: (702) 699 8200; website: www.lvmonorail.com) runs 0700-0200 daily from the Sahara Hotel to the MGM Grand and stops include the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Four ticket types are available: one-ride, day-pass, 10-ride or three-day pass. Tickets are available from ticket vending machines at monorail stations.
Depending upon your location along The Strip, you can connect to the LV Monorail by using the ‘private’ (hotel/casino run) monorail running between The Luxor, Excalibur and New York New York and upon disembarking cross the walkway bridge to the MGM Grand, a short distance away. Travel on this private monorail is free.
Taxis
Thousands of taxis service the high volume of tourists in Las Vegas. It is against the law to hail a taxi in Las Vegas, although some drivers will stop if this is done. There are large numbers of taxi stands on the Strip and Downtown at which taxis can be hired. At more remote locations, it is easiest to phone for taxi service from such companies as ABCUnion (tel: (702) 736 8444), Ace (tel: (702) 736 8383) and YellowCheckerStar (tel: (702) 873 2000). Vegas locals survive on tips, so don’t forget your driver.
Limousines
Limousines are a popular and suitably glitzy way of seeing Las Vegas. Chauffeur and limousine services are available from AmbassadorLimousine (tel: (702) 362 6200 or 1 888 519 5466; website: www.ambassadorlasvegas.com), CLSLasVegas (tel: (702) 740 4545; website: http://clsnevada.com), PresidentialLimousines (tel: (702) 731 5577; website: www.presidentiallimolv.com), and LasVegasLimousines (tel: (702) 736 1419; website: www.lasvegaslimo.com).
Driving in the City
Traffic is heaviest during rush hour (0800-1000 and 1630-1900), especially on highways and roads connecting the city centre with the suburbs. The Strip and Downtown, however, can also become congested any time tourists congregate in hordes - whether it is to see a boxing match at the MGM Grand, one of the many visiting conventions or merely Friday night at the casinos. Locals tend to use the streets behind the Strip to avoid traffic or Freeway 215 to circumnavigate the city. Las Vegas is laid out on a grid pattern, with one or two major streets veering slightly off this plan. Las Vegas Boulevard runs north-south, through Downtown in the north and turning into the Strip in the south. Most other streets running north-south are named according to number (First Street, Second Street, Third Street etc).
There is very little street parking in Las Vegas, although hotels and casinos conveniently offer free or valet parking. Of course, if you happen to lose at the tables while walking to/from your car, it is not exactly free.
Car Hire
Car hire is extremely popular with visitors to Las Vegas, and as a result there are quite a few firms offering car hire service in the city. Drivers must be 21 years or older, and drivers under 25 years of age often have to pay a surcharge. National driving licences are permissible. However, it is advisable to check with the rental company in case an International Driving Permit is required. Insurance can be purchased from the car hire company.
The major providers include Alamo (tel: (702) 263 8411; website: www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: (702) 531 1500; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (702) 736 1212; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: (702) 739 8408; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: (702) 795 8842; website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: (702) 736 4900; website: www.hertz.com) and National (tel: (702) 261 5391; website: www.nationalcar.com).
Bicycle Hire
Las Vegas’ relatively flat terrain makes cycling an enjoyable means of travel. Of course, visitors need to take the desert heat into consideration before venturing out for a lengthy trip. Las Vegas’ extraordinarily dry climate makes a difference as well - cyclists should be equipped with plenty of water and the appropriate sun cream. The best time for visitors to organise a bicycle tour is in the spring or late autumn (fall). Cyclists should also be aware of sudden rainstorms and flash floods - what looks like a small stream can turn into a river within minutes. BicycleNevada (website: www.bicylenevada.com) provides further information on routes and contacts.
LasVegasCyclery, 8221 West Charleston Avenue (tel: (702) 596 2953 or 1 800 596 2953; website: www.lasvegascyclery.com), hires out a variety of bicycles for day, half-day and multi-day rates (helmets included). McGie’s BikeOutpost, 16 Cottonwood Street, Blue Diamond (tel: (702) 875 4820; website: www.bikeoutpost.com), hires out mountain bikes. The company’s location in Blue Diamond is strategically placed near mountain biking trails.
Introduction
Culturally speaking, Las Vegas is not exactly the world capital of high-brow art. True, it possesses a fine philharmonic orchestra and a ballet troupe, but these do not draw the visitors in nearly the same numbers that popular entertainment does. The city, however, continues to attract some of the biggest names in show business with live theatrical shows, magicians, circus acts and dance. There is one major venue, the UNLV Performing Arts Center, Cottage Grove Street and Maryland Parkway (tel: (702) 895 2787/ARTS; website: http://pac.nevada.edu), which contains various auditoriums, including the Artemus Ham Concert Hall and the Judy Bayley Theatre.
Most major hotels offer concierge services and can order tickets for the more popular cultural events. Visitors can go online to Ticketmaster (website: www.ticketmaster.com) to order and pre-pay for tickets. Events at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 West Lake Mead (tel: (702) 229 4800) are free.
The best place for visitors to go for cultural listing is online. One website that holds a master list of all Las Vegas cultural and community events is the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce site (www.lvchamber.com). Visit their events pages for more details.
Music: The Las Vegas Philharmonic (tel: (702) 258 5438; website: www.lasvegasphilharmonic.com) performs at the Artemus Ham Concert Hall at UNLV Performing Arts Center (see above).
Theatre: As with virtually everything in Las Vegas, the casinos offer the bulk of the stage entertainment. The Luxor (tel: 1 888 777 0188; website: www.luxor.com) is home to the Pharaoh’s Theater and the Luxor Theater. The 1,200-seat Luxor Theater hosts theatrical productions, while the Pharaoh’s Theater offers a topless revue, as well as comedy acts. The MGM Grand (tel: (702) 891 7777 or 1 877 880 0880; website: www.mgmgrand.com) is home to the Hollywood Theater, hosting a variety of performers, including Tom Jones and David Copperfield, and the 1,700-seat Cirque du Soleil Theater, which is currently showing Ka, one of the most highly praised shows on the Strip. At Caesars Palace, the Colosseum features Bette Midler, as well as Elton John in TheRedPiano. The artists alternate schedules through the year, so check the website for show dates and ticket details (website: www.caesarspalace.com).
The Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3844 Schiff Drive (tel: (702) 362 7996; website: www.lvlt.org), and the Actors’ Repertory Theatre, Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle Drive (tel: (702) 507 3863) are two of Las Vegas’ small theatres. Both put on more serious theatre than the hotel-casinos, be it the classics, modern playwrights or even musicals.
Dance: The Nevada Ballet Theatre (tel: (702) 243 2623; website: www.nevadaballet.com), founded in 1972, is one of Nevada’s larger cultural institutions and performs many of its productions at the Judy Bayley Theatre at UNLV Performing Arts Center (see above). Many of the revues and touring shows incorporate or are devoted to dance.
Film: Mainstream cinemas in Las Vegas include the United Artists - Showcase Mall, 3769 Las Vegas Boulevard South (tel: (702) 222 3456/FILM) and the Century Orleans 18, 4500 West Tropicana (tel: (702) 227 3456). Seating is normally done on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets are sold at the box office on the day of the performance. There are no exclusively arthouse cinemas in Las Vegas, although the Regal Village Square, 9101 West Sahara Avenue (tel: (702) 221 2283), features two to three independent films per week. IMAX enthusiasts can get their fix at Brenden IMAX, 4321 West Flamingo Road (tel: (702) 507 1525; website: www.bigmoviezone.com), located inside the Palms Resort and Casino.
Las Vegas is almost as famous a location for films as it is for casinos. Popular movies based in the city include Bugsy (1991), about the infamous gangster’s move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and Casino (1995), telling the story of mob-ruled casinos in the 1970s. LeavingLasVegas (1995) is an emotional story documenting the damage and pain inflicted by alcoholism. The cut-throat and sleazy world of topless revues and Las Vegas nightlife was given an airing in Paul Verhoeven Showgirls (1995). Andrew Bergman’s romantic comedy HoneymooninVegas (1992), starring James Caan, Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicolas Cage, pokes fun at Vegas wedding culture and features the astounding FlyingElvises. The ambitious celluloid version of the late and lamented Hunter S Thompson’s cult classic, FearandLoathinginLasVegas (1998), starred Johnny Depp as the seriously spaced-out ’gonzo’ journalist, and the remake of the classic Rat Pack vehicle Ocean’sEleven (2001) was directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts.
Literary Notes: More than one book has managed to get behind the flash of Las Vegas’ bright lights to explore its deeper, often darker themes. Not surprisingly, numerous mystery and crime novels are set here. Best known among these are Mario Puzo’s TheLastDon (1997), which follows a crime family’s move from Las Vegas to Hollywood, and Michael Ventura’s TheDeathofFrankSinatra (1998), which weaves a literary web of crime and intrigue in early 1990s Las Vegas. Many of the movies that made Las Vegas so famous began their lives as books. Casino (1995) was based on the Nicholas Pileggi book Casino: LoveandHonourinLasVegas (1995). LeavingLasVegas (1995), by John O’Brien, was made into the eponymous movie and recounts a dark, sad tale of a suicidal alcoholic’s finding true love with a prostitute. Perhaps the most influential literary work associated with Las Vegas is Hunter S Thompson’s pop-culture classic, FearandLoathinginLasVegas (1998). The bizarre, true-life tale follows the journalist Thomson and his attorney’s drug-addled journey through Nevada.
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd.
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Reviews
reviewed by andrea30, 4 weeks ago
If Nightlife is your thing...
If you want the VIP treatment at pretty much every club...Vegas is the place.
The only catch is...go with a group (at least 5 or more) girls. By that i mean Ladies..go with your girlfriends and no guys. Period. Even if you have a few guys in the group, you'll have a tougher time trying to get in to clubs and being walked straight in w/out waiting in line.
I've been to the strip a few times the last two years and I can say they were the best weekends ever!
reviewed by Onimuoyinbo, 9 weeks ago
Mixed Splendour
The Strip
We were not too tripped by the strip as it was a long line of hotels juxtaposed together. The idea of mirroring different cities in a 3 mile stretch is great but can be a bit heady. We toured most of the hotels by day as we had a 7yr old with us but my bext pick was Luxor. The design of the rooms inside the pyramid structure was awesome. The strip at night is quite colourful and lively and it does get very busy at night.
What I enjoyed most was not in Nevada but in Arizona. The Grand Canyon West is a must see. You will be in awe of the great chasm that enfolds before you. The helicopter ride and the boat ride on the Colorado river was the icing on the cake.You just want it to last forever. Although I was a bit afraid of heights, I enjoyed every bit of the ride. The skywalk is a must do! No matter what you feel or how you feel, you have to go on the skywalk or you will never forgive your. My partner did not go as he was scared and now he wishes he had.
I am looking forward to visiting Grand Canyon South, East and North soon.
The hoover dam was great also. We drove over it to get to the grand Canyon and stopped on the drive through. It is quite impressive.
Red Rock Canyon is beautiful and I wish we could have gone on som eof the trails etc but it was a bit cold.
As Las Vegas is situated in a plain, seeing it at night from the crest of a hill with all the lights on is beautiful. You will almost want to stop your car and just watch for hours on end.
Each hotel has it's own personality and that is a selling factor for the strip. I love cooking so I did most of the cooking during the holiday.
Will visit again when it is warmer.
reviewed by tjenness, 28 weeks ago
The Strip
Such an amazing place to visit! It has to be seen to be believed-the sheer scale of extravagance is awesome. The strip is a good couple of miles long so wear comfy shoes (!);you can get a hop on-hop off bus but there is so much to see, that is worth walking. The MGM has lions (not exactly in their natural habitat!), the Mirage tigers, Paris has a mini scale Eiffel Tower you can go up and at the Venetian you can take a gondola.. New York New York has a rollercoaster that goes all around the outside of the hotel so I imagine you would have amazing views but I was too petrified! Ceasers Palace is great for shopping and eating but my personal favourite is the Bellagio! The fountains are simply stunning (night time is the best although it does get busy) and the buffet is amazing-any type of food you can think of-heaven! Wynn also has a great buffet.
All the hotels are v air conditioned in stark contrast to the outside temp from approx mar-oct;quite chilly the rest of the year but it has always been freezing at night, whatever time of year!
Suspend reality and enjoy!
Attractions
reviewed by Jeanette, 29 weeks ago
A short drive from the main strip worth a visit if you have an hour or two spare and want to see 'old' vegas
Latest Reviews
Sleep
reviewed by marcwoods, 28 weeks ago
Everyone told us we didn't need a fancy hotel in Vegas, it was only someone to sleep etc.... i'm so glad we didn't listen to them and stayed at the Wynn! By far the best hotel on the Strip every detail is perfect!
The staff went over and above there duty to be helpful and friendly the food was out of this world and the bed was big enough to live in!!!!
If you like shopping (i don't) the shops a fantastic, my other half brought all sorts of shoes and things and said "best shops every" cant argue with that!
If you get a chance to see Le Reve, do it, you will not be disappointed breath taking show. No need to splash out for the premium seats there really not worth the money.
If you are going to Vegas you must stay in the Wynn or Encore!!
reviewed by Jeanette, 29 weeks ago
Beautiful hotel in great location, I would definatly recommend it.
reviewed by poleydee, 38 weeks ago
Stayed at The Venetian now for 3 years in a row, 5 nights at a time.Not out of choice (a conference) but it never fails to impress. At the top end of the strip, it's definitely a 5 star experience, but if you're a more sophisticated world traveller, you may think the Venetian's theme a little cheesy.
This becomes obvious when you step into the Canal Shoppes, with its fake sky, which is actually quite convincing. All very well done, but is Venice for those who don't leave America.
The irony hits you when you take the travelator across the Bridge of Sighs; yes, really. What you can't fault at The Venetian is upkeep, service, housekeeping and quality of rooms. The suites have been upgraded twice in the 3 years I've been.
Last time I was there, I checked out, but later got a message. The hotel had 'found something valuable' in my room. I went to the desk to claim it, and was presented with 3 crisp 100 dollar bills that I'd stashed somewhere for safekeeping (ironically). Found by a cleaner, who immediately radioed it in.
The Pallazzo is the adjoining part of the Venetian, brand new in 2008. Much less cheesy than the Venetian, great restaurants, shops, and much more spacious and airy casino floor.
There are 2 clubs in the complex. Rather bizarrely, I was in the middle of a dance floor at La Scena in the Pallazzo (no, that's not the bizarre bit), Paris Hilton suddenly appeared to announce the fancy dress contest!
The other attraction is TAO. This is the same excellent food you get in the New York TAO, but with added bonus of big bar and club, with a beach on the top...
The Venetian and the Pallazzo is not always action packed, but well run & everything in it. Top service & nothing is too much trouble. Lots of tips to having a good stay there, like learning the secret route to the casino from the Venezia Tower (10 minutes off my walk every day!) and on checking out day, don't queue up for the left luggage, hang back in the casino and wait for a bell hop to pass by!
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