PLANNING A VACATION IN LAS VEGAS?

Information on What To See and Do, Places To Stay, Dining and More


Las Vegas is often called the "Entertainment Capital of the World," and is home to resort casinos, gambling, and lavish entertainment shows. Some of the best hotels and dining also are available in Las Vegas, so even if you don't want to spend your vacation gambling or seeing the shows, you'll still enjoy your stay, since most hotels feature swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, and other activities. There are plenty of other things to do in Las Vegas besides gamble. About 25 minutes away is the Hoover Dam, a great sightseeing destination. Lake Mead is another great place to visit, with water skiing, boating and fishing as some of the activities to enjoy. It's also relatively close, about 30 minutes from downtown Las Vegas. On really hot, summer days, if you're not going to be in your air-conditioned hotel or a casino, this is the place to be. Summer temperatures hover around 100 degrees; winter temps average around 60 degrees during the day, dropping into the 40's at night. No matter what time of year you visit, you're bound to have a good time.

Getting There Is Half The Fun

Las Vegas is easily reached by car, plane, bus, and train. Airlines serving Las Vegas include United, Southwest, Frontier, JetBlue, Continental, and USAirways, among others. Check with your local travel agent or one of the online airline reservations sites such as Travelocity or Expedia, or if you are traveling on Soutwest or JetBlue, visit their web sites for ticket pricing and booking information. While you're at it, check into Las Vegas travel packages too. You can often save money on airfare and hotels by booking a package deal. You may also find that there are enough shuttle services between airport and hotels, and hotels and casinos, that you won't even need to rent a car, unless you plan on traveling to one of the nearby recreational or sightseeing places. Amtrak also services Las Vegas from many cities, and if you want to travel by bus, you'll find a number of bus services to 'Vegas as well. And of course, if you're driving, you'll find easy directions to most any place in the city. Keep in mind that it is a busy city traffic-wise: a friend who visited there a couple of years ago reported that it took her 20 minutes to drive about six blocks. Even if you drive, your hotel may provide a shuttle service to most of the casinos. Won't help the traffic, but at least you're not the one who has to deal with driving in it.

Home Away From Home

You'll need a place to stay while you're in Las Vegas, even if you plan on spending most of your time in the casinos. You should have no problems finding hotel rooms no matter what your budget. You can book hotel rooms through the same web sites as your flights, such as Orbitz or Expedia. There are other web sites which offer discount hotel rooms. Here are a few examples:

$50-$80 Per Night
At Orbitz, we found several hotels in this price range. These were hotel rooms only, but keep in mind that you will save more money on your hotel room if you book a flight and hotel package through Orbitz, or another company. These rates are per person. Bally's Las Vegas, Imperial Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas and Monte Carlo Resort and Casino all advertized prices in this range on Orbitz.com

$80-$100 Per Night
New York-New York, Flamingo Hotel, Exalibur, and Planet Hollywood fall into this price range.

$100-$200 Per Night
If your budget can afford it, these are generally great rooms. If you plan to spend time away from the casinos, you can probably afford more in the way of hotel space, especially if you'll be enjoying some of the luxuries to be found. Hotels in this price range include Treasure Island, MGM Grand, and the Venetian Hotel.

"Money Is No Object" Hotel Rooms
If you're not on a budget, try one of these: Wynn Las Vegas, Hotel at Mandalay Bay, or the Bellagio. All have rooms priced at $200 and more per night, with no other package in conjuction with the hotel room.

I'm Hungry

Not many places will feed you so royally for so little money. You'll find lots of bargains when it comes to dining in Las Vegas. The hotels offer several fine restaurants in each one, as well as independent restaurants and buffets. In fact, buffet dining will give you the best value for your dollar. Here are a few buffet's to consider:

Circus Circus Buffet
Has breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. Breakfasts run about $10, lunch costs $12 and dinner costs $13 per person. Located in the Circus Circus hotel.

Paradise Garden Buffet
Located in the Flamingo hotel, this one costs a little more, but the reviews are good. Breakfast is $14, Lunch is $16, and dinner is $20. Dinner includes prime rib, shrimp and crab, so you will probably find it worth the extra money to eat there. Children under 4 eat for free, children 4-8 eat for dollars off the adult menu.

Sahara Buffet
Located in the Sahara Hotel, prices are lower here than at many other buffets. Breakfast buffet meals run $9, lunch is $11, and $12 is what the dinner buffet will cost.

Buffet restaurants are popular all over Las Vegas, but you may wish to be served. Here are just a few sit-down restaurants to choose from:

Luxor Steakhouse at the Luxor hotel
Strictly a dinner restaurant, you can find NY strip steak, filet mignon, prime rib; as well as chicken, pork and seafood dishes.

Non-Hotel Restaurants
If you're looking to dine outside of a hotel, try one of these places: Hikari Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar (located off the strip), Marrakech, Nevada's first Moroccan restaurant; Memphis Championship Barbeque if you're looking for barbeque or ribs.

What About Casinos and Shows and Other Acitivities?

As you can see, this is a pretty long article already and we haven't even gotten to the casinos and shows, nor have we talked much about other recreational activities. We're out of room and out of time, so please join us in separate articles on Casinos and shows, dining, and the other things to do while in Las Vegas.

Resource Index

Audio-Video-and-Cameras:
Plasma TV, LCD TV, MP3 Players, TIVO, Satellite TV, Dgitial Cameras, Digital Camcorders, Bose iPod Speakers, Multimedia Projectors, GPS, Blu-ray Disc

Computer and Accessories:
Choosing a Laptop Computer, Computer Memory Upgrade, Copying a Hard Drive, Dual Monitors, Networking Computers, Microsoft Office, PDA's, Cheap Ink/Toner, Color Laser Printers, Multifunction Printers, Scanners, USB Flash Drives, Wireless Printers, Dell computers, Wireless Routers, Wireless G Routers, Wireless N Routers, Laptop Carrying Cases

Computer and Video Games:
Age of Empires III, Battlefield 2

Entertainment:
Online Gambling, Poker, Routlette, Blackjack, Craps and other Online Games, Online Casinos, Movies, Online DVD Rentals, Home Theater Systems , Home Theater Components, HDTV, HDTV Buying Tips, HD Radio, Portable DVD Players, Magazine Subscriptions

Fun-Hobbies:
Tropical Fish, Aquariums, Scrapbooking, Rubber Stamping, Geneology, Geocaching, Soap Making, Candle Making

Legal:
Criminal Defense Attorneys, Tax Attorneys, Lemon Law Protection, Structured Settlements, Investment Fraud, Bankruptcy Attorneys, Personal Injury Attorneys, Family Law

CellPhones-and-Communication
Cell Phones, Cell Phone Carriers, Prepaid Cell Phone Plans, Cell Phone Ringtones, Headsets, VOIP, Cheap Long Distance, iPhone, Blackberry, Bluetooth Technology, SmartPhones

Jobs-Schooling
Online College Degrees, Business Degrees, Home Schooling, Drivers Education, Job Resumes, Online Job Search
Internet:
Cybercrime Prosecution, IE Security, Affordable Web Hosting, Web Hosting, Domain Name Registration, Search Engines, Web Site Design, Internet Mailing Lists, Blogging, Internet Serive Providers, Free Email, Clip Art

Finance and Insurance:
Auto Insurance, Car Insurance Quotes, RV Insurance, General Insurance, Travel Insurance, Business Insurance, Basic Guide to Consolidating Student Loans, Cash Advance Loans, Federal Student Loan Consolidation, Debt Consolidation, Debt Management, Credit Card Debt Consolidation, Free Credit Reports, Home Mortgages, Home Equity Loans, Mortgage Refinancing, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Companies, Second Mortgages, Mortgage Brokers, Health Insurance, Insurance Quotes, Term life Insurance, Mortgage note buyer, Renter's Insurance, Household Budgeting

Home:
Home improvement, Outdoor Lighting, Kitchen Remodeling, Kitchen Countertops, Espresso Makers, Food Processors, Coffee Makers, Coffee Grinders, Slow Cookers, Popcorn makers, Blenders, Cutting Boards, Refrigerators, Freezers, Washers & Dryers, Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen & Bathroom Faucets, Bathtubs, House Windows, Closet Organizers, Window Treatments, Hardwood Floors, Carpeting, Home Security, Water Heaters, Water Filters, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Bamboo Flooring, Portable Air Conditioners, Dehumidifiers, Siding, House Cleaning Services, Home Organization, Vacuum Cleaners, Cannister Vacuum Cleaners, Handcheld Vacuum Cleaners, Upright Vacuum Cleaners, Stick Vacuum Cleaners, Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaners, Furnaces, Fireplace Inserts, Electric Space Heaters, Pellet Stoves, Wood Stoves, Heat Pumps, Buying a used car



Business-Office-Supplies:
Discount Office Supplies, Home Office, Office Furniture, Copiers, Home Business, Business Cards, Business Brochures, Mailing List Companies, Affiliates, Franchises, Business Telephone Systems, Employment Agencies, Call Centers, Fax Machines
Health and Wellness:
Fioricet for Migraine Relief, Online Pharmacies, Phentermine for dieting, Tramadol for Chronic Pain Relief, Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Lawyers, Acne Treatment, Contact Lenses, Drug Rehabilitation, Cerebral Palsy, Hair Loss, Hair Loss Products, Human Growth Hormones , Diet Pills, Treadmills, Fragrances, Reducing Cholesterol, Diabetes, Obesity, Arthritis, High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Acid reflux, Cialis, Understanding Depression, Unraveling Diet Plans, Erectile dysfunction, Lipitor, Sleep Loss, Viagra, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Living With Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder

Gifts:
Gift Ideas, Corporate Gifts, Gift Cards, Wristwatches, Replica Watches, Sunglasses, Wholesale Jewelry, Jewelry Boxes, Wedding Gifts, Food Gifts, Books, Music, Flowers, Gift Baskets, Candles & Candleholders, Chocolate & Candy

Sports:
Health Clubs, Home Gyms, Treadmills, Golf, Golf Vacations, Golf Schools, Golf Clubs, Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Basketball

Travel:
Railroad Train Travel, Greyhound Bus Travel, Moving Guide, Rental Cars, Luxury Cruises, Maui Vacation, Spain Travel, Panama Cruise, Mexico Travel, Europe Travel, Disneyland Vacation, Disney World Vacation, Airline Tickets, Las Vegas Vacations, Las Vegas Sights, Las Vegas Entertainment, Las Vegas Dining, Lake Tahoe, Reno Vacations, Grand Canyon Vacation, Alaska Vacation, San Juan Island Vacation, Seattle Vacation, San Francisco Vacation, San Diego Vacation, SeaWorld Vacation, Yellowstone Park Vacation, Los Angeles Vacation, Bed & Breakfasts, Las Cruces New Mexico Vacation, Texas Hill Country Vacation, Columbia River Gorge Vacation, Albuquerque Vacation, New Mexico Vacation, Utah Vacation, Denver Vacation, Carlsbad Caverns, Branson, Missouri, Arizona Vacations, Jackson Wyoming, Skiing Wyoming, Skiing Oregon, Skiing Utah, Skiing Colorado, Skiing California, Skiing Washington State, Skiing Idaho

Yard-and-Garden:
Lawn Care, Patio Furniture, Hot Tubs & Spas, Gazebos, Fences, Decks, Barbeque Grills, Greenhouses, Patios, Sprinkler Systems, Landscape Design, Backyard Ponds, Bird Baths, Hedge Trimmers, String Trimmers, Wheelbarrows and Gardencarts, Lawn Mowers, Lawn Mowers, Lawn Care Tools, Lawn Edgers, Leaf Blowers, Now Blowers, Rakes
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