Whether you see it as “the Entertainment Capital of the World” or “Sin City,” the resort city of Las Vegas is internationally renowned for gambling, shopping, entertainment shows and fine dining. You’ll find something happening 24/7 in this city famous for its 15,000 miles of neon lighting!

Las Vegas Strip Hotels

The Las Vegas Strip stretches three miles along Las Vegas Boulevard, boasting some of the largest casino and resort properties in the world. Hundreds of thousands of hotel rooms cater to a major convention and vacation market, with over 62,000 in 15 massive Strip hotels alone. Even with this number of rooms, during holidays, particularly New Year’s Eve, during a headliner prize fight or a major convention, Las Vegas can still sell out. Travel Maestro tip: Monday-Thursday rates are significantly lower and most hotels don’t accept Friday arrivals.

Many of the hotels along the brilliantly lit corridor are extravagantly lavish and HUGE. Themed resorts represent fabled travel destinations, including New York, Paris, Venice, Egypt and the South Pacific. Multi-million dollar outdoor shows such as the dancing fountains at Bellagio, the volcano at the Mirage and the Sirens at TI (formerly Treasure Island) are free to passersby. Inside the resorts, you’ll find astounding entertainment, wild animal habitats, celebrity-chefs’ dining venues, spas, shopping and of course, the ubiquitous casino games.

It’s beyond the scope of this post to describe all of the hotels on the strip and the many standout attractions, but some of the most popular include:

• Bally’s – Donn Arden’s Jubilee! – an extravagant topless revue that regularly wins the “Best Showgirls in Vegas” award (US$57.50-$117.50), the live-audience version of The Price Is Right Live (US$56.25).

  

• Bellagio – A choreographed display of fountains, lights and rousing music every half-hour, 3-8 pm (free), a lavish conservatory with seasonal displays (free), the stunning Dale Chihuly glass ceiling fixture in the lobby, a fine arts gallery ($15), Cirque du Soleil’s production, “O” ($93.50-$155).
• Caesars Palace – Haute-couture shops and gourmet restaurants at the Forum Shops which feature a series of Roman streetscapes and ever-changing “skies.”
• Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel – Flamingo Wildlife Habitat (free).
• Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – Shark Reef Aquarium ($18), legendary House of Blues music venue.
• The Mirage – Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat ($17), a volcano that “erupts” every 15 minutes, 6 pm-12 am (free), Cirque du Soleil Beatles musical, LOVE  (US$79-$150).
• MGM Grand Hotel and Casino – Lion Habitat (free), Cirque du Soleil’s KAextravaganza (US$69-$150), the award-winning Tabu nightclub.

  

• New York-New York Hotel and Casino – The Manhattan Express roller coaster ($14), Zumanity, Cirque du Soleil’s erotic adult show (US$69-$105).
• Stratosphere Las Vegas – The tallest freestanding observation tower in the U.S. with three thrill rides: a free-fall experience, a teeter totter and a spinning ride – nearly 1,000 feet above the strip (ticket packages).
• The Venetian – Gondola rides complete with singing boatmen ($16), Madame Tussaud’s Celebrity Encounter ($25).
• TI – A sexy pirate show (free from the street, but best seats are in the bar overlooking Siren’s Cove), the original Cirque du Soleil production of Mystere.

Downtown Las Vegas

Many visitors to Las Vegas never venture off the strip, but “Old Las Vegas” first began and still exists in the downtown casinos such as the Golden Nugget, Four Queens and California. A new addition (1995) is the Freemont Street Experience – a   five block pedestrian mall fitted with a metal canopy and 12.5 million lights. Vibrant music and light shows play on the hour from dusk to midnight (free) to the delight of the crowds. Open air concerts play often and thrill-seekers can get their adrenaline pumping on an 800-foot zip line ($15-20).

Beyond the glitz and glamour, Las Vegas offers plenty of recreational activities. 18 top ranked golf courses (with prices to match) are extremely popular. Hiking, biking and horseback riding trails in the desert landscape of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area are also big draws, except during the broiling heat of summer.

Las Vegas Weather and Transportation

Las Vegas is in the desert, so the summer months of June through August are very hot with temperatures reaching 105°F and above. The other nine months of the year are quite beautiful, but the desert also means dramatic nighttime drops of as much as 30°F. Light jackets are a good idea for evenings September through May, but you may even appreciate them in summer because casinos and showrooms tend to keep their thermostats on “arctic chill” in the hottest months.

Getting around in Las Vegas is simple – take a taxi, trolley, the monorail between some Strip resorts or walk. You won’t need a rental car (and valet parking is expensive), but you will definitely need good walking shoes! The distances along the Strip from one mega resort to another (and even within the immense resorts) are deceiving, but walking the Strip is one of the quintessential experiences of Las Vegas and truly the best way to see the astounding sights that line the street.

Las Vegas is, without question, the glittering oasis of the desert. To find out “What happens in Vegas?” for yourself, contact Covington Travel to plan your trip.