Sin City…what a wonderful place. There is so much promotion when it comes to Las Vegas that the average person has some what of an idea as to what to do there and what is available. So I figured, I would list some things that may help you if you have never been there.
First decide what you really want out of your trip. Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world; so you really can do anything you can think of there. Most people want to gamble, but nowadays it seems to me that more and more folks just want to check out all the other things Vegas has to offer. So I will give you some helpful advice and some websites with great information.
Las Vegas air and hotel charter packages usually offer the best deal for your Las Vegas vacation. Whether you choose a charter or booking a flight and hotel on your own, your point of origin determines the travel costs. Sometimes driving to a larger airport some distance from the airport nearest to your hometown can result in huge savings on the price of a charter package or airline ticket.
If you're planning a long-weekend getaway, choosing a Saturday arrival and Monday return is usually cheaper than arriving on Friday and departing on Sunday. And if you are able to travel during the week you won't pay the much higher Friday and Saturday night hotel rates. Not only will you save money, you'll also avoid the weekend crowds.
Gambling
Always have some money figured into your budget for gambling. It is always fun to drop a dollar into a random machine with the chance of winning big and Vegas has machines everywhere. Remember the legal age to gamble in Vegas is 21; make sure you have your I.D. It sounds trivial, but always check to make sure you have your I.D. on you before you head out from the hotel to the casinos. I remember traveling 3 hours to a casino one time with a friend. We had just got done going to a concert and headed to the casino to gamble as planned and he forgot his damn I.D., Man I was pissed. I wanted to gamble so bad...but he said he probably saved me a few hundred dollars so I owed him one. He was probably right.
Driving and Transportation
Most people that fly into Vegas take a shuttle service or cab from the airport, which is a great way to get to the hotels on the strip, which is less then 2 miles away. Charter packages usually include airport-to-hotel transportation, but if you arrive on your own, the cheapest way to get to your hotel is by Airport Shuttle. The shuttle can be a van or mini-bus and currently costs $4.50 per person to Strip hotels and $6 to downtown hotels. If your group consists of 3 or 4 persons it might be cheaper (and faster) to take a taxi. Shuttle buses are located outside Exit 14 at Terminal 1 and at the Bus/Taxi Exit at Terminal 2.
In Vegas you don’t drive, you walk the strip, driving just takes too damn long, not to mention, where and the hell are you going to park? There is the Las Vegas Mono rail that can run you up and down the main part of the strip. This may not seem like much to you but the mono rail can make your trip a lot easier and more enjoyable. I will get into more detail on the monorail in a minute.
Hotels
Check out Las Vegas Rooms Rates right Now.
Check-in age can vary from hotel to hotel so make sure and check on the hotels policy, if you are under 21 years old, if you can check in yourself. Some hotels allow 18 year olds to check in, like the MGM Grand. It is best to get your hotel on the center strip. You can get the best deals on the north strip, like at the Stratosphere, which always has great deals and is a great hotel, but you are away from all the action. Las Vegas hotel room prices fluctuate wildly. A room that goes for $69 a night one week may cost well over $200 a night the following week. It all depends on whether or not there is a big convention or sporting event in town. If you find room rates are high, check the following week or weekends when they could be considerably lower. Also keep in mind that prices are always higher for Friday and Saturday nights.
Las Vegas Room Specials
Besides their quoted rack rate, casino hotels also have a reduced "casino rate" for guests who play their slot machines and table games. It is even possible to get your room, restaurant meals and more for free.
There are deals on hotels all the time; you just need to look out for the promotions. Hotels also have promotions that include free casino chips, restaurant credits, drink specials and other great perks. I say if your going to Vegas to gamble, you wont be in the room that long, so look for a great deal with min perks for a lot less money, just a clean quite place to rest your head for a few hours. But if you are taking in the shows and other great attractions Vegas has to offer then make sure you have a list of amenities you want, like indoor and outdoor pools, bars and casinos in the hotels, spa and sauna, gym, office services, room service, child care service, laundry and dry cleaning and other great stuff like that.
When people talk about going to Las Vegas they actually mean the strip, not actually downtown Las Vegas, which actually located north of “the strip”.
The Strip
“The strip” is actually a street called Las Vegas Blvd S., which runs north and south. The strip is broke down into three parts called the “North Strip”, “Center Strip” and “South Strip”. Most of the action is located in the “Center Strip”, which is located between Flamingo Road and Tropicana Avenue.
Those who want to splurge and surround themselves with the utmost in luxury might consider booking into Bellagio, Venetian, Caesars or Wynns. If you're a budget-minded traveler, the Tropicana, Imperial Palace, Sahara or the Riviera will fill the bill.
"Middle of the road" options are Bally's, New York New York, Monte Carlo or Luxor. And if you bring children along, check out Excalibur, Treasure Island and Circus Circus. The latter of the three will probably have the lowest rates as well as the most child-oriented entertainment.
Vegas Hotel Deals
Now if you find a hotel with a price that is too low to believe, it probably is not on the strip at all, always check out the map to see it location.
Monorail and Tram Services
There is one main Monorail in Vegas, which is called the Last Vegas Monorail (there are also two trams, also called monorails fyi). Here is info on the main monorail. For more info go to LvMonorail.com
Single Ride Ticket
$5.00
One-Day Pass
$12.00
Three-Day Pass
$28.00
HOURS OF OPERATION:
MONDAY - THURSDAY
7:00 A.M. TO 2:00 A.M.
FRIDAY - SUNDAY
7:00 A.M. TO 3:00 A.M.
It has seven pickup and drop off locations called stations. Going from the southern most station north the order goes as the following:
MGM Grand Station
Bally’s / Paris Station
Flamingo / Caesars Palace Station
Harrah’s / Imperial Palace Station
Las Vegas Convention Center Station
Las Vegas Hilton Station
Sahara Station
So if you stay at any of these hotels you can catch the monorail to any of these other casinos all day!
Mandalay Bay Tram
It is actually a cable system that connects Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay bay Hotels and Casinos. It is located on the South Strip. This tram's route varies based on what hotel you start at. If you start at the Excalibur main station, the monorail will take you directly to Mandalay Bay - about a 3-minutes trip. If you start from Mandalay Bay, you will stop at the Luxor and then the Excalibur - about a 7-minutes trip. It is in operation 24 hours a day, and trains leave every 3-7 minutes.
Mirage-Treasure Island Tram
It is a cable system that connects the Mirage Hotel and Casino to the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. The Mirage-Treasure Island tram runs between 9 a.m. - 1 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. - 3 a.m., Friday through Saturday. The tram arrives just about every 15 minutes and the ride lasts about two to four minutes.
For some great ideas on what to do other then gambling or if the moneys run out and the bets are off, here are some great ways to stay entertained, check this site out.
Remember what happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas...Well hopefully you have a great time and take home a bunch of fun and exciting memories!
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