Las Vegas truly has to be seen to be believed. At the center of the urban sprawl that stretches out into the otherwise empty desert is the incredible temple to excess, the Strip. This makes anything you have seen in terms of neon lighting pale into insignificance – Times Square, Leicester Square etc all start to look like the lighting on the local village hall in comparison.
The Strip by day
The size of the casinos is mind boggling. They have lavish themes, entertainment, endless shops and eating establishments and generally aim to keep people engaged and inside. I am not a big gambler, but they are well worth visiting simply because they have to be seen to be believed. It is very difficult to convey the scale and atmosphere in words and the TV and films do not give a true sense of being there.
If all of this man made glitz is leaving you a little cold, don’t rule out Las Vegas as a holiday destination. It is well served with direct flights from the UK and it is an excellent gateway to some of the most fabulous natural environments in America. Vegas is a wonderful place to start a road trip – you can pick up your hire car and head out into some amazing landscapes, the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce National Parks, the beautiful Lake Powell, a trip through the desert to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park and the stark beauty of Death Valley.
Las Vegas Top Attractions – Our Top 10
1) Take a walk or a slow drive down the Strip at night and just marvel at the size of the buildings, the sheer quantity of neon lights and soak up the atmosphere
2) Wander around and have a good look at the theme casinos, both inside and out. You can visit New
Check out the Egyptian themed Luzor
York, Paris, Venice, Egypt, a Treasure Island, the Circus to name just a few
3) Take some time out to just sit and watch the world go by. Get a seat in a bar or a café where there is a good flow of pedestrian traffic. Everyone, but everyone comes to Vegas. There are Elvis impersonators, stag and hen parties, people coming to bet millions, people who have won big and people who haven’t
4) Check out the amazing array of free entertainment. There is the water and light show at the fountains at the Bellagio, sirens singing at Treasure Island, the lions at MGM, punts on the canals at the Venetian, circus acts at Circus Circus, a volcano at the Mirage and an Atlantis show at the Forum
5) Take in a show. You will be spoiled for choice. My personal favourite is Cirque Du Soleil’s ‘O’
6) Try your luck in a casino. You can join one of the many, many tables for poker, blackjack or craps or join the thousands at the slot machines. Just know how much you mean to bet and assume you will lose the lot!
7) Go to the top of the Stratosphere for a cocktail and take in the view from the revolving bar and restaurant
8) Hit the shops. There is everything from a plethora of luxury boutiques for those who want their Dior and Gucci, through the high street stores like Banana Republic, Gap and J. Crew and 2 large outlet malls. Head to The Shops at Crystals or the Via Bellagio for a designer blow out, Fashion Show Mall for Saks and Nordstrom department stores, the Forum Shops at Caesars or Town Square Shopping Plaza for a great range of high street names, and last for not least, Las Vegas Premium Outlets for bargain hunting.
9) Visit the Grand Canyon. You can take a day trip in a light aircraft or a helicopter or you can rent a car and drive out on a road trip. We have plenty of ideas for itineraries. The Grand Canyon Tour Company offers helicopter, light aircraft and bus trips to the Grand Canyon, along with a whole load of other destinations.
10) Head out on a road trip. Las Vegas is the perfect place to start an adventure on the road, with plenty of options for short day trips, for overnight stays or for longer forays into the American West.
Point to note about Vegas
Smoking is still allowed inside casinos in Vegas. The ventilation systems are excellent so it is a long way from a smoke filled fug, but if you really dislike cigarette smoke you may want to keep clear of the casinos. The other public areas are smoke free and not every hotel has a casino so this is easier to do than you might think, unless of course you want to gamble……