Las Vegas Vacation Blog Blog

Get FREE high-speed Internet access at this Courtyard New Courtyard located just 1/2 mile from the world famous Las Vegas Strip, with convenient access to I-15 and McCarran International Airport. Mandalay Bay Convention Center and MGM Grand are less than 1 mile away and all other major casinos are located within 4 miles. If attending a convention, hotel is ideally situated within close proximity to all major Convention Centers. Whether traveling on business or pleasure we have the staff service, amenities, and location to meet your needs. Las Vegas also offers an abundance of outdoor recreation including Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Within a few miles of the hotel guests can enjoy world class dining and shopping. Caesars Forum Shops, Fashion Show Mall, Las Vegas Premium Outlets, and the new World Furniture Market are all within 5 miles of the hotel.

The Stratosphere Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, owned by American Casino & Entertainment Properties which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Real Estate Partners. The property’s signature attraction is the 1,149 ft (350 m) Stratosphere Tower; it is the tallest free-standing structure in Nevada and the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United States west of the Mississippi River, after the Kennecott Smokestack in Magna, Utah. The hotel is a separate building with approximately 20 stories, 2,444 rooms and an 80,000 square foot (7,000 m²) casino.

The Stratosphere is the northernmost of the major Strip casinos and the only one actually in the City of Las Vegas, as the rest of the strip south of Sahara Avenue is in the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester. Following its completion in 1996 it was initially less popular than first envisioned due to its location on the extreme north end of the strip, far away from the most popular hotel casinos, but its low room prices and unique offerings eventually ensured its success. While many tourists consider its location to be inconvenient, others feel the location is an advantage since it is equidistant between the more popular strip casinos and the downtown area (which includes the Fremont Street Experience).

Short on time but still want to see the Hoover Dam? Then the Hoover Dam Express Tour is right for you.

Your tour begins with deluxe vehicle transportation that includes generously-sized windows, lots of headroom and a TV, which will be showing a free movie about the making of the Hoover Dam.

Your journey to the dam includes a Discovery Tour and access to the visitor center. Here you will view a short educational film, the exhibit gallery and take an elevator 500 feet down to see huge electric generators in the dam’s power plant. You will also have access to an observation deck where you can capture many beautiful pictures. Stroll around and admire the massive man-made wonder.

Return to your hotel and enjoy listening to your tour guide’s detailed, entertaining narrative of Las Vegas and its neighboring areas.

Dos: Bellagio waterfront—it’s free! It’s breath-taking! Gondola at the Venetian—so romantic!Treasure Island show—risqué! Nice fireworks! Drive a convertible at night—amazing sights! Shop à la vegas—especially if you’ve won big $$$!

Do go to dueling pianos at New York, New York. Best thing I did there, fun, energetic, singing, dancing, drinking, good times.
Posted by Vegas Rocks on March 8, 2006

Do Do Do Do go to the Rehab Sundays at the pool in the Hard Rock Hotel. My husband and I stayed in that hotel and we though it was hot. People: If you are single, you better get there very early…the hottest young women and men in the planet are partying in that pool!! And don’t forget you may be swimming a couple feet away from a Rock Star. Add to your to-do list on Las Vegas.

If you can, take the helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon—one of the most amazing experiences. Maverick Helicopters was great and we had champagne and snacks in the canyon itself. One of life’s special times, much better memories then sticking money in a machine that may or may not love you back. Also visiting Red Rock Canyon at sunset and the Valley of Fire. Very beautiful and inspiring.

Do play the nickel slots…there’s tons of them with almost every theme you can imagine.
Do tip the cocktail waitress if you want your drinks to keep coming.
Do use the personal safes in your hotel room.
Do spend $ on your hotel room and make sure you book a room on south Las Vegas Blvd. Trust me when I say that staying on south Las Vegas Blvd as opposed to north Las Vegas Blvd makes all the difference!!!!!
Posted by CowgirlFromHell on March 8, 2006

Do wear comfy shoes and don’t forget the casinos give you free drinks while you gamble.
Posted by Amers1978 on March 8, 2006

I can’t believe no one has mentioned Cirque du Soleil yet. Saw Mystère at Treasure Island…am now addicted. It’s expensive, but amazing—worth every cent.
Posted by stephstr on March 8, 2006

Do: See Bellagio lights at night. Fabulous. Check out Wynn and the waterfalls by the bar and Boulud’s restaurant. Have a drink, enjoy the view. Go to one show—your choice. Don’t just gamble. Cirques are fun. Avenue Q is funny. Celine, Barry, etc. Bring walking shoes—you can get a good workout in. Plan one night out for dinner. Splurge. There are great chefs there. Flay, English, Emeril. My choice is Boulud’s in Wynn.

Most of what I’m thinking has already been mentioned, but a couple items for comfort along with the comfortable shoes. Do carry lip balm and eyedrops…even at night. Do go to the buffet at the Rio, just take the free shuttle back. If you have more than a few days, take one of them for the Grand Canyon trip. Do get a comp card at Harrah’s. I paid my first trip and have rooms comped on 5 subsequent trips, and you can get rooms at any of their properties that they now own from the Caesars acquisition. (No, I’m not a big spender either). Do take advantage of learning some table games like craps. Most casinos offer lessons in the a.m. If you enjoy them, give it a try with your gambling money. The odds are better than slots, just make sure to find a $5 minimum table. Do try something new each visit. Most important, have fun whatever your preference is…there is something for everyone.

Do take a night to visit Fremont Street. It is so much different than the Strip. The light show is just amazing and it is free!! So cool to watch all the tourists staring up at the canopy. You get to see the Famous “Vegas Vic” and his girlfriend “Sassy Sal.” Piano players, magic tricks, cheaper food and a good time. Beware of the taxis—they end up costing you more than twenty bucks from the Strip—not bad if you are sharing the cost.

Don’t: Wear high heels if you’re walking on the Strip—it’s bad for your feet and posture. It just does not look good unless you’re ‘working’ off the strip. Don’t concentrate on 1 or 2 hotels/casinos, there are so much to see! Don’t worry about where to eat—like casinos, there are restaurants or buffets in every corner. Don’t forget your camera—capture every moment, everywhere! Don’t sleep too much—you’ll miss out on a lot!!!

Don’t rent a car—traffic on the strip is awful. There is plenty of public transportation—tram from Bellagio to Monte Carlo and another from MGM all the way to the Las Vegas Hilton. Posted by pixie on March 8, 2006

Don’t go to those time shares to get a free lunch or something. They are a waste of Vegas time.

Do not not not go to the Blue Man Group, it is the most expensive and stupidest show I have ever seen. The climactic finish involves them throwing toilet paper all over the whole audience, and then raising their arms as if something special has happened. Absolute waste of everything.

Don’t waste your time inline for tickets. Book early and make the reservation online or over their toll-free number and pick it up before the show.

Don’t go to Vegas in July unless you plan to stay inside the whole time. Believe me, we are used to heat in Houston, Texas where it is hot eleven months out of the year (no joke) but the heat in Vegas was unbearable even at night. They said something about it being a dry heat. Whatever it was, I’ve never experienced anything like it and it felt like I was literally in an oven and suffocating at the same time. The most relief from the heat came when we were in the “river” pool at the MGM Grand.

Don’t start drinking too early. Most of the fun happens @ night and you don’t wanna pass out too early.
Don’t waste $ on a rental car. Almost anywhere you need to go in Vegas you can walk or take a shuttle.
Don’t leave your belongings unattended (duh) and Ladies…… always always keep your $ in your bra, or keep one hand over your closed & fastened purse to avoid pick pockets.
Don’t forget your ID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t trust strangers.
Don’t do anything dumb to get yourself kicked out.

Don’t:
Play the slots at the airport; plenty more where those came from.
Even look at the people handing out the trashy cards/offers, etc. on the Strip.
Go to the Stage Deli at MGM. There’s no there, there. You have to eat in the smoky, Sportsbook. Better choice is Carnegie Deli in Mirage. You can check out the tigers when you’re done.
Fight the urge to go in the M&M store. Go inside. Just think of it as another museum of pop culture.
Hold up traffic and expect everyone will wait 20 seconds for you to take a photo.

Do not walk between the Rio and the Strip at night….Between you is an area where you may encounter pervs (from the Adult Superstore), gang bangers, transients, drunk truckers, and many other seedy characters. Gunfire has been known to break out from unknown places.
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Las Vegas (Spanish: “The Meadows”) is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for the gaming industry, shopping, and entertainment. Las Vegas, billed as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of large casino resorts and their associated entertainment. The city’s tolerance for various forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City, and this image has made Las Vegas a popular setting for films and television programs. Outdoor lighting displays are everywhere on the Las Vegas Strip and are seen elsewhere in the city as well; as seen from space, Las Vegas is the brightest city on earth.

Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911. With the growth that followed, at the close of the century Las Vegas was the most populous American city founded in the 20th century (a distinction held by Chicago in the 19th century). As the 28th most populous city in the United States during the 2000 census, the Las Vegas metropolitan area exceeds 2.0 million residents, and is one of most populous cities in the American West. The population was 478,434 at the 2000 census, but growth had pushed it up to an estimated 552,539 by 2006.

The name Las Vegas is often applied to the unincorporated areas of Clark County that surround the city, especially the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip. This 4.5-mile (7.2-km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard is mostly outside the city limits, in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester.
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Beyond conventions, major sports events and holidays also affect the visitor numbers. Unless you’re a sports bettor, I’d stay well clear of the city any time there’s a heavyweight boxing match, a NASCAR race or the World Series of Poker. The Super Bowl, baseball’s World Series and the NCAA basketball tournament in March also cram the town’s sports books with gamblers, causing hotel prices to balloon.

You might also consider staying away during major holidays, when an influx of visitors also causes rates to skyrocket. Halloween is huge in Vegas (lots of people head there for Gothic wedding ceremonies featuring tomato juice toasts and cameos by the Grim Reaper), as is Valentine’s Day (again for weddings), St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve.

To a somewhat lesser extent, all of the long-weekend holidays (Memorial Day, Presidents Day, Labor Day, etc.) also see an increase in rates and visitors. Time was when the family holidays — Thanksgiving and Christmas in particular — saw big drops in tourism numbers, but that’s no longer the case. (Maybe Grandma prefers the slots to turkey dinner with the toddlers … or she insists the entire family come to “Pair-O-Dice” to party with her.)

The only reason folks avoid Vegas around Christmas today is that it’s the month many performers take off. So if you’re heading to the Strip in December to see its legendary headliners strut their stuff, check first to make sure that they’ll be performing while you’re there.

Sin City is at its quietest when there aren’t any conventions or holidays, and when the desert climate is at its harshest. I’m talking December, January and February — when night winds whip down the Strip, freezing the toes of revelers in strappy high heels — and the blast-furnace months of June, July and August, when the blazing sun slaps down visitors more effectively than snake eyes on the craps table.
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Over the years, the reputation of Las Vegas has changed from Sin City to a more family oriented vacation spot. Today, Las Vegas has a little something for everyone. Whether your vacation is geared towards gambling at a casino, live shows and entertainment such as Cirque du Soleil or a Gondola Ride at the Bellagio, or just shopping at the outlets and designer stores, Las Vegas can give you the experience of a lifetime, whatever your goal and budget.

You can visit any of the many casinos or fine restaurants in Vegas. Maybe give one of the golf courses a whirl while the kids can enjoy many of the child appropriate activities in town for your Vegas Vacation.
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1. Purchase necessities BEFORE you leave and save!
It’s the little things that add up — little things like sunscreen, toothpaste or even a simple aspirin. If you forget these items, expect to pay a premium for them at your destination, particularly if purchase them at your hotel or resort. A five dollar disposable camera at the neighborhood drug store can cost as much as $18 at a hotel.

If you must leave necessities behind because of packing restrictions, make sure you have a list of what you need and stop at a discount store before you get to your destination hotel or resort.

2. RENT a condo or home instead of a hotel room!
This is the single most cost effective measure that a family, especially large families, can take when planning a vacation. Renting a home or condo is easy on the budget in many ways. Besides saving on the actual lodging cost, being able to prepare some meals yourself will cut back on the number of expensive restaurant meals you consume.

If you’ve never rented a home or condo before, don’t let the task intimidate you. I’ve put together an article that answers every question you might have and follows up how to find a vacation rental and what you need to consider before you rent.

3. Spend the day away from the attractions.
You’re paying for that hotel swimming pool… use it! Spend the day at the beach or a nearby museum. The shopping areas near the major attractions (like Downtown Disney) have children’s play areas, providing an inexpensive day of fun for the little ones.

4. Find an ALTERNATIVE to airport parking.
Have friends drop you at the airport or consider a “Park & Fly Package” at a hotel close to the airport. Just one night’s stay includes free parking from a few days up to two weeks, depending on the package.

5. Rental CAR Tips
While renting a car can sometimes save you money over using airport shuttles or save on the wear and tear of your own vehicle,  or you can use a limousine service. There are also pitfalls that everyone should consider:

• Avoid airport car rentals when possible! Airport surcharges and taxes are often nearly double that of off-site car rentals. It might be cheaper to take a cab to a nearby car rental off airport property.
• While a coupon for a free upgrade might sound like a good deal… beware. These larger models often do not get good gas mileage and will cost you more in fuel costs.
• If you are planning on renting a vehicle for five or more days, check weekly rental rates. You can often save as much as 25-30 percent compared with paying for a five- to seven-day rental on the daily rate.
• Check your insurance coverage before leaving home. Not taking insurance coverage at the counter can save as much as $10 to $15 a day. Many personal insurance policies offer liability coverage or cover rental-car coverage. Also, some credit card providers have a built-in protection for rental car insurance.
• Check whether your hotel or resort charges for parking. You might eat up any savings on airport shuttles if your hotel or resort charges for parking.

6. LIMIT expenditures for limitless fun!
Have a small budget, but want BIG family fun? Take it to the limit with these money saving tips! Although they all start with the word limit, they go a long way to ensure limitless fun and enjoyment on a limited budget.

7. You gotta EAT!
Sure, you’ve got to eat, but you can take a few budget shortcuts here without feeling deprived by trying these tips:

• Stay where breakfast is free.
• If you are driving, pack a cooler with drinks and snacks. Packing sandwiches for lunch at a rest stop gives the kids a chance to run off their pent up energy and can be healthier than fast food.
• Split meals. Children are many times too excited or tired to eat much at a time. Restaurants that are kid friendly are more than happy to accommodate special requests for extra plates.
• Eat lunch in your room. You’ll be surprised how good a peanut butter sandwich, chips, and fresh fruit tastes away from home, and everyone gets a needed break from the heat and crowds of tourist destinations.
• Do not use the mini bar in your hotel room!
• Take advantage of coupons, but be sure to read the fine print.
• Order take out and eat that pizza watching a beautiful sunset from your balcony or at the picnic table by the pool. Bring your own drinks for a cost-cutting measure.
• Bring along individual refillable water bottles. These can be refilled at the hotel and at attraction water fountains. A family of four could easily spend $20 or more a day buying water.

8. Take advantage of multi-day passes at the attractions.!
Do your homework and come up with a variety of great deals!

9. TAME the gimmies!
You can tame the “gimmes”, and your pocketbook at the same time, by giving children a pre-set spending limit for souvenirs.

Think outside the box to find inexpensive souvenirs. We invested in autograph books (about $6 at most attractions) and watched the fun as our girls collected the “autographs” of their favorite characters. They have become cherished keepsakes.

10. Take ADVANTAGE of coupons!
Whether it is for lodging, food, or attractions – coupons SAVE money! Find them everywhere… online, in local newspapers, at convenience stores, motels, etc. Always read the fine print carefully for terms of the coupon.
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I hope you take these 10 tips with you on Las Vegas Vacation, especially if your trying to save a few bucks.

The Las Vegas version of this classic New Orleans eatery occupies a featured spot on the strip adjacent to the new Aladdin Resort & Casino in Desert Passage. But how does a restaurant renowned for its hospitality as its food ensure that its signature characteristics will flourish in the dry sand of Nevada? Not for a minute would anyone have believed that the inimitable style of Commander’s Palace could be transplanted anywhere outside of New Orleans, but the Brennan family has done it!

Brimming with the Brennan family’s gracious Crescent City hospitality, Brad Brennan is at the helm to ensure Commander’s Palace excels at making dining a special event. From the extra-attentive service to such trademark dishes as Louisiana pecan crusted fish, turtle soup and our world famous bread pudding soufflé , Executive Chef Carlos Guia and his culinary brigade are constantly creating new specialties that guarantee repeat diners won’t get bored!

Sounds good doesn’t it? Surely would be a very enjoyable and interesting meal on your trip to Vegas. Of course, it is a bit pricey, but well worth it if your any of a fan of spicy New Orleans Style food. You Should visit it in Las Vegas today.

The Tuscany Hotel is a first class, all suite hotel located 2 blocks East from “the Strip” and 2 miles from McCarran International Airport. Enjoy the beauty of Italy in Las Vegas, the most exciting city in the world! The hotel provides an exciting and beautiful atmosphere for vacations, conferences, and business travel. It opened in December of 2001, the hotel offers the most up to date accommodations possible.

Each suite is situated in a lovely European setting that offers a great sense of relaxation and privacy. The suites are significantly larger than your average hotel room and are offered at extremely affordable rates. Each guest suite also has access to complimentary 24-hour valet parking, concierge service, room service, same-day laundry and dry cleaning services. For the ultimate dining experience, Tuscany is proud to have the Palazzo restaurant located on the property, as well as, The Piazza Lounge. The hotel’s 7,000 square feet of meeting space ensures that business or social events will be a success. The Tuscany Suites offers on-site dining and is convenient to many area shopping and entertainment venues.

For those who do not like to book reservations online, call toll free in the US or Canada: 1-800-780-5733 code 44763. When calling this number to reserve a room, please refer to the following discount code: 44763 in order to ensure the lowest possible discount rate.