Casino City Report

A perfect Las Vegas vacation takes perfect timing.

It goes without saying that you will usually get a discount hotel rate in Las Vegas if you plan and book your vacation well in advance. However, planning a last-minute Vegas trip doesn’t mean that you must pay top prices. It is, in fact, very easy to find discount Las Vegas hotel rooms with a little pre-planning.

November, December and January are quieter times to visit. Other times of the year when you will get the best prices are weekdays which are usually half weekend prices, two weeks before Christmas, in the middle of summer and August and December.

The easiest way to find out whether Vegas is “sold out” when you want to vacation there contact the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority on 702-892-0711.

Decide how long you want to stay there for. Many hotels offer lower room rates the longer you stay.

Many of the downtown casinos and hotels are cheaper than accommodation on the Strip.

Look out for hotels offering a free night if you stay for three or more nights there.

Check to see if your planned trip coincides with any major conventions or popular events, etc, on at the same time. If a convention is on at the same time it could be impossible to find a room. Some conventions have attendees of more than 50,000.

You can improve your chances of accessing Las Vegas hotel discounts by going to the information desk at the McCarran airport and getting the names of all hotels with available rooms. Write down the names of all hotels in your price range and don’t make contact by phone unless the information desk clerk tells you that rooms are in very short supply.

If you work for the government or have a military ID ask for the government rate. This works even if you are not travelling on government business. Many hotels offer free breakfast and great low rates for government employees. Just be sure to have your ID when you check in to show as proof. Some hotels give discounts to credit card holders of certain credit card companies. Ask for the manager and ask him about it. The manager is the person who can authorise any special deal like this for you. Ask for certain packages. Many hotels offer free breakfasts, discount lunches, free shuttles etc.

Go in person to the first hotel on your list and inquire if there are any hotel discounts available. If you don’t get the price you are happy with then go in person to the next hotel on your list.

It’s important to bear in mind that hotel prices can fluctuate a lot even in a 24 hour period and you have the best chance of getting the lowest room rate by making inquiries in the late afternoon on the day you want to actually check in.

If you arrive by automobile then bring a list of 800 Las Vegas hotel numbers and start ringing while you are on the road.

If you happen to come completely unprepared then make life easier on the first day you arrive in Vegas by simply checking into a reasonably priced Strip hotel and then looking for cheaper hotels the next day.

Millions of travellers arrive in Las Vegas every year to gamble in what surely must be the gamble capital of the USA, if not the world.

If you are on a budget it is still possible to gamble in Las Vegas. Here are a few tips for gambling on a budget in Las Vegas:

Make sure you have your discount coupons all organised in the exact order in which you will come to them on the Las Vegas strip and downtown. First of all, organise your coupons in the order of their value with the highest discount at the top of the bundle and then put these coupons together in the exact order of how these casinos will appear as you travel down the Las Vegas strip.

Make sure you have an up to the minute Las Vegas map to help you sort out your priorities. Be sure to prioritise casino coupons where you invest less money with each bet and get a higher rate of return.

At the beginning of each day decide exactly how much you can afford to gamble. Don’t go over your limit and don’t go into debt EVER to pay for your gambling.

Organise your coupons for free slot pulls, drinks and other freebies like snacks and two for one meals that you can use at the casinos.

Go to the first casino on your list, play the coupons, pocket all your profits and then visit the next casino on your list. If you are staying in one casino for a while and your coupon says ‘valid for one person per visit’ then make sure you move around the tables to use your coupons so that you don’t stand the chance of handing your coupon to the same staff member each time.

Experts say the best odds for a win are with blackjack and craps. This means that if you have discount casino coupons to play at any of these tables your losses should be as low as possible.

Should you be lucky enough to win a Las Vegas jackpot then there are a few words of caution that you should always bear in mind. Jackpot winners are likely to draw a lot of attention to themselves and that attention is not always with good intentions. So always ask that any large winnings be in the form of a check and then mail your check to your bank or to your home in an envelope and stamp that you have bought in the same casino. That way you never leave the casino with any cash winnings.

If for some reason you are paid in an amount of cash, have a casino staff members escort you to your hotel room or bank or to the nearest place where a cashier’s check can be made out to yourself.

If you are interested in finding out about free gambling or gaming lessons in Las Vegas go to http://www.ildado.com/gambling_classes.html (Alexa)

Online gambling casinos have been in existence now for 10 years, and their business is growing. In 2005, $8 billion was wagered - but in 2006, this figure is growing to $12 billion. That’s 50% growth in one year. Clearly, a lot of people are enjoying their time online.

The choices are vast, perhaps as many as 3,000 gaming sites. The most popular choices are online casino games and online Texas Holdem poker. When you play at an online casino, you are playing against the “House” - in other words, the online casino loses the money that you may win and vice versa. In online Texas Holdem poker, however, you are playing against other “real players” from around the world - the House only takes in a small “rake” for each hand played. (Typically, the rake averages about $0.45 per hand played, spread across as many as 10 players.) If you win money in poker, the other players have lost that amount to you.

Why do many players prefer to play at an online casino? For many who enjoy gambling online, their preference is for games of chance - roulette, slots, and many other games. For new players, their lack of experience does not matter as much.

The other group of players is seeking games of skill - poker primarily. Online Texas Holdem poker has taken over as “the rage of the Internet” due to many factors:
• It is played in “ring games” with real players from around the world, and has a true poker-game feel, including the ability to “chat” with other players.
• There has been a recent surge in popularity of poker on television, especially Texas Holdem, with extensive coverage of tournaments.
• A number of Hollywood celebrities have shown their love for online Texas Holdem poker - James Woods, Ben Affleck and others.
• Even in at-home play, Texas Holdem has become “the poker game of the 21st century”, replacing 7- and 5-card stud, draw and other poker variations.

How do you find the best online casinos? There are many “affiliate websites” that list leading gamesites, and these should be your first stop. Just enter “online casino” or “online poker” (or whatever your preference) into Google, Yahoo! or MSN, and these sites will appear.

Hesitant about gambling your money without any experience? Nearly all gaming sites provide free or “fun” games, and you can register there and play as much as you want. This will give you a chance to see the online casino games and to decide if the site is to your liking. If it is, you can later convert to a “real money player” by depositing as little as $20. At this point, you will select an online payment method to transfer funds from you to the gamesite. In most cases, this is a simple process to complete.

Another way to select a casino game online is to look at the online casino bonus for “real money” play. For new players, there are nearly always special bonuses available. Typic-ally, they give you “virtual money” to play with, depending on how much you deposit. The different bonuses will vary in the percent of your deposit that is matched (sometimes in the 100% or higher range), the maximum amount of the bonus (some in the $500 - $900 range), and the number of times the bonus must be wagered before it becomes “real”. Real money is money that you can withdraw; a bonus usually has to be wagered 10 - 15 times to achieve that status. Remember that you can’t just get a bonus and withdraw it as real money - this is money to be used in extending your play. As you play more and more hands, the bonus eventually becomes real money to be played or withdrawn.

Is there one, single best online casino? That’s like asking for the best recipe for chocolate cake - every casino is different, and every player is different. No one casino is “the best” - you just have to find the one that suits your tastes best. For example, if you just love online casino slot machines, there are many online casinos that cater to this taste. In fact, you can find almost every variation of gambling you want - almost as if the entire Internet were one, big Las Vegas online casino.

What are the typical games offered in a casino online? Many online casinos offer 90-100 different games. Since we can’t handle so many games in a single article, expect to see these future articles on specific games available in online casino gambling:
• online casino blackjack
• online casino slots
• roulette online
• online sports gambling

Is there a single “online-casino.com” that offers the best online gambling? We haven’t seen that one yet, but maybe you will. If you do, just contact us so we can spread the word. But I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun looking for it.

Author: Richard Taymor, www.casinotropez.com

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Since coming into existence online casinos have made quite the splash. For the most part people are no longer held back by the boundaries of where they live and the laws that govern the area. Now pretty much anyone who lives in this world can take part in all the gambling that they desire without having to leave the comfort of their own home. There are however several things that one needs to look for when they are seeking out the online casino of their choosing. Many times something can seem wonderful on the surface but when you get down to the meat of the issue it is not so great. This happens more often then not when people fail to read the fine print about online casino bonuses. While there are a good many online casino bonuses out there, which ones are actually worth the time and hassle to take part in? Lets take a look at some of them.

Free cash online casino bonus is very popular these days. The casino will offer you a certain amount of money to come play in their establishment. The amount can range from a hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on what kind of player that you are. The main thing to watch out for in this case is the limitations put on the online casino bonuses of this type. Make sure that you are getting the cash just for making a deposit and playing, not for playing a certain game or spending a large sum of money.

When you are seeking the play based on the bonus you should also check out the cashing out policies that are in place. There are some of the smaller casinos around that will limit the cash out that you can receive. In essence they are telling you when you can have the money that you have won and when you cannot have it. This is a very poor practice that takes place in some of the casinos and you should be mindful of such policies before you start playing. Most of the larger online casinos have no such limitations.

Lastly you should check the minimum bets for the entire casino site that you are playing with. Just like live casinos, online casinos put minimum bet amounts in place to ensure that they are making enough money off of their patrons. Most of the larger casinos will have small bet amounts that will attract a larger crowd, but some of the smaller sites will have larger amounts, sometimes not affordable to the every once in a while player, to make up for the lack of players.

Are you planning a Las Vegas vacation?

If so, then you need to know the way to handle your money in Las Vegas. Las Vegas isn’t called the city of ‘lost wages’ for nothing. If you’re not careful, it’s almost like your money just slips through your fingers almost like magic.

Did you know if you take out your money at one kind of ATM you could lose the same amount of your withdrawal in fees? It’s important to always be aware of the fees that are involved whenever your money changes hands in Las Vegas. If you are ever in doubt then simply ask a local. They’ll know the places to go and the places you should avoid.

If you don’t know how to handle your finances in Las Vegas, chances are you will end up a lot worse off in your hip pocket.

A little pre-planning and research will ensure that you pay the very least that you have to to exchange foreign currency, cash cheques and to get a cash advance.

Of course, if you’re on vacation the last thing you want to do is to get a high interest loan while away only to return back home fro your vacation destination owing the original amount of money you borrowed PLUS 100 percent interest or more.

Here are some helpful tips for handling your money on your Las Vegas vacation.

1. Travellers cheques are not a problem at casinos, restaurants, hotels and shops in Las Vegas. You will be required to show photo id for verification.

2. Every major casino is happy to exchange your foreign currency. They will of course charge you a fee in the form of a discount from the official exchange rate applicable and for this reason you will get the best deal by using a commercial bank for this kind of banking transaction.

3. Unsecured loans are difficult to obtain in Las Vegas.

4. Many casinos will give you a credit voucher to gamblers who apply for a loan in advance of their Las Vegas vacation.

5. Most large casinos have ATMS (automatic teller machines) where you can withdraw cash from your bank account or credit card account. If you are withdrawing a cash advance you must be aware that some financial institutions charge a very hefty fee for withdrawals.

6. Cheque cashing agencies specialise in interstate money orders, savings accounts and personal cheques. You will need identification and the fee will vary depending on the complexity of the transaction.

7. If you are expecting a tax refund Las Vegas has instant tax refund stands. What you are essentially doing is taking out a short term loan at an extremely high interest rate. The cost of the loan can be as high as 100 percent! This type of transaction should definitely be used with caution.

8. Las Vegas pawn shops – once again, these should always be used with caution. Don’t ever hand over something to a pawn broker that is of extreme personal value unless you can really live without it.

9. Always make sure your wallet is in a safe place. Vegas is also famous for pickpockets. Women should have purses that zip shut and have long straps on handbags so that they can go diagonally across your shoulder. Men should keep their wallet in their front pocket at all times. Keep your purse, wallet or bum bag with you at all times. Never put it down anywhere.

10. Keep a very close eye on your poker chips at casino tables. There are actually professional people who grab your chips when you are not looking.

I’ve just done an experiment and I just saved an amazing $544.00 in only ten minutes planning a discount Las Vegas vacation. It really shows how much money can be saved by spending time doing a few minutes research planning your holiday.

I went looking for the best Las Vegas hotel and air deal that I could find in under 10 minutes on the internet.

Here is a rundown of what I managed to do in under 10 minutes and how I saved $544.00.

I started off at one prominent Las Vegas website and got the following deal: Depart two adults San Antonio 30 September 2006, depart Las Vegas 6 October 2006; accommodation at Harrah’s hotel and flight included $776.50 per person – a total of $1553.00.

I then went to the Harrah’s website and it gave me accommodation for two adults for the same dates as above for a total of $1110.00, and that doesn’t include the flight price. That’s $550 per person just for accommodation at Harrah’s alone.

I then went to another website recommended in The 2006 Guide To Cheap Discount Vegas Vacations and it gave me a total cost for flight and Harrah’s accommodation of $593.50 per person (flight and accommodation included) for a total of $1187.00

I then went to another travel website and it gave me a total cost for flight and accommodation of $503.19 per person for a total cost of $1106.38.

If I had booked my vacation at the first website I went to I would have paid $544.00 more than I needed to pay.

In 10 minutes I managed to save an INCREDIBLE $544.00 ($272 per person) planning a Las Vegas vacation package.

All budget travellers can save that kind of money by using the same travel websites and travel search engines that I used to plan your Las Vegas vacation.

Are you planning a vacation in Vegas? A perfect vacation takes perfect timing.

It goes without saying that you will usually get a discount hotel rate in Las Vegas if you plan and book your vacation well in advance. However, planning a last-minute Vegas trip doesn’t mean that you MUST pay top prices. It is, in fact, very easy to find discount Las Vegas hotel rooms with a little pre-planning.

Another way you can maximize your Vegas vacation dollars is by taking a little time to research getting the cheapest flights to Las Vegas and special Las Vegas flight deals.

If you are prepared to put in a little effort you can find cheap deals. Thankfully the Internet makes that task very easy.

Before you even sit down in front of a computer and make a booking it is important to note the best times to visit Vegas.

November, December and January are known to be the quieter times to visit. Other times of the year when you will get the best prices are weekdays which are usually half weekend prices, two weeks before Christmas, in the middle of summer and August and December.

The easiest way to find out whether Vegas is “sold out” when you want to vacation there contact the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority on 702-892-0711.

Decide how long you want to stay there for. Many hotels offer lower room rates the longer you stay.

Many of the downtown casinos and hotels are cheaper than accommodation on the Strip.

Look out for hotels offering a free night if you stay for three or more nights there.

Check to see if your planned trip coincides with any major conventions or popular events, etc, on at the same time. If a convention is on at the same time it could be impossible to find a room. Some conventions have attendees of more than 50,000.

As much as possible try and plan your Vegas trip well ahead to get the best rates. Most hotels have an incredible 90 percent occupancy rate with 63 percent of visitors booking at least two weeks in advance. As over 35 million people visit Vegas every year, you really have a lot of competition with other travellers if you are inflexible about precisely when your vacation in Vegas will be.

It’s not every day that anyone can earn $544.00 in 10 minutes so what are you waiting for?

Gambling has been around since nearly the dawn of civilization. Every known culture seems to have some form of gambling. This speaks to the need of people the world over to make money without actually working for it. Who wouldn’t want to make a week’s worth of pay rolling a set of dice rather than in a factory all week? Most of us would take the dice, which is why gambling has remained popular throughout the ages. People desire to win money in one form or another and that keeps the act of gambling alive and well in this world. To this day there are very few places on Earth where one can go without finding a type of gambling.

This is the direct reason why online gambling is so popular. Over the years lawmakers all over the world have sought to defeat gambling in one form or another and this has made it so many people must go looking elsewhere for their gambling entertainment. The internet was a perfect place for people to turn. The main reason for this is that the internet is considered by most countries to be a virtual domain and therefore not under some of the laws that the land has.

The companies that run on the internet can not be taxed like others are and also it is the perfect place for a casino to thrive. This is why there are so many online gambling establishments to this day. The people are flocking to the sites to get nearly the same gambling experience they would in a live casino. This all comes with the fact that many of the online casinos are actually owned by the live casinos, making it all the more real.

Online gambling has come a long way. While there are no laws that govern the taxes for an online casino, there are things that help to keep the owners as honest as possible. For one thing, the online casinos are required to have accessible random number generators in place. This ensures that the games are not rigged to favor the house in more than they already do. So the random number generators are in place to make sure that the games are not set to hit at a certain time. No matter who is playing the game they have the chance to win the money.

This is one of those things that tends to give some trust to the casinos as they have had a lot of problems in the past with people believing that they are rigging the games and in some cases this was very true. Today there is a commission in place that monitors the online casinos to make sure that they are paying out the amount that is required by law and that all their games are as fair as possible.

Many people have realized that the online world is just as fun as the live deals that are going on. The best part is that the online casinos are not limited by the technology that the live places are. The number of games can range in the thousands and make it all worthwhile for the gambler seeking a thrill.

Online casino directory is one of the best resources to get acquainted with the profiles of almost all the casinos. It has an incredible source of relevant information on the gambling industry. It is also a guide to gamble in accordance with the jurisdiction and the laws, helping you make the right choices. You should use the online casino directory before entering any casinos; that will help you figure out the best room rates, gaming zones, restaurants, special offers, etc. You can instantly search the online casino directory location wise on the internet. Online casino directory gives special reviews on each and every casino registered at the location. It will give you the best ratings of casinos, helping you get the best information available all the time, any time.
You can do an advanced search through online casino directory generating the top casinos to gamble at. Online casino directory offers you the latest strategies and information on the best gaming sites. There are a lot of available websites that provide online casino directory, but you should select only the recommended ones. Online casino directory gives you direct access to expert opinions and their takes on different casino games. It gives you the much-needed insight and the ability to foresee things ahead of its time. The availability of online casino directory has revolutionized the concept of exploring the casinos. Spending more time going through the directory, will gain you extensive knowledge of how the casinos and gambling world co-exist. Take your time going through the online casino directory as you are always in for a surprise!
Online casino directory is the best available tool for a new traveler to a casino. A new traveler does not have to rely on strange individuals to locate the right places for his gambling experience. Before the Internet boom, there was no straight access to all the information regarding certain casinos and their profile ratings. Now it is easier than ever to take advantage of the loads of information provided through online casino directory. It has become a vital tool of research before even visiting a casino in a particular town. A wise man can surf the directory of online casinos while he is sipping coffee in a remote part of China! It is truly a marvelous tool for anyone who is new to the world of gambling. Online casino directory is not only a resource but it is can be considered as the holy book of gambling. We should appreciate the technological breakthrough, which enables some of us to discuss online casino directory without even having stepped once into a casino! Last but not least - if you ever get to visit a casino, don’t forget to visit an online casino directory.

Baccarat, the royal game, was originally played only by the European aristocracy from the 15th century onwards.

Still today, there is an air of exclusivity about it and today more and more people are discovering at as online gaming becomes more popular.

The players often wear black tie dress, the playing area is set apart from the rest of the casino, and the playing limits are usually higher than all the other games.

Baccarat is truly the royal game as the rules, the manner of play, and the rewards all remind one of the elegant and romantic past.

Baccarat is basically a very simple game, and there are few and limited strategies to win. We shall examine them below. The odds are easy enough to calculate, and the play is rather structured as you shall see.

The rules

The rules to play baccarat are set, and really, when the bets are in, the cards will be dealt and the results are evident at once.

Here is how it works; the ‘dealer’ (and can be any player or a croupier) will deal two cards to every player, plus the banker (note: in Baccarat, the banker does not have to be the dealer). The sole object of Baccarat is to get as close to 9 as possible.

So, If your two cards equal a 9, or an 8 (both are called “naturals”) you are a winner. Should the dealer have a natural, it will be a tie game.

The rules are clear, should any player have a 7 or a 6, he must stand. If any player has 5 or less, he is obliged to take a 3rd card. That is the game.

Card values dictate that any 10 or face cards have no value.

The second digit of the number determines the value in Baccarat, so a 10 = 0. Likewise, a 10 and a 6 = 6. Suppose you receive a third card, the actual total (called the score) will be the right digit of the total of the cards. Therefore, the score of three cards equaling 16 will have a score of 6.

The Dealer’s Role.

In Baccarat, the dealer makes no choices whatsoever; His actions are completely pre-determined by the rules. Here they are. Should a player stand, the dealer takes a 3rd card if his score is 5 or less. In case the player took a 3rd card, the dealer must act as below:

If the dealer has a score of 0, 1, 2: he must draw a third card.

If the dealer has a score of 3: he must draw if a player’s 3rd Card is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-0 (but not an

If the dealer has a score of 4: he must draw if a player’s 3rd Card is 2-3-4-5-6-7

If the dealer has a score of 5: he must draw if a player’s 3rd Card is 4-5-6-7

If the dealer has a score of 6: he must draw if a player’s 3rd Card is a 6 or a 7

If a dealer has a score of 7: he must stand.

Betting in Baccarat

Baccarat has only three bets.

The first is on the player, the second the banker, and the third if you think there will be a tie game. The payout on the player bet is even money or 1 to 1, with no commission.

The banker bet is also paid out at even money, but there is a commission, from 4 % to 5% depending on the table.

A tie bet is paid out at 8 to 1 or 9 to 1 (depending on the table) and no commission.

Tips to Win at Baccarat

• Bet with the banker. The bank will win more than the player (that is why the payout has a commission!).

• Don’t card count or track the game (like you see everyone else doing). Card counting in Baccarat does not work! If it did, the casino would not supply you paper and pencil to track the game. Card counters in Blackjack are quickly evicted from the casino, because it works, but Baccarat counters are permitted.

• Also play at the table that uses the fewest decks in the shoe.

Baccarat is truly the royal game, and playing it reminds you of the gallant past and you somehow feel its elegance, even now.

Enjoy yourself, bet with the banker, and don’t overstay. Allocate your bankroll play have a win and loss target and leave when either have been hit and keep in mind your chances of winning for a game of chance are very good so good luck!

There are many fun things to do in Las Vegas that have nothing to do with gambling. So, if you don’t care to throw dice or drop quarters into slot machines, you can still have a terrific time in “Sin City”. An increasing number of tourists are seeing Vegas as more than a casino town and the revenue from non-gambling venues has been growing steadily over the past few years. Many casinos are investing their resources in amenities such as beautiful hotel rooms, amusement parks, luxury pools and spas, live entertainment shows, animal exhibits, upscale dining establishments and specialty stores for shoppers. In some facilities, these added attractions have taken over as the main draw. There is something for everyone in Las Vegas!

Popular Shows in Las Vegas
Casinos are just as acclaimed for their shows as they are for gambling. There is a wide variety of entertainment from the famous dancing shows featuring feathered and fringed chorus girls to many other categories. For headliner shows, there is Celine Dion at Caesar’s Palace and for some doo-wop, The Platters, Drifters and Coasters at the Sahara. Comedy shows abound with The Riviera comedy Club and the Improv at Harrah’s. Tribute shows are always fun and often nostalgic. You can take in American Superstars at the Stratoshere, Barbra and Frank at the Riviera and Legends in concert at Imperial Palace. Magic shows entertain young and old alike. Check out The World’s Greatest magic Show at the Greek Isles Hotel and Casino, Lance Burton for family fun at the Monte Carlo and Dirk Arthur at Tropicana with his white Bengal tiger and leopards. If production shows are your favorite, you are in luck. Ongoing shows include Cirque du Soliel for astonishing acrobatics at MGM Grand, Mama Mia at Mandalay Bay and Phantom of the Opera at Venetian. If you enjoy adult shows, there are numerous ones to attend, such as the renowned Chippendales at Rio, and hypnosis with Dr. Scott Lewis at Le Bistro Theater. You can even watch the longest running TV game show in history with The Price Is Right at Jubilee! Theater. For every man, woman and child, there is a great show to enjoy in Las Vegas. Tickets and reservations are available for advance purchase on many websites.

Restaurants and Buffets
Las Vegas has quickly become one of the most sensational restaurant cities in the world. New restaurants are opening almost on a daily basis. Nowhere can tourists dine so lavishly for so little as at the abundant buffets, which began in the early 1940’s at the original El Rancho Vegas Hotel. Their Midnight Chuck Wagon Buffet was invented as a way to keep customers in the hotel for the second show. What followed were other hotels offering the same. Next came breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. Some hotels offer champagne brunches on weekends featuring all the bubbly a person can drink. Many of the top chefs in the world have opened restaurants in Vegas. While the casinos and hotels feature varied and exotic cuisines, don’t forget to check out the local restaurants as well.

Family Fun
There are plenty of family friendly venues in Las Vegas. The Lied Children’s Museum is a hands-on, interactive museum close to downtown. There are many lessons to be learned here about science, humanities and the arts. Another destination popular with children is Circus Circus with the Circus Acts and Adventuredome Theme Park. For hours of fun, ride the rollercoaster and other rides, play a game of miniature golf or challenge yourself with the many arcade games. The Gameworks Arcade at the Showcase Mall next to the MGM Grand has the tallest indoor rock-climbing wall in the country and a movie theater. Ride the rollercoaster, play laser tag or enjoy racing Daytona style at the Coney Island Emporium at New York/New York Resort and Casino. Two more places to thrill the kids are the old western town on Bonnie Springs Old Nevada 16 miles west of Las Vegas and the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.

Outdoor Activities
If you enjoy hiking, golf, horseback riding, hot air balloon riding, or just lounging by a pool, Las Vegas has plenty to offer. Grand Canyon National Park and the Red Rock National Conservation Area are a short drive away. There are also the pirate battles at Treasure Island, the volcano at the Mirage and the fountains of the Bellagio.

Specialty Shopping
If outlets are your favorite, visit the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas for designer clothing. Caesar’s Palace has the Forum Shops or Appian Way Shops. The Venetian features the Grand Canal Shoppes and don’t miss the Bellagio’s Via Bellagio. For more specialty shops and restaurants, visit the Desert Passage. If you prefer a mall environment, check out the Boulevard Mall.

Relax at a Spa
Las Vegas, along with the surrounding areas, boasts over thirty spas. These spas are as varied as the casinos and hotels around them. Choose from Shiatsu or Swedish massage, herbal baths, aromatherapy, reflexology or creme brulee body wraps. Relax in the many whirlpools, saunas or steam rooms. Manicures, champagne facials, pedicures, customized scrubs and hair styling are offered at the numerous salons. Do you want advice on fitness, nutrition or health? Some hotels offer trained personal trainers. Some of the most popular spas include Mandalay Bay’s Spa Mandalay, The Spa at the Palms, the Venetian’s Canyon Ranch Spa, Rio Spa, Elemis Spa at the Aladdin and the Spa Bellagio.