World City Guide

Mini Guide of Las Vegas

City Overview

Few cities bring to mind such images of sheer excess as Las Vegas. Located in the middle of the arid Mojave Desert, at the southern tip of the state of Nevada, Las Vegas is an oasis of life, energy and money – a city whose raison d’tre is entertainment. With soaring temperatures during the summer and moderate winters, the city is visited all year round. Las Vegas may have little more than one million inhabitants but its airport is the seventh busiest in the world, daily spewing out hordes of tourists hoping to win big bucks at the thousands of gambling tables or one-armed bandits (slot machines). Over 30 million people visit Las Vegas every year, staying in the city’s 123,000 hotel rooms.

Ironically, Las Vegas’ beginnings were, if anything, humble. In the 18th century, the spot where the city now stands earned the named Las Vegas (Spanish for ‘The Plains’), because of a natural spring that created greenery in the dry desert. The city itself was founded in 1905 – as a stopover on the Union Pacific railway between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City – but it remained a remote backwater until the 1930s. In 1931, however, gambling was made legal and Las Vegas quickly began to assume its present character. At first, it drew the droves of workers building the nearby Hoover Dam. Soon, it became a gambling and vacation Mecca for the entire country – it attracted stars like Frank Sinatra, Elvis and Liberace and became America’s premiere entertainment hub. It also attracted the mob, an aspect of the city’s character depicted in countless movies, such as Casino (1995) and Bugsy (1991). By the 1960s, Las Vegas began cleaning up its act. Gambling remained its principal draw but the casinos began to fall under the control of large corporations and the city was increasingly repackaged as a family destination. Golf courses abound, as do shows, theme parks, shopping malls and a growing number of museums, such as the Las Vegas Natural History Museum and the Liberace Museum.

Today, Las Vegas is booming as never before. The 1990s saw a trend towards building enormous hotel complexes competing with one another for the title of largest hotel in the world. The competition was won by the city-like MGM Grand, whose capacity of over 5000 rooms has yet to be bettered. More recently, the trend has been towards recreating mini-versions of cities like New York, Paris and Venice. The Downtown, with its smaller, more intimate and seedier casinos, remains the guardian of old Las Vegas character.

Entertainment so dominates Las Vegas that it is the backbone of the city’s economy, creating vibrant hotel, retail and hospitality industries. Other industries, such as construction, to a large degree owe their existence to the fact that hotels need to be built or expanded. Las Vegas is now the fastest growing city in North America. Its sheer exuberance in attracting visitors has created something along the lines of a city-sized theme park. Its residents lead normal lives in normal suburbs but to visitors it is an endless playground of neon lights, hotel lounges, topless revues, live entertainment and casinos.

Getting There By Air

McCarran International Airport (LAS)
Tel: (702) 261 5211. Fax: (702) 261 3111.
Website: www.mccarran.com

Las Vegas McCarran International Airport is located a mere 1.6km (one mile) from the Strip and 5.6km (3.5 miles) from Downtown, connected only by road. With over 800 flights each day, it is ranked as the seventh busiest airport in the world.

Major airlines: American Airlines (tel: (800) 433 7300; website: www.aa.com) operates both domestic and international flights from McCarran International. Las Vegas is connected to most other American airports by a number of other domestic carriers including America West, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Northwest, Spirit and United. International carriers include Air Canada, JAL, Northwest, Singapore and Virgin Atlantic, serving destinations such as Mexico City, Toronto, Tokyo, Shanghai and London.

Approximate flight times to Las Vegas: From London is 12 hours; from New York is 6 hours; from Los Angeles is 1 hour 11 minutes; from Toronto is 5 hours 15 minutes and from Sydney is 14 hours 40 minutes.

Airport facilities: These include bureaux de change, ATMs, tourist information, car hire (Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sav-mor and Thrifty), a fitness centre, a medical centre, lockers, restaurants, duty free, shops, bars, a massage centre, flower vending machines, shoeshine services and a post office. Due to increased security procedures, lockers may be out of service at various times. Traveller should enquire first if they plan to leave luggage at the airport.

Business facilities: The business centre TravelX (tel: (702) 261 5950) is located in terminal one and offers limited services: Western Union, fax services and currency exchange. The office has no set hours. Visitors should call ahead.

Arrival/departure tax: US$6 departure tax is included in the price of the ticket.

Transport to the city: The simplest and most popular way to reach Las Vegas from the airport is by taxi. A trip to Downtown costs about US$18 and to the Strip about US$7 (journey time – 30 minutes and 10 minutes respectively). A bus service is operated by Citizens Area Transit (tel: (702) 228 7433 or (800) 228 3911 toll free in the USA; website: www.catride.com ). Buses108 and 109 depart from outside the arrival and baggage claim area every 30 and 20 minutes respectively, costing US$1.50 (journey time – approximately 25 minutes). The service is available 24 hours.

A number of shuttle companies run services to and from McCarran Airport, with services to the Strip hotels costing around US$3–4 (journey time – 15–25 minutes) and to hotels Downtown US$4–6 (journey time – 30–45 minutes). Companies include Bell Trans Shuttle Bus (tel: (702) 739 7990), CLS (tel: (702) 740 4050), Coach USA/Express Shuttle (tel: (702) 739 5700), Las Vegas Limousine (tel: (702) 736 1419), and Star Transit (tel: (702) 646 4661).

America’s railway service provider, Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com) has recently opened its new stop at McCarran Airport, which links to its station on the Strip (journey time – 10 minutes) for a cost of US$10.

Getting There By Water

Getting There By Road

Considering that the city was built after the advent of the automobile and that it sits in the middle of a vast and barely populated desert, it is not surprising that transportation by car is the simplest and easiest way to travel both to and around Las Vegas. A vast network of Freeways and Primary Highways covers the state of Nevada. Freeways, designated on maps by a blue shield, are multi-lane thoroughfares that are divided by a median and have a speed limit of up to 121kph (75mph). Primary Highways can be two lanes – one in each direction – or multi-lane and have a speed limit of up to 105kph (65mph). Traffic drives on the right. The minimum driving age in Nevada is 16 years and proof of insurance is compulsory. Drivers from outside the USA must possess a licence from their country of origin. Seatbelts must be worn at all times, by the driver and every passenger. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for drivers 21 and older is 0.10%. There is a 0.02% blood alcohol limit for drivers under the age of 21. Random breath tests can be imposed.

The American Automobile Association – AAA (tel: (702) 870 9171; website: www.csaa.com) provides emergency roadside service as well as a variety of other automobile-related services.

Emergency breakdown service:
AAA (800) 222 4357

Routes to the city: Las Vegas is bisected by Freeway 15, which connects to Mesquite and Salt Lake City in the north and California (Los Angeles and San Francisco via Interstate 5) in the south. Freeway 515 connects to the Fort Mojave Indian reservation in the south.

Driving times to Las Vegas: From Los Angeles – 4 hours 10 minutes; Salt Lake City – 6 hours 25 minutes; San Francisco – 8 hours 45 minutes.

Coach services: Greyhound (tel: (702) 384 9561; website: www.greyhound.com) operates regular intercity services out of Las Vegas, linking the city with major western destinations, such as Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Albuquerque, El Paso and Los Angeles. Greyhound operates out of Las Vegas Greyhound Terminal, 200 South Main Street (tel: (800) 231 2222). Facilities include vending machines, toilets, lockers and tourist information. Charter coach services can be hired from K-T Services (tel: (702) 644 2233), Superior Tour Service (tel: (702) 789 7311), and Gray Line Las Vegas (tel: (702) 384 1234; website: www.grayline.com).

Getting There By Rail

The service on America’s railways, Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com), has allegedly improved over the last year, however, passengers should remember that although punctuality is an aspired trait, it is not always Amtrak’s best suit. Efforts to improve the public’s use of train services to Las Vegas have been improving, as is evident from the new station at the airport. Due to increased security precautions, passengers may be required to have their baggage examined before boarding and should be prepared for routine ticket checks while on board. Amtrak provides up-to-date information on the number of bags and type of luggage that can be transported on the train. Passengers should call Amtrak direct for all rail enquiries – the stations in Las Vegas are not staffed and do not have direct telephone numbers – the central office even co-ordinates and investigates all luggage enquiries.

The Amtrak Greyhound Station, 200 South Main Street, provides basic facilities, including a waiting area, payphones and a snack bar.

Rail services: Trains from Las Vegas travel to Los Angeles (journey time – 9 hours 40 minutes), New York (journey time – 60 hours), San Diego (journey time – 14 hours 50 minutes) and Chicago (37 hours 30 minutes). Passengers should be aware that some journeys require coach travel as well.

Transport to the city: A bus and transit service is available from the station, which is located Downtown. Taxis are also available on call.

Getting Around

Public Transport
Although Las Vegas is a bustling metropolis with over one million inhabitants, its public transportation services are limited to buses. These are operated by the Citizens Area Transit – CAT (tel: (702) 228 7433; website: www.rtc.co.clark.nv.us/cat.htm). Some bus lines run 24 hours. Adult bus fares cost US$1.25 – except for routes 301, 302 and 303, which cost US$2. Transferring between different buses is free of charge and transfer tickets are available from the bus driver. Fares can be purchased upon boarding (exact change only). Tokens are available from the Downtown Transportation Centre, 300 North Casino Centre (tel: (702) 229 6025), open daily 0600–2200. These allow a 20% discount.

Privately run trolley services are also available and are used more by visitors than locals. The Las Vegas Strip Trolley (tel: (702) 382 1404) runs the length of the Strip every 15 minutes 0930–0130 and costs US$1.65 per journey. The Downtown Trolley (tel: (702) 229 6024), serving the casinos Downtown, runs every 15–20 minutes 0800–2130 and costs US$0.50 per journey. Tickets are purchased upon boarding the trolley.

A thirty-day CAT Pass bus pass costs US$30 and is available from the Citizens Area Transit, specified vendors, by post or online at the CAT website (see above).

Taxis
Thousands of taxis service the high volume of tourists in Las Vegas. It is against the law to hail a taxi in Las Vegas, although some drivers will stop if this is done. There are large numbers of taxi stands on the Strip and Downtown at which taxis can be hired. At more remote locations, it is easiest to phone for taxi service from such companies as ABC Union (tel: (702) 736 8444), Ace (tel: (702) 736 8383) and Yellow Checker Star Cab (tel: (702) 873 2227).

Taxis charge a flat rate of US$2.70 and add US$1.80 per mile. There is also a US$1.20 airport surcharge. A 10–15% tip is common.

Limousines
Limousines are a popular and suitably lavish way of seeing Las Vegas, a city with lavish habits. Chauffeur and limousine services are available from Ambassador Limousine (tel: (702) 362 6200; website: www.ambassadorlasvegas.com) at US$40 per hour, CLS of Las Vegas (tel: (702) 740 4545) at US$57 per hour, Presidential Limousines (tel: (702) 731 5577) at US$40 per hour, and Las Vegas Limousines (tel: (702) 736 1419; website: www.lasvegaslimo.com) at US$35 per hour, or US$4 per person from the airport to the Strip.

Driving in the City
Traffic is heaviest during rush hour (0800–1000 and 1630–1900), especially on highways and roads connecting the city centre with the suburbs. The Strip and Downtown, however, can also become congested any time tourists congregate in hordes – whether it is to see a boxing match at the MGM Grand or merely Friday night at the casinos. Locals tend to use the streets behind the Strip to avoid traffic. The city is laid out on a grid pattern, with one or two major streets veering slightly off this plan. Las Vegas Boulevard runs north–south, through Downtown in the north and turning into the Strip in the south. Most other streets running north–south are named according to number (First Street, Second Street, Third Street etc).

There is very little street parking in Las Vegas, although hotels and casinos usually offer free parking.

Car Hire
Car hire is extremely popular with visitors to Las Vegas and as a result there are quite a few firms offering car hire service in the city. Drivers must be 21 years or older and drivers under 25 years of age often have to pay a surcharge with certain firms. National driving licences are permissible, however, it is advisable to check with the rental company in case an International Driving Permit is required. Insurance can be purchased from the car hire company.

The major providers include Alamo (tel: (702) 263 8411; website: www.alamo.com), Assured (tel: (702) 597 9710), Avis (tel: (702) 261 5595; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (702) 736 1212; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: (702) 739 8408; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: (702) 795 8842; website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: (702) 736 4900; website: www.hertz.com) and National (tel: (702) 261 5391; website: www.nationalcar.com).

Hire charges are in the region of US$28–45 per day and may vary seasonally.

Bicycle Hire
Las Vegas’ relatively flat terrain makes cycling an enjoyable means of travel. Of course, visitors need to take the desert heat into consideration before venturing out for a lengthy trip. Las Vegas’ extraordinarily dry climate makes a difference as well – cyclists should be equipped with plenty of water and the appropriate sun cream. The best time for visitors to organise a bicycle tour is in the spring or late autumn (fall). Cyclists should also be aware of sudden rainstorms and flash floods as well – what looks like a small stream can turn into a river within minutes. Bicycle Nevada Advisory Board (tel: (775) 888 RIDE/7433; e-mail: bicycle@dot.state.nv.us; website: http://nevadadot.com/bicycle) provides further information on routes and contacts.

Las Vegas Cyclery, 8221 West Charleston Boulevard (tel: (702) 838 6966; fax: (702) 838 6968; e-mail: bike@escapeadventures.com; website: www.escapeadventures.com), hires out a variety of bicycles for day, half-day and multi-day rates (helmets included). Prices start at US$22 for a half day and rise to US$250 for two weeks. Bike Outpost, 16 Cottonwood Street, Blue Diamond (tel: (702) 875 4820; e-mail: bikeoutpost@aol.com; website: www.bikeoutpost.com), hires out mountain bikes for US$35–45 per day. The company’s location in Blue Diamond is strategically placed near mountain biking trails.

Business

Business Profile
Las Vegas is the engine that drives the state of Nevada. Clark County, where Las Vegas is situated, provides about 70% of the state’s taxable retail sales and about 80% of its taxable revenue. The city’s unemployment rate for the year 2001 was 5.5%, higher than the national average of 4.8%. The recent economic downturn, however, has had a decisive effect on employment rates throughout the country and the national average in January 2003 was 6.5% (with Las Vegas’ economy remaining steady at 5.6%).

Las Vegas was born as an entertainment town and that continues to be its main concern. Accordingly, the service industry is by far the largest employer, dwarfing goods-producing industries. Within the service industry, hotels, gaming and recreation employ the greatest numbers of people. Although the city’s single largest employer is Clark County School District, second place is held by the enormous hotel–casino, Bellagio, which employs in the region of 9000 people. Casino hotels account for seven of the city’s top ten employers and 30 of the city’s top 50 employers. Other major industries in Las Vegas – all of which are associated with entertainment – include the retail industry, restaurants and construction. To gain a perspective of these figures, it is worth considering that in 1999, Las Vegas employed about 23,000 people in manufacturing jobs, whereas that year alone saw the creation of 16,000 new hotel jobs.

The warm climate and relaxed lifestyle continue to attract businesses to southern Nevada, although the city does not boast the head offices of any major multinational companies. The business community is predominantly young and blue collar. Downtown is home to about a dozen large office and government buildings – along with an equal amount of hotels – but even these are dwarfed by the much larger casinos and hotels of the Strip. The hotels maximise on the attractiveness of the city, by offering themselves as conference destinations for businesses, as well as places to stay for the general tourist. Las Vegas is becoming more popular as a wholesale and distribution centre for western America and manufacturing is largely based on mineral resources, such as gypsum and titanium.

Business Etiquette
Visitors to Las Vegas may discover that the city has two faces. The entertainment industry, although professionally run, is influenced by the liberal attitudes it encourages among its clientele. While conducting business in the entertainment industry, a lunch or dinner at one of the city’s lavish hotels would not be unlikely. However, the city’s traditional industries are run by residents, many of who are Mormon and eschew practices such as drinking and gambling. In these circumstances, meetings are more likely to be business lunches than dinners, and alcohol at meetings – unless initiated by the host – should be avoided. It is not usual to be invited into someone’s home for business purposes.

During introductions, it is common to shake hands and address colleagues by their surname. On a day-to-day basis, however, people tend to address one another by first names. Gifts are not expected in business situations but are appropriate at the close of a deal or at Christmas and New Year. Business dress tends to be informal in Las Vegas, due to the heat, although suits are not uncommon for sales calls or when meeting associates for the first time. The working day normally begins at 0800 and ends at 1700, although administrative hours in casinos are sometimes 0700–1500.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing Overview
While most cities have particular entertainment districts for tourists to visit among other attractions, Las Vegas is one giant entertainment district. Las Vegas Boulevard – the central attraction for this 24-hour city – runs through the heart of Downtown, in the north of the city, and turns into the Strip, in the south. The city is divided into two halves – Downtown and the Strip. Downtown – also known as ‘Glitter Gulch’ for the bright neon signs and millions of flashing lights – is the living embodiment of old Las Vegas. Here, the vintage-style hotels, casinos, stage shows and strip joints are joined by the new and popular Fremont Street Experience Mall. Further south, the Strip is home to the latest, biggest and most ambitious casinos, many of which verge on being mini theme parks. Casinos are obviously Las Vegas’ biggest draw card and the biggest and the best are listed below (see Casinos in the Nightlife section for others worth visiting).

Tourist Information
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
3150 Paradise Road
Tel: (702) 892 0711. Fax: (702) 735 2170.
Website: www.lasvegas24hours.com
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 0800–1700.

Passes
There are no tourist passes currently available in Las Vegas.

Key Attractions

Bellagio
The Bellagio has quickly become one of Las Vegas’ best-known and most visited hotel–casinos. Cashing in on the recent trend towards Euro-opulence, the Bellagio sits on its own four-hectare (ten-acre) ‘oasis’, featuring a mock northern Italian village on the shore, behind which looms the bulking mass of the large hotel. The hotel offers 3200 rooms and suites (see Hotels), 17 restaurants, six lounges, botanical gardens and six Mediterranean pool settings. Its 9000-sq-metre (100,000-sq-ft) casino features over 2000 slot machines and electronic games and over 100 table games. The Bellagio also has a new fine art gallery, which hosts contemporary art exhibits, as well as a 9000-sq-metre (100,000 sq ft) glass-encased shopping mall. A popular attraction is the dancing water show every 15 minutes 1900–2400.

3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 693 7111 or (888) 987 7111. Fax: (702) 693 8585.
Website: www.bellagiolasvegas.com
Transport: Bus 301; Las Vegas Strip Trolley.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free (hotel and casino); US$12 (art gallery).

MGM Grand
Since its completion in 1993, the momentous MGM Grand has held the title of largest hotel in the world, with over 5005 rooms. Its enormous Grand Garden Arena has also become one of the key venues for boxing matches in the USA. The casino area alone is 15,300 sq metres (170,000 sq ft). Other features include 15 restaurants, a coffee shop, a food court with five lounges, two showrooms, two wedding chapels, five pools including a flowing river pool, a lion habitat, a dance club and shopping complex.

3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 891 7777 or (800) 929 1111. Fax: (702) 891 3036.
Website: www.mgmgrand.com
Transport: Bus 301; Las Vegas Strip Trolley.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours (hotel and casino); daily 1100–2200 (lion habitat).
Admission: Free (hotel and casino and lion habitat).

Luxor
The Luxor is an unmistakable landmark on the Strip. Opened in 1993, the entire hotel–casino complex was inspired by ancient Egypt. The hotel itself is a 36-storey pyramid of smoked glass, from whose apex shines the most powerful artificial light beam in the world – said to be visible from planes circling Los Angeles, 435km (272 miles) west. Inside is a recreation of Tutankhamun’s Tomb, two theatres, simulator rides, 3-D movies and, of course, a 11150-sq-metre (120,000-sq-ft) casino with 2002 slot machines and 106 table games.

3900 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 262 4000. Fax: (702) 262 4404.
Website: www.luxor.com
Transport: Bus 301; Las Vegas Strip Trolley.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.

Caesars Palace
An old denizen of the Strip, Caesars Palace possesses more Las Vegas character than many of its newer neighbours. It sits in a lavish Roman setting, perhaps the historical theme best suited to this city of excess, with Roman columns, grand staircases, manicured shrubbery, imported marble statuary and luxuriant fountains. Its two casinos, measuring a total of 12,050 sq metres (129,750 sq ft), feature all the regular games, as well as an ‘empire’ of slot machines that feature prizes, such as motorcycles and convertible cars, and jackpots that have reached more than US$21 million.

3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 731 7110. Fax: (702) 731 6636.
Website: www.caesars.com
Transport: Bus 301; Las Vegas Strip Trolley.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.

Mirage
Of all the mega-casinos that line the Strip, the Mirage provides the biggest outdoor spectacle. The evening sees queues of people taking in the artificial volcano that erupts four times an hour. The setting is completed by an artificial lagoon with 54 artificial waterfalls that flow down the side of the volcano. As visitors make their way inside, they enter an indoor tropical rainforest, a dolphin habitat and a saltwater tropical aquarium. The hotel also boasts a pool and spa, eight restaurants, four lounge bar areas, a white tiger habitat, its famed Shadow Creek golf course and the requisite casino, which features over 2000 slot machines.

3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 791 7111. Fax: (702) 791 7414.
Website: www.mirage.com
Transport: Bus 301; Las Vegas Strip Trolley.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.

Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino
This US$2 billion addition to Las Vegas is yet another complex to cash in on a European theme. To some, it was a tragedy to see the demolition of the historic Sands Hotel and Casino to make way for this new hotel but no effort has been spared in creating the Venetian. Much of the complex features actual canals, on which gondolas carry visitors up and down the waterways. The 10,800-sq-metre (120,000-sq-ft) casino, featuring 2500 slot machines and 122 table games, sits behind a replica of the Doge’s Palace. The complex’s 17 restaurants, five pools and a fitness centre cater to the visitor’s non-gambling whims.

3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 414 1000. Fax: (702) 414 2122.
Website: www.venetian.com
Transport: Bus 301; Las Vegas Strip Trolley.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.

Las Vegas Natural History Museum
The Las Vegas Natural History Museum brings the natural world of local Nevada wildlife to life, as well as ancient dinosaurs, marine life and more, through exhibits, displays and live exhibitions. The museum’s dinosaur exhibit features mechanical dinosaurs, including a ten-metre-long (35ft) Tyrannosaurus Rex, as well as the exhibits detailing the evolution of life from fish to dinosaurs. The Wild Nevada Room explores the surprising diversity of life from the state’s own Mojave Desert. Replicas include rattlesnake, bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and burrowing rodents. The museum also has live animals on display, such as a gopher snake, a tarantula, a boa constrictor and scorpions.

900 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Downtown
Tel: (702) 384 3466. Fax: (702) 384 5343.
Website: www.lvnhm.org
Transport: Bus 301.
Opening hours: Daily 0900–1600.
Admission: US$6 (concessions available).

Further Distractions

Liberace Museum
Constantly built, rebuilt and renovated, Las Vegas is covered in the kind of up-to-the-minute polish of a city constructed yesterday. The Liberace Museum, considered one of the best museums in Las Vegas, offers a view of the city’s cultural history by focusing on one of its most infamous entertainers. Liberace became an extremely prominent musician in America and nowhere were his dazzling – some would say gaudy – costumes and stage sets more at home than in Las Vegas. The museum is divided into two galleries. The first houses 18 of his 39 pianos – including his own Rhinestone-covered Baldwin piano and a rare, early English grand piano from 1788 – as well as his car collection, including his one-of-a-kind Rolls Royce covered with mirror tiles etched with galloping horses. The second gallery houses costumes, stage props and candelabra. Proceeds from the not-for-profit museum support scholarships for the performing arts. The museum is wheelchair accessible.

1775 Tropicana Avenue East
Tel: (702) 798 5595. Fax: (702) 798 7386.
Website: www.liberace.com
E-mail: info@liberace.org
Transport: Bus 201.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 1000–1700, Sun 1300–1600.
Admission: US$12 (concessions available).

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park
This decidedly low-key attraction may not have neon signs and an army of one-armed bandits but it does lend a sense of what Las Vegas was like before gambling stole its soul. Located north of Downtown, Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park is the site of the original adobe fort used by the first Mormon settlers in the Las Vegas Valley. Built by missionaries from Salt Lake City in 1885, the fort was abandoned just a year later, due to the harsh conditions. A shed is the only remaining original building but the rest of the site was recently reconstructed. Rangers are on hand to provide interpretation and information.

500 Washington Street East
Tel: (702) 486 3511. Fax: (702) 486 3734.
Website: http://parks.nv.gov/olvmf.htm
Transport: Bus 113.
Opening hours: Daily 0830–1630.
Admission: US$2 (concessions available).

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
There are a select number of walking tours in Las Vegas, although none of them feature the city’s most prominent landmark, the Strip. As for the Strip, visitors need no map or tour to take in the sights. The best way is just to walk along Las Vegas Boulevard and follow the bright flashing lights.

The entire grounds of the University of Nevada Las Vegas has been designated an arboretum. Monthly guided tours are available (organised on request) through the Arboretum Office, 4505 Maryland Parkway (tel: (702) 895 3392). A self-guided tour is available at the Barrick Museum of Natural History on the UNLV campus. The tour is self-paced and can be completed in under an hour. There is no charge. The university’s Xeric garden includes examples of unique plants from arid regions from around the world. Although springtime is the best time to experience the delicate beauty of the desert, many of the species in the garden bloom at different times of the year.

The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, 2400 Moser Drive, Henderson (tel: (702) 566 2939), offers a possible glimpse of more than 200 species of birds, as well as being a serene place in which to stroll or have a picnic. There are mapped trails with observation areas and benches from which to observe the desert wildlife. The Preserve is open daily 0600–1500 (last entry at 1445) and entrance is free. Due to current security concerns, the preserve now has a security gate. Visitors are asked to punch in a code (listed at the gate), and security will open the door.

Bus Tours
Gray Line Las Vegas (tel: (702) 384 1234; website: www.grayline.com) offers a three-and-a-half-hour ‘Neon and Lights’ evening sightseeing tour of Las Vegas for US$39. The tour will pick up passengers at major hotels, starting at 1715, although the main departure time and point is 1830 at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino at Tropicana and Swenson. The tour includes a narrated guide to the Strip and various other renowned landmarks, including a visit to the Special Memory Wedding Chapel, and ends at the Fremont Laser Light Show, Downtown.

Other Tours
A number of companies operate various tours that take in the captivating desert landscape surrounding Las Vegas. Action Tours (tel: (702) 566 7400; website: www.actiontours.com) provides tours to attractions such as the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Red Rock Canyon and also operates river rafting adventures, ATV Quad excursions, horseriding and aerial tours. Prices range from US$55 for a three-hour Hoover Dam tour to US$499 for the one-day whitewater rafting adventure on the Colorado River.

Guaranteed Tours (tel: (702) 369 1000; website: www.guaranteedtours.com) also operates local sightseeing tours to places such as Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, as well as the nearby towns of Mesquite and Laughlin. Tour prices range from US$7.50 for a ten-hour tour of Laughlin to US$599 for a 12-hour whitewater rafting adventure tour on the Colorado River.

Excursions

For a Half Day

Red Rock Canyon: Designated a National Conservation Area in 1990, Red Rock Canyon is a 78,800-hectare (197,000-acre) park located 16km (ten miles) west of Las Vegas. The park provides a scenic drive, hiking trails, rock climbing, bicycling and picnic areas. The defining attraction of Red Rock Canyon is a geological feature known as the Keystone Thrust Fault. This was formed about 65 million years ago, when two of the Earth’s crustal plates collided, forcing a grey limestone plate up and over the younger red one, making for some of the most dramatic scenery in the Mojave desert. Today, Joshua trees add another element to the sublimely coloured sandstone and jagged desert landscape. The Visitors Centre (tel: (702) 363 1921) houses various exhibits and provides guided nature walks. Hiking trails range from easy to moderately strenuous. Travel by car, via Charleston Boulevard, is recommended, as the park features a 21km (13-mile) scenic drive – open from 0700 to dusk, entrance is US$5 per vehicle. Six-hour excursions are available from Gray Line Las Vegas (tel: (702) 384 1234; website: www.grayline.com) for US$49.

Big Bend State Park: Situated 147km (91 miles), less than a 90-minute drive east of Las Vegas, are the sandy shores of Big Bend State Park (tel: (702) 298 1859). Locals come here to boat, camp and take in a picnic lunch. The park is 1.6km (one mile) east of the town of Laughlin, which features year-round festivals as well as several casinos. There is a fee of US$3 to enter the park, which can be reached on the Needles Highway from Laughlin.

For a Whole Day

Hoover Dam & Lake Mead: Located 56km (35 miles) from Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam (tel: (702) 293 8321; website: www.hooverdam.com) is one of the most famous dams in the world. One of America’s many public works projects during the Depression, it is an unusually beautiful representative of the era’s engineering. The dam stretches 380m (1247ft) across the Colorado River, holding back the waters of Lake Mead. Containing 2,486,250 cubic metres (3,250,000 cubic yards) of concrete, its function is primarily a power generator, supplying electricity to Nevada as well as nearby California and Arizona. Visitor tours examine the construction of the dam and explore its hydroelectric generating facilities. Security has recently been considerably increased and visitors may be subject to searches.

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area (tel: (702) 293 8901) is open daily 24 hours and offers sightseeing, sunbathing and a variety of water-oriented activities. Entrance is US$5 per vehicle, for one to five days. The Hoover Dam is open daily 0800–1745 and entrance costs US$10 (including a guided tour, historic film, admission to the exhibit hall and scenic lookout). A car is recommended for visiting the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, both accessible via Highway 93 (parking costs US$3). Alternatively, seven-hour excursions, combining the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, are available from Gray Line Las Vegas (tel: (702) 384 1234; website: www.grayline.com) for US$79.

Grand Canyon: It is possible to reach the Grand Canyon (website: www.thecanyon.com) in a full-day excursion from Las Vegas. Scenic Airlines (tel: (800) 634 6801 or (702) 638 3300; e-mail: res@scenic.com; website: www.scenic.com) offers various tours, including overnight stays and two-day hikes. The ‘Grand Canyon Deluxe’ tour offers a narrated aerial tour of Lake Mead, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Upon arrival at Grand Canyon airport, there is a coach tour through the Grand Canyon National Park (tel: (928) 638 7888; website: www.nps.gov/grca), with plenty of stops for staring at the stunning scenery. The entire trip – including the flight back to Las Vegas, lunch and hotel pick-up and drop-off – takes eight hours and costs US$219. Scenic Airlines also offer a highlights aerial tour, which lasts three hours in total from pick-up to drop-off and costs US$109. This takes in Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Colorado River and the western edge of the Grand Canyon. Other specialised trips to the closer Grand Canyon West Rim take around five hours and include either a trip to an Indian Reservation or a helicopter flight for closer inspection of the Canyon. Entrance to the Grand Canyon is US$20 per vehicle or US$10 per individual. The main park Visitor Centre is located on the South Rim – east of Grand Canyon Village, which is 96.5km (60 miles) north from Interstate 40 at Williams – is open daily 0800–1700.

Zion National Park: Just on the other side of the Nevada Utah border, 251km (156 miles) east of Las Vegas, is the spectacular Zion National Park (tel: (435) 772 3256; website: www.zion.national-park.com). Named by Mormon pioneers, who were awe-struck by the area’s unique temple-like rock formations, Zion is a favourite location for hiking and wildlife viewing. There are several hiking trails but less energetic visitors can experience the park by local shuttle. The Zion Park Lodge (tel: (435) 772 3213; website: www.zionlodge.com) provides comfortable accommodation and has a restaurant on site. The park is open daily 24 hours and there is a US$5 entrance fee, which is waived for guests staying at the lodge. The Zion National Park can be reached in just over two hours from Las Vegas via Highway 15, to Utah SR-9 and Utah SR-17.

Sport

Although Las Vegas prides itself as an entertainment hub, the city has no professional sports teams. That said, there are sporting events that attract thousands of fans. The Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand (tel: (702) 891 7777; website: www.mgmgrand.com) has become one of the venues of choice for boxing matches in America. The University of Nevada Las Vegas is home to the UNLV Rebels football team (website: www.unlvrebels.com), the local favourite in the exceedingly popular college (NCAA) football league. There is also a wide variety of sporting opportunities in Las Vegas for those who want to take part personally. As a resort destination, the city and region is brimming with golf courses. The vast hotel–casino complexes also offer superb fitness facilities – as luxurious and opulent as their restaurants and lounges – although, due to availability, these are sometimes limited to hotel guests.

Tickets to sporting events can be purchased through the concierge of most large hotels, such as the MGM Grand, Four Seasons, Caesars and Bellagio. Alternatively, the venue website can provide ticket information. Visitors are advised to order their tickets with as much advance notice as possible, as events commonly sell out, especially during peak sporting periods.

Fitness centres: Most hotels in Las Vegas offer fitness facilities. The Mirage (tel: (702) 791 7111; website: www.mirage.com) offers fitness and spa facilities – steam sauna, whirlpool, weights, cardiovascular equipment, swimming pool, massages and facials – for US$20 a day. Caesars Palace (tel: (702) 731 7110; website: www.caesars.com) is equipped with steam rooms, sauna, whirlpool, rock climbing, yoga, weights, cardiovascular equipment, massage therapy and a pool and charges US$24 per day.

Golf: With an average of 320 sunny days every year, it is hardly surprising that golf has achieved the popularity it has in Las Vegas. Visitors will find a nine-hole course right on the Strip, at the Callaway Golf Centre, Las Vegas Boulevard South, at Sunset Road (tel: (702) 896 4100), charging US$25 for nine holes. Angel Park Golf Club, 100 Rampart Boulevard South (tel: (702) 254 4653), offers three different courses, one at nine holes and two at 18 holes, charging US$65–140 for 18 holes. Both clubs are open to the public and do not require membership.

Tennis: There is no lack of tennis courts in Las Vegas – many of the larger hotels have courts on site. In some cases, there is no charge for hotel guests to use the courts, while in others, a small fee is charged. The Riviera Hotel and Casino, 2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South (tel: (702) 734 5110; website: www.theriviera.com), provides tennis courts that are open to the public for a nominal fee of US$10. Guests play for free. MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South (tel: (702) 891 3085; website: www.mgmgrand.com), charges US$13–15 for the use of its courts 0800–2000.

Shopping

Although Las Vegas is best known for its casinos, the city has gained increasing popularity for shopping, to the point where this is now a major tourist draw in itself. Visitors can look forward to a wide variety of boutique shopping, featuring major European and American designers, as well as inexpensive factory outlet shopping. There is also the stereotypical memorabilia on hand – such as Elvis outfits, lighters and t-shirts.

Shops are located anywhere tourists might happen to pass with money in their pockets – in other words anywhere in Downtown and on the Strip. As with almost everything, the hotel–casinos spare no expense in their efforts to attract customers. The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes are situated among cobbled walkways that wind through designer boutiques culminating in a replica of St Mark’s Square. The Aladdin offers Desert Passage – a shopping complex based on the North African trade routes that stretched from Spain to the Arabian Sea – featuring cosmetics, men’s and women’s fashion, outdoor gear, gifts and much more. The Bellagio’s Via Bellagio offers upmarket European shops including Moschino, Chanel, Armani, Prada and Herms. Paris Las Vegas features quaint cobblestone walkways rimmed with European and North American speciality stores.

Factory outlet malls are also very popular in Las Vegas, due to the considerable savings they offer on brand-name goods. Caesars Palace Forum has over 100 outlets ranging from fashion shops, such as Gucci and Versace, to gourmet restaurants that include Spago and the Palm. The Belz Factory Outlet World, 7400 Las Vegas Boulevard South, offers over 140 outlets with brand names such as Danskin, Pfaltzgraff and Liz Claiborne. There are a number of department store malls in Las Vegas and the Fashion Show Mall, 3200 Las Vegas Boulevard South, is one of the city’s oldest and most prestigious shopping centres. It has recently undergone a renovation. Its upscale tenants include Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s. The mall also features sidewalk cafs, upscale restaurants and a fashion catwalk for daily fashion shows.

An open-air market takes place weekly 0730–1630 at 3901 Las Vegas Boulevard South, near Nellis Air Force Base. J & R’s Outdoors Swap Meet provides bargain hunters with a muddle of new and used collectibles and antiques. There are three farmer’s markets (tel: (702) 562 CORN/2676) in Las Vegas – Bruce Trent Park on Wednesday 1600–2000 (summer) and 1400–1800 (winter), Colonnade Shopping Plaza on Saturday 0800–1200 (summer) and 0900–1300 (winter) and a new market in Gardens Park, Tuesday 1400–1900.

A non-refundable state sales tax of 7.25% is charged in Nevada. Stores are open seven days a week, normally 1000–2200.

Culture

Culturally speaking, Las Vegas is not exactly the world capital of high-brow art. True, it possesses a fine philharmonic orchestra and a ballet troupe but these do not draw the visitors in nearly the same numbers that popular entertainment does. The city, however, continues to attract some of the biggest names in show business with live theatrical shows, magicians, circus acts and dance. There is one major venue, the UNLV Performing Arts Center, Cottage Grove Street and Maryland Parkway (tel: (702) 895 ARTS/2787; website: http://pac.nevada.edu), which contains various auditoriums, including the Artemus Ham Concert Hall and the Judy Bayley Theatre.

Most major hotels offer concierge services and can order tickets for the more popular cultural events. Visitors can go online to Ticketmaster (website: www.ticketmaster.com) to order and pre-pay for tickets. Events at the West Las Vegas Arts Centre, 947 West Lake Mead (tel: (702) 229 6211), or UNLV can be purchased at the centre itself.

The best place for visitors to go for cultural listing is online. A US event listings website (www.culturefinder.com) provides good information for cultural events in Las Vegas. Three websites (www.latinslasvegas.com, www.blackvegas.com and www.asianlasvegas.com) all host cultural events listings.

Music: The Las Vegas Philharmonic (tel: (702) 895 2787; website: www.lasvegasphilharmonic.com) performs at the Artemus Ham Concert Hall at UNLV Performing Arts Center (see above).

Theatre: As with virtually everything in Las Vegas, the casinos offer the bulk of the stage entertainment. The Luxor (tel: (702) 262 4400; website: www.luxor.com) is home to the Pharaoh’s Theater and the Luxor Theater. The 1200-seat Luxor Theater hosts theatrical productions, while the Pharaoh’s Theater offers a topless revue, as well as comedy acts. The MGM Grand (tel: (702) 891 7777; website: www.mgmgrand.com) is home to the Hollywood Theater, hosting a variety of performers, including Rodney Daingerfield and David Copperfield, and the 1700-seat EFX Theater, which is currently showing EFX Live, which showcases musician Rick Springfield. At the Mirage, the Siegfried and Roy Theater (tel: (702) 792 7777; website: www.themirage.com) has been host to illusionists Siegfried and Roy since 1989, whose act includes rare white lions and white tigers.

The Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3844 Schiff Drive (tel: (702) 362 7996; website: www.lvlt.org), and the Actors’ Repertory Theatre, Summerlin Performing Arts Centre, 1771 Inner Circle Drive (tel: (702) 647 7469; website: http://actorsrep.com) are two of Las Vegas’ newest small theatres. Both put on more serious theatre than the hotel–casinos, be it the classics, modern playwrights or even musicals.

Dance: The Nevada Ballet Theater (tel: (702) 243 2623), founded in 1972, is one of Nevada’s larger cultural institutions and performs many of its productions at the Judy Bayley Theatre at UNLV Performing Arts Center (see above). Many of the revues and touring shows incorporate or are devoted to dance.

Film: Mainstream cinemas in Las Vegas include the United Artists – Showcase Mall, 3769 Las Vegas Boulevard South (tel: (702) 222 FILM/3456) and the Century Orleans 18, 3200 Decatur South (tel: (702) 227 3456). Seating is normally done on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets are sold at the box office on the day of the performance. There are no exclusively arthouse cinemas in Las Vegas, although the Regal Village Square, 9101 West Sarhara Street (tel: (702) 221 2283), features two to three independent films per week.

Las Vegas is almost as famous a location for films as it is for casinos. Popular movies based in the city include Bugsy (1991), about the infamous gangster’s move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and Casino (1995), telling the story of mob-ruled casinos in the 1970s. Leaving Las Vegas (1995) is an emotional story documenting the damage and pain inflicted by alcoholism. The cut-throat and sleazy world of topless revues and Las Vegas nightlife was given an airing in Paul Verhoeven Showgirls (1995). More recently, the ambitious celluloid version of Hunter S Thompson’s cult classic, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), starred Johnny Depp as the seriously spaced-out journalist.

Cultural events: Las Vegas’ growing population has opened the door to new cultural and musical events, with springtime events such as jazz festivals in April and May, a folkdance festival in May and the sixth Mardi Gras set to hit Fremont in April. Of course, there is also America’s national day of Independence, July 4, which is celebrated just as fervently in Las Vegas as anywhere else. Although it is not, strictly speaking, a cultural event, Hunter S Thompson famously reported on the off-road racing in these parts. Las Vegas has become somewhat famous for revving engines, clouds of dust and, of course, arguably the toughest off-road race in America, the BITD (Best in the desert) Nevada 1000. This 1609km (1000-mile) race through the heat and dust of Nevada sets off from Las Vegas on 19 June, returning five days later.

Literary Notes
More than one book has managed to get behind the flash of Las Vegas’ bright lights to explore its deeper, often darker themes. Not surprisingly, numerous mystery and crime novels are set here. Best known among these are Mario Puzo’s The Last Don (1997), which follows a crime family’s move from Las Vegas to Hollywood, and Michael Ventura’s The Death of Frank Sinatra (1998), which weaves a literary web of crime and intrigue in early 1990s Las Vegas. Many of the movies that made Las Vegas so famous began their lives as books. Casino (1995) was based on the Nicholas Pileggi book Casino: Love and Honour in Las Vegas (1995). Leaving Las Vegas (1995), by John O’Brien, was made into the eponymous movie and recounts a dark, sad tale of a suicidal alcoholic’s finding true love with a prostitute. Perhaps the most influential literary work associated with Las Vegas is Hunter S Thompson’s pop-culture classic, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). The bizarre, true-life tale follows the journalist Thomson and his attorney’s drug-addled journey through Nevada.

Nightlife

Nightlife is Las Vegas’ best-known pastime. The casinos and hotels may be open by day but only under the cover of night does the city’s burst of lights set the atmosphere buzzing. Casinos, restaurants and bars are packed with tourists from all over the world, most in a friendly and genial spirit. Casino hotels tend to house not only the best-known stage shows but also all the late-night bars, nightclubs and live music. Once again, the city is split between the Strip and Downtown, both of which offer an overwhelming assortment of evening activities. Downtown offers smaller, sometimes more charismatic, venues, while the enormous hotel complexes of the Strip offer a wide variety of entertainment options at each individual complex. Las Vegas is a 24-hour city. Alcohol can be bought at any time of day or night, in restaurants, bars and shops. The legal drinking age is 21 years. Dress at most casinos is casual, however, some lounges do impose a dress code. Mixed drinks generally cost between US$4.50 and US$8, although they are usually on the house while gambling. Drinks that come in a souvenir glass may cost more.

Listing of virtually every kind of entertainment that Las Vegas has to offer can be found online (website: http://lvindex.com/rolodex.htm). Another good website (www.vegas.com/nightclubs) has a selection of the more popular nightclubs in the city, along with a listing of upcoming events.

Bars: All night-time entertainment happens within the hotel–casino complexes. Most bars in Las Vegas feature such extravagant entertainment that they rival the largest nightclubs of other cities. Nevertheless, in Las Vegas, they are simply bars when compared to the lavish shows put on in the theatres and clubs there. The Bellagio’s Baccarat Bar, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, serves luxurious cocktails against a backdrop of live piano music, while the Petrossian Bar, also at the Bellagio, aims to take visitors back to pre-Revolutionary Russia and the days of ‘fantasy and indulgence’, serving champagne, tea and caviar. The Bar at Times Square, New York-New York Hotel and Casino, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, aims to recreate the feel of an old New York city pub with polished wood floors and nightly entertainment.

Casinos: To gamble, visitors must be at least 21 years old and have proof of age and identity in the form of a driver’s licence, passport or other photo identification. Most casinos in Las Vegas do not impose a dress code, although shoes and shirts are required. Some casinos worth visiting (not mentioned in the Key Attractions section) include the Arabian themed Aladdin Resort and Casino, 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South, and Excalibur, 3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South, a medieval-inspired castle. The slightly dingy but intimate Gold Spike, 400 Ogden Avenue East, offers low table limit and penny slots, giving a taste of what the city was like in the 1970s. The Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont Street East, has been a fixture of Downtown since 1946, and features the largest gold nugget in the world, weighing in at 23 kilograms (61 pounds). New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, is a recreation of New York, while Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South, aims to import a touch of European class and sophistication.

Clubs: A number of state-of-the-art clubs are offered by the major hotel–casinos. The minimum age for entry is usually 21 years and a dress code is also often in place. One of the best-known clubs is yet another Las Vegas recreation of somewhere else – Studio 54, MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South. Modelled on the legendary New York nightclub of the 1970s, Studio 54 features live dancers, dance music and a collection of photographs taken at the original club. The Luxor’s Egyptian-themed club is called Ra, 3900 Las Vegas Boulevard South, where visitors are entertained by touring DJs who play a variety of dance music. It was voted by Las Vegas Weekly in 2002 as ‘easily the best club in Las Vegas.’ It also tends to have long queues, so visitors are encouraged to arrive early.

Live music: Live music is another one of Las Vegas’ legendary forms of entertainment – the city is the former home to superstars like Sammy Davis Junior, Frank Sinatra and Liberace. The Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, Aladdin Casino, 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South, headlines major touring rock and popular acts, while the Blue Note Jazz Club, also at the Aladdin Casino, features jazz acts. The Orleans Showroom, The Orleans Hotel and Casino, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue, has hosted touring pop acts such as Willie Nelson, Neil Sedaka and Jerry Lewis.

City Statistics

Location: Nevada, USA.
Country dialling code: 1.
Population: 503,188 (city); 1,485,855 (Clark County).
Ethnic mix for State of Nevada: 65.4% white, 20.7% Hispanic, 6.9% black, 5.7% Asian/Pacific Islander, 1.3% other.
Religion: 32% Catholic, 24% Protestant, 19% none, 14% other, 7% Mormon, 4% Jewish.
Time zone: GMT - 8 (GMT- 7 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temp: 8C (46F).
Average July temp: 34C (94F).
Annual rainfall: 107mm (4.2 inches).

Special Events

Henderson Farmer’s Market, every Thurs throughout the year, Henderson
Laughlin Desert Challenge, off-road competitions, mid-Jan, Laughlin
Make a Wish Foundation 5K Run, late Jan, throughout the city
Las Vegas International Marathon (website: www.lvmarathon.com), 30 Jan, Jean, State Road 604 to Sunset Park
Women’s Hockey Classic (website: www.hockeytourney.com), early Feb, various hotel venues
Sam’s Town 300 – NASCAR Busch Series, automobile race (website: www.lvms.com), early Mar, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Desert Classic – Senior Golf Tournament, mid-Mar, Mirage
Monster Jam Truck Finals, late Mar, Sam Boyd Stadium
Fremont Street Mardi Gras , late Apr, Fremont Street
Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz Festival (website: www.mspjazz.com), late Apr, Desert Breeze Park
Gem and Jewellery Trade Show (website: www.glda.com/vegas.html), early June, Mirage
Jazz Festival, early June, live jazz bands from all over the country congregate under the Fremont Street aracade for a three day festival
Cinevegas Film Festival, June 11-19th, Palms Casino Resort
Fourth of July celebrations (American Day of Independence), 4 Jul, various venues
Annual Summer Classic, basketball tournament, week over end Jul to early Aug, various venues
Las Vegas Music Festival, Aug, various venues
Bikefest and Music Experience (website: www.lasvegasbikefest.com), mid-Sep, Lady Luck Hotel and Casino
Best in the Desert, Sep, a 300 mile desert and mountain race from Las Vegas to Reno, over a three-day period, in the longest off-road race in the country.Laughlin River Flight, hot air balloon competition, Oct, Laughlin
Magical Forest, Christmas decorations go up, Nov–Dec, Opportunity Village
Billboard Music Awards, Dec, MGM Grand
Downtown Hoedown, American country music experience, Dec, Fremont Hotel and Casino, Downtown
National Finals Rodeo (website: http://nfr-rodeo.com), Dec, Thomas and Mack Centre
Parade of Lights, annual holiday pageant of boats (website: http://lmboa.tripod.com), 1 Dec, Lake Mead Marina, Boulder City
Fremont Street Experience New Year’s Eve Party, 31 Dec, Fremont Hotel and Casino

Cost of Living

One-litre bottle of mineral water: US$1.90
33cl bottle of beer: US$2
Financial Times newspaper: US$4.50
36-exposure colour film: US$6.50
City-centre bus ticket: US$1.25
Adult football ticket: US$45–125
Three-course meal with wine/beer: US$25

1 American Dollar (US$1) = 0.52; C$1.25; A$1.28; 0.77
Currency conversion rates as of May 2005