Las Vegas!!! When you hear Las Vegas, you start imagining yourself in the stylishly luxurious casinos, grandeur hotels, live shows, attractive exhibits, fancy streets of colorful lights, and of course, the crowd. Yes, Las Vegas looks surreal and seems like a fictional glamorous movie setting. Las Vegas is a large, strangely superficial glamorous city, in the state of Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally eminent major resort city, known primarily for its lavish mega hotels and casinos, live shows, shopping malls, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The famous city sits in the middle of the desert surrounded by distinct desert mountains. The city creates an atmosphere of fantasy where you can travel around the world famous cities of New York, Venice, Paris, ancient Egypt, and medieval England in just one night. The colorful and vibrant valley of Las Vegas serves as the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center for the state of Nevada.
Click on the links below to see the glory of Las Vegas city. These photos are from our visit to Las Vegas during the last week of November 2011.
Quick Facts and Tips
- Best time to Visit: March to May and September to November
- March to May: Comfortable daily temperature
- September to November: Comfortable day temperatures, but cooler evenings
- June to August: Off season but extremely hot
- Fly Into: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
- Clothing: Feel free to dress casually. Jeans, slacks, blouses, skirts, dresses, button down shirts, casual t-shirts or tees, tank tops, shorts, light jackets or blazers, sunglasses, sunscreens, hats, nice footwears and comfortable walking shoes, few light layers might needed as temperatures cool significantly once the sun goes down.
- Midweek stays are almost always more affordable when compared to weekends and holidays.
- Rental cars are not needed in Vegas unless planning for other road trips to nearby attractions. Parking is expensive and it is no longer free in many casino-hotels.
- Stay on the Strip to save time, effort and of course for easy access to Las Vegas attractions.
- Be sure to check the resort fee at any hotels you book.
- Guests under 21 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian inside the casinos.
- Highly recommend booking in advance for popular shows.
- Las Vegas monorail is the best way to get around the Strip which runs from MGM grand to Sahara across the street of Stratosphere.
- Make a list of free as well as ticketed shows of your interest, show timings and locations. Plan wisely so that you can save time, money and not miss popular shows.
- Bring cash, you may need it for tipping.
- Food and beverages are very expensive inside the casio-hotels. Buying some essential stuff in nearby grocery stores will definitely save you more money.
- Carry water, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and a light jacket to cover up inside the casinos in case feeling cold
- Best things to do: FREE
- Explore the Strip: The best way to experience Las Vegas is by walking down the famous Strip. Stretching approximately four miles from Mandalay Bay at the south end to the Stratosphere at the north, the Strip is filled with iconic casinos, attractions, and dazzling lights. Visiting at night is especially magical, when the neon signs and fountains are at their most vibrant. Walking the entire distance with stops to enjoy attractions can take several hours, so plan to allow extra time. Don’t forget comfortable shoes suited to the season to fully enjoy your stroll through this quintessential Las Vegas experience.
- Enjoy the Bellagio Fountains Show at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. This iconic performance features 200-foot-tall fountains choreographed to mesmerizing music and dazzling lights. Be sure to check showtimes at the hotel. Bellagio also offers the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, showcasing vibrant, seasonal displays of plants, flowers, and trees.
Official site: Bellagio Hotel & Casino - Walk around Fremont Street: Experience a different side of Las Vegas by strolling under the canopy of vibrant LED lights, which create ever-changing colors and designs above. Fremont Street, located in Old Downtown Las Vegas, is a pedestrian-only area featuring live music, visual shows, street performances, and more.
More info: Fremont Street Experience. - Get thrilled with the Volcano Show at the The Mirage Hotel & Casino. Watch flames dance to the music, feel the heat, and hear the loud eruptions accompanied by a pulsating soundtrack. The volcano sculpture in front of The Mirage erupts nightly, shooting flames up to 12 feet high. The best viewing spot is directly in front of the hotel, and the show is free. Be sure to check showtimes on-site. Official site: The Mirage Hotel & Casino.
- See the Las Vegas Sign and photograph yourself with it for a memorable souvenir. The fabulous sign is located at 5200 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89119. More info: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign.
- Get amazed by the Egyptian-themed Luxor: Take a stroll around the pyramid-shaped Luxor Hotel & Casino at the far southwest end of the Strip. The hotel features a striking Egyptian theme, highlighted by its iconic Sphinx standing prominently at the entrance. A powerful light beam shoots from the top of the pyramid and can be seen from almost anywhere in Las Vegas. Official site: Luxor Hotel & Casino.
- Enjoy the beautiful views of the medieval-themed Excalibur Hotel & Casino. This castle-inspired resort features colorful turrets and whimsical architecture that make it stand out on the Strip. Inside, you’ll find a lively arcade and family-friendly 4D attractions perfect for all ages. Official site: Excalibur Hotel & Casino.
- Enjoy the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. This serene habitat is home to a beautiful flock of Chilean flamingos, along with a variety of birds including pheasants, ducks, and swans. It’s a peaceful escape right in the heart of the Strip. Official site: Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
- Enjoy the Fall of Atlantis fountain show at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This free show brings the story of the Kingdom of Atlantis to life with dramatic animatronics, fire and water effects, and nine-foot-tall talking statues. Performances run hourly—check on-site for the latest showtimes. More info: Fall of Atlantis Show.
- Have fun with jugglers, unicyclists, and acrobats at the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino. These lively performances and daring stunts high above the casino floor are both entertaining and completely free. Check showtimes on-site or on the official website. Official site: Circus Circus Hotel & Casino.
- More free attractions: Free Attractions in Las Vegas
- Best Things to do: NOT FREE
- Take a gondola ride at the The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. This traditional gondola experience makes you feel like you’re in Venice, Italy, complete with an Italian serenade as you float through the resort’s indoor or outdoor canals at the Grand Canal Shoppes. Tickets are available at the gondola booth on-site. Official site: The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
- Experience the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. This 460-foot-high, half-scale replica of the Paris landmark lets you reach the observation deck for breathtaking views of Las Vegas and excellent photo opportunities. Tickets for the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck can be purchased at Paris Las Vegas. Official site: Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
- Take a ride on the Big Apple Roller Coaster at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. This thrilling coaster winds around the resort, offering stunning views designed to resemble New York City’s skyline, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
Official site: New York-New York Hotel & Casino. - Explore the Aquarium and Beach at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay features a fascinating collection of marine life, including sharks, rays, fish, reptiles, green sea turtles, marine invertebrates, and even a Komodo dragon. It’s a must-see attraction at the southwest end of the Strip, near the Luxor.
Official site: Shark Reef Aquarium. - Explore Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the The Mirage Hotel & Casino. The Dolphin Habitat features trained dolphins swimming in 2.5-million-gallon pools, while the Secret Garden is home to a variety of exotic animals, including white lions and tigers.
Official site: The Mirage Hotel & Casino. - Visit the Stratosphere Tower, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the USA. Rising 350 meters, its observation deck offers spectacular 360-degree views of Las Vegas and the surrounding valley. For thrill-seekers, the tower also features exciting rides that provide an unforgettable experience high above the Strip.
Official site: Stratosphere Tower. - Enjoy unique and incredible Cirque du Soleil shows at The Mirage Hotel & Casino, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Bellagio Hotel & Casino, or Treasure Island Hotel & Casino. Tickets are highly recommended to be booked in advance, and showtimes should be checked with each hotel.
More attractions: Las Vegas Strip Attractions. - Nearby Attractions
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