Dear Las Vegas,I have watch you in many television shows and movies. Every time I saw you, you called me to visit and enjoy what you have to offer. Every time I heard about you from family and friends, I craved to visit you even…Read More

Dear Las Vegas,
I have watch you in many television shows and movies. Every time I saw you, you called me to visit and enjoy what you have to offer. Every time I heard about you from family and friends, I craved to visit you even more. When I finally got to visit you with my wife, my eyes were open to a world I have never seen before.

Las Vegas At Night- The best time to come to Las Vegas is at night. A person can see that on television or movies; however, these viewings do not do Las Vegas justice. One has to come visit to experience the atmosphere that is Las Vegas. To me, Las Vegas is a "magical jungle" consisting of heavenly, neon lights and sublime, giant buildings that will make you feel like an ant. The energy was shocking and lively- It made me wonder how anyone could get any sleep at night? There was a piece of everything for everyone: If you wanted to experience Paris, Las Vegas had it, if you wanted to experience New York, Las Vegas had it, if you even wanted to eat a well-built, neon flashing Hooters, Las Vegas had it. It is no wonder that Las Vegas is considered Disney World for adults.

Tip: When driving to the Vegas strip, know where you are going to park. Driving in Vegas can get pretty frustrating, so if you have never been to Vegas, get a map of Vegas and plot all the parking lots.

Zumanity de Cirque du Soleil- There are many Cirque du Soeil shows, but I decided to see this show. Just the name Zumanity is such a powerful title for a show that I had to go watch.

Tip: Zumanity is a Cirque du Soleil show that children should not see and is highly recommended for adults only. C'est vrai.

With a delicious alcohol drink in my hand watching the show, I was amazed about how great the show was. The power to captivate me was stunning. The show is highly sexual, boarding between a Broadway and a strip club show. Even though Zumanity is sexual, the show's stunts and dancing is what took over for my enjoyment of the show. The beautiful display of mixture of dancing and stunts is what made me feel the energy of the show. I would have pictures to show, but sadly, was not allowed to take pictures during the performance.

Las Vegas Daytime- Las Vegas at night versus at day is different like, well... night and day. After all the partying, gambling, and nighttime activities, Vegas is a zombie town during the daytime. After checking out of my hotel, my wife and I decided to get breakfast. Fortunate for us, we found a Dunkin Donut, which we HIGHLY love. We got our meal and left to go home.

Even though I visited you for just one day, I loved every second I visited you. Las Vegas, you made me a virgin no more. I plan to return to you another day.

With Love,
A Las Vegas LoverClose

Excitement, Action & Fun: The 15th Annual Laughlin River Stampede PRCA RodeoWhen Roy Honeycutt talked about the rodeo at the breakfast meeting of the Laughlin Rotary Club, he got emotional. His voice quivered and several times he swiped a tear from his eye.…Read More

Excitement, Action & Fun:
The 15th Annual Laughlin River Stampede PRCA Rodeo

When Roy Honeycutt talked about the rodeo at the breakfast meeting of the Laughlin Rotary Club, he got emotional. His voice quivered and several times he swiped a tear from his eye. He spoke of passion for the horses and of honor for a rodeo friend who passed away. He mentioned with pride his family, especially a young grandchild who said the Pledge of Allegiance at a recent rodeo opening ceremony. He praised his wife Virginia for her hard work and support. He repeatedly apologized for his emotional display, but no apology was needed. Roy spoke like a man who deeply loves his family, his animals, and rodeo.

Rotary invited Roy to their meeting to talk about Laughlin’s four day event, the 15th Annual Laughlin River Stampede PRCA Rodeo. Roy’s family business, Honeycutt Rodeo Inc., produces the Laughlin event.

When Roy asked for questions, my hand shot up along with the hand of a man seated next to me. Roy apologized again, "Sorry, Terry," he addressed the man to my left. Then pointing at me, he grinned, "She’s prettier than you." He addressed me, "What’s your question?"

"I just want to go to your rodeo. Where are the rodeo grounds and where do I get tickets?" I asked.

"You will be my guest in the VIP tent," answered Roy surprising me with his reply.

With grateful and exuberant appreciation, I said, "Thank you!"

I restrained my happy dance until got back to the Prevost coach and made the announcement to Ed, "We have tickets to Saturday’s rodeo! This is going to be fun!"

On Saturday before entering the rodeo gate, Ed and I wandered around the show grounds. We met Travis Bounds, a polite young man who we’d later watch compete in team roping. Rodeo comes natural to Travis. He told us he’d been on horses and roping calves throughout his young lifetime. He learned about rodeo from his Dad who competed – competed Travis said in rodeo that is until family responsibilities like birth of Travis’ sister came along. Travis told us he felt especially grateful to his sponsor Western Pump & Dredge in Grand Junction, Colorado. Without a generous sponsor, Travis explained he’d be hard pressed to cover expenses – the entrance fees, fuel for his truck to haul his trailer to events, his meals, and feed for the horses. He estimated his costs to be sometimes as high as $200 a day. We noticed a bale of alfalfa mounted with a mock head of a calf; Travis practices his roping on this model. He gave us a demonstration just for fun. His lasso easily landed on the mark.

Inside the gate, we found the white VIP tent and Roy Honeycutt. Although he appeared busy with last minute details of the rodeo, he broke away to give us a wholehearted welcome. "Everyone has to have a rodeo hot dog," he encouraged us to grab a plate and enjoy the show.

We had barely taken our seats in the VIP stands when we heard a gunshot. A cowboy on his horse burst into the arena. Then the roar of hooves pounding the dirt created a thunderous sound. More than an dozen horses stampeded through the arena. "Wow," I said aloud. "What an exciting opening!"

The cowboy introduced us to the stars of the show – the herd of horses still moving in clusters around him. Then, he said something I’d never heard at a rodeo. He addressed the claim by some that rodeo animals are mistreated. He told us it would be foolish to mistreat rodeo horses. They are expensive. They get good nourishment. They perform minimal amounts of time, much less time than most people in the stands work in a week. And, the horses receive regular veterinary care. He affirmed that the animals get high quality care. What a great message to share!
Now, let me be a myth buster too. I like rodeo for more reasons than just seeing cowboys in Levi jeans, Justin Boots, and a Stetson Hat. I like the excitement of watching the lassos fly and seeing a steer wrestled to the ground. I like screaming , "Go, go, go" as the young ladies whip around the Coors barrels and finish seconds apart in the barrel races. I like to laugh at the rodeo clowns who mock the crowd and joke with the announcer. And, I like the thrill of watching the bareback riders and bull riders flop like rag dolls for the full 8 seconds then worry as they release themselves to get whisked away by a rider or tussled on the ground. Fast action, danger, thrills and cheers – that’s what rodeo is about for me.

So what set the Laughlin Rodeo apart from the Houston Livestock & Rodeo Show or the Mesquite Rodeo? First, I thought the announcers rallied the crowd to welcome each contestant. They commanded cheers for each success. And, the announcers did well in handling the rodeo performers who suffered penalties or a poor performance. They encouraged applause and even said something like "no man leaves disappointed." That is good sportsmanship. Second, I believe that the bareback riders and bull riders put on a good show. They hung on to the bucking animals for more than a blink of an eye. I’ve been to other rodeos where only a few fellows ride the full 8 seconds. We were not disappointed in Laughlin. And third, we witnessed the unique, whip-cracking performance by the John Payne, the One Armed Bandit. With his extraordinary cowboy skills, he rounded up two buffalo and led them up a ramp atop his animal trailer. His amazing act has been acclaimed as the PRCA Specialty Act of the Year eight times. We’ll acclaim his talent too!

We left the rodeo energized by all the action and fun entertainment. Roy Honeycutt sure knows how to put on a show!

The Laughlin River Stampede was held March 26 -29.
It is one of the PRCA’s biggest rodeos with more than $200,000 in prize money for the
top cowboys and cowgirls in competition.
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This is our third trip to Vegas. Obviously we like the place. This trip served as a decompression chamber between the slow pace and warm temperatures of Maui and the frantic normal pace of home and its snow and icy weather. We had three goals…Read More

This is our third trip to Vegas. Obviously we like the place. This trip served as a decompression chamber between the slow pace and warm temperatures of Maui and the frantic normal pace of home and its snow and icy weather. We had three goals in Vegas, adjust to the time zone change, eat well and play the slots. With the prodding of my locally based nephew and the hotel concierge we managed to find a few other things to do, too. (For information about the foodie places check out my journal "Vegas Victuals".) We enjoy the glitz and large than life aspect of Vegas. What a contrast from the mellow Maui glow we had. And what a contrast from the Iowa landscape we would return to which was coated in whites and grays.

We relied on the nephew, taxi drivers and shuttles for transportation. Of course we hoofed it a little. Our timeshare was a short block from the Miracle Mile entrance to Planet Hollywood, an easy walk in 85-degree weather. That’s right they were having a November heat wave, so our plans to gradually adjust to temperature change from Maui to Iowa were dashed.

During our visit Las Vegas was suffering from a sudden halt to their building boom. The landscape was studded with construction cranes. Unfortunately a lot of them were inactive. It left a strange sci-fi ghost town feel to the city. Casinos suffered from a decline in tourism. We did notice that most of the gambling action was at the slots. Rows and rows of gaming tables sat empty. Things picked up a little on Friday, but the weekdays were dead. We were super cautious about spending this trip due to the recent upheavals in the economy. I did little shopping and we decided to not go to any shows. Ticket prices have gotten outrageous compared to similar shows at home. My apologies to Vegas for not single handedly spurring their economy. I know Vegas will adapt/survive and we look forward to a return visit.
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Great as the time share is, you don’t want to spend the whole week in your room. You need to do The Strip.Some of the places on The Strip are legends. Some are new, and their history is yet to be made.…Read More

Great as the time share is, you don’t want to spend the whole week in your room. You need to do The Strip.

Some of the places on The Strip are legends. Some are new, and their history is yet to be made. Some have passed from history with progress and changing times. It’s about three miles from the north end of The Strip to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the south end. A stroll the length of The Strip takes it all in and also makes for a good work out.

Any visitor will need to stop by the Riviera and reflect on the legion of personalities who graced this landmark for fifty years. Stop by the lobby and follow the gallery of entertainment giants pictured on the wall. Times have since moved on, and many of these names are no more. Follow The Strip further south where development continues and newcomers are making their own names.

Demolition and reconstruction are taking place to the north, where the Las Vegas Strip made its history. Further south the street enters the twenty-first century with technology of the new millennium and a higher level of glitz. Stories-tall video displays advertise merchandise and entertainment. Erotica is a constant appeal, and the electronic billboards push the constraints of social acceptability.

It’s not to say The Strip is not family friendly. Take the kiddos to see the Treasure Island show. Getting a view there requires staking out a spot on the sidewalk in advance. The water shows in front of the Bellagio are a delight for the entire family. There is a new show every fifteen minutes during the evenings, with a seemingly endless variation of themes.

Maybe you don’t want to take the young ones to M&M’s World. As the name suggests, it’s 28,000 square feet of the good stuff stacked four stories high. Besides the sweets, there’s an encyclopedia of M&M merchandise, including cups, stuffed toys, clothing, and even a race car. One room has a wall lined with hoppers to dispense 28 colors of M&Ms. Bring a suitcase and load up.

During the day, when the lights on the strip have dimmed, wander over to the Sahara and check out the roller coaster that shoots out of the building and takes some spectacular loops before retracing its path. Lay off the M&Ms before you climb aboard.Close

People are always consulting me before their Vegas trip for advice on what to do, where to stay, etc. Here’s my greatest hits as far as general Vegas tips go.Stay on the Strip. Not to take anything away from the Hard Rock, Rio or Palms,…Read More

People are always consulting me before their Vegas trip for advice on what to do, where to stay, etc. Here’s my greatest hits as far as general Vegas tips go.

Stay on the Strip. Not to take anything away from the Hard Rock, Rio or Palms, but on your first (or any) trip to Vegas, you want to be in the middle of the action. The action is on the Strip. Stay there.

Take lots of ones, fives and tens. It will help you make your money last longer. If you’re putting big bills in the machines, you’re going to lose the money faster. If your $10 runs out and you’re losing, you’re less likely to put that next $10 in. Plus, you’ll need the small bills for taxi rides (which are almost always odd numbered fares, like $21, or $11, or $7.) The ones you’ll need for tipping the waitresses for bringing your free drinks, or the bellmen who get your cabs.

Take enough cash for your entire stay. ATMs on the Strip are notorious for their high fees for withdrawing money. Not only will you get slapped with a fee from your bank, because none of the machines are affiliated with any major bank, you’ll get hit with the ATM surcharge. I think $6 in fees to withdraw your own money is insane. I’ve seen the fees as high as $8.

Take advantage of the free drinks. Why anyone would pay $12 for a cocktail at a bar when they could get free drinks (that only cost a $1 tip to the waitress) while they’re already doing what they’re doing (gambling) I’ll never know. Eh, they may be watered down, but you can get a nice buzz going so you’ll pay less when you head out for the nightlife.

Play the penny slots. There’s a whole journal about this here, but I’ll say it again. Play the penny slots. They’re more fun, the money lasts longer, etc.

Eat at the Paris Buffet. read the journal entries if you don’t believe me.

ALWAYS REQUEST A STRIP VIEW in your hotel. I’m amazed at how many people just take their keys and walk away like zombies. All you have to do in most cases is ask. If they don’t have any available, or they want to charge you like idiots, then you’ve lost nothing (the only time THAT will happen in Vegas.) I have requested a Strip view on every trip and only not gotten it once, and in that case, they bumped me to a pool view.

Don’t walk until you drop. Everything in Vegas is on a huge scale, and everything looks closer than it actually is. You can stand at Mandalay Bay, and it looks like NY, NY is right THERE! So you think "we’ll walk and save the cab money." Thirty minutes later you’re still walking. Carrot Top has a joke about this in his act, saying it’s like someone is moving the hotel away from you to be cruel. Save your feet for walking the expansive hotel complexes. Take a cab. Trust me.

Wear comfortable shoes. If you’re not going to listen to me about not walking, at least bring comfortable shoes. I see chicks all the time carrying their high heels and walking barefoot on the sidewalks. Ewww! And I can’t tell you how many times I hear people talking about their blisters.

Play table games on Freemont Street. Cheaper minimums. ‘Nuf said.

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Play blackjack. Let’s get this straight, all the odds on all the games play in the house’s favor, otherwise, there wouldn’t be much of a business in casinos, right? However, blackjack is one of those few Vegas card games that, if you play by the…Read More

Play blackjack. Let’s get this straight, all the odds on all the games play in the house’s favor, otherwise, there wouldn’t be much of a business in casinos, right? However, blackjack is one of those few Vegas card games that, if you play by the mathematics and the general common sense of it all, the house holds less of an advantage. My trick is to NEVER play blackjack on the Strip. Why would you play $15 a hand on the Strip when you could play $3 and $5 hands on Freemont Street. Plus, the dealers are a little more "by the business" on the Strip, and the dealers on Freemont Street – and the pit bosses – will look at your hand and tell you how to play it. Binions is my favorite for blackjack, and two visits in a row we’ve had the same great dealer, Terry.

Play penny slots. Serious gamblers will laugh at my suggestion to play penny slots, but there are a lot of non-serious gamblers that will agree with me. You know you’re going to leave with a wallet that’s a lot lighter than when you came, but you might as well make your money last as long as you can. I also find that penny slots offer the biggest entertainment value. I see people on those 7-7-7 slots that look bored out of their minds. Penny slots offer bonus games, fun interaction, and themes that most people can identify with, like the following.

Elvis Multi-strike video slot. This game is the
most fun of any I’ve ever played. If you win a line
on the first level, you get a free spin on the second
level. If you win on the second level, you get a free
spin on the third. There are more chances to win
bonuses, and the bonus games usually involve
Elvis music – how can you go wrong with that? I
put $20 in one of these penny slots and walked
away 15 minutes later with an extra $100 in my
pocket. However, Jim didn’t win the big money,
but he made his money last a long time, and had
fun doing it.

Star Wars video slots. I’ve played this game
every visit for the last four visits. When you hear
the sounds of light sabers swishing and R2D2
clicking, it’s hard not to get drawn in. When you
play the Death Star Bonus, it’s just like the Force
is with you!

The Wizard of Oz. This was a new one for
me this year. However, when Glenda the good
witch appears on screen for no apparent reason to
give you some Wilds, you’re like "There’s no place
like Vegas!" Hit the Emerald City bonus, and you’re
whisked away to chose emeralds for bonus points.
Or, if you hit the winged monkey bonus (those
boogers always scared me) the monkeys will come
rip your icons away and replace them with wilds,
helping you add up the money.

Alfred Hitchcock. This game lives up to its
namesake, as it scares the heck out of everyone
when Hitchcock appears to give you a bonus.
Perhaps it’s popcorn (keep it coming! The more
popcorn, the more points) or maybe it’s a candy
bonus or a soda bonus. Either way, when he pops
up in the corner of the screen with that music, it
makes you nearly jump out of your chair.

Craps. Last trip to Vegas, we wanted to try our hand at craps, but even after studying online we were too chicken. This year, there was a free table and a $3 minimum, a perfect opportunity to learn. There are more ways to bet this game than enough, and most are sucker bets. But betting the odds can help you add up fast, and throwing the dice makes for loads of fun. You’re going to lose, but at least you’ll have a ball doing it.

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Like everything else in Vegas, Christmas is BIG. It’s everywhere during the month of December, and it’s kind of a unique holiday experience. I read that Las Vegas is the top Christmas destination in the U.S. and having now been there during the holiday season,…Read More

Like everything else in Vegas, Christmas is BIG. It’s everywhere during the month of December, and it’s kind of a unique holiday experience. I read that Las Vegas is the top Christmas destination in the U.S. and having now been there during the holiday season, I can see why.

You see, in Vegas, they don’t do just a Christmas tree, they do the BIGGEST, BEST, MOST SPARKLY Christmas tree. They don’t do Santa, they do Elvis Santa. They don’t do snow, well, actually, this year they did do snow. We had flurries one day we were there, and on the day we flew out, a record snow storm blew in behind us. See?! Even snow in Vegas, when they get it, they go all out. And if they didn’t get any snow, the Bellagio was prepared, they made their own flakes to fall.

Speaking of the Bellagio, I think that hotel did the best job of presenting a Vegas Christmas. The beautiful dancing fountains outside pushed Celine and Cher off of the music list and instead danced to Christmas tunes, and I think put on some of their best shows ever (and I’ve seen a few now.) The Bellagio garden surely decked the halls by putting out its Christmas finest. There was a monster wreath that you could walk through, ginormous snowmen with falling fake snow, a rocking horse that was big enough to eat the passersby, reindeer flying through the sky, and, oh yeah, one heck of a Christmas tree surrounded by poinsettias. In the hallways and the lobby of the hotel, there were more Christmas decorations. There were toy soldiers (that were larger-than-life-sized) and Christmas candy hanging from the ceiling and stacks of even more larger-than-life-sized presents that were so sparkly that you could see your reflection in them.

But Bellagio didn’t corner the Vegas Christmas market. Every hotel lobby had monstrous-sized garland and bows and wreaths just hanging around. The chocolate shops had chocolate Santas that would take a week to eat just a foot. The pastry shops had gingerbread houses that you could live in, but probably then not want to chow down on. The brand-new Palazzo hotel had a water fountain filled with real cranberries floating on the water, and golden, glittery pinecones as ornaments. The Wynn hotel had lighted trees at the entrance like a winter wonderland.

Freemont Street was not to be outdone, either. Right next to the giant neon cowboy and cowgirl there was a Christmas tree that almost touched the lights from the canopy. Christmas music bounced off the walkway walls as we bounced from casino to casino to find the perfect slot machine.

The Freemont Street Experience light show also had a little holiday show that followed its regularly scheduled program. Alas, moron that I am, I thought I videoed it but had the stupid camera turned off. However, it was a delight to see the giant snowmen and giant candy canes dance on the ceiling, followed by, of course, a giant Santa.

Christmas was definitely in the air, the food, the water and the décor. Vegas is all about going big!

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Even for the heartiest gamblers, Vegas can get to be a bit too much. All the neon and noise seem to pound in your head. So, I recommend day trips to Vegas visitors, just to get out into the great Southwest and let your lungs…Read More

Even for the heartiest gamblers, Vegas can get to be a bit too much. All the neon and noise seem to pound in your head. So, I recommend day trips to Vegas visitors, just to get out into the great Southwest and let your lungs recover from cigarette smoke overload.

There are a few obvious opportunities, and a few not so obvious ones. Here is my list of best day trips from Las Vegas.

The Grand Canyon – This is the pretty obvious choice for number one. If you ever have the chance to see one of the wonders of the world, take it and grab hold of it as tight as you can. Standing on the edge of the great chasm in the earth that is the Grand Canyon is an experience in awe. My first glance made my hair stand up on the back of my neck and gave me cold chills – and not just from the cool January wind that was blowing. No picture you could ever take would do the Grand Canyon justice, and no picture could ever capture its expanse and its well, grand-ness. I’ve visited both the South Rim, on a 5-hour bus tour, and the West Rim, by rental car. The Skywalk at the West Rim is quite the experience, albeit a pricy one, but the Canyon view is just as spectacular from either vantage point. Often, tours offer a stop at Hoover Dam along with this trip, but for me, driving over it and stopping for photos was enough for me.

Red Rock Canyon – If it weren’t for the grand-ness of the Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon might be number one. Red Rock is much more intimate, much more accessible (only a half-hour drive from Vegas) and much more interactive. You don’t seem so scared to reach out and touch it, where as with the Grand Canyon, you’re almost scared to muss it up – or fall in. Red rock’s 13-mile scenic drive features hiking trails, beautiful scenery and red rocks. It’s one of my favorite day trips that I’ve taken.

Death Valley – The closest point in Death Valley National Park is about a two-hour drive from Las Vegas. The sights and views in Death Valley are akin to walking on the moon. In the summer, the temperatures are almost unbearable and restrictive to visiting Death Valley. It’s also too hot to be in Vegas, so if you’re visiting Las Vegas in the more comfortable months, consider a visit to Death Valley. Highlights are Badwater Basin – the lowest sea level point in North America, and the salt formations at Devil’s Golf Course.

Area 51 – If the thought of driving to the middle of nowhere to see something that doesn’t exist excites you, as it did me, than you should rent a 4x4 and head out to Area 51. For years, the government denied its existence, despite the fact that people that live in the little town of Rachel, NV could see it from their front porch, and people throughout the years had sightings of unidentified flying objects. The only thing to do here is to drive the long dirt road to the edge of the facility, where a very bored military dispatch sits, waiting to turn away rowdy tourists who test the government’s patience. There’s only a sign, that tells you where you are, and not to take pictures, which everyone does anyway. Stop in Rachel to eat at the Little Ale-inn, not so much for the food, but to visit the shop and say you did.

Next stop on our list – Bryce Canyon, Utah! I’ll let you know how it goes!Close

I consider myself a connoisseur of steak. It’s one of my favorite meals, and it’s one of the things I treat myself to whenever I go to Las Vegas. Come on, Vegas is a foodie paradise, so how can you possibly not get a gourmet…Read More

I consider myself a connoisseur of steak. It’s one of my favorite meals, and it’s one of the things I treat myself to whenever I go to Las Vegas. Come on, Vegas is a foodie paradise, so how can you possibly not get a gourmet steak by a celebrity chef while you’re there?

Each trip, I’ve splurged on a steak dinner, and I now offer up my recommendations for the best places for the best beef.

Best Steak #1: Prime, at the Bellagio – I don’t know if it’s because it was my first trip to Las Vegas, if it was because I was celebrating a birthday or if it’s because the food was just that good, but Prime is my #1 choice for best steak in Las Vegas. The restaurant has a brown and blue décor, you can get a table that looks out onto the dancing fountains, and last but not least, the steak is awesome! My filet mignon took a while to prepare, because they wanted to do it right, but it was worth the wait. Probably the best tasting meat I’d ever had, along with the best tasting sauces – it came with four to try. The only reason I haven’t been back is because there are so many places to try, but it would get my hearty recommendation to any first timers who can spare $50 for a good steak.

Best Steak #1.5: Delmonico, at the Venetian – When you’ve got so many great restaurants to chose from, it’s often hard to select the best of the best. I’ve eaten at Delmonico twice. The first time, chef Emeril Lagasse’s steak house was perfect. The second time, the meal wasn’t perfect at first, but they made it perfect on the second try. Emeril is one of my favorite chefs, with a southern flair for cooking that makes me feel at home. The steak was melt-in-your-mouth, and the sides were almost as good as the main course. I could order just side dishes and eat like a queen for a week. The décor is like a wonderful bistro, and I just like the atmosphere here. Only slightly less expensive than Prime, it’s still a splurge for your wallet, but also your taste buds.

Best Steak #2: Cut, at the Palazzo – The only reason that Cut came in at #2 is the price. If it was on taste alone, it would give Prime a run for its money. If you like steak, you’ll love Cut. It’s modern décor isn’t overwhelming, the wait staff takes really good care of you, and you’ll find your eyes rolling out of your head when you taste the American Kobe filet mignon. Your eyes may also roll out of your head when you get the bill, but taste-for-dollar, it’s not that bad.

Pretty Good Steak The BOA Steakhouse in Caesar's Palace can cook a mean steak, just not as bad to the bone as Cut, Prime, or Delmonico. However, you'll think you're in a celebrity restaurant just from the price tag. If you want a really good steak, just not a really great one, BOA in the Forum Shops will be a good pick.

Best Burger: Burger Bar, Mandalay Bay – If you want a good burger, look no further than the Burger Bar. It’s likely one of the most inexpensive pieces of beef you’ll get in Las Vegas, unless you splurge on the $60 Kobe beef burger, adding expensive truffles and maybe a fleck of gold on top. There’s nearly always a line from 6 p.m. – on, so try it at lunch or in an off-hour. It’s a build-your-own experience. Chose the beef, chose the bun, chose the toppings, chose the sauce, choose the fries. There’s almost too much choice, but if you don’t like it, you can only blame yourself, because you picked it. However, I wouldn’t count on that happening.

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I would say that the question I get asked the most from people who are going to Las Vegas is "Where should I stay?"There are so many considerations that go into answering this question. What do you want your Vegas experience to be like? Do…Read More

I would say that the question I get asked the most from people who are going to Las Vegas is "Where should I stay?"

There are so many considerations that go into answering this question. What do you want your Vegas experience to be like? Do you want to be in the middle of things, or just have easy access to the middle of things? What is your budget? When are you going? Etc.

So I’ve put together this list, after 7 trips to Vegas in 6 years, to answer this question for my IgoUgo friends.

1. Best place to stay, period: Mandalay Bay – this hotel is always tops on my list of recommended hotels in Las Vegas. There’s only one downfall that I can see, and that is it’s location on the very end of the Strip. That minor inconvenience is easily overcome with cheap taxis, and the modern rooms, cool and well-ventilated casino, neat shops, Shark Reef, House of Blues, the new connector to the Luxor with shops and restaurants, a shuttle train to Luxor and Excalibur (though why anyone would go there is beyond me.) The staff is uber-friendly, everything is convenient, and there are great penny slots. The layout makes sense, and the rooms are easily reached from most anywhere. The wave pool and lazy river are incredibly fun. See? I love this place! You can get good deals here if you look, too.

2. Best place to stay if you can afford it: The Venetian. – One of my best hotel experiences was at the Venetian, and if you can keep an eye out and be flexible, you can occasionally find decent deals on these, touted the biggest rooms on the strip. It has the details down pat, the staff is accommodating and not snobby, there is plenty of shopping, you can request a mini fridge for your room, there’s a huge seating area in the room, and it’s center Strip, smack dab in the thick of things. With the addition of the new Palazzo extension, this place has got it all. The next time I can get a deal to the Palazzo, that’s were you’ll find me.
Best moderately priced hotel: Paris – Paris is one of the neatest of the themed hotels, with a foot of its Eiffel Tower reproduction stretching into the casino, which has tall ceilings and a sensible layout. There are lots of good places to eat, especially breakfast at Le Village Buffet, and the rooms, while not on par with Mandalay or Venetian, are perfectly fine. What are you doing in your room anyway? You’re in Las Vegas! The lobby is beautiful, and you feel like yelling "Vive La France!" as you roam the Parisian "streets." Plus, you’ve again got center Strip location, so almost everything is as convenient as it gets in Las Vegas.

3. Most overrated hotel: The Bellagio – In its heyday, I’m sure that the Bellagio was one of the nicest places to stay on the Strip – it’s certainly one of the most beautiful. It has a great location, a beautiful design, beautiful fountains, beautiful gardens, but not-so-beautiful service. In my opinion, if I’m paying for a 5-star, I want a 5-star. If I wanted a 3-star, I’d be paying a lot less over at Paris. Everything is overpriced here, from $12 drinks at the pool bar to the "who can afford this?" upscale retail shops. If you have money to throw around, by all means, throw it around here. However, one night here, with dirty dishes left outside my door from the previous guests the entire stay, was enough for me. Nevermore.

4. Next best moderately priced hotel: Luxor – If you can get a great deal here, and this is usually one of the lower-priced theme hotels on the Strip, by all means jump on that deal. Stay in the pyramid, if for no other reason than to experience the inclinator – the "elevator" that "leans" as it heads up the pyramid. The only downfall is that the Luxor is starting to show its age, from slightly worn carpet and a smoky casino. However, they’re investing in upgrades, and maybe you’ll get lucky with a room that’s newer. Again, however, you shouldn’t be spending that much time in your room anyway, so it should be just fine for the price. Plus, I think the Luxor has one of the nicer pools, and a great spa, so don’t overlook this option.

5. Hotel that I can’t even garner an opinion on: New York, NY – You know, this is one of the neater ideas for a theme hotel. The piano bar here is really fun, the Irish pub is fun, there’s New York pizza, and a roller coaster to boot. However, the room that we stayed in was so old and worn down that I was almost scared that a black light might display something that we didn’t want to know about. Also undergoing renovations, if this is the deal you get, make sure to get an upgraded room. The location is okay, not center Strip like Paris, and just not as classy, either. It’s mostly just . . . okay. Close