Desert Passage at Aladdin:Be whisked away as you stroll the streets of a Moroccan outdoor market. A few times an hour there is a “thunderstorm” that occurs. More or less, water falls from the ceiling into a pool below. There are some sound effects and…Read More

Desert Passage at Aladdin:
Be whisked away as you stroll the streets of a Moroccan outdoor market. A few times an hour there is a “thunderstorm” that occurs. More or less, water falls from the ceiling into a pool below. There are some sound effects and flashing lights and smoke to make the effect of an actual storm more realistic. If you’re already there it’s worth seeing. It’s even better with some really good gelato you can purchase in the Desert Passage.

Caesars Forum Shops:
At the Forum shops statues come to life and converse to each other while producing a laser light show. This was very cheesy. The sound was bad, and you could barely hear what was being said. The lasers appeared to be no more than glorified laser pens. If you happen to stumble upon it stop and look. Other than that don’t waist your time.

Flamingo:
In the Flamingo is a courtyard and wildlife habitat. We went here at night and it was very romantic. Swaying Palm trees, splashing waterfalls and flamingos gracefully nestled in the lush green grass. It is an oasis from the obnoxious noise and clamor of the strip. You can also view penguins, turtles and massive koi. I had no idea that there were African penguins that didn’t need to live in the cold, so I learned something too. This is worth the trip, especially at night when there is an air of mystery and romance to it all.

Mirage:
Every hour in the evening the Mirage Volcano explodes. It was horribly crowded although we were there early enough to get a spot at the railing. I think more interesting than seeing the volcano explode, was the burning heat you feel during the show. We felt really bad for a real live mouse that was scampering around the bottom of the volcano in petrified fear. He should probably find a better place to set up his home. You should see the volcano because it is something to see, but nothing more. Once is good enough.

Bellagio:
The Botanical conservatory is definitely worth the trip. The theme, which changes frequently, was Philadelphia and independence. There was a giant liberty bell illuminated by the massive skylight overhead. There were also depictions of children made of flowers engaging in summer fun activities. My favorite part however was the display of miniature fountains that danced, jumped and splashed to various tunes. It was beautiful, comical and entertaining all at the same time. You could spend at least an hour hear admiring the colorful flowers and plants.

In front of the Bellagio is their famous fountain show. It is both emotional and grand, as the music appears to direct the powerful water into a magnificent dance. I would not recommend going on a weekend night. We went on a Saturday and there was an obnoxious evangelist on his actual soapbox yelling at the top of his lungs at the crowd waiting to experience the fountains. People begged him to just be quiet while the fountains were going, but he yelled that they were more concerned with watching a silly show and that their souls were all destined for hell and they didn’t care. He ruined the whole experience for everyone. He must not work during the week however, because every night we were able to stop, watch and enjoy the fountains undisturbed.

MGM:
If you’re waiting for diner seating or for someone to finish playing star wars slots take a walk around the lion habitat. The habitat itself with waterfalls and streams and two stories is actually more interesting than the lions themselves. The lions themselves seemed rather bored.
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One of the many things you can do is go inside one of the many themed hotels. It is free to check them out, and some have interesting things to do inside and out. If you get tired from walking, take a tram…Read More

One of the many things you can do is go inside one of the many themed hotels. It is free to check them out, and some have interesting things to do inside and out. If you get tired from walking, take a tram which connects some of the hotels or sit by a slot and try to win some change.

In the VENETIAN HOTEL, the inside of the hotel is made to look like streets in Venice, even the ceiling is painted with a sky and clouds. There is a gondola ride within the hotel, as well as Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. A favorite activity is to go to the gift shop of the wax museum and try on the costumes.
Address: 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Try also passing by the BELLAGIO FOUNTAINS at night; the dancing fountains follow the beat of the music. Remember Oceans 11? Check out the website for the fountains' schedule.
Address: 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Phone:(888) 987-3456
Website: http://www.Bellagio.com

The MIRAGE hotel has a volcano in front of it with spewing lava. The lava show occurs at different times during the day, so check their website for the schedule.
Address: 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Phone: (702) 791-7111
Website: http://www.themirage.com/pages/attrac_volcano.asp

The outside of the MGM Grand Hotel is certainly grand and impressive. Check out the live lion inside. Address: 3799 S. Las Vegas Boulevard
Phone: 702-891-1111

In front of the New York/New York hotel, you may ask, when did the French have time to build another statue for Vegas?? Check out the New York/New York's roller coaster, which wraps around the hotel for a thrill ride. This hotel always reminds me of that episode of CSI.

Some other hotels to visit are the Excalibur hotel, which has a medieval theme and a Tournament of Kings. The Circus Circus Hotel has circus acts occuring at varying times in the day. The Luxor has a great Egyptian theme, while the Aladdin has a cool Indian theme. At the far end of the strip, the Las Vegas Hilton has the Star Trek experience and Borg 3D ride. A short walk from here is the Stratosphere, which has a great view and a roller coaster at the top of the hotel. These are just a few of the hotels on the new Vegas Strip.

For better deals and slots with better returns, try the hotels on the old Vegas Strip. Here you can see the Fremont Steet Experience.

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Once again, the creative artist of many of the chic China Grilles, several other NYC trendy restaurants, major real estate projects—the list goes on and on—has done it again with the incredible sensory defying and hot Las Vegas nightclub RUM JUNGLE. Internationally acclaimed design…Read More

Once again, the creative artist of many of the chic China Grilles, several other NYC trendy restaurants, major real estate projects—the list goes on and on—has done it again with the incredible sensory defying and hot Las Vegas nightclub RUM JUNGLE. Internationally acclaimed design artist Jeffrey Beer’s career and achievements are constantly covered in the newspapers, as well as in design, fashion, culinary, and in-flight magazines. The New York Times, Interior Design, Food Arts, House & Garden, Hospitality Design, Departures, and Vogue have all paid homage to the graduate of the renowned Rhode Island School of Design. Earning a Fulbright Fellowship, this scholar apprenticed with none other than Dale Chihuly , studying the art of blowing glass, where he also attained an incomparable ingeniousness utilizing glass as a light design element. Rum Jungle delivers a sensual depth of textures, light, and form reflecting one of this contemporary master's more seductive projects to date.

The senses are immediately overwhelmed as you enter the restaurant-by-day, club-by-night oasis of hedonism. Adjust your eyes to towers of shimmering lights, and what slowly comes into focus is a 30-foot-wide, 110-foot-long, 22-foot-high structure known as the Mountain of Rum. The iridescent glow of thousands of multicolored shimmering liquor bottles, climbing two stories into the air and enhanced by a fiber optic extravaganza, greets you as you step foot through the entrance’s velvet ropes.

Hypnotic rhythms of African conga drums—or are they bongos, or both?—beckon you in. All remaining inhibitions are ripped away when you notice the lithe and beautiful (even wives, dates, and significant others admit to being as entranced as any man) professional dancing women wearing an array of erotically minimal spandex. These dancers grind away, some suspended in birdlike cages and others along a catwalk above the bar. Cirque de Soleil influences are invoked by other exotic women on trapezes doing acrobatics and high-speed twirls suspended only by a ponytail of hair high above the drinking crowds, while another uses a 30-foot silken drape suspended from the ceiling, performing stunts that seem to defy gravity.

The clear water-toned acrylic bar—an Amazon River of libations—runs the length of the restaurant and is lined with over six dozen hand-carved stools from Bali. Flanked by waterfalls that seem to float suspended in the air and a wall of fire torches (which, by some mischance, I seemed to miss—watch out for the vanilla-infused rum!), the balance of water and fire create a sensational harmonic when combined with the earth element, a terrazzo and onyx floor. Its smooth surface is easy on Capezios when the restaurant morphs, at 10pm on weekend nights and 11pm during the week, into the hottest dance club in Sin City. An eclectic mix of reggae, hip-hop, ‘70s disco, Latin, and top pop music flows from the raised DJ booth towering below the ruby-red ceiling.

Good DJ’s may be hard to find, yet three of the top DJ’s on the circuit, DJ Toast, DJ Randy, and DJ Creativity, deliver music magic from above while the hot and hip spin, twist and bump most provocatively to it below.

Rum Jungle’s display of visually pleasing aesthetics doesn’t seem to stop. Flanking the bar and set above the main eating areas are four "rain chandeliers" composed of wire and hundreds of small tubes. They are bottom lit from a rim that is a about a ten-foot circle suspended from the ceiling. Huge dueling congas hydraulically lift up and down through out the night as heated testosterone-induced percussion battles spontaneously take place. They are set in front of and frame the Fire Pit, an open kitchen at the back of the restaurant/club. Flaming skewers are held in serving staff fists, broad-sword style, as they make their way to the many tables ordering from the Rodizio menu.

Elegant-casual is the dress code, and it assures more than just architecturally pleasing sights and sounds. Rum Jungle attracts a very good-looking and multi-dimensional crowd, providing a comfortable and safe feel to its environment. Collared shirts and/or blazers for men in jeans will cut it easily enough, but forget about T-shirts, shorts, sandals, and work boots, and there are absolutely no hats allowed.

There are controversial schools of thought on clubs offering a restaurant venue. There is the inverse question of whether or not a restaurant can deliver a great club experience. Such is the dilemma others may have, but Rum Jungle does not seem to be phased with such a challenge. The menu (posted in a picture below) is a culinary fusion of Caribbean, Latin, Cuban, Polynesian, and Asian fare. For the less exotically inclined, there is a great steak—albeit you may have to have them hold the sugarcane butter sauce and Habanero demi-glaze on the filet mignon!

There are several ways to attack the menu. Try any of the following depending on your appetite. There are two categories that will fit the lighter-fare demand. Small plates and appetizers are plentiful enough that an assortment of three orders plus a salad seems to satisfactorily sate for two. Recommendations include
Ahi Tuna Mango Poke Spring Rolls, which open your taste buds. It is a very fresh and very spicy sushi-style tuna tartar rolled in a soft wrap. Served with pineapple and avocado salsa and dressed with a wasabi Crème-Fraiche, it costs about $18.
Coconut Shrimp with a Coconut-Curry Dipping Sauce are crispy and sweet, with a tropical taste that lingers and lingers (perfectly complemented by the vanilla-infused rum on the rocks, about $20).
Jamaican Spiced Chicken Skewers complemented with chipotle-guava sauce and grilled pineapple completes your European-style meal. At $10, it comes in at the lower end of the menu’s price range.
Finish off, or start with, a Peruvian Chopped Salad, a toss of onions, corn, roasted peppers, feta cheese, and radishes in a mint vinaigrette at approximately $9. You won’t be hungry and won’t feel stuffed. Guilt over the coconut shrimp is at your own discretion.

The Rodizio Fire Pit is what this restaurant is famous for. Imagine skewer after flaming skewer being brought to your table, as the menu states, in "unlimited quantities" bearing:
Rosemary, Chili, and Garlic Marinated Angus Beef with caramelized onions
Mango-Rum Marinated Ahi Tuna with a Jalapeño-peach and Passionfruit Glaze
Roast Garlic and Sage Marinated Turkey Breast in a Mango-Habanero Glaze
Slow Roasted Pulled Pork
Jerk Spiced Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
Huli-Huli Rotisserie Chicken in Pineapple Rum
Hot Smoked Salmon
And what would any fire-pit be without the Roasted Spanish Chorizo Sausage!

Accompaniments include a cinnamon "Dirty Rice," drunken pinto beans, Cuban black beans, caramelized fried ripe plantains, and pineapple-coconut Basmati rice. At $40 per person, this all-you-can-eat, delivered-to-your-table tropical buffet will test the mettle of any appetite.

SUGGESTIONS: Reservations are highly recommended, if not required, for Friday and Saturday. Make them as far in advance as possible online.
The price will run between $30 to $40 per person in most cases, while drinks and desserts may push it a bit higher. Drinks run between $5 and $12.
Night Club Entry: Dinner reservations assure you a re-entry stamp for the dance debauchery later on and saves $20 to $25 per person. The lines get long, and the wait to get in even longer. Guests at the hotel have a preferential line, and re-entry after dinner avoids it almost altogether.
Night Club Seating will run you the cost of a bottle of rum or other beverage, which are $250 and over $600 per table (four people). Considering the dancing you will do and the amount of space that becomes available at the bar during the ebb and flow of the evening, we did not find it necessary. It is available if you do not wish to give up your table post-dessert.

The last seating on Friday and Saturday is 8pm, but that is, depending on your host or VIP status and prior reservation, somewhat flexible.

Rum Jungle—Highly Recommended
3950 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Mandalay Bay Hotel
702/632-7408

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Wednesday 21 May 2003 Touched down in San Francisco and bought the obligatory key ring and then onto the internal flight to Las Vegas. We were taken to Treasure Island by a wonderful driver who was extremely proud of his hometown and gave us lots of tips for things…Read More

Wednesday 21 May 2003

Touched down in San Francisco and bought the obligatory key ring and then onto the internal flight to Las Vegas.

We were taken to Treasure Island by a wonderful driver who was extremely proud of his hometown and gave us lots of tips for things to do. NDL had booked us in and arranged for our baggage to be taken to our rooms. We stayed in room 23089, 23 being the floor number and those ending in even numbers from approximately 78 to 110 have the view at the back eg, some roofs below plus the Fashion Show Mall (Bloomingdales, Macys, Saks, Neiman Marcus) a maid was kind enough to let me look out the window of the odd numbers and WOW, what a view. It brought tears to my eyes, so beautiful, the whole of the south strip, almost seemed to be laid out just for this particular window!!!

Thursday 22 May 2003

I woke at 5am but Chris wanted to sleep on so I sat working on a schedule. Managed to drag his touché out of bed at 7:30am and we went down for breakfast, which had a selection of fruit, cheese, waffles, French toast, sausages, bacon, egg, potato, etc.

Took a $7 taxi to the Hilton to see the Star Trek Experience (http://www.startrekexp.com/), where Chris had his picture taken then it was placed into a photograph of the Next Generation he loves it. I found out later that Elvis Presley spent his last seven years performing at the Hilton. We took the glass elevator up to the top for a great view of the stratosphere and decided to walk over. Enroute we stopped at the Sahara, had a look around and gambled some nickels, and won 300 of them. Celebrated with an ice tea at MacDonalds then continued on to the Stratosphere where you can go to the top of the tower for $8.

Got a taxi back to the Mirage and saw the gigantic tropical fish tank behind reception then onto the rainforest, the tigers, and the waterfalls. It was a short tram ride back to TI to get ready for our evening at the MGM Diva Concert.

Back at TI we went to see the pirate battle. It was amazing. We stood on the walkway next to the pirate ship, wish we knew what was coming because my eyebrows were nearly singed by the heat of the explosions, soooo cool can't believe the British lost the battle though. What's that all about? There are plans to change it shortly to include sirens so it was good to see it in its current format--maybe the Brits will win next time!

Went for our evening meal at 10:30pm, however, I think the staff was tired. I had asked to see the menu at the front desk prior to coming in, when I asked for non-smoking the guy waved me in the direction of a side so I sat down, a waitress started getting upset because she said that section was closed. On the menu it said there was prime rib so when I went to get some, it wasn't there. I commented that it was on the menu, this was met with a blank look and denial. The rest of the selection was bland, non descript with a guy with a security uniform on standing behind the food counter chatting up the server whilst leering across at my chest as I tried desperately to get the only piece of meat on the tray which happened to be positioned at the back. We sat down to eat and another lady came out and said they were shutting up soon and if we wanted anything else, especially the dessert, to get it now! So much for the town that never sleeps!

Friday 23 May 2003

Went for breakfast the next morning then onto BELZ Factory Outlet World (www.belz.com) which was having a Memorial Day Sidewalk Sale. As usual the jeans and trainers were a fantastic purchase for us Brits. Took a taxi along the strip $14 (back via the freeway because the cabbie said it was quicker $16.50!)

At the Stratosphere we had seen an oxygen bar. We asked for information and went away to think about it. Oxygen Bar Urban spa where customers inhale pure oxygen under the premise that doing so will regenerate cells, clean the system of toxins, increase energy and stamina, and reduce stress. We had been told that there was one in the Kuanaville so we went along. For $16 you get 15 minutes of oxygen which is infused with aromatherapy fragrances each with differing properties, a massage with Nukkles, and a love shot. Loved the Nukkles so much we bought some (http://www.nukkles.com).

We went to elvisrama.com to look at the museum. I loved the letter that he sent to his girlfriend Anna when he was over in Europe. It really did give an insight to Elvis's vulnerability. To catch a concert also the cost was $22 each--the tribute singer also paid tribute to veterans, which was really touching.

Took the free shuttle bus to the Mirage and caught the volcano erupting and into their buffet, which was fantastic. It had a bar where you could choose your raw selection then take it along to the chef who would cook it in front of you. Also the fish selection was fresh and succulent. There was such a wide selection throughout.

To end the day we took the city lights tour that took us up to the Bellagio for the water which is choreographed to music, the tour bus took us up to the steps and those that had seen the show before said that it looked so much better from that angle. We went in to see the ceiling and also the beautifully scented flowers surrounding butterflies.

We turned back down the strip, passing the Aladdin, which is the only hotel that, after being knocked down and rebuilt, still has its original name (another piece of info I picked up was that Elvis and Priscilla married there) passing Ethel M's M&M store, which is next door to the Coca Cola Store where you can get half price tickets to see shows on the same day obviously this is great savings BUT doesn't guarantee great seats, if at all! Continuing on back passed the TI, leaving Clark County where the strip actually officially turns into Las Vegas downtown, we arrived at Freemont street at 10:40pm and the street was jam-packed with party people. There were flamenco dancers handing out Mardi Gra beads--now here was a real party atmosphere.

Saturday 24 May 2003

Got up and went to the Venetian, which is so calm and elegant. Returned to pack our bags and then went to the Secret Gardens we returned to TI and had a cocktail at the bar because then we got to bring home the scull and mermaid glasses, onto our champagne brunch and ready to get a great sleep to beat the jet lag on the long return flight home.

It was a wonderful experience and yes, we did gamble. Only as little league though. We joined the Players club at TI the system works out at one point for each $1 spent/won and reused in play. Some wins paid out with a ticket that you can cash, others paid out in coins. Unfortunately we never won big enough for it to be paid out by an attendant, however I did witness a lady being paid out $2100 by an attendant which was nice to see.

We started out with $1 bets but became a bit despondent after no wins and decided to join the real little league with the nickel machines. We got our cups filled with the little token things and had loads of fun deciding on whether to do 1-9 lines with 1-9 games in play, although it took ages to keep putting them in (+ my hands were black from the coins--other casinos had little hand wipes next to the machines which I didn't see at the TI) rather than feed $10 into the machine, it felt like more of a game and less of a gamble and it sounded so sweet when the winnings came chugging out.

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As I drove south down Highway 15 at dusk, I saw the desert turning to black as the sky turned a deep shade of red; it seemed as if the heavens were sucking the light out of the earth. I timed it right, and rounded…Read More

As I drove south down Highway 15 at dusk, I saw the desert turning to black as the sky turned a deep shade of red; it seemed as if the heavens were sucking the light out of the earth. I timed it right, and rounded a right-hand bend between two cliffs just as the darkness hit the ground, and I could see the city spread out beneath me. This was where the sky was spitting the light: into America’s playground, if you believe the brochures.

Welcome to Las Vegas – the only place on earth to treat losers like winners.

The powers that run Las Vegas prefer their visitors to arrive at the airport, as I had done on my initial visit a week previously. The first slot machines greet travelers before they reach the luggage carousels and the advertisements, pandering to any conceivable entertainment need, stare down from every available inch of wall space. It is a short taxi ride to any of the colossal hotels on the Strip, so all I saw on the way was glitz, glamour and neon. The streets are packed with limousines and flash cars; the crowds of people on the pavements means that walking is seriously slow as everyone stares upwards, eyes agog at the sound and light overload. In fact, there is so much light that some drivers dispense with headlights and put on their sunglasses instead. The promise of easy money lures people into casinos; you only know you are indoors because the air-conditioning hits you and the temperature drops.

I found driving into the city from the North to be a somewhat different experience: the sidewalks are in darkness and empty apart from the occasional lone stroller, inevitably walking along with head down and eyes focused on the ground. The streets are lined with cheap motels rather than luxurious 5-star hotels and the neon signs here all have broken bulbs and missing letters. Not to worry though, 24-hour gambling is still available everywhere and, in case you are ever embarrassed by a cash shortage, there are pawn shops where you can add your electric guitar or engagement ring to the rows already on display behind the reinforced windows. Even a losing encounter with the law need be nothing other than a temporary inconvenience: a quick call to one of the bail bond agents here will secure your freedom, for a price.

If Las Vegas had a sign at the city limits, it would probably read: "Abandon all guilt ye who enter here". Whatever you desire, be it money, excitement or 24-hour buffets, you may have here in excess and never be called upon to explain or justify yourself. Hedonism is the raison d’être of this city, and it comes at a price; the constant sensory stimulation allows no room for a functioning conscience. Actions here have no consequences: gambling incurs no losses and alcohol does not impair judgement.

I only had one expectation of Las Vegas: that it would be tacky and kitsch, but the place blew my mind. If I said that the Sphinx, outside the pyramid-shaped Luxor hotel, was tacky, then how would I describe the gondola rides on the lagoon at the Venetian? And if I mocked the fake skyline of New York, New York then what would I say to the ½-scale model of the Eiffel Tower, complete with its authentic Eiffel Tower Experience?

These thoughts had bothered me, back on my very first night there, as I entered the casino at the Luxor. I handed $20 to a woman sitting at a counter behind a glass window; she passed back rolls of quarters and I decanted them into an enormous regulation plastic beaker: the coins barely made a dent in the bottom.

The slot machine section of the casino was neatly arranged into rows: in the centre were the $1 play machines with, in prime position, a small car revolving on a dais below a screen displaying a vast sum of money. I went in search of cheaper gambling and found groups of 25¢, 10¢ and, finally, 5¢ slots. I settled myself on a gold bar stool in front of one of the cheapest machines; I couldn’t tell the difference between any of them. Next to me, also perched on a stool, was a white-haired old lady whose feet didn’t quite reach the ground. She was wearing a dusty pink velour tracksuit with white pumps and had a burning cigarette clamped firmly between two fingers of her left hand. The smoke was disappearing upwards, into a distant, invisible vent. She did not have a beaker, but a card stuck into the machine. I had seen these for sale in the hotel lobby: they were credited with money and thus saved one from the tedious bother of putting coins into slots. She cast a brief sideways look at me and went back to pressing buttons on the machine. I noticed that a piece of red shock cord went through a hole in the card and was tied around her right wrist. If she keeled over backwards of a heart attack or stroke, the card would follow her and nobody else would be able to take advantage of her credit.

I noticed that the old lady had a half-empty bottle of beer in front of her, and wondered where I could get one. Just then, a waitress glided silently into view around the line of machines; she held a tray, laden with empty beer bottles and crumpled dollar bills, aloft on her left hand. Her uniform was a sand-coloured, A-line short skirt with a hieroglyphic-patterned top. Her shoes were black, clumpy high heels and her feet looked swollen and tired. She looked tired, but not through lack of sleep or overworking. I smiled, and tried to catch her eye, but she looked straight through me and said "Cocktail, Ma’am?"

"I’ll have a Budweiser, please," I replied; she glided on past me and rounded the machines once more.

I decided to start my gambling spree, and dipped my hand into the beaker for a handful of quarters. As I did so, I remembered Winnie-the-Pooh with his honey pot and realized that I was in a world that I didn’t really understand.

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This is an amazing place. It fluctuates from very tacky, very OTT, to totally amazing. Each hotel here is huge, most have a different theme, and each is amazing in its own way. You need to visit each of the hotels in Vegas--they're attractions in…Read More

This is an amazing place. It fluctuates from very tacky, very OTT, to totally amazing. Each hotel here is huge, most have a different theme, and each is amazing in its own way. You need to visit each of the hotels in Vegas--they're attractions in their own right.

It is incredibly hot here--110 degrees when we went in June--and it's quite an oppressive heat which makes you feel very tired, very quickly. We found we needed to keep popping into hotels just to get a blast of air conditioning. We also found that we needed to carry a drink around with us as we got extremely thirsty (water is best).

There are so many hotels and attractions here that it would be impossible to include them all, but I will give you a run down of my top ten, in no particular order.

a) Race for Atlantis--This 3D IMAX simulator ride is located in Caesar’s Palace. Be prepared to queue for this ride. The adventure starts when you're greeted by a toga-clad gentleman who explains that you have been chosen by Neptune to act as his champion in a chariot race. You are then given 3D goggles before moving onto the ride itself. You then sit in a chariot and experience a simulator ride that blows your mind. The 3D effects are brilliant and so is the IMAX effect--you feel as if you're really taking part of the race. The ride is quite jerky and fast but well worth it. It was great! It costs approx US$10 per adult.

b) Star Trek--The Experience--This is another simulator ride, this one based on the Star Trek films. This ride is located just off the strip, at the Las Vegas Hilton. Again, they make the most of the experience by allowing you to tour the History of the Future Museum first. Here you will see all the costumes, guns, phasers, etc., from the movies and get to tour the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. You are then told you need to evacuate the ship and get into a space shuttle. This is where you'll experience a simulator ride through space, eventually flying over Vegas and landing back at the hotel. When you get off the ride, there is a shop selling all manner of things and a restaurant–-Quarks–-which sells very strange sounding items that end up being very down-to-earth burgers etc. The cost is US$24 for all-day admission--you can ride the simulator as many times as you like by getting your hand stamped when you first go in.

c) Freemont Street Experience-–Literally, a downtown Vegas street located at the end of the strip. Above the street is a canopy of over two million light bulbs that are used nightly for different 6-minute light shows with fantastic lighting and brilliant sound. I cannot put into words how amazing this actually is--you'll have to go and see for yourself. The cost: FREE.

d) Eiffel Tower--A replica of the Eiffel Tower (50% size) at the Paris Hotel that rises 50 stories above ground. You go up in a lift and the views over the strip are amazing. This costs about $9 per adult and you can stay up there as long as you like. It's an excellent photo opportunity.

e) Secret Garden of Siegfried & Roy--This attraction at The Mirage Hotel, is actually a mini zoo. As you enter the hotel, go past a very large glass wall; behind it is a large water pool with white tigers playing in it. The garden entrance fee is about $10 and you'll get to see many different wild cats, such as lions and tigers, as well as elephants and so forth--all the animals that Siegfried & Roy used in their magic act. You'll also get to see the Dolphin Habitat; they don't train the dolphins, they just let them swim about and you can see them underwater.

f) Manhattan Express--This roller coaster is in the New York, New York Hotel at the top end of the strip. The coaster runs through the hotel and outside it. It's good to watch from outside too. Costs US$8 per person.

g) Big Shot--A ride at the top of the Stratosphere Hotel. The only trouble is that the hotel is 1,149-feet high--or 100 stories! You are strapped into a ride based round a very tall pole on top of the hotel and then shot 160 feet into the air in 2.5 seconds at 4 Gs, then back down again. Cost is US$14 to ride the Big Shot and High Roller (see below).

h) High Roller--This is a roller coaster on top of the Stratosphere Hotel. It's the world’s highest roller coaster and it's tilted at a 32-degree angle so you are literally hanging off the edge of the hotel. Cost is US$14 to ride the Big Shot and High Roller

i) Helicopter Rides--There are several companies offering helicopter rides over Vegas and the Grand Canyon. We chose the Vegas Night Ride, an after-dark ride that took us over the sights of Vegas. When you visit Vegas, you tend to stick to the 'Strip,' and don’t realize how vast the place actually is. From the helicopter you see the large sprawling town and realize that, yes, people actually live here. It's also amazing how flat the place is. It's definitely an enlightening experience. It can be quite expensive, but it's worth it.

j) Speed--The Ride--Another roller coaster, this time at the Sahara Hotel. It goes 224-feet high and contains loops, curves, and drops at a rate of 70 mph. Once you have completed the run, it goes in reverse and you go through the whole thing again--backwards! It's worth braving the lines you'll probably encounter and costs US$6 per adult.

There are many, many, other attractions in Vegas, such as: the Luxor Hotel which has the IMAX theatre and King Tut’s Tomb; the Mandalay Hotel; Shark Reef; Circus Circus; Adventuredome; Canyon Blaster; Rim Runner; Treasure Island; Pirate Battle; and The Venetian, which has Madame Tussaud's and gondola rides.

Every hotel also has huge casinos, but you only have to spend a few dollars as the slot machines start at 5-cents. You can eat whatever you want here, too--some places are expensive, others cheap, some in between--and there's food to suit everyone. Lots of shopping available too.

Las Vegas is an amazing place. I know I have gone on a bit, but with a place like this, it's hard not to. I will probably not visit Vegas again, but I am very glad I have experienced it first hand.    Close

Apparently I didn’t do my pre-trip planning very well because I didn’t discover comedian Kevin James was at the Mirage in Las Vegas until I got in line for the Mirage buffet and saw his poster hanging on the wall at the event ticket counter.…Read More

Apparently I didn’t do my pre-trip planning very well because I didn’t discover comedian Kevin James was at the Mirage in Las Vegas until I got in line for the Mirage buffet and saw his poster hanging on the wall at the event ticket counter. "One Night Only" the poster said. I told my mom what a funny guy Kevin James was, you know, Wednesday nights, the King of Queens? Unfortunately, the West Wing was on at the same time so my mom had no idea who Kevin James was. Since the line for the Mirage buffet was quite long, I sauntered over to the ticket counter to inquire about the show. He was there for one night, two shows; one at 9pm and the other at 10:30pm. We already had tickets to see Gladys Knight at the Flamingo, but that show was at seven. Plenty of time to make the 10:30 show. I asked the woman at the counter if there were still tickets available. No, sold out. However, I was told, if I came back to the ticket counter 15 minutes prior to the show, the Mirage will release any held tickets that haven’t been picked up yet for the general public to buy. Ok, I thought, good to know. I took my place back in the buffet line with my mom and relayed the same information to her. The Mirage was one of her favorite casinos so she had no problem coming back after the Flamingo show.

Timing is everything, they say. While my mom played nickel slots near the front entrance of the Mirage, I quickly strolled back to where the event sales desk was at the back of the casino. A line had already formed and it was quite long. It snaked around the side of the ticket counter down the hall toward the Danny Gans Theater. The end of the line was near the restrooms, which were quite busy as people on their way to the Kevin James performance stopped in before entering the theater. I took my place in line, but fortunately I still had a good portion of my margarita left that I had purchased from the walk up bar at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant (also at the Flamingo) to keep me company. There were two gentlemen in front of me and a young couple behind. A woman from the ticket counter kept coming around the corner and counting us. She did this several times. Why she didn’t just write the number down I don’t know. Every time she came an older man in front of me would ask if they had any tickets. She kept saying, "I don’t know."

At 10:30, when I thought there was no hope, the ticket woman came around the corner to count us AGAIN, and when the older gentleman asked his question, she replied they did have tickets available, but she didn’t know if they had enough for everyone in line. With that the two gentlemen in front of me left along with several of the couples and a group of students. I had no money to gamble and I was sure Mom was perfectly happy plucking down her nickels so I kept waiting.

Now with the on-call line thinned out the ticket woman came back and announced that they had tickets. Someone ahead of me in line asked if they would miss any of the show. She said Kevin had an opening act and wouldn’t actually take the stage until 11pm and that we should all have our tickets by then. That made everyone very happy and soon the line was shortening as the ticket counter started to sell the remaining tickets.

I approached and announced I wanted two tickets, a different woman told me I was getting the last pair and that there were only single seat tickets left. Fantastic! I soon as I had the tickets in hand, I ran, yes ran, back through the Mirage casino, past the baccarat tables, the sports book and all the slots until I reached the small group of nickel machines near the front. Then, of course, I had to search to find which machine my mother was perched at. When I found her I held the tickets high and said, "I got ‘em!"

"Really?" She couldn’t believe it. The slots kept her so busy; she thought I’d only been gone a few minutes. We quickly headed back through the casino, again, and walked the broad hall that led to the Lance Burton Theater. There was a bar between two grand staircases that led up to the theater entrance. We skipped the bar and went up the steps to the closest usher to find out where our seats were. He walked us down the theater stairs and in the very middle right on the isle were two empty seats just for us. We couldn’t have had better seats unless we were in the front row.

The opening act had just finished and he announced Kevin James onto the stage while ACDC/’s Back in Black played over the system. The next hour contained laugh after hysterical laugh as Kevin went through his set. Even my mom, who’d never heard of him, could not contain herself as Kevin told jokes about playing black jack, being engaged to his girlfriend and best of all, the "Water Ski Bit."

It was after midnight and I was exhausted from all the laughing. Nothing left to do now but gamble, I guess. Thanks to the Mirage Ticket Counter Attendant for telling me about the released tickets. They do that for every show if anyone ever needs something to do at the last minute. I wonder if Caesar’s does that for Celine Dion???

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Las Vegas is without question one of the easiest tourist desintations to visit on wheels, but since most of the hot spots have been built within the last decade and they are intended for visitors, I have very high standards for accessibility. There is no…Read More

Las Vegas is without question one of the easiest tourist desintations to visit on wheels, but since most of the hot spots have been built within the last decade and they are intended for visitors, I have very high standards for accessibility. There is no reason that new architecture should not be fully and conveniently accessible.

If you do a search for "accessibility Las Vegas" on most search engines, you will find a few pages whose writers assure you that it is no problem to visit as a tourist with wheels. After my first wheeled sojourn, I can report that overall it is quite possible and enjoyable, but it is truly more of a challenge to visit Las Vegas on wheels than to visit it on feet. A little preparation and some intestinal fortitude can really pay off.

McCarran airport, as with most airports, is possessed of corridors wide enough to accommodate my scooter. The tram from the United terminal to the is navigable, but be careful if the tramcar is full! Because the cars have floor-to-ceiling poles for passengers to hold, a wheelchair/scooter passenger must either park themselves in the middle of the aisle or in front of a door. Either can lead to being leaned on or bumped into. Also, I immediately gave up on the idea exiting through the door opposite the one through which I had entered, and instead positioned myself to exit through the next door ahead of me. This is a good strategy for subways/trams in general, but can confuse one's nonwheeled companions, as they will be accustomed to leaving through the counterpart to the entry door. The elevators at McCarran have a lot of signs announcing that there ARE elevators: this is different from elevators being "well-marked." Keep your head up and look for shiny doors. The elevators themselves are of an excellent size.

Each taxi company in Las Vegas is required to have a couple of wheelchair-accessible vehicles. If you are able to get out of your chair, there are also a great many vans and Ford Explorers that can hold the mobility equipment in the cargo area. In three days, I ran into only one cabbie who did not want to "deal with it." Aside from this brute, I found the cabbies very professional and willing to help my husband lift my scooter into their vehicles. However, nothing beats a taxi equipped with a lift...if you can plan a few minutes ahead and have the taxi valet at your hotel call for one of these, I absolutely recommend it. The lift changes the pleasant taxi experience from a bit of a gamble to a sure thing.

The Las Vegas Hilton is well-equipped with completely accessible rooms, but I try to stay in regular rooms, leaving the others available to guests who have greater mobility problems than I do. If you stay in a standard room at this Hilton with a scooter/wheelchair, I recommend a room with one king bed. This configuration has a great deal of floor space in which to zoom around. It is possible to get a scooter into the two queen bed room (where my parents stayed) but it necessary to park somewhere by the wall, as the second bed is taking up a majority of zooming-space. The elevator in this Hilton are just fine and the layout of the casino is very nice; the ramps are in plain sight and most of the slot machines have unattached seating, so it is possible to scootch the casino's chair out of the way to wheel up to them.

The Venetian is another matter. The best way I can describe it is to say that the property's two parts, hotel and casino, have very different personalities. The elevators in the residential section are extremely easy to find and large enough to accommodate a wheelchair/scooter plus family members. The rooms, which I have visited but not stayed in, are capacious and well-suited to traveling with mobility equipment. The Guggenheims, which I discuss generally in another entry, have excellent access. Timed reservations to the exhibits ensure that the wheeled patron is not stuck behind a gaggle of standing people. The casino is more of a challenge. Elevators in this section are few and far between, forcing one's companions on foot to slog long distances, and the Grand Canal shops are true-to-life in that it is impossible to wheel in a straight line; a bench, person, curve in the path, or little statue is bound to pop up every few feet. Additionally, the railing to the canal itself, where gondoliers are singing to floating tourists, is just about at head-height for the seated tourist. I am not at all claustrophobic but I noticed that the combined noise, obstructions, and visual cut-off made me tired very quickly and we left after about ten minutes--no shopping done there, the Venetian's loss. Sincerely, if your desire to is to shop Burberry and Mikimoto at the Venetian on wheels, do yourself a favor and book your room there so you have someplace close to decompress afterwards. (That, or stay at Ceasar's and shop the Forum which I find a lot less tiring, believe it or not.)

So, keep some Chex Mix or a candy bar in your bag and a screw-top bottle of your favorite drink in your basket, remember to ALWAYS bring a sweater, attach your sense of humor firmly to your chin, and hit Vegas on wheels. A few barriers aside, I had a lot of fun without being a burden on my non-wheeled family members.

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I ride a Pride Sundancer personal mobility scooter and I am very glad to be able to report that a visit to Hoover Dam is a true pleasure for the special-needs traveler. I had been to the dam many times pre-scooter, but this last trip,…Read More

I ride a Pride Sundancer personal mobility scooter and I am very glad to be able to report that a visit to Hoover Dam is a true pleasure for the special-needs traveler. I had been to the dam many times pre-scooter, but this last trip, 12/27/01, was my first time with wheels. If you park in the parking garage or in one of the outdoor lots within a quarter-mile of the dam, you can ride away from your car or van and onto the walkways very easily. The elevator down to the Visitors' Center entrance is easy to find, clearly marked and near the parking garage; it is also large enough to wheel in and out of easily and hold a some family members at the same time. It's even large enough to hold two wheelchairs at once, as long as both people don't mind manuvering out of the center once in.

Two caveats:

1. If your wheelchair/scooter is too heavy for a companion to carry down a long set of stairs, and/or you cannot descend stairs, do not park in any lot more than 1/4 mile away from the dam. You will not be able to leave these parking lots. There are plenty of blue spaces in the parking garage, so don't worry.

2. If you are only partially mobile on your feet, do not make the mistake (as I did) of visiting a restroom on the dam itself; go to one in the Visitors' Center. The restroom doors on the dam lead to two short flights of stairs that end in three stalls--for the women's room, anyway--and maybe a line. Because I am partially mobile I went up the stairs and then I was stuck with no place to sit while waiting for a stall. I won't do that again and hope that if the little things add up for you during the day that you won't either.

All in all, Hoover Dam is a wonderful place to see on wheels. As I said to my father, "It's easy to tell that this is a government structure."

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I stayed at a great central hotel on the famous strip called Harrah's. You say it like Harrods, but without the ah at the end. My local travel agent booked us in and we paid something like £50 a night for the room. Apparently my…Read More

I stayed at a great central hotel on the famous strip called Harrah's. You say it like Harrods, but without the ah at the end.

My local travel agent booked us in and we paid something like £50 a night for the room. Apparently my husbands friend found a great internet site which offered you the rooms for £20 a night. I was naffed off then.

Harrahs is next door to the Imperial Palace and The venetian. Across the road is The Mirage and Caesars Palace. This is the hotel where Chris Evans and Billie Piper stayed when they recently got married in Vegas last year. This wasn't why we had picked it by the way.

The building consists of different towers which lead you to your rooms, we were in the Mardi Gras Tower, on the 5th floor. We wanted a lower floor as I'm not keen on lifts so the less time I spent in one the better.They go so fast up the many, many floors they had. I'm not too sure how many rooms this hotel had, I know there were quite a lot. It wasn't exactly a themed hotel compared to the likeness of the Luxor etc, but it did have a good feel to it. It was done up in nice bright colours, with carnival music playing everywhere even spilling onto the streets to entice the custom in to the casinos.

There were many restaurants, those I will list below.

*Asia* Chinese and Asian Cuisine, even though we didn't eat in there, we saw how lovely it was. The prices were displayed outside so not to embarass you if you thought they were too expensive. I think the prices ranged from £6 to £20 a head for one course.

*Carnaval Court Bar and grill* This is an outdoor bar/cafe area, which is situated on the carnival court area. There is plenty of seating with a live band playing blues/rock, and dance music. They serve imported beer even Boddingtons. The prices are reasonable, and they start around £3.50 for a burger etc. It is open 11am to 12pm during the week and closed at 2am at weekends.

*Cafe Andreotti* Typical Italian Fayre, pasta etc. Smelt strongly of garlic each time we walked past it, it put me off as I'm not that keen on garlic. Looked a nice place though, very romantic.

*Fresh Market square Buffet* All you can eat breakfast for £6.00, and champagne Brunch for about £10 a head. Remember with these buffets, you can eat all you want. There were plenty of choice, they served international cuisine and a variety of lavish desserts.

*Garden cafe* This is the place where we ate everyday for at least one meal. It was a very colourful cafe. You had to queue and the lady would come to you and ask if you wanted smoking or non smoking. The non smoking you had to wait a while sometimes. What was annoying though was the casino gold members or whatever they were called got to jump the queue. This we found annoying. They did serve enormous portions in there though, it was worth the wait. I had a steak and onion sandwich and couldn't eat it all. It cost £6.00 and came with fries, coleslaw. There was plenty of choice here, but mostly on the sandwich, salad side. everyday they would put on a special, sometimes it would be a burger and a budweiser, it would cost less than a fiver. The staff were a bit slow at serving, but were friendly enough.

*The Range Steakhouse* Here you can get a view of Las vegas from every table. The decor was all rustic. The prices were quite high, usually over £20 a steak or so. We gave it a miss.

*Winning Streaks Stadiulm bar and Grill* They serve hamburgers, sandwiches and deli food. There are large screens for you to watch whilst eating , all containing sport. The entertainment there consisted of the Casino of course. A show called skintight, which is a late night revue, with sexy girls. We didn't bother with that.

We saw a comedien called Mac something or other at a free show. They give you two free tickets when claiming your room key. We had to buy two drinks though to make sure we got in. They cost us about £9.00 for both of us, but we could have anything, I chose a Pina Colada. He was a magician with comedy thrown in, he was quite good. All the hotels seem to be doing this, offering you free tickets but you have to buy at least one drink each. The showroom is where Clint Holmes stars, apparently he's been voted the Best Singer by the las vegas review journal. He appears regularly. Theres also the Playa lounge with Live bands on, we saw some seventies gear knocking about. The band had on curly afro perms and groovy gear. They sounded ok. You can get up and dance if you like.

*The Rooms* The rooms were very nice and spacious. We had two large beds, there were wardrobes here which is quite unusual for the US, they normally just have a clothes rail in other hotels I've stayed in. The wardrobe was built round a unit which housed a large screen TV, 25" I think. It was meant to have an nintendo built in, but it never worked . There was also a table and chairs and a nice spacious bathroom, with hairdryer etc. Everyday we got new toiletries, I couldn't even open a soap without another popping up again. We had tissues in a dispenser in the bathroom and plenty of vanity space for our own toiletries. The maid service is always excellent, they even fold your loo roll in a fancy way.

We also had a mini bar stocked with beer, liquers, pop and chocolate. it was quite pricey, you paid £1.50 for a small tube of prigles. The bar had a sensor so everything you lifted off even if you didn't eat it would get charged to the room. I realised this when scanning a bar of choccie, I quickly put it back once I realised I would get charged even for looking. Luckily because I had put it back straightway, I didn't get charged.

The rooms also had a great temperature control, which was automatic. They called it an energy control sensor. The units purpose was to minimise energy waste when the room is unoccupied. So when you return back to your room, it sensors you and puts the temperature back to a comfortable temperature. it says you shouldn't feel any discomfort so it won't get too hot or too cold.

When we checked in we were surprised to pay a $3.00 a night energy charge which has never happened before. My mum and dad stayed at the Stratosphere and it was cheaper, it must be a new thing.

The check in was very quick, and apparently you can do a quick checkout on your tv screen when it works. If you don't have any costings, then you can just check yourself out and go, leaving the key behind of course. This wouldn't work, but because it was very early in the morning, we got a quick checkout anyway.

*Facelities* Laundry service, picked up by 10am anmd returned by 6pm, just place your dirty things in the bag provided. Vending Machines on all floors, usually found round the corner from an elevator. Baby Sitting service. Beauty salon and barber shop. Swimming pool. Medical Services. Religious services.

Free Safe Deposit at reception.

Shoeshine Outlet.

Shops galore.

To use the Gym and sauna it cost £10 a day for hotel guests from 6am to 8pm. It had treadmills, Tetrix Bicycles, Circuit Workouts, Whirlppols and Steamroom.

Spa The treatments were, massages ranging from $120, $80 and $50 dollars. A body wrap was $125 dollars facial treatments were $125 and $85. Perms were $75 dollars and up, a colour was $55 and up. A blow dry was $30 and up. They also did waxing, bikini line, brows and manicures. I thought that they were a little too expensive for my budget.

If I happened to go to Las vegas again, I would stay here again. I found it friendly, clean, fun and very central for all hotels and entertainment.

The address is 3475 Las Vegas Boulevard. Telephone number is (702) 369-5000

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