What are the places I cannot miss while visiting Las Vegas?

Things to remember:

1.Drinks are free when you’re gambling. Sitting at a bar and playing a few dollars in a poker machine will get you a free drink. Sitting at a machine in the casino will get you the same. Tipping the waitress or bartender a dollar or two will keep her coming back. If you walk up to the bar and order drinks, you’re going to pay lots more, even for soda or bottled water.

2.Player’s Cards: Before you begin gambling, get a player’s card. Most places offer sign up deals (a coffee cup, a free meal, assorted coupons). If you get a card where you’re staying and you use it while you’re gambling, you can “save” the points and use then toward your room when you check out. Some casinos will combine accounts for married couples, some don’t. I always get a card in my name and ask for a second card. I play with one and my husband plays with the other. That way all the points are going to one card, and accumulate faster. Plus … you’ll get offers in the mail for your next trip!

3.Beware of time-share people! As you walk through the hotels and along the strip, you’ll be approached by people who want to give you free show tickets, free tours, free meals, etc. These are time-share sales people. They promise freebies in exchange for an hour of your time. I warn everyone about this but some people just don’t listen. A friend of mine decided an hour of her time was worth giving up in exchange for a show. So her and her husband accepted, were put on a bus and taken to a “presentation” and weren’t bought back for SIX hours. Their only escape would have been to take a cab back to the strip but that would have been expensive and they wouldn’t have gotten their “free” show tickets. The best way to get these people to lose interest in you and move on to the next person is to say, “Thanks, but we’re leaving tonight.”

4.Free Pulls: Some of the casinos offer “free pulls” on a special slot machine as you walk in the door. There are usually no strings attached, you pull the lever and win something. Usually it’s a key ring or a hat; sometimes it’s a free buffet. Sometimes it’s a coupon for a “fun book” (a book of coupons for that casino). To get the fun book, you can be sure you’re going to have to walk to a far, far corner in the casino. They want to get you WAY inside.

5.$40 for $20: Some casinos offer $40 in slot play for $20. What they don’t tell you is that it’s on a bank of “special” machines, and you can’t cash out for cash. Instead, you play the $40 and then choose a prize based on the credits. So before you hand over your $20, take a look at the prizes being offered. If there’s something in there that’s worth paying $20 for – have fun. If not, keep walking.

6.Valet: If you’re going to be renting a car while you’re there, valet parking is the way to go. For a $2 tip, you can park at a hotel or casino and visit the nearby hotels and casinos.

7.Bus: If you use the busses that run up and down the strip, put your wallet in your front pocket. Vegas is the favorite vacation spot for pick-pocketers, too.

8.Cabs: Cabs are more expensive than a bus, but faster and less waiting. Almost all hotels have a cab line outside one of their doors, a line of cabs waiting for the next fare. A hotel employee will whistle for the next cab in line when you ask for a cab.

Things to see (and most are FREE!):

1.The Freemont Street Experience: Every night there is a light and music show that stretches for blocks. It’s an amazing thing to see … and it’s FREE. Freemont Street is in downtown Vegas, you’ll need to take a cab if you don’t have a car. The street is blocked off from traffic and you can stand in the street and look up and watch the show. (Another place to keep a close check on your wallet.) There’s a different show every 30 minutes, beginning at 8:00 or 8:30 PM. Show times and pictures can be seen at: http://www.vegasexperience.com/ Be sure to check out the video! Freemont Street also has performers and kiosks all along it. Lots to see and worth a trip. Downtown used to be nasty and scary, but they’ve cleaned it up and it’s clean and safe now. Just don’t wander too far off Freemont on any of the side streets. You probably wouldn’t want to anyway, most of the action is right on Freemont.

2.The Fountains at Bellagio: Don’t miss this! It’s a 900-foot long row of fountains that “dance” to music. The songs change, and it’s awesome to see. More info at: http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/bell... While you’re there, go inside and check out the conservatory. Very impressive!

3.Caesars Forum Shops: If you feel like strolling through Rome, check out the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This is also where the talking statues live. More info on the shops and a link to info on the talking statues at: http://www.vegas.com/shopping/forumshops.html

4.The Canal at the Venetian: This is pretty amazing and a MUST see. You feel like you’re in Italy as you stroll along the canal and visit the shops. You can even take a gondola ride. Check out the Canal Shoppes at: http://www.venetian.com/shoppe/index.cfm and get information on the gondolas at: http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/gond...

5.The Volcano, The Tigers and The Aquarium at The Mirage: If you go up the moving walkway and through the front door at the Mirage, you’ll see the white tiger. Pretty cool to see. Head through the foliage to the front lobby and check out the wall behind the check-in desk. It’s a HUGE salt-water aquarium. In front of the hotel there is a huge waterfall that turns into an erupting volcano (loud, bright, and hot!) at night. A trip to Vegas without seeing the volcano erupt just wouldn’t be a trip to Vegas. http://www.themirage.com/

6.The Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo: An outdoor habitat located within the Flamingo. You can watch the penguins play and see the live flamingos (still haven’t figured out how to kidnap one) plus lots of other birds, fish, and turtles. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/wild...

7.Masquerade Village at The Rio: Masquerade Village is inside the casino at the Mirage. There is a parade in the sky with music and dancing and lights that’s pretty cool to see. This is located off the strip, too far to walk, but there is a free shuttle that goes from Harrah’s to Rio and back. More info and a video at: http://www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rlv/entertainme...

8.The Eiffel Tower at Paris: You can take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/eiff...

Other Info:

You can find a map of the strip and downtown Las Vegas here: http://www.vegas.com/map.html

You can find a show guide here: http://www.vegas.com/shows/index1.html?key=show01 This site has a search engine that allows you to enter the dates you’ll be in town.

Some GOOD sources of Las Vegas info:

www.vegas.com

http://www.lasvegas24hours.com/

http://www.vegasfreedom.com/do/index.jsp

With the kids-

Circus Circus

New york New york-ride the coaster

Same with the stratosphere-roller coaster

Bellagio fountain

Treasure Island has a pirate show with dancers and fireworks like 3 times a day

Shows-

Cirque de Solei-just do not take the kids to Zumanity, it is an adult targeted show-Mystique at treasure island is probably the best one for kids

Blue Man Group

Venetian has a nice shopping area and Gondola rides

The Mirage has the volcano, and the white tigers as well as the animal zoo

Mandalay Bay has the aquarium with the sharks and a great pool with a big wave pool

Hard Rock can be fun to see all the outfits the stars have worn

For you and hubby, have a nice dinner at one of the awesome restaurants

Charlie Palmer Steakhouse

China Grill

The Palm

Capital Grill

Shintaro

You can go boating, fishing, jetskiing on Lake Mead. Hiking in Red Rocks Canyon (bring *lots* of water). The Bellagio Hotel and Casino's fountains are impressive. They also have an art gallery which is worth checking out. The Luxor has really great statuary. Circus Circus can be a good sidetrip if you're going to have younger kids with you, as they have clowns, mimes, circus acts. The Freemont street experience is worth seeing at least once, for the more "vintage" side of Las Vegas. If you want to hang out where the locals do, Green Valley is not too shabby. There's an awesome French restaurant in the Tropicana called Pietro's. It's a little pricey, but some of the best French cuisine ever. Their Steak Diane will knock your socks off.

Check out Nellis AFB...alot of the time the Thunderbirds practice out there and they are lots of fun to watch. Even if they aren't there, there are usually fighter planes flying around and kids love to watch them! Hoover Dam is a fun place to visit, the Coca Cola/M&M stores are fun for kids and there is a game area on the lower level. Circus Circus has a few rides that kids would enjoy as well. Visit Fremont Street in the evening....the light show is awesome! The pirate show at TI is a good show for kids to see. The Bellagio has a gorgeous water show that kids would enjoy. Have fun and drink a LOT of water...it gets HOT!

Contrary to popular belief, Las Vegas is NOT a place for children. Between the cigarette smoke and questionable behaviour of the tourists, it is not a place to take children.

However, if you use Las Vegas as a base camp, go see Hoover Dam, Mount Charleston, and I think you can make it to Bryce Canyon and back in a day. Also, rent a boat and take a picnic on Lake Mead.

i lived in vegas for over 15 years. take the kids to circus circus, there a big top there with lots of games and in the back of the casino there is the grand slam canyon, a theme park. kids will love you forever. for you and hubby, go to any show. there most likely will be one in your budget. each casino usually has a ticket booth for the different shows. find out where it is where you are staying. there is also lake mead, hoover dam. and a lot of other places like red rock canyon. mount charleston. to name a few more. vegas is the best, there is something for everyone. of all ages!!! there is even casinos that have daycares!!! i think texas station has one. have fun!!!!

Fashion Show Mall, Caesars, Wynn, Venetian There's an outlet around 15 & Charleston that's H U G E, about 20 minutes off the strip if traffic is just right.

If you have children, go to Circus Circus. Don't forget to see the Bellagio fountains, Mirage's volcano, Fremont Streets's Lights show among others. They're free! For more info, go to http://www.vegas.com/attractions/?vc1=1&vc2=txtl_t...

The Luxor, Circus-Circus(Especially for children), The Magic Show and Stratoshpere ( It is that big needle with roller costers on the top floor)

Cirque Du Soleil (probably spelled it incorrectly, but it was a blast)

You simply MUST go on the rides at Statesphere!