Need to know Hot Vegas Tips
by Tina Shaw
Las Vegas is one of my favourite places in the world. It was where I married my sweetheart and rediscovered my love of travel. Vegas holds such special memories for me and is almost like a home away from home. When I announce that I am off to Vegas for another trip, I invariably get the following comments; “What’s the point, there’s only gambling and strippers? Why would YOU want to go THERE?” Let me tell you, Las Vegas is so much more. Yes there is gambling and casinos and slot machines everywhere you look and yes the women are often scantily clad and there are strip bars and Go Go dancers hanging off the odd pole or two, but if you can see past this, you will find the most amazing things. Vegas has the best night time view you will see anywhere. The lights are beyond magical and I defy anyone not to enjoy them. There are shows galore, beautiful gardens, amazing food and the most luxurious and decadent hotels in the world. I am clearly a huge fan.
Las Vegas is a place for all, from singles, to couples, to families and caters for all budgets. It is an extremely busy place and when visiting for the first time it can be quite overwhelming. The last thing you want is to plan your dream vacation only to find out everything is sold out when you get there. Las Vegas Hotels, Las Vegas Shows and Las Vegas Tours are the reason people go to Las Vegas. When planning your trip, take a look over my hot tips below and you can’t go wrong.
• Book Your Holiday: Flights: Before you leave, book as much as you can online: flights, accommodation, airport transfers, shows, tours etc. Websites such as www.bookit.com and www.expedia.com are experts at arranging all inclusive package deals and I have found them to be much more budget friendly than regular travel agencies.
Hotel: Choosing a hotel can be difficult but I recommend staying on the Strip. The mid area is best. This way you can pretty much get to everything. Staying at one end of the Strip or the other, can exclude you from fun walk by traffic and events. The mid area has accommodation raging from inexpensive to high end, to suit every budget.
Transfers: If you don’t have airport transfers included in your package, take my advice and organise them separately prior to travel. We have used Bell Trans which is only a $28 round trip (www.bell-trans.com/shuttle-booking.php). You do not want to be waiting for hours at the airport for a taxi. If you do take a cab, don’t ask your driver to take the strip. It will cost you as you sit in long lines of traffic that seem to move backwards. Taking the #15 will reduce your cab ride substantially as it bypasses the strip and has many exits that will get you to your hotel much faster and cost you less.
• $20 Trick: When arriving at your hotel, we found the $20 tip trick to be of great advantage. When checking in, ask for an upgrade and slide your passport or identification over the counter with a $20 note slipped inside. Generally you will get your upgrade and if not, the staff member will hand your money back. My husband and I have been upgraded to rooms far better than we have paid for, just by using this simple trick.
• Hot Tip: As with most travel, if you are on a budget, always make sure you eat a good breakfast. There are restaurants like Denny’s (www.dennys.com open 24 hours a day and conveniently located on the Strip between Casino Royale and The Venetian) that have huge American breakfasts for bargain prices, or have your breakfast included in your accommodation. You will find that if you fill up early on, you will eat less throughout the day and therefore spend less money.
• Food: Having said that, there are some eats that must be sampled; the pizza at New York, New York (upstairs in the eatery), the burritos at the little hole in the wall below McDonalds on the Strip, the amazing meals and cocktails at the Paris Eiffel Tower
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