To-do list for first timers to Las Vegas
They say Las Vegas is the eastern extension of Southern California. With people like me, going to Vegas almost twice every year, we stand true to this saying.
The following is an email I sent to my friend visiting Vegas with her husband this weekend. I thought it was pretty comprehensive so I thought of putting up on the blog. First time tourists might find it helpful.
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Here are the hotels/casinos and their attractions worth seeing:
1. MGM Grand - Check out the front lobby. It's pretty huge and attractive. Check out the lions in a glass cage. It's fun to see them. Also check out the Rainforest Cafe.
2. New York New York - Do the ride outside the hotel. You'll have to pay for it. Also check inside of the hotel. It's pretty cool. They have a look of New York City inside.
3. Excalibur - Just see from outside. No need to go inside. It's strictly OK.
4. Luxor - You cannot miss it from outside - it has Egyptian theme. I have never been inside but it seems its quite cool.
5. Mandalay Bay - Again you cannot miss it from outside - it has complete golden buildings. If possible, visit the pool area. It seems their pool looks like a beach. I have never been inside the hotel. But it's quite cool.
6. Monte Carlo - Just see from outside. There isn't much interesting inside.
7. Paris - You can take the elevator up the Eifel Tower. You'll have to pay for it. Inside, there isn't much interesting.
8. Alladin - It is right besides Paris. You must go inside and walk around. It has that sky effect where you'll not know whether its day or night. Pretty cool.
9. Bellagio - One of the best in Vegas. Must see it inside out. The musical Fountains at Bellagio are my personal favourite. They are most fun when it's dark outside. They have shows every 15 minutes. Definitely must go inside. The hotel is very well done. See the front lobby and the garden inside - truly amazing. There is a dessert shop inside that has a cool chocolate fountain. The desserts are cool too.
10. Ceasers' Palace - This is next to Bellagio. This hotel/casino is HUGE! It'll take you forever to walk through this one. Definitely worth going inside. I can't recollect exactly but it has quite a few things worth seeing. I guess the shopping area within the hotel is really cool.
11. Mirage - It's really cool from outside. Just like another casino from inside. Check out the FIRE show outside the Mirage. It's free and only after dark.
12. Treasure Island - You should see this from inside and outside. Outside, they have a free show called the Pirates show. I guess they have it every 1 hour. So you should call them in advance and find out the show timings. Ceaser's, Mirage and TI are all in one line.
13. Venetian - Again, one of the best hotels in Vegas. Complete European feeling. You can go to this one in the morning/afternoon. Don't miss the Gondola ride in the hotel. You'll feel like you're in Venice. See the hotel completely. The architecture is really cool.
14. Wynn - This is the latest hotel in Vegas. It's really modern and chic. Check out the Ferrari showroom inside the hotel. You'll have to pay to get in the showroom. Also check out the Lights and Water Show that they have inside the hotel. The show is actually outdoors but there is a viewing balcony inside the hotel. Again, it's more fun in the dark.
15. Stratosphere - Do the rides that are on top of the tower.
All the hotels above are on 1 street - Las Vegas Blvd (or the STRIP). They are all within 3 miles. I can't think of any other hotels that you must see on the strip. Besides that:
1. Fremont Street Experience - This isn't on the strip. It is a little away from the main casinos. The area is called Vegas Downtown or old Las Vegas. The show takes place every half hour and is most definitely worth seeing. I can guarantee you wouldn't have seen a lights show like this ever before.
2. Coke Shop and M&M Factory- These are just besides MGM Grand on the strip. They are really unique stores. Must see them.
Clubs - These are the ones I recommend:
Rain @ Palms
Tao @ Venetian
Jet @ Mirage
Body English @ Hard Rock Hotel
Bikini @ Rio
Studio 54 @ MGM
Lounges - These are the ones I recommend:
Ghost Bar @ Palms (can go there if you're going to Rain anyways. It's on the top floor and you can see the entire strip from there)
Voodoo Lounge @ Rio (again on the top floor. Great view of the strip)
Shows: Here's the list of shows that are all about huge sets and acrobatics etc. They are indeed larger than life:
O @ Bellagio
KA @ MGM
Zumanity @ New York New York
Le Reve @ Wynn
P.S: Remember - Gamble a lot! Party Hard! What Happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!
The following is an email I sent to my friend visiting Vegas with her husband this weekend. I thought it was pretty comprehensive so I thought of putting up on the blog. First time tourists might find it helpful.
***
Here are the hotels/casinos and their attractions worth seeing:
1. MGM Grand - Check out the front lobby. It's pretty huge and attractive. Check out the lions in a glass cage. It's fun to see them. Also check out the Rainforest Cafe.
2. New York New York - Do the ride outside the hotel. You'll have to pay for it. Also check inside of the hotel. It's pretty cool. They have a look of New York City inside.
3. Excalibur - Just see from outside. No need to go inside. It's strictly OK.
4. Luxor - You cannot miss it from outside - it has Egyptian theme. I have never been inside but it seems its quite cool.
5. Mandalay Bay - Again you cannot miss it from outside - it has complete golden buildings. If possible, visit the pool area. It seems their pool looks like a beach. I have never been inside the hotel. But it's quite cool.
6. Monte Carlo - Just see from outside. There isn't much interesting inside.
7. Paris - You can take the elevator up the Eifel Tower. You'll have to pay for it. Inside, there isn't much interesting.
8. Alladin - It is right besides Paris. You must go inside and walk around. It has that sky effect where you'll not know whether its day or night. Pretty cool.
9. Bellagio - One of the best in Vegas. Must see it inside out. The musical Fountains at Bellagio are my personal favourite. They are most fun when it's dark outside. They have shows every 15 minutes. Definitely must go inside. The hotel is very well done. See the front lobby and the garden inside - truly amazing. There is a dessert shop inside that has a cool chocolate fountain. The desserts are cool too.
10. Ceasers' Palace - This is next to Bellagio. This hotel/casino is HUGE! It'll take you forever to walk through this one. Definitely worth going inside. I can't recollect exactly but it has quite a few things worth seeing. I guess the shopping area within the hotel is really cool.
11. Mirage - It's really cool from outside. Just like another casino from inside. Check out the FIRE show outside the Mirage. It's free and only after dark.
12. Treasure Island - You should see this from inside and outside. Outside, they have a free show called the Pirates show. I guess they have it every 1 hour. So you should call them in advance and find out the show timings. Ceaser's, Mirage and TI are all in one line.
13. Venetian - Again, one of the best hotels in Vegas. Complete European feeling. You can go to this one in the morning/afternoon. Don't miss the Gondola ride in the hotel. You'll feel like you're in Venice. See the hotel completely. The architecture is really cool.
14. Wynn - This is the latest hotel in Vegas. It's really modern and chic. Check out the Ferrari showroom inside the hotel. You'll have to pay to get in the showroom. Also check out the Lights and Water Show that they have inside the hotel. The show is actually outdoors but there is a viewing balcony inside the hotel. Again, it's more fun in the dark.
15. Stratosphere - Do the rides that are on top of the tower.
All the hotels above are on 1 street - Las Vegas Blvd (or the STRIP). They are all within 3 miles. I can't think of any other hotels that you must see on the strip. Besides that:
1. Fremont Street Experience - This isn't on the strip. It is a little away from the main casinos. The area is called Vegas Downtown or old Las Vegas. The show takes place every half hour and is most definitely worth seeing. I can guarantee you wouldn't have seen a lights show like this ever before.
2. Coke Shop and M&M Factory- These are just besides MGM Grand on the strip. They are really unique stores. Must see them.
Clubs - These are the ones I recommend:
Rain @ Palms
Tao @ Venetian
Jet @ Mirage
Body English @ Hard Rock Hotel
Bikini @ Rio
Studio 54 @ MGM
Lounges - These are the ones I recommend:
Ghost Bar @ Palms (can go there if you're going to Rain anyways. It's on the top floor and you can see the entire strip from there)
Voodoo Lounge @ Rio (again on the top floor. Great view of the strip)
Shows: Here's the list of shows that are all about huge sets and acrobatics etc. They are indeed larger than life:
O @ Bellagio
KA @ MGM
Zumanity @ New York New York
Le Reve @ Wynn
P.S: Remember - Gamble a lot! Party Hard! What Happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!
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