Vegas baby - whoo! Need we say more? But we will. If you are planning a Las Vegas vacation, you picked a great spot. It's one of the most exciting cities of the world, often called Sin City or the City of Neon Lights.
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Everyone knows the phrase, "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas." From fancy hotels on the Strip, to shows and showgirls, Vegas has it all. Whether you want a romantic vacation for two, a wild time with pool parties that go all night, or even a wedding, Vegas has something for everyone.
Las Vegas is an adult playground with delights for everyone. It can sometimes be overwhelming to the average tourist on vacation, the crowds, the lights, all designed to wash over your senses. There's always something to do and see. There are free shows every night along the Strip, including the pirate show at Treasure Island, a volcano eruption at the Mirage and the fountains at Bellagio. And there's more, much more, from nightclubs where the action doesn't even start until 10pm to Broadway shows featuring some of the hottest stars. Las Vegas is a place not to be missed.
Where to stay, where to stay? The hotel choices can seem infinite in a place like Las Vegas. The good news is there is something for everyone. Want the glitz and glamour of the Strip? There are lots of hotel choices there, an easy cab ride from the airport.
Steve Wynn opened the Mirage in 1989 and next-door Treasure Island in 1993. Between the two there are close to 6,000 rooms. Wynn later built Bellagio which looks like an Italian villa, complete with a lake with water shows in front.. He sold his holdings just after the turn of the century, but he couldn't stay out of the game. His latest ventures are Wynn and Encore. Other massive resorts followed with Excalibur, the distinctive pyramid shaped Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Paris Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, New York New York, the Venetian, Palazzo, Caesars Palace and the huge MGM Grand. And the growth goes on with the opening of City Center, the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Aria, Four Seasons, all between Bellagio and Monte Carlo. MGM owns many of the hotels, Harrahs owns a lot too.
Many of the hotels will put together wedding packages for you and your love. A Las Vegas wedding seems to be the ultimate destination wedding for many people. There are of course also the little chapels further down the Las Vegas strip from the big hotels.
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Most of the hotels, especially the large ones such as Cosmopolitan, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, Hard Rock and others, also have decadent swimming pools, featuring pool parties that can go all night. For a less rowdy time, the mid-90's also brought the revival of downtown Las Vegas with the building of the Fremont Street Experience. It is basically a roof that stands close to 100 feet high over Fremont Street and stretches over 1500 feet from Main to Fourth. There are over a million and half lights set into the ceiling that can be programmed to provide a show.
No Las vegas vacation would be complete without seeing shows. Getting tickets can be tough for some of the Cirque du Soleil shows, but there are so many choices, and they change all the time. Big name performers do shows here all the time.
If you've got some money you want to spend during your Las vegas vacation on some of the best things in life, then Las Vegas has places for you to spend it. Looking for a Rolex watch, a real one not one you buy on the street, you can get it in Las Vegas. Maybe you want to splurge on a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes, you can find them here in Las Vegas. Shopping in Las Vegas can be as entertaining as anything else. City Center has a huge number of high-end upscale shops. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace are connected to the Caesars Palace complex, but they also stand alone. The recent addition is three stories and over 175,000 feet itself. Mandalay Place is another shopping mall that is closely aligned with a hotel, in this case Mandalay Bay, but also stands alone. It is located in the elevated walkway that connects Mandalay Bay and Luxor. Encore Esplanade is located in the new Encore, the sister hotel of Wynn. Some of the stores here include Chanel, Ensemble, Hermés and Wynn & Company. Inside the Venetian you'll find the Grand Canal Shoppes. With a painted ceiling that looks like the sky and a gondola in the canal next to you, you feel you are walking along the streets of Venice. Via Bellagio is located on the lakeside of the Bellagio Resort. Some of the restaurants have a balcony that looks out on the lake and the water shows.
