Shimmering from the desert haze of Nevada, Las Vegas is the most dynamic, spectacular city on earth. At the start of the twentieth century, it didn't even exist; at the start of the twenty-first, it's home to well over one million people, with enough newcomers arriving to need a new school every month.
Las Vegas is not like other cities. No city in history has so explicitly valued the needs of visitors above those of its own population. All its growth has been fueled by tourism, but the tourists haven't spoiled the "real" city – there is no real city. Las Vegas doesn't have fascinating little-known neighborhoods, and it's not a place where visitors can go off the beaten track to have more authentic experiences. Instead, the whole thing is completely self-referential. Las Vegas boasts that it has the vast majority of the world's largest hotels – and around thirty-seven million tourists each year come to see them.
Each of these monster hotels is much more than a mere hotel, and more, too, than the casino that invariably lies at its core. They're extraordinary places: self-contained fantasylands of high camp and genuine excitement that can stretch as much as a mile from end to end. Each holds its own flamboyant permutation of showrooms and swimming pools, luxurious guest quarters and restaurants, high-tech rides and attractions.
Las Vegas lies at the heart of the hottest, harshest desert in North America, and so receives less than four inches of rain (10cm) per year. Temperatures, however, vary enormously, with daytime maximums averaging over 100°F (38°C) in July and August, and night-time minimums dropping below freezing in December and January. The midsummer heat on the Strip is unbearable, making it impossible to walk any distance during the day. The ideal months to visit are April, May, September and October. Hotel swimming pools tend to be closed between October and March inclusive.
Believe it or not, there are a few things to do in Las Vegas besides visiting the Strip and its casinos – although you really must do that if you go! The Elvis-A-Rama museum contains just enough Presley memorabilia to satisfy avid fans of the King. The Liberace Museum is a fabulous romp through the life and times of the former Walter Liberace (1919-87).
Of course, live entertainment remains a crucial component of the Las Vegas package, and the days of the big-budget "spectacular" are far from over. And, believe it or not, Las Vegas has finally come of age as an international clubbing capital. Sports enthusiasts will be pleased to know that opportunities do exist for the need for exercise, too. Bowling, ice skating and health clubs are just a few of the varied choices.
To learn about the Best of Las Vegas, click here. For information on gambling, click here.
To look for and make hotel reservations in Las Vegas, click through to our Hotel Search page. For information on city transportation, including rental cars, buses, shuttle services and more, go to City Transport. To research the many options available for local buffets, check out Eating / Buffets.
Here are more links to help you plan your fabulously exciting holiday to Las Vegas:
• Arrival Information
• City Directory
• Search for Flights and Hotels
• Search for Vacation Rentals
• And last, but certainly not least, are the many Wedding Chapels you'll find in Las Vegas, including casino chapels so you don't have to stray far and novelty wedding venues so you can have your wedding your way.
Enjoy Vegas, baby!
Previous Destinations:
• Paris, France
• Banff, Alberta, Canada
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Sydney, Australia
• Japan
• The Bahamas
• Zurich, Switzerland
• Fairbanks, Alaska
• San Diego, California