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WEEKEND GETAWAYS - Friday, January 4, 2008
Make The Most Of Your Vacation - From Coast to Coast!
Greetings Getaway Lover,
Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas! The glittery, glamorous
Strip, from Mandalay Bay up to the Stratosphere, is the
heart of the city, and the hub of the action is at the
Flamingo Road intersection. Here's where you find Paris,
Bellagio, Caesars Palace, and the Flamingo. You can walk
from this area to the Mirage, Treasure Island, and the
Venetian, though it's a bit of a schlep to walk all the
way to Wynn. Anything north of Wynn (the New Frontier,
Stardust, Westward Ho, Circus Circus, and the
Stratosphere) is out of the way from the rest of the
Strip; because this area doesn't have much going on,
you'll probably end up taking cabs or driving to the
middle of the Strip. The southern part of the Strip, in-
cluding Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, New York-New
York, and MGM Grand, has a lot more going for it. It's
easy to get around (there's a small, free monorail that
runs from Mandalay to Excalibur, with a stop at Luxor)
and most casinos have restaurants, shopping, nightlife,
and shows to rival those at the casinos mid-Strip.
Happy Trails,
Jan
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--DESTINATION: Las Vegas
Off the Strip. Though some people would never dream of
staying off the Strip, staying a few blocks to the east
or west (along Paradise Road, which runs parallel to the
Strip, or on Flamingo Road west of I-15) does have its
advantages. Some of the coolest casinos -- Hard Rock, the
Palms, and Rio -- are all off the Strip. Because these
properties want to keep you on-site (so that you won't
take your money elsewhere), they have great restaurants
and nightlife, player-friendly rules and good payouts in
the casinos, and lively atmospheres. Other properties,
like the Westin Casuarina and Renaissance Las Vegas,
provide calm, serene settings -- something you don't find
a lot of on the Strip. The downside to staying off the
Strip? Staying off the Strip. At some point you'll prob-
ably want to get yourself over there, which means you'll
be taking cabs if you don't have a car. That said, this
area is far less congested than the Strip -- for instance,
if you need to get to Wynn Las Vegas, sometimes it can be
more difficult, depending on traffic, to get there from
Mandalay Bay than from the Palms.
Downtown. It's obvious that the area where Fremont Street
meets Las Vegas Boulevard has seen better days: hotels and
casinos tend to be older (but less expensive) than those
on the Strip, and there are far more street hawkers. The
whole area is just a bit rough around the edges. But don't
write downtown off completely. It's home to the Fremont
Street Experience (a light show centered around the world's
largest electric sign), which is a nice free activity, and
there's also a developing arts district, with art galleries,
restaurants, and bars slowly cropping up.
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--WHAT TO DO AND SEE:
Bellagio Conservatory
Garden/Arboretum, Center Strip
The flowers, shrubs, trees, and other plants in the
atrium are fresh and live, grown in Bellagio's 5-acre
greenhouse. They change each season. www.bellagio.com.
COST: Free. OPEN: Daily 24 hrs.
Address: Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Phone: 702/693-7111 or 888/744-7687
Casino Legends Hall of Fame
Museum/Gallery, South Strip
Old Las Vegas chips, slot machines, photographs, post-
cards, movie posters, album covers, and entertainer
contracts and paychecks are just a few examples of what
you can see here. The Hall of Fame has the world's
largest collection of Nevada casino memorabilia. You'll
also find a mock-up of a showgirl's dressing room and
numerous video monitors running documentaries about
casino implosions, celebrities, hotel fires, and organ-
ized crime figures. Look for free-entry coupons in the
casinos. www.tropicanalv.com. COST: $4. OPEN: Sun.-
Thurs. 8 AM-9 PM, Fri. and Sat. 8 AM-midnight.
Address: Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Phone: 702/739-2222 or 800/634-4000
CBS Television City
Local Interest-Sight, South Strip
Screen potential new shows for parent company Viacom's
networks, which also include Nickelodeon and MTV. A
survey following the 45-minute previewed program lasts
about 15 minutes, so you should expect to spend an hour
total. www.mgmgrand.com. COST: Free. OPEN: Daily 10-10.
Address: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Phone: 702/891-7776 or 800/646-7787
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Other Places of Interest:
Cyber Speedway at Sahara
Sports, North Strip
Did you ever want to be a race-car driver? Well, here's
your chance to get a taste of the action without having
to risk your neck on a racecourse. First you get into a
car about the size of an authentic stock car. Then you
buckle your seat belt and prepare for a ride that
simulates the driving experience by moving your car on
hydraulic bases. Meanwhile, you see the speedway rush
past and under you on a 20-foot wraparound movie screen.
Each ride can feel different because you can customize
your vehicle's horsepower, braking, transmission torque,
and suspension. www.saharavegas.com. COST: $10, unlimit-
ed day pass (Speedway rides and roller coaster) $19.95.
OPEN: Sun.-Thurs. 10-9, Fri. and Sat. 10-midnight.
Address: Sahara Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Phone: 702/737-2111 or 888/696-2121
Eiffel Tower Experience
Viewpoint, Center Strip
Built exactly to a half-size scale, the Las Vegas ver-
sion of the Parisian landmark rises above it all; the
Eiffel Tower Restaurant is on the 11th floor, and three
legs of the tower come right through the casino roof,
resting heavily on its floor. A glass elevator ascends
to the tower's small observation deck (a caged catwalk)
at the 460-foot level. Although you can catch a better,
bigger view of the Las Vegas Valley and have more walk-
around room at the top of the Stratosphere, the Eiffel
Tower offers an incomparable view of the mid-Strip. The
elevator only holds 10 passengers, so there is a wait
to get to the top. But once up there, you can stay on
the observation deck as long as you want. After dark,
watch for the dancing-waters show at Bellagio, directly
across the street. Wait 15 minutes until the next show
begins to get an unobstructed view. www.paris-lv.com.
COST: $9. OPEN: Daily 9:30 AM-12:30 AM weather permit-
ting.
Address: Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Phone: 702/946-7000 or 888/226-5687
Elvis-A-Rama Museum
Museum/Gallery, North Strip
The quintessential Elvis experience can be found at
this spot on Industrial Road (behind the Fashion Show
Mall). The must-see museum (for Elvis fans, at least)
houses four of the King's cars, including his purple
Lincoln and his 1955 Fleetwood limo. More than 2,000
of Elvis's personal items are on display, including
some of his jewelry, clothing, letters, and records.
Every hour an Elvis impersonator croons to fans on a
small stage; various impersonators cover different
decades of his career. Buy Elvis clocks, key chains,
pins, books, and other collectibles in the gift shop.
Call the museum to arrange for a free shuttle pickup
from any major hotel on the Strip. www.elvisarama.com.
COST: $9.95. OPEN: Daily 10-6.
Address: 3401 Industrial Rd., Las Vegas, NV, USA
Phone: 702/309-7200
------------------------------------------------------------
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------------------------------------------------------------
--WHERE TO SLEEP:
Fiesta Henderson
Under $50 to $110, Henderson
A relatively small and inexpensive counterpart to the
fancier casinos and resorts in Henderson, this Mexico-
inspired property is patterned loosely after a Latin
American rain forest, tending to draw an older, value-
minded crowd that appreciates the compact layout. It's
as economical as most downtown properties, but in better
condition and without the dinginess that sometimes
characterizes those facilities.
Hotel. Having undergone a major renovation in early
2005, this budget-oriented property that's part of the
Station Casinos family stacks up well with any other in
Vegas with such low rates. Rooms have Mexican-inspired
beds with carved-wood headboards, tables with wrought-
iron chairs, and pastel prints of tropical seaside
scenes. Bathrooms are strictly ordinary but decent in
size and have tile floors. Rooms facing north take in
the spectacular Strip skyline in the distance. A big
draw here is the cheerful and enthusiastic staff --
it's a bit friendlier in these parts than is often the
case in LV proper. The hotel's sister property, on the
northwest side of town, offers a similarly good value.
Casino. The southern Valley counterpart to the popular
Fiesta Rancho replicates the Festival Buffet and
Garduño's Mexican restaurant, and because it shares slot-
club points and privileges with its sister property, it's
just as good a spot for video poker as the original Fiesta.
henderson.fiestacasino.com. 224 rooms. In-hotel: 4
restaurants, bar, pool, parking (no fee). AE, D, DC, MC,
V.
Address: 777 W. Lake Mead Dr., Henderson, NV, USA
Phone: 702/558-7000 or 888/899-7770
Flamingo Las Vegas
$50 to $230, Center Strip
Prior to 1946, when Benjamin (Bugsy) Siegel imported
Miami luxury to the desert, Las Vegas was still trying
to keep alive the last little sliver of the Wild West.
But Bugsy was intent on introducing a class joint to
the new casino town, a place where his Hollywood buddies
and Manhattan partners could gamble legally, where the
lure of big-time entertainment would bring the beautiful
people to play, and where the ordinary Joe would show up
because he wanted to feel like a big shot. Although
things didn't work out exactly as Bugsy planned, the
Flamingo of today is the classy joint that he dreamed of,
snazzy and elegant -- if relentlessly pink. The last
remnant of the complex originally built by Bugsy Siegel
was torn down, but a monument in the pool park pays
respect to the Flamingo's notorious founder.
Hotel. The Flamingo is pervasively pink, from the outside
neon sign to the lobby carpeting to the in-room pens and
vases. The pool, with little islands anchored by swaying
palm trees and ample room for sunning and splashing, is
one of the largest and prettiest in town. Although the
Flamingo lacks the panache of some newer properties, it
provides a first-rate menu of amenities and services,
from tennis courts to a fine spa to a foliage-choked
wildlife habitat replete with penguins, turtles, and --
you guessed it -- some 300 graceful Chilean flamingos.
Only a lack of particularly noteworthy dining options
disappoints. Accommodations, which were handsomely up-
graded and modernized in 2004 and offer plenty of room
to kick back and relax, have cushy couches and armchairs.
Those on the upper floors afford expansive views of the
Strip. Bonus: the registration area is near the elevators,
so you won't have to carry your luggage through the casino.
Casino. Two large gaming areas have scores of tables and
machines, but the casino is surprisingly plain-Jane: the
sports book is proportionately small, and there is no
live music lounge. Like other casinos run by corporate
parent Caesars Entertainment, single-deck blackjack
players will have to settle for a 6-to-5 payoff on
"naturals" unless they're willing to bet $50 or $100 per
hand. The Flamingo is not completely devoid of charm,
however. Unlike many strip casinos, it's built right up
to the sidewalk for easy pedestrian access, and the oval
Bugsy's Bar is only a few feet from the tables, letting
imbibers vicariously experience the action. The Flamingo
as a whole is being gradually remodeled in order to
expand its appeal beyond the older crowd with which it
has long been associated. The Irish-theme casino annex
next door -- the two-story O'Sheas Casino -- is the place
for low rollers and small-time racing and sports bettors.
www.flamingolv.com. 3,466 rooms, 176 suites. In-room:
safe, dial-up. In-hotel: 8 restaurants, bar, tennis
courts, pools, gym, spa, no-smoking rooms. AE, D, DC,
MC, V.
Address: 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV 89109,
USA
Phone: 702/733-3111 or 888/308-8899
Fax: 702/733-3353
Four Seasons Hotel
Over $230, South Strip
Although it occupies the top (35th through 39th) floors
of the main hotel tower at Mandalay Bay, the separately
managed, nongaming Four Seasons focuses on providing an
intimate, quiet experience cushioned from the general
casino ruckus in town -- it has its own check-in,
express elevators, pool, health club and spa, recreation
area, private parking, and posh restaurants, including
the acclaimed Charlie Palmer Steakhouse. Guests here get
to enjoy their own distinctive and exclusive hotel
experience but can still partake of the rest of Mandalay
Bay's first-rate facilities, shops, and restaurants. The
Four Seasons offers a refined take on Mandalay Bay's
vaguely South Pacific theme -- rooms have rattan and
varnished-wood furnishings and overstuffed chairs with
ottomans. The beautifully appointed marble bathrooms con-
tain deep soaking tubs and separate showers. All units
have floor-to-ceiling windows, taking in fabulous views
(you'll pay a good bit more for a Strip vista). Afternoon
tea, served daily in the Verandah lounge, consists of a
lavish array of delicious savories and sweets. The pamper-
ing policy here even extends to the smallest guests: every
child will find a stuffed animal and milk and cookies on
arrival.
www.fourseasons.com. 338 rooms, 86 suites. In-room: safe,
VCR, dial-up. In-hotel: 2 restaurants, room service, bars,
pool, gym, spa, concierge, laundry service, public
Internet, parking (no fee), no-smoking rooms, some pets
allowed, minibar. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Address: 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA
Phone: 702/632-5000
Fax: 702/632-5195
--WHERE TO DINE:
Bahama Breeze
Caribbean, $10 to $27, Paradise Road
No worries, mon; Bahama Breeze is a casual spot with
tropical flavors and flair -- a bit of Jamaica, a bit
of Cuba, a lot of fun. Signature dishes include the
satisfying jerk chicken pasta, with asparagus and
mushrooms in an herb cream sauce, as well as such
classics as ropa vieja (shredded beef stew), steak
churrasco (barbecue), conch chowder, and black beans
and rice. Starters are tropically flavored, too, such
as the tostones con pollo, in which crispy plantains
are topped with chicken and cheese, or Jamaican grilled
chicken wings. And watch out for those tropical drinks.
Reservations not accepted. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Address: 375 Hughes Center Dr., Las Vegas, NV, USA
Phone: 702/731-3252
Bouchon
American, $10 to $35, Center Strip
Famed French Laundry chef Thomas Keller -- widely noted
as among the best in the country -- runs this stunning,
capacious room in the Venezia Tower at the Venetian.
Velvet banquettes, antique light fixtures, and painted
tile lend a sophisticated take on French country design.
Bouchon's folded brown-paper menu opens to reveal French
bistro classics like steak frites, roasted chicken, and
Croque Madame. Finish with profiteroles, pot de crème
(rich little custards), or crème caramel. Breakfast
options include sweets from the wondrous bakery. AE, D,
DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Address: Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, 3355 Las Vegas
Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Phone: 702/414-6200
********************
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