The main attractions of Las Vegas. How to get to the complex on your own, where all the Las Vegas airport rental cars are located. Excursions away from the bustle of the city

World Travel

1991

24.10.15 17:00

With up to 50 million tourists coming to this city each year, it is the second most visited city in the United States. However, if we compare the number of attractions in Las Vegas and, for example, New York, the map of the latter will be much richer. Vegas itself is like one huge attraction with all its magnificent buildings and neon advertisements that excite the imagination, thanks to which this particular city is the most illuminated in the world (it is better than all megacities visible from space). And yet there are main attractions in Las Vegas - both in the city itself and near it.

Top attractions in Las Vegas: things to see

street holiday

Anyone who comes here should tune in to a long wakefulness. There is even a saying that in this "city of vice" sleep is the worst sin. The main street of Las Vegas gives tourists the most entertainment - it is also its attraction, the Strip Street. It is on it that the most luxurious restaurants, nightclubs, luxury hotels (17 out of 20) and most casinos are concentrated. Legendary Broadway musicals are staged here, from the enchanting The Lion King to the gothic The Phantom of the Opera. The gambling house "El Rancho" was the first to grow on the Strip, which very quickly pulled the visitors of semi-underground establishments under its roof. Today this casino no longer exists, but the street stretches for almost 7 km. And this is not a street, but a continuous holiday!

The most famous hotel on the Strip with a very beautiful design and sculptural frame remains the Luxor Resort & Casino. It was here that a huge sphinx settled in a permanent place and pyramids copied from the Egyptian "twins" grew. And the thirty-story building itself is a giant pyramid-palace. A powerful beam rushes up from its top - it can be seen even from orbit.

Nuclear tests and dancing fountains

A slightly strange attraction for a city of entertainment and vice - Museum nuclear testing also attracts many travelers. But this is not surprising - after all, atomic weapons were tested in the Nevada desert not far from the city: terrible "mushrooms" grew as if from underground, and guests of Las Vegas hotels even saw them from the windows. The museum is visited not only by fans of apocalyptic films or the Fallout video game, but also by people who are not indifferent to the fate of mankind.

The legendary "dancing" fountains in front of the Bellagio Hotel have become a symbol of Las Vegas. The performances, which are played out to the music by icy jets illuminated by multi-colored lights, are magnificent. The “repertoire” of the “water ensemble” is extensive, so you can admire the show endlessly.

Here is the sandbox!

Dig This is entertainment for men who are boys at heart. If some rich man wants to feel like a bulldozer, excavator or road worker in a bright vest, he will be given such an opportunity! If the guy can't get a driver's license yet (he's not mature enough), then he'll drive in this park. In a word, this is a huge and not at all children's "sandbox"!

man-made miracle

Another famous attraction in Las Vegas is the Hoover Dam. Although this huge dam with an adjacent hydroelectric power plant is located almost fifty kilometers from the city itself, almost every guest of Vegas comes here. After all, this is not only a majestic and memorable building, but also the center of water sports. The dam has been blocking the Colorado River since 1936 and took almost five years to build. They say that the fishing here is just wonderful.

National parks: a stone's throw from the city!

The main attractions of Las Vegas include Death Valley, which is within easy reach from the city (you can get here by car in two and a half hours). If you already came to Nevada, it's a sin not to visit this famous place! The national park owes its terrible name not at all to the corpses scattered over it, but to high temperature indicators. What is interesting about Death Valley? Huge dunes, beautiful canyons, intricate landscape. And, of course, this is one of the most mysterious places on the planet - because of the moving boulders. Multi-kilogram giants in some miraculous way “crawl” along the sand, leaving clear traces behind them.

Another national park can compete with the popularity of Death Valley - it is also located near Las Vegas. It took Mother Nature more than 10 billion years to "device" it, but what a result! The deepest gorge in the world proudly bears its name - the Grand Canyon (or Grand Canyon). Amazingly colored rocks and caves, a completely transparent Skywalk bridge, where you can tickle your nerves, and a cowboy ranch - this is what you will see if you escape from the captivity of "one-armed bandits" for a while or leave the table covered with green cloth.

architectural and historical monuments: Fountains of Bellagio

Bellagio Fountains, according to many, the best and at the same time absolutely free attraction in Las Vegas, capable of making a huge impression on those who see it for the first time in reality. From 15:00 to 24:00 hours, from Monday to Friday, giant jets of water, rising up to 152 m in height, present a real spectacle. The delightful spectacle is accompanied by music, in time with which the fountains exactly fall. On weekends, the show starts as early as 12:00 and continues until 24:00.

Another very popular and very spectacular Las Vegas attraction is the Volcano show. There is a real crater in front of the Mirage Hotel, behaving quite calmly during the day, however, with the onset of darkness, everything inside it begins to seethe and bubble, then the volcano begins to spew fire and lava flows every 15 minutes, add to this the appropriate noise accompaniment.. The show looks very natural and therefore impressive.

Surely, you have seen the famous Fremont Street at least once on TV or in a magazine; it has become a backdrop for Hollywood films more than once. At nightfall, Fremont Street turns into the biggest video show in the world. Millions of lights and thousands of watts of music create magical scenes in about 7 minutes on a specially stretched awning. The cost of this show was about 70 million dollars. Fremont Street is located in downtown Las Vegas.

Stratosphere Tower

One of the most beloved attractions and sights of Las Vegas is, of course, the 356-meter Stratosphere Tower, from the observation deck of which you can see what the city looks like from a bird's eye view and admire the sea of ​​lights. It is best to take the elevator up to the tower shortly before dark, at which time the view of Las Vegas is simply stunning, like on postcards. For the most daring, at the top of the tower is also the highest attraction in the world - Big Shot.

Unfortunately, the legendary show "The Magic of Siegfried and Roy" on this moment closed, but the wonderful garden with the zoo The Secret Garden von Siegfried & Roy is still open, where you can see the famous white tigers who performed in the show. In addition, in the zoo you can watch the performance of dolphins.

Las Vegas Eiffel Tower. Las Vegas even has its own Eiffel Tower. The Las Vegas tower is half the height of the Parisian tower, a glass elevator will take you to its top, from where you can see beautiful view from a height of 160 m. In the south, the famous hotels of Las Vegas are visible, in the west - the singing fountains of Bellagio, and in the east - mountains. To the north, Las Vegas Boulevard stretches to its full length. There is an elegant restaurant on the 11th floor of the tower.

temples/monasteries: museums: Guinness World Records Museum

Visitors to the Guinness World of Records Museum are greeted at the entrance by a life-sized plastic figure of the world's largest and heaviest man. The museum displays video recordings of records, many of which were set in the vicinity of Las Vegas. The exhibition will be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about this crazy world and its inhabitants in such an interesting way.

At the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History Las Vegas Natural History Museum) history comes to life. Here you can find everything from a variety of fossils to a ten-meter tyrannosaurus Rex. In addition, in the museum's large aquarium, you can watch sharks that seem to be waiting to feast on you. The museum's most visited attraction is the insect section.

theatres: natural attractions: The natural attraction of Las Vegas is that it is located in the central part of the Mojave Desert.

amusement parks: Sunset Park is the largest park in Las Vegas, a favorite place for picnics and festivals. There are 8 floodlit tennis courts under open sky, baseball and basketball fields, as well as picnic tables and barbecue areas. Especially popular with children is the pond, where you can catch fish yourself (though not more than three).

water parks: discos: Las Vegas is a city of nightlife, there is everything for every taste: many nightclubs (Body English, Cleopatra's Barge, Madrid, Rio, SRO, Gipsy II, RumJungle, Tao Nightclub and many others), restaurants and bars (Barley "s Casino & Brewing Company, Tenaya Creek Restaurant & Brewery, Double Down Saloon and others), where you can relax, dance and watch colorful shows.

The city of Las Vegas is the epitome of vanity and American megalomania in pure form. Everything is “the best” here: the largest, most expensive, highest, deepest .. The largest bottle of Coca-Cola, the largest gold bar, the largest singing fountains. This is a city that dazzles with gold dust and flaunts it. Everything here is aimed at setting you on the “right wave” as quickly and efficiently as possible: so that you start and do not stop spending your hard-earned money in numerous casinos for as long as possible and at the same time not be distracted by trifles - so that hunger does not interfere with you, the waitresses will carefully bring food and drinks, the croupiers will rejoice like family for every dollar you win ...

There are no windows and no clocks in Las Vegas casinos - so that, God forbid, you don’t remember how many hours / days / weeks you have been trying to catch your luck by the tail. Some really succeed, but for the majority, the memory of the “fun” city of Las Vegas is left with devastated bank accounts and vague memories.

But all this applies to the players - and besides them, there are ordinary travelers in Vegas. These are those who do not play or play "for show" and for whom Las Vegas is not the center of the universe, but just a bright spot on the map of Nevada. It is travelers who are interested in "what to see in Las Vegas", and not "where to play in the smoke" and this short story about the city of Las Vegas and its attractions is addressed. So..

Once an oasis in the Nevada desert (the very name of the city of Las Vegas means "floodplain meadows"), the first birth of the future gambling capital of the United States took place in 1829, when a lost caravan stopped at this place. Rebirth - when the tiny town was made a refueling point for steam locomotives coming from Salt Lake City V Los Angeles. But for some reason, the official date of birth of the city of Las Vegas is May 15, 1905, although by this time it was already full of gambling halls and saloons. Historians insist on 1864 as the date of the emergence of Las Vegas - it was then that the question arose of legalizing gambling in the state of Nevada. Mormon influence was quite strong in the then USA - and in neighboring Utah, the "stronghold" of the Mormons, gambling was prohibited, and remains illegal to this day. But there were not so many moralists in Nevada, and already in 1869 gambling was legalized - which predetermined the direction of development of the city of Las Vegas, and not only it. As usual, the authorities have repeatedly changed their position in relation to gambling - for example, in 1909 the cup of patience ran out and the government launched a powerful attack on the "dens", where gambling was often accompanied by criminal showdowns. However, already in 1911, the pendulum swung back and serious indulgences were introduced - for example, games were again allowed without "entry fees" and whose participants, according to the rules, had to mix the deck. From that moment on, Las Vegas became the center of attraction for professional gamblers - there was not a single saloon in the city where they would not play poker.

In 1915, poker was supplemented with several more legalized games, and the first slot machines appeared in some advanced establishments. However, until the middle of the 20th century, Las Vegas did not stand out among others like it, until one day a wheel burst at a certain Thomas Hull on the outskirts of the city. While the damage was being repaired, Hull toiled with idleness - and the idea came to him that a hotel located right on the road would not hurt to have its own casino - and then many sufferers would not have to drag themselves to downtown Las Vegas, where until that moment everyone was crowded entertainment establishments. According to legend, from this moment begins the history of the main attraction of Las Vegas (consisting of a mass of smaller sights) - the world famous "Las Vegas Boulevard" or, in short, the Strip. In 1941, Hull opened the first casino hotel, El Rancho. Then Benjamin Siegel (aka "Handsome Bugsy", whose story is told in the movie "Casino" with De Niro and Sharon Stone) purchased El Cortez, and in 1946 built the chic Flamingo Hotel and Casino.

Las Vegas Attractions: Flamingo Hotel

Now, against the backdrop of the brightest Venetian or Mandalay Bay, hotel Flamingo(Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3555) does not make much impression, but, in fact, the current city of Las Vegas began with it. The flamingo was a lifelong dream of its creator - Siegel himself developed the scripts for luxurious shows designed to make a stunning impression on the audience, he himself designed appearance of the future hotel, insisted on creating a grove in front of the hotel, for which the necessary amount of fertile soil was brought to Las Vegas; in addition, ponds have been dug in front of the hotel for graceful flamingos. In the end, the passion for the hotel quarreled its creator with mafia companions, which, however, did not prevent the Flamingo from opening on Christmas Day 1946. Local stars were invited to the opening of the hotel from Hollywood - who were recruited on a couple of planes, but even such advertising did not provide the hotel with instant success - for post-war America the institution was too chic and those who could afford to play in such places preferred to do it in Monaco and Monte Carlo. It should also be borne in mind that Las Vegas itself was at that time nothing more than a dusty hole somewhere in the Far West - and only the imagination and perseverance of people like Siegel made possible the appearance of modern Las Vegas in this place, one of the most striking sights of the United States. and the whole world. However, Siegel's services to the city of Las Vegas did not save him from the long arms of Lucky Luciano, along with Al Capone, one of the most famous mafiosi in the United States. According to Luciano's biography, he became interested in the outflow of funds from Flamingo and in December 1946, Siegel's fate was sealed: he was shot through the window of his house in Los Angeles. None of the Hollywood stars honored Benjamin's funeral with their presence - this could spoil the reputation, but Siegel's death had a beneficial effect on the fate of the hotel: Flamingo became known throughout the country and many wanted to visit the Las Vegas landmark that cost its creator his life.

Not far from Flamingo is the famous hotel-casino "Sahara", once the highest on the Strip and initiating the fashion for African interiors. Aside from them, Sahara is known for being the highlight of its entertainment program in 1964 twice with the Beatles. Of no small importance in turning the Sahara into one of the most popular casinos in Las Vegas was the lifting of the ban on visiting it by blacks - it was the first to open its doors to "colored" players.

It is on the Strip that 17 of the 20 largest hotels in the world are located; on my first visit to Las Vegas, I stayed in one of these, hotel-casino "Luxor"(Luxor, Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3900, www.luxor.com) - the dimensions are truly amazing.

The Luxor of Las Vegas is a life-size replica of an ancient Egyptian pyramid, and inside there is an exact copy of Tutankhamun's tomb.

The only difference is that the Egyptians used the pyramid to rest the dead, while the practical Americans used it to entertain the living. And besides, from the top of the pyramid, a most powerful ray of light goes vertically upwards; it can be seen even from space, according to the booklet at the hotel reception.

In addition to the above-mentioned goodies, the Luxor Hotel is known for its IMAX cinema.

Attractions of Las Vegas: hotel-casino "Stratosphere"

The main attraction hotel-casino "Stratosphere"(Stratosphere, www.stratospherehotel.com) in Las Vegas is its observation deck at an altitude of 350 meters:

In addition to it, at the top of the tower there is a revolving restaurant and attractions for the most desperate thrill-seekers:

Attraction Insanity the Ride It is set at a height of 274 meters and is a carousel in the form of claws located in a star with chairs under them. After landing and fixing the tourists in the chairs, the mechanism takes the carousel out of the tower, where it begins to rotate in a circle at a speed of about 65 km / h - those who dare to ride this attraction can observe the city of Las Vegas from a height of about 300 meters (if they don't screw up).

Attraction X-Scream is located at an altitude of 264 m. It is an open trailer, driving off to the side of the tower, swinging and braking sharply - which, presumably, greatly entertains the thrill hunters sitting in it.

big shot- entertainment at a height of 329 meters, is considered the highest attraction in the world.

skyjump- a jump from a height of 261 meters, those who want to experience it for themselves in flight overcome 108 floors of the Stratosphere Tower.

Las Vegas Attractions: Roller Coaster

Between copies of the famous New York skyscrapers, standing close to each other and forming the "island of New York", winding furious " roller coaster"(in America they are called" Russians ") - another brightest attraction of the city of Las Vegas.

An interesting effect: if you happen to be in this mini-New York at night, then you may not immediately notice the slides themselves - they are laid at a height of several floors. But sooner or later you will definitely hear them: first, heart-rending screams and squeals will be heard from the darkness, and then, raising your head, you will be able to distinguish wagons with desperate passengers flying at breakneck speed. After watching them (cars make dead loops, rotate around their axis, and all this is at the height of an average skyscraper), I personally did not dare to ride - it was too extreme for me.

After weighing all the pros and cons, instead of such a flight, I went to skip a shot at a nearby Coyote Ugly Bar, a cult and iconic place - you can find out where the cult came from from the film of the same name.

Attractions of Las Vegas: hotels-casinos "Paris" and "Bellagio"

Having been in mini-New York, you can get to "Paris"(“Paris”, Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3655) - at least the main symbols of the European "city of light" in the face of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are present there - and even look very good upon closer inspection.

The entrance to the copy of the Eiffel Tower is inside the hotel - climbing up, you can admire the views of the city of Las Vegas from a height of 140 meters (tickets are sold inside the hotel in the Eiffel store). From this observation deck it is also very convenient to watch the show of dancing fountains near the Bellagio Hotel, located next door.

Bellagio Hotel-Casino(Bellagio) - in addition to one of the best dancing fountain shows in the world, it houses two of the three the best restaurants Las Vegas: Le Cirque And Picasso(both recipients of the prestigious US AAA Five Diamond Award). Returning to the dancing fountains: water extravaganzas from more than a thousand fountains, accompanied by classical and modern compositions, take place every fifteen minutes - I recommend watching them from two different angles: from the side of the pool with fountains and from the height of the observation deck of "Paris" - both times will be the most different and eminently worthy impressions.

In addition to the fountain show and the best restaurants, Bellagio is famous for its art museum (by the way, this is one of the few places in Las Vegas where they charge $ 12 for admission), there are masterpieces of such masters as Goya, Picasso, Degas and others. According to information from the electronic guide to the museum, the exposition costs about the same as the hotel itself - $ 1.7 billion.

Not far from "Paris" and "Bellagio" there is another attraction of Las Vegas, which is a must-see - hotel-casino "Caesar's Palace"(Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, Strip, 3570). The first floor and the park in front of the hotel are so skillfully lined with copies of ancient Roman sculptures that it is quite possible to mix up the eras for a while. On top of that, Caesar's Palace hosts a massive (you can apply the word to pretty much everything in Las Vegas) Creation of Earth show, complete with flames, roar and laser special effects.

Another attraction of Las Vegas is the out-of-stellar Mirage Hotel:

Inside "Mirage"(Mirage, Las Vegas Blvd Strip, www.mirage.com) white tigers roam and can also be found a tropical forest, a lagoon, waterfalls, a pool with dolphins and an artificial volcano that erupts every half an hour (from 19:00 to midnight).

Attractions of Las Vegas: hotel "Venetian"

Venetian(www.venetian.com) - here real gondolas float along artificial channels; in them - almost real gondoliers sing very similar to real Venetian barcarolles; tourists, usually Asians, are delighted.

After meeting with another overseas Venice (the previous one was in Los Angeles – Venice City) I went to treasure island, the road to which from there is only a couple of minutes. In general, the city of Las Vegas is very reminiscent of a giant theme park entertainment, where from "New York" you get to "Venice", then to "Paris" - and so on.

Entertainment complex "Treasure Island"(Treasure Island, Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3300, www.treasureisland.com) is famous for its evening show Sirens' of Treasure Island, which takes place in a specially built "seaside village" with a canal dug around it. The performance is full of pirate romance, dancing beauties and fights on the masts - at the end of it, an entire English frigate goes under water.

South of the Venetian is located Imperial Palace Hotel, notable for its huge concert hall, where Elvis Presley once performed, and a museum of vintage cars, among the exhibits of which you can find the Rolls-Roys of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, Hitler's Mercedes and the Packard of the Emperor of Japan Hirohito. The museum is located on the fifth floor of the Imperial Palace Hotel, (Las Vegas Blvd Strip 3535, www.autocollections.com).

Excalibur Hotel-Casino, built in the form of a fairy-tale castle - inside this impression is greatly enhanced:

Las Vegas Attractions: Mandalay Bay Casino Hotel

Mandalay Bay Casino Hotel (www.mandalaybay.com) is the "pearl" of my personal list of "what to see in Las Vegas" - at least from those Las Vegas city casino hotels that were available for "people from the street", it seemed to me the most interesting and stylish.

This hotel is famous for its topless pool (admission fee for men) and glass underwater tunnel, where you can admire sharks, "golden" crocodiles, stonefish - one of the most poisonous fish on Earth, and other aquatic fauna.

Transportation in Las Vegas

There are two types of buses: SDX express and DEUCE regular buses, bus tickets are valid for both SDX express and DEUCE - DEUCE buses have more stops and they travel noticeably slower than SDX, since almost every stop in the central part of the Strip includes and there are crowds of tourists. A ticket for an unlimited number of trips for 2 hours costs $ 6, they are sold only in vending machines, the vending machine does not give change. Large bills can be exchanged in special change machines in any of the surrounding casinos, of which there are many. The city also has a 6 km monorail along the Strip. Trains run at a height of about eight meters, so that, in addition to a purely transport function, the monorail can also successfully perform a sightseeing function.

Stops are located near the main large casino hotels of the Strip, such as Flamingo-Caesars, Bally's-Paris, MGM Grand, Luxor and the like. Opening hours - from 8:00 to 24:00.

How to get to the complex where all Las Vegas airport rental cars are located

First, take the DEUCE bus to the southern bus station, then take bus 117 from there for two stops, the address of the complex is 7135 Gilespie street.

The return of a rented car in rental cars located at the Las Vegas airport is organized very simply: you drive into the parking lot and then follow the signs with the name of your rental company (all rental cars operating at Las Vegas McCarran Airport are located in this complex). Having driven by the signs to the Hertz parking lot, I waited for an employee who marked the fuel level in the tank and something else in the documents. After that, leaving the keys in the car, I went to the office for an invoice, which indicated the final cost of renting a car. I was once again told that I did not have to pay anything for my adventure with an engine crankcase pierced in Monument Valley and insurance covered it.

Rent-a-car is not located at the airport itself, but not far from it and runs between it and the Las Vegas airport terminals free bus, travel time is about 5 minutes.

How to get to Las Vegas from Moscow

Direct flights between Russian cities and Las Vegas is not currently available, so you will have to fly with at least one transfer - in New York or in one of the European hubs; the minimum price for round-trip tickets is $600

To search for flights to Las Vegas, you can use this search form:

How to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

You can come to the fun city of Las Vegas in different ways - by planes, buses, rented or private cars. Personally, I remember most of all my second visit there: when in half a day I drove a car for almost 500 miles across the territory of the three states and in the dead of night bright lights appeared on the horizon in a lowland in the middle of the desert - for me at that moment Las Vegas was the same a welcome oasis, as it was for those first pilgrims from the lost caravan. For auto travelers, the city of Las Vegas is very convenient and comfortable: no problems with parking near casino hotels or other attractions, plus the opportunity to visit amazingly interesting national parks located within reach: Grand Canyon, Death Valley, monument valley and others.

If there is no car and no desire to rent it, then getting to Las Vegas from the cities of the American West Coast, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, is most convenient by bus. First you need to get to the local terminal of the Greyhound bus carrier and take their express bus to Las Vegas (for example, from Los Angeles to Las Vegas can be reached in four hours) - that's exactly what I drove. In order not to step over the homeless citizens of a great country and Mexican illegal immigrants sleeping on the sidewalks, I decided before the mentioned bus terminal Los Angeles is not to go on foot (although it was quite possible, the weather is good, the walk would have been about an hour), I got there by bus. From downtown Los Angeles, the bus terminal can be reached by bus routes 60 (longer) and 760 (faster). On the bus on the way to Las Vegas, I met an Armenian who has been living in the US for 25 years, works as a glassblower and, due to the lack of work in his specialty in Los Angeles, goes to Las Vegas to earn money. He, in the joy of meeting with a former compatriot, gave me homemade pies with cabbage, cheese and potatoes - objections and refusals were not accepted.

Life hack: how I save on hotels and insurance

In addition to traditional and well-known tools such as Booking or Hotellook, Lately new online services have appeared that greatly facilitate the life of the traveler and pleasantly protect the thickness of his wallet. One of them - roomguru I use it all the time and recommend it to all my friends and family. This service compares prices for an object in 30 booking systems at once, and offers you the most interesting options. In addition, it tracks discounts and special offers.

As for a good working travel insurance, it was not easy to find it before, but now it has become even more difficult due to the constant fluctuations of the ruble against world currencies. For the past few years, I have taken out insurance for my travels through an online service.

P.S. Don't forget to join the groups Facebook www.facebook.com/site , Google Plus www.google.com/site And In contact with vk.com/site , as well as subscribe to site updates by mail to follow the release of new articles about solo travel around the world.

I wish you bright impressions and photos from the “gambling capital” of the USA, the city of Las Vegas!
Your Roman Mironenko

Most people think that Las Vegas is just hotels and casinos, and non-gambling people simply have nothing to do here, in vain deleting it from the list of places to visit. Las Vegas is not only "one-armed bandits" and card tables. This is a city-theater, looking behind the scenes of which you can make amazing discoveries. I want to dispel the myth that people come here for the sole purpose of getting rich, day and night without leaving the gambling halls. On the contrary, those who are absolutely indifferent to gambling will be no less interested in visiting one of the most famous cities in the world. I present to your attention 10 reasons to go to Las Vegas.

1. Gondola ride

Do you dream of immersing yourself in the unique atmosphere of Venice and taking a romantic walk along its canals? For this, it is not necessary to fly to Italy. If you are traveling in the United States, then your dream can come true right in Las Vegas! This city never ceases to amaze. Whole italian city spread over 46,000 sq.m. with its most popular attractions - Piazza San Marco, the Campanile Bell Tower, the Rialto Bridge, and, of course, gondolas floating along the real Venetian canals. The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, or in other words "Venice", invites everyone to ride along the canals to the sounds of a professional gondolier's serenade. The internal canal flows along the second floor of the hotel - it is here that an exact copy of Venice is recreated. Visitors can watch charming Italian architecture and painted blue skies. The outside walk offers a splendid view of the Las Vegas Strip. For the newlyweds, a snow-white gondola decorated with golden flowers is provided. Couples in love, according to tradition, need to kiss while swimming under the bridge.

Address: 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV

2. Beach resort. Beware: sharks!

It is hard to imagine that in the desert one could sunbathe on a snow-white beach with an area of ​​4.5 hectares, enjoying the sound of the surf. For Las Vegas, truly, there are no barriers. When heading to this unpredictable city, grab your swimwear. At the Mandalay Bay Hotel, next to the wave-like pool, you can soak up the soft sand imported from California.

In addition, there is a huge aquarium "Shark Reef" (Shark Reef Aquarium), which registered two thousand of the most different representatives marine world of our planet. This is the only aquarium that is located away from water sources. Piranhas, sharks, turtles, jellyfish, sea squirts, molluscs, snails and the rarest representative of golden crocodiles are just the tip of the oceanarium iceberg. Well, those who can boast of a diving certificate are offered to scuba dive with sharks.

Address: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV

3. Dancing fountains

You can rest from the hot heat and relax from the city noise near the dancing fountains next to the Bellagio hotel. The Bellagio Fountain impresses with its choreography and colors of water jets. This is one of the main attractions in Las Vegas. Jets of water rise to the music to a height of 152 meters. To the beat of the music, they also sway, that is, they dance, and the sound of water mixes with the voices of Pavarotti, Bocceli, Sinatra. The fountain show must be seen at least twice - from the ground, standing right in front of them, and from a height, sitting in a restaurant or just standing on the balcony of one of the hotels in the area. It will be two completely different spectacles.

Address: 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, Bellagio Hotel Resort, Las Vegas, NV

4. Museums

It would seem, well, what kind of museums can be in Las Vegas ... However, the city boasts a considerable number of them. Here you can visit such museums as: "Museum of Neon Signs", without which Las Vegas would not be Las Vegas; "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition" - artifacts of the Titanic liner raised from the bottom of the ocean, as well as an accurate reproduction of some cabins and front staircase ship; "Museum of Nuclear Tests" - a film demonstration of nuclear tests conducted near the city at a test site in the second half of the 20th century, accompanied by a roar, blinding flashes, shaking benches and a wave of warm air. As well as the Guinness World Records Museum, Natural History Museum, Vintage Car Museum, Art Gallery Bellagio", "Madame Tussauds" and many others.

5. Concerts, shows and musicals

No less popular than casinos are all kinds of Las Vegas shows. No wonder it is called the entertainment capital of the world. What is not here:

• comedy performances
• Illusionists and other magicians
• Circus performances
• Adult Programs
• Hypnotists
• Concerts of famous stars
• Musicals
• dance shows
• Sport events

The most popular are, for example, the famous Cirque Du Soleil, which offers almost a dozen different programs, Blue Man Group, David Copperfield, the musical Mamma Mia! and others.

6. Secret garden, dolphins and white tigers

Those who wish can take a walk through the "Secret Garden" of the Mirage Hotel, which welcomes visitors from its very doorstep with tropical palm trees, exotic flowers and waterfalls. White lions and white tigers, panthers and leopards live on its territory. In fact, to determine exactly who lives in " secret garden", no one can. Someone meets an owl, others - peacocks, someone managed to pet a lemur. Then you meet flamingos and hummingbirds, and then you pass along the pool with dolphins and tropical fish. Here, dolphins frolic and play in conditions that are as close to natural as possible - a real coral reef and sand raised from the ocean floor. They will be happy to play ball with you.

The main attraction of the hotel is its artificial volcano, the "eruption" of which is accompanied by musical accompaniment. This impressive show can be watched every hour every day from 19.00 to 23.00.

Address: 3400 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV

7. Cinema "Fremont Street Experience"

Fremont Street, the former main street of Las Vegas, has a unique "overhead cinema" - a giant screen 460 meters long. It consists of 12 million LED displays controlled by 10 computers. Movies, excerpts from show programs that take place in the Las Vegas casinos, and performances by stars are shown on the screen. In fact, it is a domed roof above the street, onto which advertisements and various videos are projected. You can watch both standing and lying down. For convenience, the street is closed during the show.

Address: Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV

8. High Roller

Coming to Las Vegas and not taking a ride on the Ferris wheel? Especially when its height reaches 168 meters… This is one of the highest Ferris wheels in the world. It is located opposite the Caesars Palace entertainment complex, in the new LINQ shopping and entertainment district. The wheel is equipped with 28 spherical glazed cabins, accommodating up to 40 people. Within 30 minutes, tourists have the opportunity to fully view Las Vegas, as the cabins rotate around their axis. It offers a beautiful view of the entire Strip. Especially at night. Therefore, the cost of tickets at night is higher.

9. Night clubs and bars

Those who can't sit still, and they are the majority in Vegas, are invited by numerous nightclubs and bars. There are both establishments at large hotels-casinos, and existing on their own. Clubs in Las Vegas are considered unique, because it is here that you can come face to face with some celebrity.

Some of the most famous clubs:

• Chateau Nightclub at Paris Hotel-Casino
• Marquee Nightclub in The Cosmopolitan
• Moon Nightclub in the Palms
• Voodoo Lounge at Rio Hotel

More bars! They can be found at any casino or even in the open air.

10. Stratosphere Hotel Tower

The tallest observation tower in the United States, the Stratosphere (350 meters), offers a ride on 4 heart-rending rides located on its top. Thrills guaranteed! big shot in a matter of seconds catapults at a speed of 72 km / h to a 32-meter height, and then lowers it back at the same speed, while there is a complete sensation free fall. Insanity- a carousel in the form of a claw with five open booths, rotating at different angles outside the tower at a height of 274 meters. X-Scream- an open trailer without railings, accelerating along the guide rails straight down from the roof of the tower at a distance of 8 meters from it and braking sharply, hovering at a height of 264 meters. sky jump is a free fall ride from a height of 260 meters on cables fastened to the body - this is a kind of "bungee".

In addition to breathtaking extreme rides and observation deck in the tower is a revolving restaurant "Top of the World".

Address: 2000 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89104, USA

- A mecca of excitement, a holiday city and the greatest schemer who made a name for himself on the main human weaknesses - the passion for the game and the hope of sudden enrichment. Spread out in the middle of the barren Mojave Desert, this extraordinary city is one of the greatest mysteries of modern times: nothing is produced here, but at the same time they turn millions, it is hellishly hot in summer, and within a radius of 40 km there is not a single body of water, but from tourists besieging Las Vegas hotels. Vegas, it's time to fight back.

Video: Las Vegas

Basic moments

Modern Las Vegas is an amazing 18+ amusement park, where everything is subordinated to one single goal: to promote you to the game. Even a tourist with the endurance of James Bond cannot resist the subtle strategy of local casinos, and all because the art of “relatively honest taking money from the population” honed over the centuries has reached its zenith here. However, resisting this intoxicating hypnosis, which promises unheard of wealth to anyone who scrapes together a few dollars for a bet, is not a good idea. Agree, because you went to sultry and arid Nevada not only to admire its desert landscapes ...

"Sin City" world capital entertainment", "City of Lights", the fastest growing US city, the largest American city founded in the 20th century - Las Vegas has many unofficial nicknames and quite official titles, emphasizing the amazing transformation of just 100 years of a provincial railway station in the desert into one of the most unusual cities on Earth. Numerous casinos, hotels, daily concerts and shows attract tourists from all over the world. In total, more than eighty casinos, several thousand gaming pavilions, and many luxurious hotels are concentrated on the territory of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is Hollywood for mere mortals, in which you play the main role, and not just watch a movie. This is the only place in the world where you can see the ancient hieroglyphs, the Eiffel Tower, the Brooklyn Bridge and the canals of Venice in just a few hours. Without a doubt, all these are copies, but in this part of the desert, which has turned into a flowering oasis, there is no middle ground - even in illusions.

Lovers from all over the world choose Las Vegas for their wedding because of the relatively easy procedure for registering a marriage, as well as the opportunity to experience this colorful city filled with entertainment and famous attractions during their honeymoon.

In downtown Las Vegas, where banks and office buildings sit side by side with casinos, the neon lights are so bright it looks like night in the Mojave Desert has turned to day. All attention here is riveted on Fremont Street, otherwise "Sparkling Gorge" (Glitter Gulch). Dozens of people are visible in all the illuminated windows, pulling the handles of slot machines. One of the neon signs reads: "For every US coin you receive, we get a slot machine."

In addition, in the downtown area, you can witness the Fremont Street Experience (hourly at dusk) - an amazing light show within a few blocks. This free show is Las Vegas' best buy.

To all visitors to the city, Las Vegas Avenue is better known as the Strip - a strip 6.5 km long, completely built up with hotels and casinos, whose neon lights invite to the most famous productions, comedians and singers, and where performances are given with half-naked dancers - on ice, in water and on the usual scaffolds. Although Las Vegas has ceased to importunate itself as a place family vacation, there are still decent entertainment options, including a number of theme parks.

An evening walk The Strip offers more entertainment than most cities can provide in an entire week. These places of entertainment turn out to be real monuments: a recreation in the form of a casino Great Pyramid in Luxor; St. Mark's Square and Grand Canal in Venice and a smaller version of Manhattan's skyline in "New York, New York". Oriental, ancient Roman, Parisian and other famous palaces are also present. Bellagio is a miracle in an Italian way, imitating the coast of Lake Como with its graceful fountains; "Caesar's Palace" offers the decadent style of ancient Rome with Italian marble columns. In fact, there are much more such beauties in Las Vegas: medieval Excalibur, gardens, palm trees and an active volcano, even more significant and beautiful than before - in the Mirage casino; an artificial mountain and waterfalls of the most luxurious vacation spot - Winna Casino. Treasure Island depicts a naval battle with thundering cannon fire, half-naked girls and reckless pirates. The show is renewed hourly.

All this buffoonery here serves as a tantalizing backdrop for gambling: hundreds of slot machines have moved from the casino to the lobbies, and what can we say about roulette, baccarat card games, "point", lotto "bingo". Poker is usually played in secluded areas in a quiet environment where the participants are so engrossed in the game that they are not in the mood for jokes. The most spectacular tables are where craps are played, including craps. Players get extremely excited when rolling the dice. They squeal, clap, groan depending on their luck. There are two things you won't see in Las Vegas casinos: clocks and windows, since nothing here should distract from the game. The result is a continuous whirlwind, which you can plunge into.

History of Las Vegas

A picturesque oasis in the Mojave Desert, whose territory today is occupied by the gambling capital, was discovered in 1829 by a trade caravan that had gone astray. Merchants yearning for water joyfully dubbed the paradise “Las Vegas” (“fertile valley”), marked it on the map and spread the news of a wonderful place with artesian springs throughout the state. At the same time, Vegas received the status of a city only in 1905, when railroad tracks ran in its vicinity. So, the former oasis turned into a major railway junction that connected the west and east of the country.

However, soon this corner changed its qualification. Nevada, on whose land the city is located, has always enjoyed a reputation as a dashing state, whose inhabitants led a too liberated life even by American standards, so Las Vegas had no choice but to adapt to local realities. By 1915, the local saloons and cabarets had become so popular that they could afford to keep "one-armed bandits" who, instead of winning cash, presented the especially lucky with a drink. But the happy life did not last long. Dejected by the American craze for poker and roulette, the government tried to close all the casinos in the country. As a result, the Las Vegas gambling industry went underground, and the state budget suddenly lost a stable source of income. True, by the beginning of the 30s it became clear that the campaign against gambling was a failure, so the activity of gambling houses had to be legalized again.

Initially, it was only a transit point on the trail of pioneers rushing to the West. At the beginning of the 20th century, Las Vegas became one of the railroad junctions serving the mines in the area. As the railroads developed, Las Vegas lost some of its importance, but the construction of the Hoover Dam gave a new impetus to its development. The increase in tourism after the construction of the dam and the legalization of gambling led to the construction of many casino hotels, which Las Vegas is famous for.

In the mid-1940s, a local building boom led to casino hotels along the two-lane road leading to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. The street has survived to this day and is known as the Strip ("Strip"). Among the most notable buildings is Bugsy Siegel's Flamingo. The hotel, with neon signs and pink flamingos adorning the lawns, opened back in 1946.

In the 1950s, the resort continued to flourish. In 1950, the Desert Inn was opened by Wilbur Clark, a former porter in San Diego. Two years later, Milton Prell opened the Sahara Hotel on the site of the old Bingo Club. The Sands Hotel opened the same year. In 1955, the Riviera Hotel became the first of the Strip's "skyscrapers" - it rose to the ninth floor. Other hotels that opened in the same decade included the Royal Nevada, the Dunes, the Tropicana, and the Stardust (Stardust).

Photo reports from wild parties, songs by Presley and Sinatra, and ubiquitous advertising diligently sculpted the American dream from Vegas, which could be approached by every layman in whose pockets a few free dollars dangled.

In the 1970s, business declined somewhat, and Las Vegas turned into a small town, where there was little that could interest modern tourists. However, in the late 1980s, the Strip was revived with the construction of the $630,000,000 Mirage Hotel, with 3,049 rooms. This hotel has a white tiger corner, a dolphin pool, an amazing swimming pool for visitors, a waterfall and an artificial volcano that spews fire. From that day on, the revival of the former glory of Las Vegas began. Another example of recent developments is the Treasure Island Hotel, where every evening a real pirate ship comes into battle with a British frigate and sinks it at the end of the battle.

The 4,000-room Excalibur Colossus Hotel was opened in 1990. This quaint medieval "castle" has several floors devoted to non-gambling entertainment for children, and court jesters perform on-site. In a separate room every evening there is a tournament of knights, as in the court of King Arthur.

Luxor, a giant black glass pyramid, is famous for the world's most powerful beam of light that shoots from the top of the pyramid, as well as a full-scale replica of Tutankhamun's tomb. Nine Boeing 747 aircraft can be stacked in the inner courtyard of the pyramid.

As the resorts began to develop, boutiques of leading designers appeared in the city - from Tiffany to Gucci and Valentino. Entertainment giants such as Elton John and Celine Dion perform here.

The Hotel Bellagio, inspired by the landscape near Lake Como and the resort of Bellagio in Italy, is famous for its artificial lake. Thousands of fountains beat in the lake, their jets are illuminated by a whole rainbow of electric rays. No one doubts that Vegas has entered a new golden age!

Climate

When heading to Las Vegas in the summer, be prepared to roast well under the scorching Nevada sun. The climate in Sin City is desert subtropical, suggesting a long and hot summer, during which the thermometer needle stubbornly stays at +40 ° С. Frost is in short supply in this part of the desert, as is snow. However, if you go to the surrounding mountains closer to Christmas, then it will not be difficult to find snow caps on their slopes.

Casinos and entertainment complexes in Las Vegas

The first thing that greets a tourist in Las Vegas is the slot machines installed in the halls of the airport and an avalanche of advertisements for local casinos. So the smell of money for this paradise in the desert is not a beautiful metaphor, but a real everyday life. Those who are looking for proven old-school establishments are strongly advised to go to the old center of Vegas, Downtown, or rather, to its main playground - Fremont Street. Among the tourist fraternity, this part of the city is known as the cradle of the first Vegas casinos: it was here that the ancestors of modern Americans squandered their money in the hope of hitting a big jackpot.

In addition to "one-armed bandits" and roulette, Fremont Street offers its guests all sorts of relaxation areas like go-go bars and inexpensive variety shows. For a taste of the gold rush, take a look at Downtown's most replicated casino, the Golden Nugget. This institution still holds on to old traditions, stubbornly resisting innovation and endemic computerization, which attracts fortune seekers. In Benion, Golden Gate and El Cortez, too, there is nowhere to fall, but according to poker and blackjack gurus, these places are worth it. By the way, with a limited budget, it is better to give preference to Fremont Street gambling houses, where rates of 3-5 USD are a common occurrence.

The Las Vegas Strip casinos are gigantic complexes that combine hotels, gambling zones, nightclubs and show venues, designed to dazzle with a myriad of lights and lure the spectator greedy for free spectacles. Interestingly, until the 40s of the last century, the Strip was considered a typical city backyard, and all gambling houses were located exclusively on Fremont Street. But since it was not allowed anywhere else to build new casinos, except for the center of Vegas, advanced businessmen set up their "tents" in its suburbs: Paradise and Winchister. In a fairly short period of time, the Strip's hotels have surpassed downtown casinos in terms of luxury, not to mention all kinds of marketing "goodies" to lure clientele, so even if you come to Vegas without a penny in your pocket, do not miss the opportunity to stroll along the city's main boulevard to fully appreciate the scope of this "vanity fair".

Each of the giant casino hotels has a whole set of distinctive features helping him not to get lost against the background of no less pretentious neighbors. In particular, the Luxor captivates with its exotic exterior: a giant black pyramid that launches a light beam of 40 billion candela into space at night looks incredibly futuristic. Inside, there is also something to look at: here you will find diverse exhibitions, ranging from the Titanic to Alexandrian rarities, and the phantasmagoric performances of Cirque du Soleil, and the crazy show programs of Chris Angel.

The New York, New York Hotel & Casino is the Big Apple in miniature. In principle, after visiting this institution, it is no longer necessary to go to New York itself, since on the territory of the complex you can see enough of the legendary Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and even the Brooklyn Bridge. Encircling all this miracle are roller coaster rails, along which wagons with screaming thrill-seekers are constantly rushing along. Another Strip mastodon, featured in movies like Ocean's Eleven and The Hangover, is the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. By the way, in addition to its magnificent interiors and surrealistic installations, the institution is famous for the fact that robbers really like it: it is in Bellagio that American gangsters most often “remove the cash register”.

The casino complex "Mandalay Bay" has its own fans: in addition to hunters for free spins and jackpots, lovers of all kinds of spa treatments and pool parties hang out here. The hotel has an aquarium "Shark Reef", which can be entered by anyone who has unfastened 20 USD to the cashier of the establishment. An old-timer of the northern Strip, who hosted the unforgettable Beatles, Dietrich and Sinatra, on his stage, is the Sahara Hotel-Casino. In addition to traditional roulette tables and "one-armed bandits", here you can find roller coasters, several restaurants and an interactive racing simulator.

Roman decadence-era interiors and selfies in retro cars can be expected at Caesars Palace, while Planet Hollywood features themed rooms with original props from Hollywood blockbusters and artificially controlled thunderstorms. Take a mini trip to the fashion capital of the world at the Paris Casino, which excites the imagination with its ultra-realistic replicas of the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Well, in order to swim along the azure canals in the company of a vociferous gondolier, take a walk along St. Mark's Square and enjoy a fantastic performance from the Blue Man Group, you will have to settle in Venice.

Attractions and entertainment

If you're drawn to traditional sightseeing in Las Vegas, it could mean one of two things: you've either lost your way or simply haven't found your casino. However, be that as it may, the gambling capital is full of places that are not associated with risk and grandiose financial expenses. For decades, entertainment complexes on the Las Vegas Strip have been fighting fierce battles for clientele, seducing the casual passerby with free concerts and performances. Here you will find Elvis clones singing the immortal hits of the king of pop music, and all kinds of circus troupes, delighting guests with incredible tricks exclusively “for applause”, and crazy illusionists. So feel free to wind your mileage along the main city boulevard, which has turned into one continuous attraction.

The famous singing fountain show in front of the Bellagio Hotel can also be enjoyed absolutely free of charge all day long. Well, if you are tired of watching the falling water cascades, try to move closer to the Mirage Hotel. Every day in front of the building of this institution erupts huge volcano, of course, sham but, nevertheless, the spectacle turns out to be breathtaking. They also let you into the Museum of Neon Signs without a ticket, where visitors are waiting for the dazzling logos of Vegas casinos and restaurants that have sunk into oblivion. But a half-hour operation in one of the cabins of the High Roller Ferris wheel will cost a little more than 20 USD. Agree, not so much, considering that for this amount you get a fantastic panorama of Las Vegas from a height of 168 m and a flurry of emotions. Fans of apocalyptic themes and other atomic horror stories will be interested to get acquainted with the exposition of the Museum of Nuclear Tests. Well, to see the dark side of the most dazzling city on the planet, it is worth taking a walk around the Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement.

Strictly speaking, Vegas is not a children's city. But, if you still took the younger generation with you, take them to the Discovery Museum, and go to the Dig This theme park, which is a brutal sandbox where children's dreams of giant Easter cakes are skillfully realized with the help of a full-size excavator. Tourists craving drive and adrenaline should look at the dizzying rides of the Stratosphere Tower. Just do not overestimate your capabilities, all the entertainment here is designed for a very healthy heart.

The Atomic Testing Museum recalls an era in which the word "atomic" had a connotation of something new and mysterious, the Smithsonian's Atomic Testing Museum remains a curious testament to an era in which the fantastic - and destructive - power of nuclear energy tested right at the borders of Las Vegas. Visit the extraordinary Ground Zero Theater recreating a concrete test bunker (www.atomictestingmuseum.org ; 755 East Flamingo Road (E Flamingo Rd); adult/child $14/11; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat , 12.00-17.00 Sun).

Take a fun $19 walking tour of Neon Boneyard Park, where old neon signs - original Las Vegas art - beyond restoration, are retiring.

Walk around the center until evening (neon lights come on) and you will find the free section of this "museum". You'll find delightful open-air galleries of restored neon signs: sparkling 'magic lamps', luminous martini glasses and 1940s motel awnings. The largest collections are gathered at the dead end of Heart Street (3rd St), north of Fremont Street (Fremont St). Call 702-387-6366 or visit www.neonmuseum.org for details; 821 Las Vegas Boulevard North (Las Vegas Blvd N); free exhibitions, guided tours $19; exhibitions 24 hours, guided tours at 12.00 and 14.00 Tue-Sat.

Wedding in Las Vegas

The wedding ceremony in Vegas is a fashion trend that has not lost its position for several decades, thanks to competent self-promotion. Playing a wedding in the wildest city on the planet is as easy as shelling pears. No bureaucracy and no piles of useless papers! It is enough to drop by the Marriage License Bureau and buy a marriage license, after which you can go to any of the Las Vegas chapels with a light heart and agree on all the details of the celebration. The choice of options, by the way, exceeds even the most immodest expectations. One agency specializes in romantic ceremonies with a traditional white dress and a limousine. Others are ready to organize a marriage with mafia paraphernalia and an indispensable shootout "for dessert." Well, still others lure the spouses with real costume bacchanalia with the participation of strippers and tanks of cocktails.

Note: The city's guiding principle "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" does not apply to weddings. All express marriages concluded in the gambling capital are legally valid throughout the United States.

And further…

The title of the ever-awake city of Las Vegas is due not only to gambling houses. Like it or not, it is impossible to provide non-stop fun with roulettes alone, especially since there are always a little more losers in this grand attraction than winners. And this is where local nightclubs, all kinds of drinking establishments and the sex industry come to the rescue.

You can wash the broken jackpot or drown the disappointment from losing at the bottom of the glass in a hotel bar, a nightclub, and, finally, just on the street, since the laws of Nevada allow this. Of the most authentic entertainment venues in the city, first of all, it is worth mentioning Parasol Up Parasol Down (non-irritating music and delicious cocktails), Minus 5 (minus 5 on the bar thermometer plus a warm hat for each guest) and Frankie's Tiki Room (colorful African interiors and magical drinks that can immerse you in an illusory world from the first sip).

Representatives of the oldest profession in Las Vegas are also on the alert, which is easy to guess after walking for half an hour along the city streets. Flyers, promotional posters, car advertising - all available opportunities are used here to attract clients. Local cabarets and all kinds of strip bars, concentrated mainly in Downtown and partly in the Strip area, remain quite a popular tourist attraction.

How to save money in Vegas

Only level 99 players leave Vegas with a full pocket. The rest "donate" their savings to local croupiers and slot machines, or lower them in nightclubs and go-go bars. In order not to succumb to the general madness and save at least a small fraction of the initial capital, it is better to adhere to the simple rules followed by tourists who regularly visit the "stronghold of vice".

• It is better to gain experience in non-promoted casinos with low rates, so there is less chance of being left with an empty wallet.
• Book a hotel a couple of months before departure, this is the only way to catch the best deals.
• Place your bets on the new machines. According to players with experience, they give out winnings more often.
• If you're on a budget, don't be tempted by the hotel's offer to deliver food to your room: the fee for this type of service is impressive.
• Don't rent a car if you're only in Vegas to play. Most likely, the matter will not do without drinking, so the car will simply be idle.

Hotels and Hotels

It is better to look for accommodation in Las Vegas through online booking services. Booking.com alone offers over 300 accommodation options in various price categories. Travelers whose income level does not yet allow renting apartments in Bellagio and Luxor can settle in motels, budget hotels and hostels.

A night in a hotel with two stars in Vegas will cost about 30 USD (Longhorn Boulder Highway). The average price for a room in a "three-ruble note" is 40-50 USD (Days Inn Las Vegas at Wild Wild West Gambling Hall, Mardi Gras Casino). Rates in four-star hotels usually start from 100-130 USD, but in elite establishments they will charge at least 200-300 USD per night (Red Rock Casino, Delano Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay). You can get a bed in a Vegas hostel for 20 USD, while a single room in a similar establishment will cost you 40-50 USD.

Restaurants and cafes in Las Vegas

Since players from all over the world come to Sin City, it's easy to find cuisines from all the nations of the world in Vegas. The level of establishments is very different, ranging from restaurants for moneybags with a strict dress code, ending with unpretentious cafes for "mere mortals". In addition, taverns are common in which the client pays only for admission and can absorb as much food as he likes. Well, for those who plan to live in Las Vegas for a week or two, there are restaurants with a daily subscription, where you can eat several times a day.

Fans of atmospheric places usually don't miss Ramsay Gordon's Gordon Ramsay Steak. The establishments of the most evil chef in Britain are distinguished by virtuoso service and perfect steaks. Vintage interiors, good old Italian Cuisine and a photo of the main crooner of the 20th century on the walls - these are the main "treats" that the Sinatra restaurant offers its guests. Marked by the Michelin Red Guide, Picasso is preferred by fans of the "father of cubism": the restaurant has an impressive collection of paintings by the master and is very picky about the selection of chefs. Well, adherents of French molecular cuisine, as a rule, settle in Twist, which is under the auspices of Pierre Gagnère himself.

Buffets the size of a football field, pizzerias, Chinese and Mexican restaurants, and, of course, "fast food" are open to those who like to eat densely and inexpensively. In connection with all of the above, an independent choice of restaurants in Las Vegas can take a long time and, as a result, unfortunately, does not bring the desired result, so you should decide in advance on your taste, aesthetic requirements, financial expenses, and then finding the desired place will not be difficult. . If you really get confused, then poke your finger at random in the direction of the neon sign that interests you, and go ...

Transport

A “horseless” tourist in Vegas will have to travel by buses, monorail trains and taxis. All buses here belong to the RTC company and are divided into two types: tourist options plying along Las Vegas Boulevard (Deuce), and routes connecting the city center with its outskirts (Strip & Downtovn Express). The first ones run 24 hours a day with an interval of 10-15 minutes and slow down at each stop. The second roam the streets from 9:00 to midnight and do not stop everywhere. To ride on any of the buses, it is recommended to get a travel card, which is easy to buy from the driver or from vending machines. The cost of a two-hour ticket is 6 USD, a daily ticket is 8 USD, a three-day ticket is 20 USD (sold only in special rideRTC App vending machines).

The monorail is usually chosen for its efficiency (no need to stand in a traffic jam or maneuver in crazy traffic) and an inspiring view from the window (the height of the rail track is 8 m). Trains run along the city's main entertainment artery, the Las Vegas Strip, and stop at 7 stations: Sahara, Hilton, Convention Center, Harrah's / Imperial Palace, Flamingo / Caesars Palace, Bally's / Paris, MGM Grand. One trip on the monorail costs 5 USD, so it is more advisable to purchase a 24-hour ticket for 12 USD. You can check the categories of travel cards, as well as prices and operating hours of the monorail on the official website.

Taxis in Las Vegas are in demand, but in case of time trouble, local taxi companies are not helpful to the traveler. On the Friday-Sunday weekend, the number of cars on the roads exceeds all permissible limits, so you will most likely have to forget about driving with the breeze. On average, you can ride around Vegas for 10 USD plus the traditional 10% tip to the driver. The trip from the airport to the Strip will "eat" from 12 to 23 USD. By the way, in order not to overpay for standing in traffic jams, ask the driver to go around the main street of Vegas at rush hour: after such a phrase, the taxi driver, by definition, must be imbued with respect for the tourist and give up hope to breed him for money.

Note: most Vegas taxis are equipped with card payment terminals, but, just in case, it is better to coordinate the payment method with the driver before the trip.

Eco-lovers and adherents of active life can rent a bicycle and not depend on the public transport schedule. There are enough rental points, as well as bike paths, in the city. As for rental rates, the most optimal of them are long-term options, for example, for a month.

Car rent

Renting a car in Vegas automatically excludes a tourist from the list of regulars in local bars, but provides him with endless opportunities to explore the ascetic landscapes of Nevada and the surroundings of the most gambling city on the planet. It is better to take a car in international rental offices like Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Budget and Alamo, whose racks can be found at the airport or Las Vegas itself. Usually, a day of renting an economy class car costs from 50 USD. The fines for traffic violations in this part of America are harsh, so following the basic safety rules on the road saves not only nerves, but also money.

Parking is no problem in Las Vegas, and there are both paid options and places that won't cost a dollar. For example, many casinos and hotels offer free parking (symbolic tips for parking staff are required).

Parking for tourists are divided into two main types: "valet parking" (service parking) and "public parking" (public parking). In the first case, a special employee will drive your car to the parking lot and issue a numbered ticket, according to which you will later need to get your car back. The specifics of this type of parking is that you will have to present a couple of dollars to the valet for services (usually twice, that is, when you hand over the car and when you pick it up). When you park in public, you usually end up in a multi-storey car park where you just leave your car in a free parking space. Be sure to remember the number of the parking level, otherwise you will be provided with anxious minutes of searching for your iron horse, since all floors are similar to each other, and there are a lot of cars. Parking is free, and you should not think that the car will be left unattended. All levels are controlled by a large number of video cameras. In addition, such parking lots are patrolled by police. And don't be surprised if they're on bikes!

To be honest, returning to Las Vegas from the desert hell is an impressive thing in itself. Bursting into your air-conditioned hotel room, you'll wonder if heaven is where we think it is.

In your eyes, as in a counter, solid numbers will spin. Numbers for length, height, width, money gains, your losses. In any case, no matter what denominator you come to, the atmosphere of Las Vegas will forever dissolve in your blood, and dreams filled with fires of idleness interspersed with natural beauty, will visit you again and again!

Tours from Las Vegas

Many visitors go on a tour of the city's neighborhoods and national parks in Nevada. For example, one of the most visited places outside the “abode of vice” is the Hoover Dam, which harnessed the Colorado River and is located on the border of Arizona and Nevada. A stone's throw from Las Vegas to the greatest natural wonder America - the Grand Canyon: in the process of walking along its famous observation deck SkyWalk, 99% of atheists, as a rule, have time to reconsider their attitude to religion. Fans of endless space and infernal landscapes are advised to book a tour to Death Valley - the most lifeless corner of the United States. sheer cliffs and mountain gorges should be looked for in national park Zion with its crystal springs, serpentine paths and a great Indian past. And for western-style photo shoots, horseback riding and rock climbing, the Red Rocks Canyon is the best place.

There are many tours in jeeps, hummers, buses to all nearby parks. Organized rafting on the Colorado River, helicopter tours, including over Las Vegas. The cost of excursions ranges from $ 100-500 per person, as a rule, including meals. The price depends on the remoteness of the objects, the length of the route, the comfort of travel chosen by you, at the same time there is no big difference between the prices of various excursion companies, whether they are Russian-speaking or English-speaking excursions.

But you can also easily create your own itinerary, rent a car and go on a trip. Perhaps it will be much more interesting.

Safety

The main tourist areas are safe. However, the part of Las Vegas Boulevard between Downtown and the Strip is in a shabby and neglected state, and the section of Fremont Street to the east of the center is rather unfavorable.

Do not miss

Despite the fact that in Las Vegas every new day is one continuous holiday, extraordinary events take place in the city from time to time, which should be given a little more attention. In particular, since 1968, the main poker tournament of the planet, the World Series of Poker, has been held in the Sin City. If you want carefree fun and the ultimate immersion in the wild west holiday atmosphere, check out the annual Helldorado Days festival, which includes a grand carnival parade and an invariable rodeo featuring the best cowboys in the state. All fans of trance and house trends are drawn to Las Vegas closer to the beginning of June, when Electric Daisy Carnival or, simply, a dance music festival starts at the venues of the gambling capital.

5 things to do in Las Vegas

• Take a walk along Fremont Street to see with your own eyes the hallmark of the quarter - the neon cowboy Vic and the gigantic screen-canvas Fremont Experience, on which a delightful spotlight show is played every evening.
• Take a selfie in front of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!" sign ("Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas!"), Anticipating the entrance to the Strip.
• Buy a ticket to at least one of the paid shows organized by local hotels and fall out of reality for an hour and a half.
• Take a photo with a downtown mime, or at least talk some local freak into doing it (both will have to pay).
• Stop by the Golden Nugget Casino to contemplate a plan to steal a 25kg gold nugget on display in the lobby of the establishment.

How to get there

You can fly to the “capital of excitement and vice” from Russia with Aeroflot, Virgin America, JetBlue, Airways, Delta Airlines, Swiss, but almost all flights will be with transfers. In addition, you can find offers from some carriers that, in addition to connecting, also mean changing the airport.

Las Vegas McCarran Airport is located 8 km from the city and has 2 terminals, which are connected by a free tram with three lines. To get from Terminal 1 to gates C, follow the green line, gates D - blue, but to get from Terminal 3 to gates D, you will have to take the red line.

There are three ways to get from the airport to Las Vegas:

• by shuttle (Terminal 1 - exits 7 to 13; Terminal 3 - zero level);
• by bus (Centennial Express, Westcliff Airport Express, No. 108, 109, departure from level zero);
• by taxi (Terminal 1 - exits 1 to 4; Terminal 3 - arrivals area).

Airfare low price calendar

in contact with Facebook twitter