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Las Vegas TRAVEL GUIDE AND DEALS

Las Vegas celebrated its centennial in 2005 – not that it needed an excuse to party. “Sin City,” “Lost Wages,” “The City That Never Sleeps” – call it what you will – this Nevada desert city will awe you from the moment you fly over its glittering expanse to the day you leave.

Why Go

 Believe it or not, there's more to Las Vegas than debauchery, including a world-class restaurant scene and fantastic shopping.

Las Vegas Travel Deals

Las Vegas Hotels

Sin City has oozed sophistication ever since the mob came in and kicked the cowboys out of casino management. But for all the black-tie glamour of that bygone era, it took the Vegas of today to usher in truly world-class accommodations and equal-to-anywhere hotel amenities. The famed names, all with nearly 4,000 rooms, are like self-contained cities with everything from spas to nightclubs to celebrity-chef-helmed restaurants. With over 135,000 rooms (and counting), Vegas beats any other popular travel destination in the world at every price point. The best bang for your buck can be found at the moderate, upper-middle-end of the bracket. You could net even more significant savings by staying downtown or landing yourself in a chain motel like Super 8, but that’s not why you’re here, is it? The Strip remains the preferred address, but make your reservations early, especially on weekends and holidays.

= Smart Splurge = Great Value

Bellagio
The resort that redefined “Vegas class” has the world’s largest Dale Chihuly glass installation in its... smart splurge | casino | expensive

MGM Grand
At 5,022 rooms, this is one of the world’s largest hotels. Lions carry on the legacy of the original MGM mascot by... family | casino | expensive

Skylofts at MGM Grand
Skylofts offer digs unlike any in Vegas, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom double-decker cribs atop the emerald-hued mastiff... luxury | expensive | editor pick

The Mirage
Steve Wynn's original Vegas showstopper earns “magma” cum laude from first-timers for shooting steam, simulated... casino | expensive

Venetian
The Venetian offers more than gambling, mind you, as the "neighborhoods" lining the Grand Canal Shoppes boast... casino | expensive

Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas debuted to much fanfare in April 2005 as the latest in a string of successful hotel concepts brought on by... smart splurge | editor pick

Bills Gamblin' Hall and Casino
One of the Strip’s best bargains, this well-situated property offers a semblance of intimacy, modern conveniences... casino | great location

Excalibur
This medieval-themed, 3,980-room hotel offers campy Middle Ages fun – jousting performances, dancing maidens, eating... family | casino | great value

Golden Nugget
Situated beneath the Fremont Street Experience, the Golden Nugget brings Strip-level quality to the heart of Glitter Gulch;... budget | great value

Sahara
Finding low prices on the Strip without having to resort to Motel 6 is getting tough. A good number of the value stays have... historic

Green Valley Ranch Resort
There are no longer just two Vegases from which to choose: the Strip or Downtown. Located eight miles from the Strip in... trendy | great value | editor pick

JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Spa
Located about 10 miles from the Strip in Summerlin, this resort has about as many rooms as a few floors of one of the... family | spa

Loews Lake Las Vegas
Is it weird to recommend a Vegas resort lacking a casino? Not when the resort looks like it came right out of a Bogart movie,... family

Luxor
Thanks to a powerful beam of light that shoots from the point of its pyramid, the Luxor can be located from up to 250 miles... casino

Bellagio
The resort that redefined “Vegas class” has the world’s largest Dale Chihuly glass installation in its... smart splurge | casino | expensive

MGM Grand
At 5,022 rooms, this is one of the world’s largest hotels. Lions carry on the legacy of the original MGM mascot by... family | casino | expensive

Skylofts at MGM Grand
Skylofts offer digs unlike any in Vegas, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom double-decker cribs atop the emerald-hued mastiff... trendy | expensive | editor pick

The Mirage
Steve Wynn's original Vegas showstopper earns “magma” cum laude from first-timers for shooting steam, simulated... casino | expensive

Venetian
The Venetian offers more than gambling, mind you, as the "neighborhoods" lining the Grand Canal Shoppes boast... casino | expensive

Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas debuted to much fanfare in April 2005 as the latest in a string of successful hotel concepts brought on by... smart splurge | editor pick

Bills Gamblin' Hall and Casino
One of the Strip’s best bargains, this well-situated property offers a semblance of intimacy, modern conveniences... casino | great location

Excalibur
This medieval-themed, 3,980-room hotel offers campy Middle Ages fun – jousting performances, dancing maidens, eating... family | casino | great value

Golden Nugget
Situated beneath the Fremont Street Experience, the Golden Nugget brings Strip-level quality to the heart of Glitter Gulch;... trendy | great value

Sahara
Finding low prices on the Strip without having to resort to Motel 6 is getting tough. A good number of the value stays have... historic

Golden Nugget
Situated beneath the Fremont Street Experience, the Golden Nugget brings Strip-level quality to the heart of Glitter Gulch;... budget | great value

Green Valley Ranch Resort
There are no longer just two Vegases from which to choose: the Strip or Downtown. Located eight miles from the Strip in... moderate | great value | editor pick

Skylofts at MGM Grand
Skylofts offer digs unlike any in Vegas, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom double-decker cribs atop the emerald-hued mastiff... luxury | expensive | editor pick

Green Valley Ranch Resort
There are no longer just two Vegases from which to choose: the Strip or Downtown. Located eight miles from the Strip in... trendy | great value | editor pick

JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Spa
Located about 10 miles from the Strip in Summerlin, this resort has about as many rooms as a few floors of one of the... family | spa

Loews Lake Las Vegas
Is it weird to recommend a Vegas resort lacking a casino? Not when the resort looks like it came right out of a Bogart movie,... family

Luxor
Thanks to a powerful beam of light that shoots from the point of its pyramid, the Luxor can be located from up to 250 miles... casino

Las Vegas Restaurants

Ever since Wolfgang Puck opened Spago, the first gourmet outlet, in 1992, Las Vegas casinos have started competing in the culinary realm. Bellagio alone serves up fare from several James Beard Award-winning chefs and others aren’t far behind. Even so, you can still get a superbly affordable meal at most casino buffets.

= Smart Splurge = Great Value

Andre's French Restaurant
In the middle of downtown Vegas, the cozy warren of rooms and equally sympathetic French cuisine transports you to a country... french

Hugo's Cellar
Brick walls, candlelight, classic martinis, salads, and flambés prepared tableside with aplomb – not to mention... american | editor pick

Table 34
Here you’ll find the town’s finest upscale comfort food, from fresh seasonal soups and crab cakes to artful... comfort food

Border Grill
Despite its California roots, the menu at Border Grill draws from the many iterations of Mexican cuisine from across North... family | latin fusion | editor pick

Garden Court Buffet
A lovely Victorian room in the Main Street Casino where live action stations include Chinese stir-fry, rotisserie, BBQ,... family | buffet

Spice Market Buffet
The best value/quality offer on the Strip can be found at the buffet in Planet Hollywood’s Casino: rack of lamb, dim... great value

Spiedini Ristorante
No one is considering a name change to Tuscany & Turf or the Gorgonzola Grill, but either moniker sums up the style of... italian

Ellis Island
Imagine a 10-ounce sirloin with two eggs, potatoes, and toast for $8.99; pick up a free $5 blackjack play coupon and stop by... great value

Lotus of Siam
Those in the know come for the northern Thai (Issan) menu where Burmese, Laotian, and Hunan Chinese influences meet in... asian fusion

Sherwood Forest Café
Stop in night or day to the Excalibur hotel’s large, columned café for all-American (and kid-friendly) favorites... family | open late

Stage Deli
Don’t be confused by all the namesake big city delis in town. Just head straight to Stage Deli at The Forum Shops in... great value | deli

Andre's French Restaurant
In the middle of downtown Vegas, the cozy warren of rooms and equally sympathetic French cuisine transports you to a country... french

Hugo's Cellar
Brick walls, candlelight, classic martinis, salads, and flambés prepared tableside with aplomb – not to mention... american | editor pick

Table 34
Here you’ll find the town’s finest upscale comfort food, from fresh seasonal soups and crab cakes to artful... comfort food

Border Grill
Despite its California roots, the menu at Border Grill draws from the many iterations of Mexican cuisine from across North... family | latin fusion | editor pick

Garden Court Buffet
A lovely Victorian room in the Main Street Casino where live action stations include Chinese stir-fry, rotisserie, BBQ,... family | buffet

Spice Market Buffet
The best value/quality offer on the Strip can be found at the buffet in Planet Hollywood’s Casino: rack of lamb, dim... great value

Spiedini Ristorante
No one is considering a name change to Tuscany & Turf or the Gorgonzola Grill, but either moniker sums up the style of... italian

Ellis Island
Imagine a 10-ounce sirloin with two eggs, potatoes, and toast for $8.99; pick up a free $5 blackjack play coupon and stop by... great value

Lotus of Siam
Those in the know come for the northern Thai (Issan) menu where Burmese, Laotian, and Hunan Chinese influences meet in... asian fusion

Sherwood Forest Café
Stop in night or day to the Excalibur hotel’s large, columned café for all-American (and kid-friendly) favorites... family | open late

Stage Deli
Don’t be confused by all the namesake big city delis in town. Just head straight to Stage Deli at The Forum Shops in... great value | deli

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