We stayed at The Flamingo, landing us right centre strip. I would definitely recommend The Flamingo for location as you are part of the famous four corners and right in the middle of the action! We also paid a $40 per night upgrade fee to have one of the recently renovated “Go” rooms, and didn’t regret it. These rooms have one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in, and a hot pink bathroom with a TV built right into the mirror. Very sleek!

My best tip about Las Vegas is don’t expect to see and do everything in one trip. It took us about a day to realize this, and after doing so, the trip became much more enjoyable! There is so much to see and do that I would recommend having a basic plan in mind each day so you can hit as many spots as possible! I also recommend having a copy of Frommer’s Las Vegas book as it can come in handy! Here is a basic rundown of what we managed to see:

• Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay: Unique experience, especially touching the sharks and stingrays. You are given an audio guide to listen to as you walk through the exhibit, which gives lots of information about what you are seeing. The walk to get to the entrance of the exhibit is a lengthy one, you have to walk through basically the entire resort to get there.

• Inside Gondola Ride at The Venetian: You are sung to as you ride from one end of the canal and then back. It is worth the ride, but the pictures they take of you and try to sell to you are a bit overpriced.

• ‘O’ by Cirque du Soleil: Amazing, breathtaking, phenomenal! We literally spent the entire show on the edge of seats. There is so much going on, so much to look at, that you have trouble taking it all in. This show is certainly worth the price you will pay for the tickets!

• Tower Admission to the Stratosphere: We did not do the roller coaster or the Drop Zone type ride here, but instead choose to go up to the observation deck as it was very cold outside. The views from this deck are amazing, especially at night. Great photo opportunities here!

• Titanic the Exhibit (at The Luxor): This is a more expensive exhibit at $30 a person, but if you are interested in the Titanic story, it is worth every penny. There are over 300 articles that have been raised from the Titanic’s final resting place and are on display here, including the biggest piece of the hull to be found to date. I was in complete awe throughout the exhibit. An audio tour guide is offered here for an additional $6, which I took, but I found it more distracting then anything, although there was a ton of information being shared.

• Secret Garden (at The Mirage): This was our most un-Vegas like experience. Dolphins, tigers, lions, leopards and other animals are on display, with the chance to get up close and personal with them. It was a weird feeling to know you are in Vegas but to be looking at these animals, but well worth it.

• Eiffel Tower Experience: We got this with a 2 for 1 coupon, and I am glad we did. This ‘experience’ gives you an elevator ride up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but once up there, all you can do is walk around the small deck. The chance to take pictures is limited due to the metal cage, but you can get a good shot through the small cut outs if you try. I would say this experience is overrated.

• The Price is Right Live (at Bally’s): Everyone knows this show! Admission is a whopping $49.50, but delivers a high energy show with the chance for a good portion of the audience to win some sort of prize. We didn’t win anything and had a small bit of buyer’s remorse, but all in all this is a fun way to spend a few hours.

• Fremont Street Experience: Unfortunately the lights for this were not working when we headed downtown for the night, but the experience was still a pleasant one. They say the slots are ‘loose’ in downtown and we found this to be very true, winning frequently! I don’t recommend taking the local bus downtown as it comes very infrequently and there is little direction as where to go. Spend the $10 on the cab and enjoy!

• The Monorail: This is the best and cheapest way to get around Las Vegas with multiple stops at each part of the strip. I would recommend getting a pass that fits your length of stay in Vegas, and keep in mind the pass does not start until the first time you use it, not the time you buy it, so this makes it last as long as possible.

Eating in Las Vegas can be a fortune in itself. Buffets can range widely with quality, quantity and price. Our experiences are to leave the buffet at The Flamingo and Treasure Island, try out the buffet at The Mirage, and if you are downtown and looking for a cheap buffet, hit up Main Street Station Garden Court. The best place for breakfast by far is Ellis Island which is about a block away from the strip, behind The Flamingo. This is a great little gem with huge servings and cheap prices! Shopping in Las Vegas can also be tricky as there are a lot of high end stores, I found the best bargains are at the airport on the way home! (Or if you find one of the “Everything for $10 stores!)

Tipping in Las Vegas is huge. Everyone looks for a tip, and we had some people get very vocal with us about it, as they count on tips as part of their income. I would recommend having a few one dollar bills with you at all times as it will ensure great service and quicker turnaround on your drinks!

All in all, Las Vegas was a great experience for us. Walking through all the casinos and trying our luck at different slot machines and some table games gives you quite a thrill. If you are going to Las Vegas with the intention of coming home with money, don’t. Go knowing you are spending it all, and you will have a fabulous trip!

Stephanie Groat

2000 Tours Inc.