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Casinos
Aladdin
3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip
Las Vegas.
702-785-5555. Toll-free 877-333-9474
Apropos of the ever-changing world that is Las Vegas, today's Middle
Eastern-themed Aladdin will become tomorrow's Planet Hollywood
Resort & Hotel. The 2,567-room Aladdin went into bankruptcy, and its new owners plan substantial construction beginning in 2005.
Desert Passage, the 140-store mega mall surrounding Aladdin,
replete with eight-story mountain and full-sized freighter anchored
alongside a replica of a North African harbor, started remodeling in
summer 2004 and will relaunch in October 2005.
Bally's
3645 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Central Strip, Las Vegas.
702-739-4111. Toll-free 800-722-5597.
Shows include Donn Arden's Jubilee, with a Bob Mackie-gowned
showgirl extravaganza and spectacular effects such as the sinking of
the Titanic. A multimillion-dollar refurbishment added a dramatic
entrance from Las Vegas Boulevard, including four 200-ft. people
movers, along with light, water and sound displays.
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas.
702-693-7111. Toll-free 888-987-3456
An 8-acre lake provides a choreographed display of fountains, lights
and rousing music every half-hour 3-8 pm, and every 15 minutes 8 pm-midnight. For the most spectacular visual effects, see the complex after dark. The Via
Bellagio shopping avenue features such famous names as Gucci,
Prada, and Chanel.
Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Central Strip, Las Vegas.
702-731-7110. Toll-free 877-427-7243.
The city's first themed casino, it opened in 1966. Two outstanding
additions include the 4,100-seat Colosseum, home to resident
performer Celine Dion, along with "part-timers" such as Elton John
and Jerry Seinfeld; and the Forum Shops, a series of Roman
streetscapes with ever-changing "skies" that move from dawn to dusk
to night, filled with haute couture, restaurants, the unusual and the
ornate. There are also two free shows within the Forum Shops at the
Festival Fountain, and Atlantis, with laser special effects and
animatronic Roman characters, plus a new 50,000-gallon saltwater
aquarium.
Circus Circus
2880 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
North Strip, Las Vegas.
702-734-0410. Toll-free 877-224-7287.
The free attraction is the varied daily circus shows, and that's why it's
a must for families. Trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, acrobats and
jugglers from around the world perform every 30 to 45 minutes on the
Midway Stage: 11 am-10:30 pm. The non-free attraction is the
Adventuredome Theme Park, the largest indoor theme park in the
U.S., with a variety of thrill rides, IMAX movies, laser tag and more.
The three casinos feature table games, slot machines, poker and
more.
Excalibur
3850 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (at Tropicana Avenue)
South Strip, Las Vegas.
702-597-7777. Toll-free 877-750-5464.
The medieval theme is clear from the exterior. It's an imitation castle.
Inside, there are strolling Renaissance entertainers and a stairway
descending to the Fantasy Faire Midway, which includes carnival
games and a Magic Motion Film Ride. Children are entertained at the
Court Jester's stage, which features puppet shows, magicians,
storytellers and more.
The casino has slot machines, electronic
games, poker, table games and keno.
Flamingo Las Vegas
3555 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Central Strip, Las Vegas.
702-733-3111. Toll-free 800-732-2111.
Though it no longer resembles the original palm-tree studded low-rise
that Bugsy Siegel built in 1946, the Flamingo is one of the few
remaining Strip properties with a name relating to those days. Now,
the Flamingo comprises a series of six high-rise towers dressed in
pink, with a Caribbean-style pool area, plus a free 15-acre wildlife
habitat. It is located at the famous "Four Corners" of the Las Vegas
Strip.
Hard Rock Casino
4455 Paradise Road at Harmon
(two blocks east of the Strip), Las Vegas.
702-693-5000. Toll-free 800-693-7625.
This casino is filled with sound! It features rock memorabilia and
attracts the world's hottest music stars to perform in The Joint, which
seats 1,400 people. A chandelier with 32 gold saxophones dangles
in the entry. The outdoor hotspot is the lagoon pool, replete with
floating craps table and a waterslide; it also doubles as an outdoor
nightclub in warm weather.
Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Road (two blocks east of the Strip), Las Vegas.
702-732-5111. Toll-free 800-732-7117.
Barbra Streisand opened the hotel in the late '60s, when it was known as the International and was one of the first major off-Strip properties. Then came Elvis
Presley, who dominated the hotel's entertainment roster in the '70s.
Now it is a favorite for meetings and conventions because of the
adjacent Las Vegas Convention Center. The property's most popular
draw is the Star Trek attraction, with the newly opened Borg Invasion
in 4-D, the 20,000-sq. foot SpaceQuest casino, Quark's Bar &
Restaurant, and the Deep Space Nine shopping promenade. For
gaming fans, the Sports Book is the largest betting house in town.
Luxor
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
South Strip, Las Vegas.
702-262-4000. Toll-free 888-777-0188.
Named after the ancient city of the same name in northern Egypt,
Luxor's black-glass pyramid is one of the most striking big-casinos
from the outside. At night, the world's brightest beacon shoots
straight up, so that even high-flying planes can see where they are.
Inside, Egyptian artifacts and hieroglyphics line the walls of the
30-story pyramid. The replica of King Tut's Tomb is interesting and a
more thorough re-creation than most theme attractions in Las Vegas. The Pharaoh's Pavilion has IMAX theaters that show a variety of features, including
some in 3-D.
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., South Strip, Las Vegas.
702-632-7777. Toll-free 877-632-7000.
Mandalay Bay has an understated South Seas/Far East feel. The
main floor of the casino has lots of wide walkways and tropical
greenery inside and out. Behind the complex, there's a lagoon, an
enormous sandy beach, a man-made river and a water complex that
includes a wave pool. The main sightseeing activity is the Shark Reef
aquarium, which features creatures sharks, moray eels, stone fish,
crocodiles, pythons and piranhas. One of its key entertainment
venues is the legendary House of Blues, playing an eclectic mix of
live music in its 1,800-seat facility. Mandalay Place is the new
shopping complex, located on the bridge between Mandalay Bay and
Luxor. A free tram runs between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and the
Excalibur
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., South Strip, Las Vegas.
702-891-1111. Toll-free 877-880-0880.
Features the Lion Habitat, with lions trucked in each morning from a
nearby ranch (like other Vegas stars, they're primped and groomed
prior to making an appearance). Other activities center on nightlife
(two large theaters for limited engagements and a smaller showroom
that hosts a revue and the Studio 54 nightclub) and shopping (the
Studio Walk shops). Television City in the Studio Walk area is a free
attraction with CBS videos and logo merchandise. The MGM Grand
Adventures Theme Park is now available only for group events.
The Mirage
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas.
702-791-7111. Toll-free 800-374-9000.
One of the forerunners of the shift to themes and big spectacles, the
Mirage's tropical motif centers on the South Seas. Outside is a
gigantic waterfall topped by a volcano that "erupts" every 15 minutes
after dusk, with elaborate lighting effects simulating the lava flow. The
resort also houses two natural habitats, including a network of dolphin
pools and the Secret Garden, a misted, lush sanctuary with rare white
tigers and other animals that have performed with famed illusionists
Siegfried and Roy.
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
3770 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.
702-730-7777. Toll-free 800-311-8999.
Extremely glamorous, the Monte Carlo is styled after the opulent
Place du Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with domed ceilings,
arches, crystal chandeliers, fountains and marble floors. But
underneath all the glamour, the resort is family-friendly with a water
park and high-tech video arcade. Its microbrewery is the only one on
the Strip. The hotel is also home to the Lance Burton Theater, where
the master magician has performed since 1997.
New York New York Hotel and Casino
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. S., South Strip, Las Vegas.
702-740-6969. Toll-free 800-693-6763.
The facade is striking, to say the least—the Empire State Building,
the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and the Chrysler Building,
all standing along Las Vegas Boulevard. The New York theme is
reflected in the interior, if on a less ambitious scale, with art-deco
styling and some simulated settings such as Times Square and
Central Park. Shops and eateries are styled after neighborhoods in
New York, too. The Manhattan Express roller coaster, with its
inverted roll, is the main non-gambling activity. There is also a large
game room.
The Palms
4321 W. Flamingo Road (one block west of the Strip), Las Vegas.
702-942-7777. Toll-free 866-942-7777.
This casino resort is the new symbol of good times for the 20-30
crowd, with attractions such as Ghostbar on the 55th floor and Rain
dance club. Young Hollywood jet-setters appear on a regular basis.
TV shows film inside the resort too. If you need a relaxing break from
the game floor, then head to the resort's 14-screen movie theater.
Paris Las Vegas
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas.
702-946-7000. Toll-free 888-266-5687.
A scaled-down (though still quite tall) replica of the Eiffel Tower is
eye-catching. You can take an elevator to the top, but it's not a free
ride (in fact, it costs almost as much as if you were ascending the
real tower). Back on the ground, push past the casino area inside the
main entrance to find the indoor Parisian streetscape. The
cobblestone lane is lined with boutiques, restaurants and clubs.
You'll hear accordion music and perhaps see a man in a striped shirt
and beret bicycling by, a baguette under his arm. Parisian landmarks
such as the Arc de Triomphe and facades of the Paris Opera House
and the Louvre line the streets. The Eiffel Tower is open
Monday-Friday 10 am-midnight, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-1 am.
Admission charged.
The Rio
3700 W. Flamingo Road (at Valley View), Las Vegas.
702-252-7777. Toll-free 800-752-9746.
You have to venture a short way off the Strip to get to the Rio. The
attraction (aside from the usual array of gaming, restaurants and
bars) is the Show in the Sky—Mardi Gras floats move along a track
attached to the ceiling, while costumed revelers throw beads to the
casino players and onlookers below. The Bevertainers, a new addition to the casino,
serve cocktails one minute and perform the next. The free 12-minute
Mardi Gras shows take place daily at 3, 4, 5, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and
9:30 pm.
The Sahara
2535 Las Vegas Blvd. S., North Strip, Las Vegas.
702-737-2111. Toll-free 888-696-2121.
When the Sahara opened in 1952, it was crowned the "Jewel of the
Desert." Over the years, its legendary performers included Johnny
Carson, George Burns and the Beatles. Now the Sahara's lounges
boast names such as the Coasters, the Drifters and the Platters,
plus Lena Prima, the daughter of late, great Louis Prima. Even the
steak house is a Vegas classic: the venerable House of Lords. Its
more modern-day attractions include the NASCAR Cafe, the Las
Vegas Cyber Speedway and a roller coaster called Speed: The Ride,
which hurtles passengers forwards and backwards at speeds up to
70 mph.
Stardust
3000 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas.
702-732-6111. Toll-free 800-634-6757.
If you want to get a feel for what Las Vegas used to be, visit the
Stardust, whose light-shower marquee has been a symbol of Sin City
since its opening in the mid-'50s. The casino has been enlarged
innumerable times and now feels as though it stretches on forever,
but that's not a bad thing, especially given the endangered species
that still exist there in the form of US$2 craps, US$5 blackjack and
low-limit poker. Another oldie-but-goodie: performances by Mr. Vegas
himself, Wayne Newton, in his own showroom.
Stratosphere Las Vegas
2000 Las Vegas Blvd. S., North Strip, Las Vegas.
Phone 702-380-7777. Toll-free 800-998-6937.
At 1,149 ft. high, the Stratosphere Tower is America's tallest freestanding observation tower and the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Take a
100-story trip to the top for breathtaking 360-degree views. You can
add to your high-altitude experience on three thrill rides: The High
Roller/roller coaster makes several rotations around the top of the
tower, the Big Shot is a 160-ft. free-fall experience, and the new X
Scream is a teeter-totter ride that hangs 29 ft. over the edge of the
building and 866 ft. above the Strip. Various price packages are
available that combine the ride and tower admission fees, including
an all-day unlimited pass.
TI-(formerly Treasure Island)
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas.
702-894-7111. Toll-free 800-944-7444.
Adjacent to the Mirage, this resort started off using Robert Louis
Stevenson's novel of the same name as its jumping-off point. Now,
however, it has adopted the name "TI" in an attempt to revamp itself.
The overall theme is changing from pirates to a hip and trendy resort.
The highlight for those on a walking tour of the Strip is the free new
“pirates and sexy ladies” show that takes place in Siren's Cove,, at
7, 8:30, 10 and 11:30 pm. Inside is the original Cirque du Soleil
production of Mystere, with clowns who mingle with the audience,
roving devils, compelling music and,mind-boggling acrobatic performances.
The Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd.
S., Central Strip, Las Vegas.
Phone 702-414-4100. Toll-free 877-857-1861.
Billing itself as one of the more upscale Vegas properties, the
Venetian immerses visitors in a luxurious European ambience.
Gracefully arched bridges, flowing canals, vibrant piazzas and stone
walkways faithfully re-create Venice's Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge
and Campanile. St. Mark's Square, lined with restaurants and shops, is the scene of street-style entertainment. You can take a gondola ride through the
canals while being serenaded by a singing boatman.
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