There’s only one place in the United States where you can experience New York, Paris, Italy, Egypt, China or countless deep sea adventures, visit animal exhibits, and see nationally recognized entertainment. Las Vegas is the perfect spot for a long weekend.
While the trip to Las Vegas from ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä is scenic, the 30-plus hour drive time doesn’t make it a convenient getaway. However, flight schedules out of Yeager, with a connection, can have you to Sin City in just over six hours for a fun weekend you won’t soon forget.
There is no standard on or off-season in Las Vegas, but plan your trip around the weather. Highs in the summer often exceed 100 degrees, but the low humidity can make the conditions slightly more tolerable. Winter can be a bit chilly, with nighttime temperatures in the low 40s. Strong winds off the mountains can happen year-round, so be sure to bring a sweater.
Hotels are typically more full in July through October, and other events, such as New Year’s Eve, the Super Bowl, March Madness and spring break, can also lead to larger than average crowds.
Las Vegas features two main tourist areas. The Las Vegas Strip, located along South Las Vegas Boulevard generally south of Sahara Avenue, is home to flashy resorts and attractions. However, recent investments in downtown Las Vegas, along Freemont Street, have brought a lot of life back to what many consider an old-school Las Vegas experience.
McCarran International Airport is conveniently located near the strip and has plenty of transportation options to get you to and from your destination. The airport also offers a diverse selection of dining and shopping and features slot machines to help you pass the time while you wait for your flight.
Before you plan your Las Vegas getaway, be sure to take a look at the acts you want to see. Whether you’re drawn to Cirque du Soleil, comedy shows or a concert by your favorite artist, check venue schedules before booking. Many shows operate only a couple days a week or for specific weeks out of the year.
One of the most frequent challenges travelers want assistance with is picking a resort that’s appropriate for them. We picked our lucky 10 resorts to share.
n Aria ($$$): Centrally located on the strip, this property is a modern resort with a rare find in Las Vegas — natural light. Guests are greeted by a three-story atrium full of natural light, and every guest room features floor-to-ceiling windows. A central control pad operates everything in the room, from curtains to lighting.
Check out the art collection, including Maya Lin’s Colorado River, an 84-foot sculpture of reclaimed silver that replicates the route of the waterway. Aria is also home to high-end shopping, including Prada, Tom Ford and Harry Winston, and a plethora of great restaurants. Also enjoy “Zarkana,†Cirque du Soleil’s take on a modern-day variety show.
n Bellagio Las Vegas ($$$): Most Las Vegas visitors know Bellagio for its dancing fountains choreographed to music, but the resort offers a simplistic elegance that is hard to match. Rooms in the main tower are top of the line, with Italian marble and luxury fabrics.
The resort also has some of the best service on the strip, with a higher staff-to-guest ratio than most properties. Be sure to check out the gardens of the indoor botanical conservatory, which are best viewed around Christmas and Chinese New Year.
Bellagio is home to one of the best pools on the strip, as well as one of the top spas, offering high-end treatments for both men and women. This is one of the most popular resorts on the strip but the crowds can make it difficult to get into activities or restaurants quickly.
n Caesars Palace ($$$): This resort offers an over-the-top, iconic Roman experience. Guests are greeted with statues of Caesar, Cleopatra and Michelangelo’s David in addition to plenty of classic Roman architecture. Rooms at Caesars are lavish and available at multiple price points. Guests can stay in the Octavius or Augustus towers for $70 to $100 in a deluxe room, while Villas can go for up to five figures per night. Check out the spa, which includes Arctic ice rooms (a cold sauna that’s always 55 degrees) and the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis. Caesars has one of the smaller casinos of the strip resorts.
n Excalibur Hotel and Casino ($): Excalibur is easily recognizable with its medieval-themed castle exterior. Popular with families because of its basement arcade and Tournament of Kings dinner show, Excalibur has an expansive casino floor with low table minimums for gamblers. While dining options are somewhat limited compared to other resorts, Luxor and Mandalay Bay are easily accessible by monorail providing guests with more options.
n Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino ($): The Golden Nugget can be found in downtown Las Vegas as a part of the up-and-coming Freemont Street Experience. While this iconic property is the best in downtown Las Vegas, it doesn’t have all the amenities and luxuries of its strip counterparts. Be sure to enjoy The Tank, a pool with a shark tank and three-story water slide. Gamblers will enjoy the popular poker room, frequently seen on poker television shows.
n Luxor Las Vegas ($$): You’ve seen the pyramid known for its rooftop xenon light beam that burns brighter than any other in the world, and guests who stay at the Luxor can experience an Egyptian-themed resort with unique-shaped rooms. Opt for a room in one of the 22-story towers next door — they feature brighter rooms with great views of the pyramid without the awkwardly shaped walls of pyramid rooms.
Check out “BODIES… The Exhibition†to get an up-close view of the human body. Also, enjoy one of the largest pools on the strip, featuring cabanas and VIP poolside treatment, such as iced aromatherapy towels.
n Mandalay Bay ($$$): The Mandalay Bay boasts three properties: the Mandalay Bay, Delano Las Vegas and the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas. Each is incredibly different. Mandalay itself is reminiscent of a South Seas beach resort, with soft beach scents and pagodas throughout the casino floor. Rooms are spacious with large bathrooms complete with soaking tubs and separate showers. Enjoy access to the property’s wave pool, lazy river, three pools and real sand. Mandalay offers plenty of live music between its concert venue and the House of Blues Music Hall. Don’t miss the Shark Reef Aquarium, featuring 1.6 million gallons of saltwater with more than 2,000 different animals.
n MGM Grand Hotel & Casino ($$$): The MGM Grand is one of the largest hotels in the world and can be a maze. But guests will enjoy being greeted by the iconic MGM lions while relaxing in rooms at a variety of price points in five different towers. High rollers will enjoy the suites and Skylofts. From upscale and well-known restaurants to nightclubs, there is no shortage of things to do. The Grand Garden Arena hosts big-name concerts and boxing matches, and the comedy club at MGM brings in top acts on a regular basis. MGM has one of the largest pools in the world. The MGM’s Stay Well program includes air purification systems, vitamin C showers and dawn simulator alarm clocks.
n New York–New York Resort & Casino ($$): It’s as close as you can get to the East Coast on the West Coast — complete with a mini-Manhattan skyline including scaled-down replicas of the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Chrysler Building and more. With generally standard rooms available in several classes, New York-New York has one of the best locations on the strip central to many attractions. Check out the roller coaster that darts through the New York skyline, called the Manhattan Express — it’s easily one of the best rides on the strip.
n Paris Las Vegas ($$): The iconic Eiffel Tower rising above the resort isn’t the only homage to the City of Lights you’ll see at the Paris Las Vegas. The interior of the rooms have custom French-inspired furniture and fabrics. Standout restaurants are the buffet featuring dishes from five French Regions, Gordon Ramsay’s steakhouse and Mon Ami Gabi Bistro. The octagonal Soleil Pool and French gardens are a great place to relax on a hot afternoon. Check out the collection of authentic French boutiques and the other nods to France, including the replicas of the Arc de Triomphe, the Paris Opera House and the Louvre.
n The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas ($$$): Known for being a different kind of trendy experience in Las Vegas, the Cosmopolitan combines technology and sophistication to bring guests a welcoming and rare experience. Many of the rooms and suites have private terraces, a rarity on the strip. Another rarity, many other rooms also have a kitchenette with a mini-fridge and microwave for guest use. Check out The Chandelier — a three story central bar featuring a giant chandelier, a restaurant and live entertainment. To really treat yourself, book a room that faces the fountains at the Bellagio — it’s money well spent.
n The M Resort ($): One of the best kept secrets off the strip, the M Resort is located about six miles south, in Henderson, with regular shuttle service to the Tropicana Resort. The property offers modern rooms with dark wood and carpet featuring sweeping views of the entire strip or the mountains. Rooms are extremely spacious with modern designs. The large bathrooms feature a tiled shower and additional soaking tub with direct views out of the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The restaurants and Studio B Buffet offer a wide selection of quality dining at very reasonable prices.
n The Venetian Las Vegas ($$$): A marvelous recreation of Venice, the Venetian features some of the best shopping, dining and atmosphere in Las Vegas. The over-the-top shopping and dining area, complete with authentic canal featuring gondolas, is a great place to cool off on hot summer days, and no detail is missed — all the way to the life-like frescos and clouds painted on the ceiling. Rooms are massive and plush.
A short drive can lead you to some of the best kept secrets in the Las Vegas area. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area. For a small fee, visitors can drive a scenic one-way, 13-mile loop with stunning views and hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty.
Approximately half an hour away, be sure to visit the Hoover Dam. Taking years and countless lives to build, the dam hosts nearly two million visitors a year. Check out the art deco architecture, or take a tour of the entire facility by a seasoned guide.
Near the Las Vegas Strip, take the opportunity to visit the Lion Habitat Ranch, home to more than 45 lions that roam the 7-acre ranch located roughly 10 minutes from the strip. You can even feed the lions, or experience the Trainer-for-a-Day program.
Stop by the AAA Store in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä or call one of the AAA travel professionals — Janice Adkins, Lia Ireland, Amy Sisson, Becky Wallace and Barbara Wing at 304-925-1136 — for assistance planning your Las Vegas getaway.
