Las Vegas 

December 1997/December 1998

Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps.  Well around the strip at least.  I've been to Vegas twice now and have a blast each time I'm there.   There are so many new hotels popping up all the time that there's always something new to see.  I've always gone to Vegas in December right before Christmas.   That's one of the lowest seasons of the year for them so there are less crowds and hotel prices are dirt cheap.  The first time I was in Vegas, I stayed at the Excalibur (picture below) for only $29 US a night for the room.  The place is located right on the four corners next to New York New York, MGM, Tropicana and Luxor.  The last time I went to Vegas, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Boardwalk Hotel (next to Monte Carlo) because they were having this amazing special.  It only cost me $19.98 a night for the room.  It had a good location and was very nice and comfortable.  No complaints at all. 

There is a ton of stuff that you can do Vegas if you don't like to gamble.  Most of the newer hotels have got some really cool themes so you can just spend your time wandering through the hotels and enjoy the shops and exhibits they have inside.  At the Rio, there is a carnival parade every other hour I believe and it's free.  The Rio is off the strip but there is a free shuttle bus you can take right on the strip to get you there.  Also, at the Rio, they've got one of the best buffets: The Rio World Carnaval Buffet.  There are several counters set up in the buffet, each with it's own theme specific to a country (ex. southern, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, etc...).  It cost about $15US for the dinner but it was well worth it.  The last time I went to Vegas, I swear I put on a good 5-10 lbs from the constant pigging out I did at the Buffets.  Me and my sister just went from buffet to buffet to buffet the whole time we were there.  Most of the buffets serve very similar food.  I really enjoyed the buffet at the Monte Carlo and Luxor.  The Monte Carlo lunch buffet was about $8 I believe but the food was really good, the place was spotless.  The buffet they have at the Boardwalk where I was staying was probably the cheapest buffet in town but it wasn't very good.  The food wasn't very fresh...just looked like the stuff just sat there for hours... but if you're desperate and want to go to a 24hour buffet, then head over there as I believe it's the only 24 hour buffet.  

On the far end of the strip, you can visit the Stratosphere hotel and tower.  I went up the tower with my cousins.  The view from there is quite amazing,  you get to see the whole strip and the dessert.  It's only when you're atop the Stratosphere, do you realize how flat Vegas really is.  There are some rides at the top of the tower but I didn't bother going on them.  The coaster seemed rather lame since it just went around in circles.   Though, the ejection seat looking ride probably would've been quite the thrill.  I'll try that out next time. 

Picture of me and my sister at the Rio

At Ceasar's Palace/Forum they have this new Atlantis ride.  I don't recommend going there.  The ride is VERY short and not worth the money.   It's about $8 if I remember correctly.  You may as well put that $8 towards the slot machines.   

The Bellagio pictured below is the "hot spot" right now in Vegas.  It's very elegant inside.  It's got a beautiful pond in the front and a beautiful courtyard inside.  Though, although this place is where all the hype is, I still believe that the Monte Carlo has a more classy looking interior. 

The New York New York is home of my hail Mary slot pull.  I was down to my last $20 on the last night I was in Vegas... It was either save the money for a cab ride to the airport or blow it desperately trying to spin the wheel on the Wheel of Fortune game.  Well I took the later and it paid off.  I won $400US playing the Wheel of Fortunes slots.  That basically covered the cost of my whole trip.   Also at the NYNY is the Manhattan Express coaster.  I've been to the best theme parks (ex. Cedar Point) and still think that the Manhattan Express is not a bad coaster at all.  Go at night time when the lines are shorter. 

Downtown Las Vegas "Freemont Street" is filled with glitter and lights.  It's rumoured that some of those older casinos have some of the loosest slots in Vegas but I would like to dispute that!!  You can easily take the public transit buses down to Freemont Street.  The only thing I didn't like about Freemont Street is that at night time the place is practically desserted, well at least the times that I've gone there.  The "strip" does seem to have more people going around.