Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [189]
With over 130,000 hotel rooms, from penthouse villas to fleabag motels, Vegas has accommodations for every budget. Rates rise and fall dramatically depending on demand, with rates generally lowest in July, August and January and highest on weekends and during conventions. Downtown hotels are generally less expensive than the Strip. Whatever you do, do not arrive without a reservation as there are times when every hotel is booked solid. For options and rates, see Casinos & Sights on opposite. People traveling on a budget should try USA Hostels Las Vegas ( 702-385-1150, 800-550-8958; www.usahostels.com/lasvegas; 1322 Fremont St; dm/r incl breakfast from $20/46; wi-fi) or Main Street Station ( 702-387-1896, 800-713-8933; www.mainstreetcasino.com; 200 N Main St; r from $50; ).
Eating
All the major casinos have multiple restaurants to suit all price ranges. Most have buffets. Here are just a few choices.
Wichcraft ( 702-891-3199; MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S; sandwiches $7-9; 10am-6pm) This design-y little sandwich shop can set you up with a breakfast bite on the fly. Or order a hot panini and lounge about in the acid-green chairs.
Mon Ami Gabi ( 702-944-4224; Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S; 11:30am-3pm & 5-11pm; ) Grab a sidewalk table below the Eiffel Tower, order steak-frites or quiche and watch the world on parade. Squint and it’ll feel just like you’re on the Champs Élysées.
Buffet at Bellagio ( 702-693-7111; casino level, Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S; breakfast $15, lunch $22, dinner $28-36; 8am-10pm Mon-Thu & Sun, 8am-11pm Fri & Sat) Vegas’ best live-action buffet includes smoked salmon, sushi, Chinese, Italian and other crowd-pleasers.
Drinking & Entertainment
For listings, consult the free Las Vegas Weekly (www.lasvegasweekly.com) and CityLife (www.lvcitylife.com). Same-day discount tickets to shows are available from Coca-Cola Tickets 2Nite ( 888-484-9264; Showcase Mall, 3785 Las Vegas Blvd S; noon-9pm) in front of the giant Coca-Cola bottle.
Mix ( 702-632-9500; 64th fl, Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S; admission after 10pm $20-25) Arrive before sunset and take a free glass-elevator ride up to this sky-high restaurant lounge with one of the most breathtaking views in Vegas.
Ghostbar ( 702-942-7777; Palms, 4321 W Flamingo Rd; admission $10-25) This pimped-out panorama bar at the top of the Palms draws a clubby crowd thick with celebs. Dress to kill.
Ice ( 702-699-9888; 200 E Harmon Ave; admission $5-20; Tue & Fri-Sun) Vegas’ most stellar DJs spin house to hip-hop at this off-Strip jewel box.
O ( 702-796-9999; Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S; tickets $94-150; Wed-Sun) ‘Eau’ (French for ‘water’) is Cirque du Soleil’s original epic venture into aquatic theatre and a spectacular feat of imagination and engineering.
Getting There & Away
McCarran International Airport (LAS; 702-261-4636; www.mccarran.com) has direct flights from LAX and smaller SoCal airports. Greyhound has regular buses to and from Los Angeles ($36, six hours) and San Diego ($36, eight hours).
Las Vegas is 270 miles northeast of LA and is reached in four to five hours by heading east on the I-10, then north on the I-15.
Getting Around
In town, the Monorail (www.lvmonorail.com; single/day pass $5/15) stops at major resort-hotels along the Strip. The Deuce (www.thedeucelasvegas.com; $2) is a 24-hour double-decker bus shuttling between the Strip and downtown.
Return to beginning of chapter
Orange County
* * *
HISTORY
GETTING THERE & AROUND
DISNEYLAND & ANAHEIM
HISTORY
INFORMATION
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
SLEEPING
EATING
DRINKING
ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPPING
GETTING THERE & AWAY
GETTING AROUND
AROUND DISNEYLAND
KNOTT’S BERRY FARM
MEDIEVAL TIMES DINNER & TOURNAMENT
RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
BOWERS MUSEUM OF CULTURAL ART
DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER
CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL
ORANGE
LITTLE SAIGON
ORANGE COUNTY BEACHES
SEAL BEACH
SUNSET BEACH
HUNTINGTON BEACH
NEWPORT BEACH
AROUND NEWPORT BEACH
LAGUNA BEACH
AROUND LAGUNA BEACH
* * *
Never underestimate the power of a primetime soap. With the success