Page 128 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

126  LAS VEGAS PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  127

PRACTICAL INFORMATION DIRECTORY

Las Vegas is one of the world’s most popular with so much to choose from, it is a good Useful Numbers
playgrounds. The Strip at night, in all its idea to do some advance planning. Visitors AWG Ambassador
blazing glory, is a sight that never seems to tend to spend most of their time around Tel (702) 740-3434.
tire visitors. Vegas is a city that knows how the Strip and the Downtown area, but there ∑ awgambassador.com
to cater to its guests, and a wealth of are many rewarding day trips to be had Lake Mead Cruises
information about hotels, casinos, dining, exploring other nearby sights includ ing Tel (702) 293-6180.
and entertainment is available. However, Grand Canyon (see pp62–7). ∑ lakemeadcruises.com
Las Vegas Convention and
Getting Around Visitors Authority (LVCVA)
The Las Vegas transit authority, 3150 Paradise Rd.
the Regional Transportation Tel (877) 847-4858.
Commission (RTC), runs the ∑ visitlasvegas.com
Deuce bus, which stops at all Tram linking the Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay resorts Las Vegas Monorail
the major hotels along the Strip Tel (702) 699-8200.
for a flat fare of $6 for a 2-hour illusion caused by their vast size. rent their vehicles by the hour ∑ lvmonorail.com
pass, or $8 for 24 hours. Exact Renting a car in Las Vegas allows as well as for picking up and
change is required; dollar bills you to see every thing without dropping off visitors at the McCarran Rent-A-Car
are accepted. There is also the getting footsore or spending a airport. On Demand Sedan & Center
Las Vegas Monorail, which fortune on taxis. Park ing is easy Limousine Service provides ∑ mccarran.com
travels between the MGM Grand in Las Vegas; all the large Strip chauffeur-driven vehicles. On Demand Sedan &
and SLS Las Vegas ($5 per ride, hotels have free park ing lots. All Limousine Service
$12 per day, or $22 for a 2-day the major car-rental companies Sightseeing Trips Tel (702) 688-7353.
pass and $28 for a 3-day pass), are represented here, and cars ∑ odslimo.com
Façade of the Las Vegas Convention Center with stops at Bally’s/Paris, the may be picked up and dropped For a break from the Strip’s
Flamingo/Caesars Palace, off at the McCarran Rent-A- attractions, there is a variety of Papillon Helicopter Tours
General Information Tel (888) 635-7272.
do vary greatly (see pp238–40). Harrah’s/The LINQ, the Las Vegas Car Center, 3 miles (5 km) day trips on offer to Las Vegas’
Choosing when to go to Vegas Different room rates are likely Convention Center, Westgate Las southwest of the airport, which surrounding sights. These ∑ papillon.com
can be tricky if you are looking to be charged for each specific Vegas, and SLS Las Vegas. There is connected with the terminals include the gigantic Hoover Pink Jeep Tours
for a bargain deal. These days day of your stay, and are almost are three free tram services: the by free shuttle buses. Rates can Dam, a major tourist attraction, Tel (888) 900-4480.
the city is a highly popular always lower on weekdays; first runs between the Excalibur, be as low as $30 a day. (For and nearby Lake Mead, with its ∑ pinkjeep.com
destination year round, but, avoid the weekends if you’re the Luxor, and the Mandalay more information about arriving extensive opportunities for every
unless you have prebooked, planning a touring itinerary. All Bay; the second runs through in Las Vegas, see pp286–7). kind of water sport (see p124). Presidential Limousine
it is generally best to avoid the the major hotels have their own CityCenter, between Monte Carlo Perhaps the ultimate Las Organized trips by Pink Jeep Tel (702) 438-5466.
major conventions, when the websites, each with a in the south and the Bellagio Vegas travel experience is Tours include drives through the ∑ pllv.com
hotels can be full. New Year is reservations facility that in the north; and the third the limousine, particularly the scenic Red Rock Canyon National Regional Transportation
also an extremely busy time. can provide details of connects the Mirage stretch limo. It is possible to rent Conservation Area (see p125), Commission
Summers are very hot here available offers and with Treasure Island. a wide range of these vehicles, and Lake Mead Cruises offers Tel (702) CAT RIDE (228-7433).
with an average maximum discounts (see under These services can save including stretch and super- several cruises aboard the Desert ∑ rtcsnv.com
temper ature in July of 102°F individual hotels a great deal of stretch versions that come fitted Princess on Lake Mead.
(39°C). Spring and fall are sunny pp238–40). Many pounding up and out with TV, cocktail bar, and Many Las Vegas visitors take Scenic Airlines
without such intense heat, and are linked to other Regional Transportation down the Strip even Jacuzzi, typically costing a day trip to Grand Canyon by Tel (702) 638-3300.
winters can also be warm but properties run by Commission (RTC) between hotels. between $75 and $100 per air (see pp62–7). Grand Canyon ∑ scenic.com
with occasional cold winds. The the same owners, If used a lot, taxis hour. Several companies in the West, home to the Skywalk,
average maximum temperature making it easy to compare here can be an expensive way of city, such as AWG Ambassador can be quickly reached by
in January is 61°F (16°C). prices, and also offer toll-free getting around. They have an and Presidential Limousine, airplane or helicopter, while the more spectacular South
The Las Vegas Convention phone numbers. initial charge of $3.50, plus Rim, within the National Park,
and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) $2.88 for each mile. A cab from lies 270 miles (435 km) away by
runs an excellent website, which Tipping the airport to the south end of road, and can only be seen on
offers information on every the Strip (a 5-minute trip) costs a day trip by airplane; Scenic
aspect of your trip, and will also Tipping for services rendered is around $22, while a trip to the Airlines and Papillon Helicopter
mail out information packs. In part of life in Las Vegas. Bellhops north end can be as much as Tours fly to both. Papillon also
the city itself, you can get many expect $1–$2 per bag (generally $33. Cabs cannot be hailed on offers exciting night flights over
free papers such as Las Vegas with a $2 minimum), bartenders the street so are usually picked Las Vegas itself, soaring 500 ft
Weekly, as well as the combined $1 a drink, waiters 15–20 up at one of the hotel lines. (150 m) above the Strip, and
daily editions of the Las Vegas percent of the check, and cab Despite the fact that the major- taking in all the major resorts in
Review Journal and the Las Vegas drivers 10–15 percent of the ity of your time will be spent their amazing neon-lit settings.
Sun, which contain reviews of the fare. Leave $2–$5 a day for the on one street, the Strip is a very Most hotels have plenty of
current shows and restaurants. chamber maids, valets $2–$5 long stretch of road, and while information on the trips avail-
Although Las Vegas is not a per trip and a tip for croupiers, the properties along it appear able and also usually provide a
low-cost destination, hotel prices if you are lucky and win. to be near, this is an optical A helicopter from Papillon Helicopter Tours booking service.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm