Las Vegas: Why is Now a Great Time to Go?

 

If you’ve never been to Vegas before, now is the perfect time for a holiday to Sin City, last minute or otherwise. Autumn has the perfect combination of welcoming weather, thinning crowds and great deals making Las Vegas a fabulous destination for last minute holidays.

Welcoming Weather

The weather in autumn is ideal for travel. Las Vegas is scorching in the summer, with high temperatures regularly over 38 degrees Celsius. In the winter, temperatures often approach freezing at night and in the early morning. However, October highs average about 28 degreesCelsius, dropping to around 19 degreesCelsius in November.Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas Nevada

While the city’s world famous casinos are typically the main draw, the dry and warm autumn days are extremely agreeable for the surprising range of outdoor activities Las Vegas has to offer including golf, rock climbing, cycling and hiking. You can even take in agreat American pastime:  baseball. Las Vegas has a minor league team called the 51s and single tickets are only about seven to 13 pounds (ten to twenty USD).

Though the days are pleasant and sunny, do be sure to take along a light jumper or coat, as the evenings can be as low as around 8 degreesCelsius.

Smaller Crowds

While there really is no slow season in Las Vegas, things do tend to slow down in autumn (somewhat). After Labour Day (the first week in September), there are fewer families as children have gone back to school. However, there are times during the autumn season where Las Vegas does become especially crowded. Halloween is often a big seasonal event for adult travellers and locals alike. Hotels are usually booked far in advance and prices do go up so for the best deals, try to visit either before or after Oct. 31.

The American holiday, Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November – which falls on Nov. 22 this year), can also be fairly busy, as many restaurants and hotel buffets offer special menus on the day. Thanksgiving is a four-day weekend holiday, also making it a popular time for a short break.

Because crowds thin out, especially during the month of November, many popular stage shows “go black” or temporarily cease performances. If there is a particular show you want to see, check ahead of time to make sure there will be a performance during your scheduled stay.Las Vegas Strip, Nevada

Great Deals

Thinner crowds also spell great deals.Hotel room rates are especially reasonable, as there are more rooms available this time of year. Packages including flight and hotel can be a great way for savvy travellers to save money on holidays. In addition to booking packages during autumn, there are several other ways to save money while in Las Vegas including:

 

  • Stay at an older property. If you want to stay on The Strip but can’t afford a trendy resort, there are plenty of perfectly suitable, older hotel/casinos, such as Circus Circus or Excalibur.
  • Stay off Strip. Hotel prices are even lower away from The Strip. However, be careful not to spend your savings on taxis, which can potentially be expensive – even on short rides. Take advantage of the inexpensive bus, The Deuce, which has two-hour passes for fewer than four pounds, 24-hour passes for fewer than five pounds, and three-day passes for less than 13 pounds.
  • Drink for free. While drinks can be expensive in clubs, bars and restaurants, you can drink for free if you are gambling. Whether you’re at a table or a slot machine, cocktail waitresses come through the casino floor regularly offering free drinks – as long as you are gambling. For better service, be sure to tip a dollar per drink, even if you’re just drinking water. That dollar will go a long way toward ensuring you don’t go thirsty as long as you’re there.
  • Play the penny slots. Gambling is a major reason people visit Las Vegas. However, you don’t need to be a high roller to have fun. There are plenty of penny and nickel slots that allow you to play longer, while spending less.

With gorgeous weather, fewer people and lower prices, there’s no real reason to not visit Las Vegas this autumn.

 

About the Author: CindySpade is a contributing blogger who enjoys travel as well as finding great travel deals. Cindy makes a yearly trip to Las Vegas, since her sister moved to the city from their native Cork. The last time she was in the city, she made it a point to venture outside city limits and visit the Hoover Dam as well.

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Monorail, Trams and the Deuce Bus – Getting around the Las Vegas Strip

Guest Post by: HNLhulagirl

“The Strip” is a collection of hotels that range from the fabulous to the funky all positioned shoulder to shoulder for four and a half miles along the Las Vegas Boulevard.

Taxicabs are always available at the larger hotels to whisk away the high heeled and elegant to trendy clubs, shows and parties. For others, walking is a great way to soak in the ambiance of Sin City and enjoy the various attractions such as the Mirage Volcano and the Bellagio fountains. However, for those who would rather ride than walk, there are a few additional ways to get around the strip for little or nothing.

Las Vegas MonorailAfter months and months of trenching and building, the Las Vegas Monorail opened to the public in 2004. The modern system is cool and comfortable and provides riders with an elevated view of the east side of the strip. The route spans a distance from the MGM Resort and Casino to the south to the now closed Sahara Hotel to the north. The system is safe, reliable and easy to use. The narration is upbeat with celebrity voices. It consists of just one line that makes stops at resorts including Bally’s, Paris, Flamingo, the Las Vegas Hilton and the Convention Center. Tickets can be purchased via kiosks at the entrance or online. Single ride, all day and multi-day passes are available. Since the train is located in the rear of the resorts, access to the entrance always requires walking long distances thought casinos and resorts to access the stations. Not the best for those who are looking to minimize walking. The monorail operates Monday thru Thursday between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. Monorail tickets also include connecting shuttle bus service to and from the Rio Hotel and Sam’s Town.

The Deuce Bus Las Vegas NevadaAnother option for those who want to explore the strip is the Deuce Bus. This double deck bus operates up and down the strip along Las Vegas Boulevard. Part of the Clark County public transportation system, this is by far the easiest and fun to use. The shiny and clean buses operate every 10-15 minutes up and own the strip. The Deuce Bus operated 24 hours a day with many stops along the strip. For those seeking to see the row of kitschy Wedding Chapels and the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas, no additional fare is required. Speaking of fares, one can buy a 24 hour pass for $7, certainly one of best deals on the strip. The best seats are on the upper deck in the very first row. There the unobstructed views will wow and amaze. The bus is very popular so it is often quite crowded. So a squeeze into a stopped bus or passing up one may be necessary especially in the evenings when people are on the move to restaurants, show and clubs.

Las Vegas TramThere are a handful of lesser known transportation options along the strip. Resort trams offer yet another option from getting between hotels along the strip. Operated by the hotels, they offer comfort and convenience. All are free and easy to use.

The Mandalay – Excalibur Tram is one of the most visible on the strip. The single line train shuttles between the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino to the Excalibur Resort and Casino and includes a stop at the Luxor Resort and Casino. Access is in the rear of the Mandalay. Luxor and Excalibur access is along Las Vegas Boulevard. This tram operates daily from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and trains leave every 3-7 minutes.

Another widely unknown tram is the tram the operated between the Mirage and Treasure Island. Access to this tram is easiest from the Mirage where the boarding area is adjacent to the main entrance. On the Treasure Island side, the tram arrives and departs from the rear of the resort. This rams operated everyday of the year between the hours of 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.

The newest tram system on the strip is actually an extension of an old one. Many remember the system that connected the Monte Carlo and Bellagio resort several years ago. It was shut down during construction on the new Bellagio Tower. It has re-opened to connect not only the new Bellagio tower, but to include the new glistening City Center complex. The tram still operates from the rear of the Monte Carlo Resort from the rear of the Bellagio, but stops now include the glittery new Crystals Shopping Complex, The gorgeous Aria Resort and Casino and the fabulous Vdara Hotel. The stations are ultra-modern and sleek offering views of the City Center complex that are particularly stunning at night. The tram operates every 7 minutes between 8 a.m. and 4 a.m. daily.

There are many transportation options available along the strip for Las Vegas visitors to enjoy. Use one or combine several to get the most out of a Las Vegas visit.

Other Articles by Guest Post by: HNLhulagirl

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Las Vegas – City Center, Making the Impossible Possible

Guest Post by: HNLhulagirl

In typical Las Vegas fashion, the new City Center complex is a dazzling and stunning new addition to the fabulous Las Vegas strip. Over five years in the making, the latest phase was completed with the grand opening of the Cosmopolitan in mid-January 2011. The complex is by far the largest in Vegas to date and the developers gloat over the fact that it is the largest privately funded construction project in United States history. The project is a partnership of MGM Mirage and Dubai World.
 
Las Vegas City CenterBut all has not been glorious. A failing economy, litigation, unsafe working conditions, union walk-outs and project downsizing and delays has made City Center more than just a handful of headaches.
The project hit the drawing boards in early 2000 when the US economy was stable and Vegas was riding a wave of success driven by the discretionary spending of many Americans and international visitors. Nipping at the heels of the massive projects slated for the northern end of the strip, City Center was slated to be the new heartbeat of Las Vegas.
 
The project broke ground in 2006 and was off to a great start. Then, in the wake of several construction related deaths, unions initiated a work stoppage that drew the attention of many in Washington DC to address the safety concerns of the workers. Federal fines flew, but the work continued.
Then the economy began to shudder to a halt. Funding for the project was in question and the all were very concerned that the project would go the way of the Elchelon and the St Regis project at the Palazzo, both of which have been stalled indefinitely due to economic reasons.
 
However, revisions were made and the project was scaled back which eliminated the completion of the Harmon Hotel. The Harmon’s exterior is completed, but the interior has been abandoned. The hotel is draped in a banner hailing the new Cirque du Soleil Elis show at the Aria Resort and Casino and will serve as a largest billboard on the strip until the economic conditions improve.
 
Aside from all the difficulties, the complex is a major success. Today the complex includes the Aria Resort and Casino, the Cosmopolitan, the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, Veer Towers, Vdara Hotel and Spa and Crystals, the retail and entertainment center. All are accessible by foot from the strip or via a complimentary tram system that runs from the rear of the Bellagio, makes stops at the Vdara, Aria, and Crystals before ending at the Monte Carlo Casino and Resort.
 
The buildings in City Center all have a stark modern appearance with glass and metal facades. Leaning columns and curving trusses at Crystals and the leaning Veer Towers all seem to defy logic.
 
For more Information on Las Vegas or surrounding areas in Nevada check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventure Guides
 
Other Articles by Guest Post by: HNLhulagirl

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