Las Vegas

Las Vegas Monorail to LAS McCarran Airport? Not ... yet ... but.... maybe....

2012-01-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Las Vegas Monorail project can be considered a success or a great failure depending on your perspective. Although ridership has been under the projected levels and the system is struggling under a large debt load, millions have enjoyed the cheap, fast transportation up and down the Las Vegas Strip and to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

After about two years of negotiations and planning, the system was prepared to enter bankruptcy in an effort to reduce current debt payments which in turn was to enable the Monorail to enter "monorail phase II", an extension of the system to McCarran International Airport. However a November judicial decision has put the kabosh on that plan, the judge suggesting that implementation of the plan would simply push failure of the system out to a maximum of 2019 after which the hose of cards would collapse.

Golden Gate Casino and Hotel, Las Vegas on Fremont Street

2012-01-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Golden Gate Casino and the old Sal Segev Hotel of Historical Downtown Las Vegas

Jan 1, 2012

Uncategorized

Fremont Street 1941 – Las Vegas

Originally uploaded by kocojim

We will be in historical downtown Las Vegas shortly to report on the Consumer Electronics Show for our sister blog “Technology Report”.

This is a great view of downtown Las Vegas with the Sal Segev (Las Vegas backwards!) in the foreground spelled backwards.

The Sal Segev was home to the Golden Gate Casino. The property is now known as the Golden Gate Hotel and it maintains a claim as the oldest of the Las Vegas Hotels.

The Golden Gate remains located at ONE Fremont Street. A recent a multimillion dollar renovation has restored some of the past glory of the property, which still uses Las Vegas history as a marketing theme. See more about the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino at http://www.GoldenGateCasino.com

Harmon Hotel at MGM CityCenter may be imploded

2011-08-17T23:52:00.001-07:00

About.com has a nice explanation of the complicated situation at Las Vegas' Harmon Hotel where owner MGM has applied for permission to implode the building, citing structural defects that may make the Harmon prone to major damage during an earthquake.

However the builder is challenging this structural diagnosis and offering to re-engineer as needed to fix the problems. They claim that MGM is mostly just concerned about difficulties filling the new rooms in a downturned Las Vegas economy.

Macau vs Las Vegas as the gambling capital of the world

2011-07-17T17:42:00.000-07:00

Although it's hard to beat Las Vegas for variety and amazing resorts and casinos, Macau's gambling revenue simply dwarfs that of Las Vegas Casinos. Macau's annual gaming revenue stands at about 20 billion, with Las Vegas at about a third of that amount.

With the Las Vegas economy still reeling from the recession - hurting both the housing and the travel sectors, combined with the Asian economic explosion, it seems unlikely that Vegas will ever reclaim the fame of being the number one gambling hotspot in the world, but it's also true Macau is unlikely to attract north American visitors for some time.

Las Vegas Bargains on Twitter

2011-06-29T00:19:00.000-07:00

Twitter is one of the best ways to track some great bargains in Las Vegas, especially in this summer of a LOT of great hotel and vacation package bargains. Obviously you should also be looking at a LOT of websites such as Kayak.com, individual Airline websites (a list of them is here), Expedia, Travelocity, and Tripadvisor. All these sites offer hotel and airline combo packages that are often (but not always) your best bet in terms of a bargain trip.

Only with careful searches can you uncover the very best bargains, as generally hotels would prefer folks to pay the "rack rate" or higher rates than the very best they'll be offering during specials.

Enter Twitter, which is often the source of great tips on bargains from individual hotels in Las Vegas. Here's a partial Las Vegas list on Twitter. Follow it for some information from Las Vegas folks and properties.

Also note that most of the Las Vegas hotels have Facebook pages and those will sometimes feature specials. Facebook and Twitter are a great way to get a fast response from many hotels as well.

Binions, Downtown Las Vegas, 2005

2011-04-26T17:19:00.001-07:00

LasVegasDowntown0043, a photo by JoeDuck on Flickr.

Few Las Vegas venues capture the colorful history of old Las Vegas as the old Binions. The hotel and casino are small compared with the newer mega-resort venues up and down the strip, and after near bankrupcy and sale to Harrah's in 2004 the venue is now resurrected as Binions Gambling Hall and Hotel http://www.binions.com/

History of Binions:
In 1951 Benny Binion reopened the Eldorado Club and Apache Hotel, naming the new venue the "Horseshoe Casino" and styling it as a riverboat.

Only a few years later Binion was convicted of tax evasion and served about 4 years in Leavenworth.

As a convicted felon Binion could no longer own the casino but his family had a controlling interest and he continued as consultant until his death in 1989.

In 1970 the World Series of Poker began at the Horseshoe and would eventually create the largest poker tournament series in the world.

Daughter Becky Behnen acquired controlling interest in the casino in 1998, but legal conflicts with the culinary workers and bartenders unions led Binions to near bankupcy, leading to a sale to Harrah's in 2004.

Vdara Hotel, CityCenter Las Vegas

2011-04-26T17:02:00.001-07:00

Vdara Hotel, CityCenter Las Vegas, a photo by JoeDuck on Flickr.

The Vdara Hotel and Spa is one of Las Vegas' newest and most elegant venues, part of the CityCenter Complex near the middle of the Las Vegas Strip and home to Vdara, Crystals Retail Shopping Complex, the Aria Resort and Casino, The Mandarin Oriental, and the Veer Towers.

Vdara's design is upscale and elegant rather than overly flashy or loud, offering something of a respite from the more hectic Las Vegas lifestyle you'd find in the resort casinos. For a little less talk and a lot more action you may want to stay at the Aria Resort and Casino which is right next door - just past the Vdara's very intriguing crashing kayaks sculpture.

Bellagio Heist - 1.5 Million in Chips Stolen

2010-12-15T01:44:00.000-08:00

The bbc reports on the Bellagio Casino heist where a man on a motorcycle managed to get away with 1.5 million in chips. Since the chips are only good at Bellagio, it's not clear how the bandit plans to cash them in without detection.

Illegal Las Vegas

2010-09-12T13:57:00.001-07:00

An audio interview over at Jay's Las Vegas addresses some of the questions about Las Vegas' seamier side, especially relating to drugs, sex, and mob activity. It's an interview with former mob operative Andrew DiDanato, author Jay Rankin, and crime author Denny Griffin:

http://jayslasvegas.com/?p=121

The CES Effect at the Bellagio

2010-09-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

One of the best budget tips for Las Vegas is the fact that Hotel rates vary about as *dramatically* as you will find anywhere in the world, especially around holidays, special events, and weekends.

For example take a look at these special Bellagio rates - which themselves are far lower than the "rack rate" would be as these are internet specials for the first week of January 2011.

Jan 2 $90	3 $90	4 $90	5 $199	6 $329	7 $329	8 $219
9 $119

First, it's amazing to note the difference in price during the CES Consumer Electronics Show, "CES 2011". This is the biggest and most important consumer electronics show in the world, and it fills the Vegas Strip for much of the week. It does NOT fill the downtown hotels so if you are traveling on your own dime, consider that option to save a few *hundred* dollars per night.

Second, you are absolutely right to gasp at the $90 and say "Honey, we're goin' to Vegas!". The Bellagio, along with several other premier properties like the Venetian, the Aria Resort, Vdara, the new Cosmopolitan, the Wynn, MGM, and more are slashing rates like crazy as the economy continues to hit everybody hard with less frequent trips, smaller conventions, etc. NOW is the best time in years to visit as the specials and rates are fantastic as long as you check to make sure you are going on the "off days" when the rates are low.

Note that the "second tier" hotels are also very cheap, offering beautifully appointed rooms and suites for under $50. Show ticket specials abound and food is always reasonable at many venues - though the best restaurants will easily set you back a few hundred for two so they are not for the budget traveler.

In general, as long as you stay away from the gaming tables and fine wine, your Las Vegas vacation will be a great deal.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opens December 15, 2010

2010-09-03T09:32:00.001-07:00

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (east view)
Originally uploaded by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Photo Credit: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

The Cosmopolitan is Las Vegas' newest grand hotel. They've just signed to be marketed by the Marriot corporation but the Cosmopolitan will certainly be in a class by itself as one of Las Vegas' most exclusive new properties.

The Cosmopolitan will offer upscale, classy rooms with a very "chic" feel to the property. They'll offer gaming "cabanas" along with a beautiful new set of pools and desert motifs.

Located in the CityCenter Complex between the Bellagio and Aria Las Vegas.

Rooms:
http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/stay/rooms-and-suites.aspx
Restaurants: http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/taste/restaurant-collection.aspx

Vegas Bob on Gourmet Dining in Las Vegas

2010-08-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

Vegas Bob over at Twitter has a nice article about gourmet dining in Las Vegas, his home town:

http://www.gooddealtrips.com/deals-on-gourmet-eats-in-vegas.html/

For example look at all the options in the MGM Grand alone!

At the MGM Grand:

Joel Robuchon at the MGM Grand, with a AAA 5-diamond rating, offers a two course $109 Summer Tasting menu.
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Summer Tasting Menu for $95 per person. For those that wish to dine early L’Unique is served until 6:45 PM for $49.
Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak offers its 3 course Summer Tasting Menu for $85 per person.
Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill offers its 3 course Summer Tasting Menu for $45 per person.
Nob Hill Tavern by Michael Mina also has a 3 course Summer Tasting Menu for $45 per person.
Fiamma Trattoria & Bar has a 3 course Summer Tasting Menu for $45 per person and a 4 course version for $60 per person.
Seablue’s 3 course Summer Tasting Menu is $49 per person.
Shibuya’s 4 course Summer Tasting Menu is $59 per person.
Pearl offers a 3 course Summer Tasting Menu at $45 per person.
Diego offers a 2 course Summer Tasting Menu and includes a cocktail at $34 per person.

BBC and Lonely Planet on Las Vegas

2010-08-13T00:29:00.000-07:00

Check out the BBC's mini guide to Las Vegas HERE. Although it was originally written by Lonely Planet, we're going to hope that this gives you something of a UK vision of a Las Vegas Vacation, partly because the UK vision is not going to be that different from any other. Incredible huge hotels, world class attractions, Cirque Shows, casinos, swimming pools, amazing dining, and more.

But wait... the article actually seems very thin and it suggests several "out of the way" places which in my opinion are the last place you want to be in Las Vegas (unless you live there and are sick of all the big cool places to go).

So, based on their odd vision of vegas I am recommending you keep reading Las Vegas blog posts here at LasVegas1.net to get a better feel for the city, and plan your trip accordingly. A mid week low cost suite at a big hotel like the Bellagio, Venetian, Wynn, etc. with some great dining and some poolside relaxation and a Cirque du Soleil Show will give you a trip to remember, and with current specials and pricing it won't even make a major dent in your wallet as long as you can show great restraint at the gambling tables or slots.

In the meantime we

Venetian August Special - Suite, Two Phantom Tickets, Credits for $119 weekdays.

2010-08-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Visiting Las Vegas could hardly be more affordable than it is this summer as the economy continues to hammer away at profits and first rate Las Vegas venues continue to drop prices in an effort to lure customers to the casino. Venetian Special

The Venetian suites are fantastic (Palazzo's too but I have not stayed there), and Phantom of the Opera is a spectacular play filled with great music. You'd normally pay about $150 for two tickets to this show, so your room is basically "better than free" with this amazing deal.

Obviously your best bet in Vegas is "not betting", but no rollers and low rollers can have a great time in other venues which offer some of the world's best values in terms of vacation bang for the buck.

I just returned from a Travel and History family trip to Europe where we'd often spend $150 and more on nice but modest rooms in big cities like Paris. I could not help but think of the Venetian Suite my wife and I booked last year at $109 plus many credits, which was larger and far more spectacular than any we had in Europe. Of course Paris Las Vegas can't really match "real" Paris (except that it's much cleaner), but in terms of great hotels and amenities at small cost it is hard to beat Las Vegas during discounted times. NOTE - Las Vegas on the weekends / Holidays / and During the Computer Electronics Show CES 2011 or other major events can get VERY expensive, though you'll usually find bargains even in the high season as soon as you venture out from the major venues such as Venetian, Bellagio, Wynn and more along the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas Travel Bargains Galore this Summer

2010-07-25T09:32:00.001-07:00

We've noted before that the Las Vegas Economy is suffering mightily from the economic problems that continue to challenge the whole world. However as an entertainment consumer this means some amazing travel bargains for you in one of the world's most amazing cities.

Hotels are offering great to spectacular deals this summer all over the city. In the bargain category you'll find rooms at the budget/ quality hotels like Circus Circus and Palace Station for about $30 per night - often *including* a buffet or two! But why not splurge when the splurging is cheap? Top Las Vegas hotels are having regular deals with beautiful, luxurious suites in the $100 per night range. This often includes some casino play (and generally in my experience the higher end hotels are more "honest" with these credits. For example at the Venetian our slot credits amounted to approximately their face value, where at lesser places the "free play" is often on machines that rarely pay out). Generally you should subtract the actual value of credits and meals from your room cost to get the real value of your room or package deal - though the actual value can be different from the face value claimed by the hotel.

We recommend you start at Kayak.com to find some great prices. Also consider Hotwire.com, especially if you'd like a high-end place and are not picky about which one. However I've found Hotwire is not such a great bargain finder in the Las Vegas area where rates vary enormously from event to event and from day to day. If at all possible you want to hit Vegas mid-week when no major events are in the city. At that time you'll generally pay a *fraction* of the cost for your great room - discounts can be as much as 80% at many hotels where weekend rooms during big events can run $500 per night, down to $100 per night during slow times.

So if you want to live like a celebrity for a few days, consider a quick trip to Vegas this summer.

Las Vegas Economy 2010

2010-07-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

The Las Vegas Economy - from gaming to housing to jobs - has suffered greatly since the economic meltdown that hit the USA and continues to slow progress around the globe.

Here, from University of Las Vegas' Center for Business Research, are several resources discussing the current conditions and prospect for Las Vegas as well as the entire state of Nevada:

http://cber.unlv.edu/snecon.html

Latest Nevada business conditions

Current Clark County economic data
Quarterly Indicators: Southern Nevada Business Confidence Index
Las Vegas Housing Market Conditions

Economic Outlook

Economic Overview of Metropolitan Las Vegas
CBER's Annual Economic Outlook
CBER's Midyear Economic Outlook

Las Vegas Pool Tours

2010-04-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Destination 360 has a great feature with virtual tours of over 20 of Las Vegas swimming pool hotspots. Although many people never manage to make it out to the pool during a Las Vegas trip, you should make this part of your plans because the pool architectures alone are worth a visit, especially at the newer premium pools you'll find at Mandalay Bay, the Palazzo Las Vegas, and many more.

Click HERE for the pool tour

Todd English P.U.B. opens at Crystals CityCenter

2010-03-20T16:57:00.001-07:00

Now THIS is a Pub people! The new Todd English PUB has opened at Crystals in CityCenter Las Vegas, promising an upscale experience with a raw bar, carvery, and huge selection of draught beers from around the world.

The Las Vegas news has a great article with pictures here.

Crystals is the amazing new retail outlet within CityCenter, MGMs middle strip development that almost was sidelined as the global - and Las Vegas - economies nearly collapsed in 2008/2009. However after injections of cash from CityCenter partner Dubai World, the project is now nearing full completion with Aria Resort and Casino, Mandarin Oriental, Vdara Hotel, and Crystals shopping all going strong.

Viceroy in the Aria Resort

2010-03-18T14:38:00.001-07:00

Viceroy in the Aria Resort
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

On your next Las Vegas Trip be sure to tour the new Aria Resort and Casino, Vdara Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Crystals Shopping, and the other new venues located in the beautiful CityCenter developement next to the Bellagio (and easily accessed via a free tram from the Bellagio).

MGM is in the final stages of completing CityCenter and the Aria and Vdara and Crystals are all open with some beautiful interior work.

------- Wynn and Encore Hotels, Las Vegas ------

2010-02-24T15:18:00.000-08:00

Wynn and Encore Hotels

Two of Las Vegas' Most Exclusive Venues

No trip to Las Vegas is complete without a look inside and out at Steve Wynn's fabulous Wynn Hotel, one of the key landmarks along the central part of the Las Vegas Strip - the hotspot of Las Vegas Boulevard and home to many of the world's largest and most beautiful hotels.

Wynn Las Vegas | Encore Las Vegas

Steve Wynn's Las Vegas success story is more interesting than that of any big time gambler.

His amazing properties have set new standards worldwide. Wynn parlayed his stake one of Las Vegas early casino hotels, the "Golden Nugget", investing in larger projects including his groundbreaking luxury masterpiece the Bellagio which was later sold to MGM Grand. Wynn built his current masterpiece the Wynn with those profits and followed up with the Encore several years later, one of the more recent additions to the Las Vegas Strip Scape.

Lavo at the Venetian

2010-02-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

We'll be profiling all of the amazing clubs in Las Vegas over the next few weeks. These are not in any particular order and you'll find each has it's own unique theme. Even if you are not a "club" person, you'll want to visit some just for the sake of checking out the places that often rank among Las Vegas most popular venues. Celebrity watchers will also note many of these names as the places where celebrities tend to hang out when in Las Vegas:

LAVO (at The Venetian)

Official LAVO Website is HERE

The Nightclub

LAVO Nightclub is the latest hot spot from the creators of TAO Asian Bistro, TAO Nightclub & TAO Beach. Located at the Palazzo, LAVO has become Las Vegas' newest celebrity haunt that has already hosted a long list of star studded evenings.

Located directly on Las Vegas Boulevard, LAVO's terrace (available for dinner, cocktails and private events) overlooks The Strip, affording one of the best views in all of Las Vegas. With over 20,000 square feet of space, LAVO offers a multitude of indulgent entertainment experiences. Guests can start or end the night with cocktails in one of the sexiest lounges in town, or enjoy incredible Italian cuisine in one of the warmest fun filled dining rooms around. Above the restaurant, the award winning LAVO Nightclub boasts one of the most intimate, yet energetic, dance floors in Las Vegas surrounded by lush table seating and an expansive bar.

With the restaurant, lounge and terrace open 7 nights a week, the club open 6 nights and some of the latest hours in Vegas, LAVO has quickly become a "must-go" destination for those who love great food, music, dancing and a high quality nightlife experience.

People Magazine, "Vegas' New Hotspot."
Las Vegas Weekly, "Best Intimate/Boutique Nightclub."

Upcoming Events

Saturday, February 6th
Holly Madison will be hosting
the "Holly Bowl" at LAVO

Saturday, February 13th
Kim Kardashian cordially invites you to join her at LAVO Italian Restaurant & Nightclub at The Palazzo for the Queen of Hearts Ball. This pre-Valentine's Day event will be an enchanted affair in celebration of love.

The Lounge

The LAVO Lounge serves as an ideal meeting place to socialize in the early evenings and indulge in the culinary creations of our Italian Restaurant. With twenty foot ceilings of old wood and low chandeliers crown an area featuring a curved bar and leather seating. The lounge is highlighted by a spectacular glass and wood screened bridge and is bordered by a grand carved stone wall. This setting allows the guest dramatic views of the Las Vegas strip from our outdoor terrace.

Winemaker Dinners at Bellagio Las Vegas

2010-01-31T14:07:00.000-08:00

Bellagio has announced two winemaker events - one for February and one for March - that are sure to be extraordinary.

Click here for the official Bellagio Announcements and information.

Stratosphere Las Vegas North Strip

2010-01-20T14:24:00.001-08:00

Stratosphere LasVegas 374
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The Stratosphere is effectively the northern terminus of the Las Vegas Strip, the world famous portion of Las Vegas Boulevard that is home to dozens of the world's largest hotels and casinos. The Las Vegas Strip is about 3.5 miles long - the distance from the Stratsophere to Mandalay Bar area on the south end.

Other properties on the Northern end of the strip are the Sahara, Circus Circus, and Riviera.

You'll find that the most beautiful, extravagant, and expensive hotels tend to be in the center of the strip - Wynn, Encore, Bellagio, Venetian, Caesar's Palace. Although there are several very nice "still big and beautiful" hotels at the South Strip: MGM, Mandalay Bay, Luxor (though it seems to be in something of a decline based on my last trip).

The two ends seem to be falling into greater disrepair over time although the Stratosphere seemed to be holding up pretty well as the north strip anchor property. There are spectacular carnival rides near the top of the tower though note the steep admission even if you just want a nice view from the observation deck. It's not clear to me if you can eat at the restaurant and avoid the high price of a tower ticket.

Crystals Retail at CityCenter Las Vegas

2010-01-17T21:31:00.001-08:00

Crystals Retail at Aria Resort
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The beautiful wooden interior of the Crystals Retail Center on the Strip at CityCenter was quite spectacular, though I hope the wood holds up under all the traffic this area will see. I was there within weeks of the opening and noticed already there are some marks on this remarkable floor, which appeared to be a blend of various exotic woods.

The staircase has embedded agates which are backlit to create an amazing effect - Crystals has a very beautiful decor.