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                      LA$ VEGA$ INFO GUIDE
                          August Edition

* Wow! With the last issue, I finally placed this guide on the
internet (alt.vacation.lv) in addition to America On Line. The
response was incredible! I just wish I would have started placing
it there sooner! 8-) I would like to thank everyone for all the
positive responses and information I have received. I've tried to
respond to everyone who wrote, but if I missed ya, I would like to
say you are appreciated! And for all the new readers, anything with
a * in front is new or updated information. Anything else has been
in previous editions, but is still current.

The following information should help you plan a vacation to Las
Vegas.  The reviews are the opinion of the author, and therefore
should only be treated as a guide.

LAS VEGAS HOTEL/CASINO, CAR RENTAL AGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Hotel/Casino             Toll Free Number

Aladdin                  [phone]
Arizona Charlie's        [phone]
Bally's                  [phone]
Barbary Coast            [phone]
Boardwalk                [phone]
Boomtown                 [phone]
Boulder Station          [phone]
Bourbon Street           [phone]
Caesars Palace           [phone]
California               [phone]
Casino Royale            [phone]
Circus Circus            [phone]
Continental              [phone]
Days Inn and Reel
 Deal Casino             [phone]
Debbie Reynold's Hotel/
 Casino                  [phone]
Desert Inn               [phone]
El Cortez                [phone]
Excalibur                [phone]
Fiesta                   [phone]
Fitzgeralds              [phone]
Flamingo Hilton          [phone]
Four Queens              [phone]
Sam Boyd's Fremont       [phone]
Frontier                 [phone]
Gold Coast               [phone]
Gold Spike               [phone]
Golden Gate              [phone]
Golden Nugget            [phone]
Hacienda                 [phone]
Hard Rock Hotel/Casino   (800) HRD ROCK
Harrah's                 [phone]
Horseshoe                [phone]
Imperial Palace          [phone]
King 8                   [phone]
Lady Luck                [phone]
Las Vegas Club           [phone]
Las Vegas Hilton         [phone]
Luxor                    [phone]
Maxim                    [phone]
MGM Grand                [phone]
Mirage                   [phone]
Nevada Hotel/Casino      [phone]
Nevada Palace            [phone]
Palace Station           [phone]
Plaza Hotel              [phone]
Quality Inn              [phone]
Rio                      [phone]
Riveria                  [phone]
Royal Hotel/Casino       [phone]
Sahara                   [phone]
Sam's Town               [phone]
San Remo                 [phone]
Sands                    [phone]
Santa Fe                 [phone]
Showboat                 [phone]
Stardust                 [phone]
Super 8                  [phone]
Town Hall Casino Hotel   [phone]
Treasure Island          [phone]
Tropicana                [phone]
Vacation Village         [phone]
Vegas World              [phone]
(no longer taking
reservations)
Westward Ho              [phone]

PRIMADONNA (STATELINE)

Buffalo Bill's           [phone]
Primadonna               [phone]
Whiskey Pete's           [phone]

LAUGHLIN
Colorado Belle           [phone]
Edgewater                [phone]
Flamingo Hilton Laughlin [phone]
Golden Nugget            [phone]
Gold River Resort        [phone]
Harrah's                 [phone]
Pioneer                  [phone]
Ramada Express           (800) 2RAMADA
Riverside Resort         [phone]


Automobile Rental      Toll Free Number
    Agencies

Agency Rent-A-Car
[phone]
Airport Rent-A-Car       [phone]
Alamo Rent A Car         [phone]
Allstate Car Rental      [phone]
Avis                     [phone]
Budget Car Rental        [phone]
Dollar Rent A Car        [phone]
Enterprise Rent-A-Car    [phone]
General Rent-A-Car       [phone]
Hertz Rent A Car         [phone]
Ladki Rent-A-Car         [phone]
National Car Rental      [phone]
Payless Car Rental       [phone]
Rebel Rent-A-Car         [phone]
Thrifty Car Rental       [phone]
U.S. Rent-A-Car          [phone]
Value Rent-A-Car         [phone]

Note: If you are under 25 years of age, it may be difficult to find
a agency that will rent to you.  Some will, but require extra money
per day. Make sure you inform the rental agency when making
reservations about your age if you are under 25.

Always reserve the cheapest car you feel comfortable with.  Chances
are, you will be given a better car when you arrive, or they will
upgrade on-the-spot for less than making reservations for the
better car.

BUFFETS:

* Finally! A 24 hour buffet!!! The Showboat has begun the only 24
hour buffet in town. The graveyard buffet runs from 11 pm to 10 am,
and costs $3.95. I finally went to it at about 1 am. The place was
pretty much dead, so at least the service was quick! It was a
combination dinner/breakfast buffet. The salad bar looked good,
although the desert bar looked pretty bad, as if the deserts had
been sitting there since the afternoon. The dinner food was very
good, and the breakfast food was average. One nice thing about the
buffet is that they will cook your eggs into any style, including
omlettes, right before your eyes. How long will this buffet last?
The Showboat is remodeling their coffee shop, so this could just be
a temporary way of feeding it's guests. We'll just have to wait and
see!  The Showboat is located on Boulder Highway.

Although not a full-blown buffet, Boomtown has started an all-
you-can-eat ribs and fried chicken dinner. Food is served in the
Opera House Theatre from 5:00 - 10:00 PM, Thursday through Sunday.
While eating, you will enjoy live dinner music, making this a nice,
relaxing dinner. Price is $6.95.

By far the Rio has the greatest buffet in Las Vegas. A wide variety
of cuisine is available: Oriental, Mexican, American, Italian,
along with fast food and sushi. The dessert bar has dozens of
different cakes, pies and pastries. Although the price is a little
higher than some other buffets, the food is better then some fine
restaurants at twice the price. The lines at the entrance can be
very long.  A little know fact is that another entrance has been
open and the lines are usually thin and few.  When you get to the
main entrance, keep walking and you'll stubble upon it. You will
probably be seated further away from "the good stuff", but the
extra minute walk to the buffet is better than waiting 30 minutes
to be seated! Breakfast is served from  7 am-10:30 am ($1.95),
lunch from 11 am - 3:30 pm ($3.95), and dinner from 3:30 pm - 10 pm
($7.95).

The second best buffet is at Boomtown. The selection includes
chinese, mexican, and american. The barbecue ribs are delicious!
Breakfast from 7 am - 11 am ($3.95), Lunch from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
($4.95), and dinner from 4 - 10 pm ($6.95).

Another great buffet for the value is at Palace Station. The food
is very good, although there is not as large of a selection as the
above two. Breakfast is served from 7 am - 11 am ($3.95), lunch
from 11 am - 2 pm ($5.95), and dinner from 4:30 pm - 10 pm ($7.95).

I recently tried the dinner buffet at Treasure Island, and was a
little disappointed.  The food was excellent, but the variety of
selections was not.  This buffet has Italian, Chinese and American
food items, and a good selection of deserts.  The deserts were the
best part of the buffet.  Unlike the Rio and Boomtown, there were
no food stations, just one long line which moved very slowly.
Breakfast is from 7 am - 10:45 am ($4.99), lunch from 11 am - 3:45
pm ($6.99), and dinner is from 4 pm - 11 pm ($8.99). Children are
half price.

One of the cheapest buffets in Las Vegas is Circus Circus. The food
here is what you might expect from a public school lunchroom.
Eatable, but nothing the brag about. There is quite a large
selection, and there are some good items. But there is also some
not so good items. If you want cheap food, and lot's of it, give it
a try. Just stay away from the Chow Mein. Breakfast 6 am - 11:30 am
($2.99), lunch Noon - 4 pm ($3.99), and dinner 4:30 pm - 11 pm
($4.99).

FOOD DEALS

* The Rio is offering a T-bone special in it's Rio Beach Cafe. For
$2.99, you get a Texas T-bone Steak, eggs, and all the pancakes you
can eat. The special is served from 11 pm - 11 am.

The Continental Hotel is offering a "Pick a Pound" special. A
pound of Coors Light, potato, and your choice of one pound -
Chicken, Prime Rib, Babyback Ribs, Porterhouse Steak or Alaskan
Snow Crab. I tried the Prime Rib, and my friend tried the Crab. The
prime rib was big, but a little fatty. It did taste very good
though. The crab also tasted really good. The dinner runs $4.95 and
the Continental Hotel is located on the corner of Flamingo and
Paradise.

I recently tried the "famous" $3 steak at Binion's Horseshoe,
downtown. It's been awhile, and I had forgotten what a good deal
this is. You will get a nice sized salad, rolls and butter, choice
of potato and a very tender steak. Service was excellent and the
steak was great. Definetly try this! It's served from 10 p.m. to
5:45 a.m..  Don't feel like beef?  Try the ham steak breakfast,
it's huge!

Vacation Village is offering a free hot dog and beer. Just go to
front bar, get $10 in nickels from the bartender and get the hot
dog and beer for free. It would hard to lose more than $2 - $3
while eating the hot dog, and you may even wind up ahead.

Sam's Town is offering a Prime Rib & two Lobster Tails dinner for
$7.95. It's offered from 4 pm to midnight.

Still want more lobster? Poker Palace Casino has live Maine
Lobster for $9.95. It's served 24 hours. Go between midnight and 5
and it's only $7.95!

For some reason, Las Vegas is becoming the Hot Dog capital of the
world. Here you will find some of the biggest wieners (grin if you
must) in the world.  One of my favorite places to get a dog was at
Slots of Fun, next to Circus Circus. 1/2 pound hot dog for 99
cents.  But right next door I have found a better deal. The
Westward Ho is offering the same size dog, at the same price, but
in addition you get a draft beer. And the snack bar is much cleaner
too. Competition is great! By the way, if a 1/2 pound hot dog just
isn't big enough, the Tropicana is offering a 2 foot long dog!

Speaking of Boomtown, stop in the coffee shop for the strawberry
shortcake - $1.00. It's a meal in itself (and very delicious)!

Check around for other deals, there is always something new. And if
you are a late eater (Midnight - 6 am), you'll find some of the
best deals around!


RESTAURANTS:

Take a DIVE!  Las Vegas's newest dining experience has arrived on
the strip. A very unique restaurant, Dive! serves gourmet submarine
sandwiches and a variety of dishes. From the outside, you will see
a large submarine exploding out of a wall of water. The inside has
pipes that burst with steam, sonar screens and portholes. Every 45
minutes, you will experience a "Dive!" sequence. Lights change to
red, alarms go off and you can watch the many screens in the
restaurant. You may surface in a hot-tub of a child's bath! It is
a very fun place, and the employees look like they are having fun
too.  I had carrot chips - something like potato chips - for an
appetizer. Give these a try, they have a very unique taste!  For
the main course, I split a Chicken Fajita Sub and a Fried Chicken
Sub. They were both delicious! Prices, well, they aren't cheap -
about $7 - 10 for subs served with cole slaw, but if you want a
very unique dining experience, it's worth it. Dive! is located in
the Fashion Show Mall on the Las Vegas Strip, and is open 11:30 am
- midnight Sun - Thurs, and 11:30 am - 1 am Fri and Sat.

Vince Gill, Wynonna and Reba McEntire were at the groundbreaking
ceremonies for the new Country Star Restaurant. It will be located
at Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue, and should be down by the
end of the year. It's supposed to be a kind of Hard Rock Cafe for
county music fans.

PROMOTIONS:

* Fitzgeralds has switched their free baseball cap promotion to a
free watch promotion. Just find the coupon in the freebie magazines
and take it to their welcome center!

* Look in the What's On in Las Vegas freebie magazine for a coupon
for the Fremont. Take it to the promotion center and get a free
Magnetic Picture Frame.

Stateline has coupons in the freebie mags for a free funbook. In
it you will find coupons for a free hot dog, 2 for 1 ride on the
Desperado Roller Coaster, free ride on the log flume, free ride on
the Ghost Town Motion Theatre, free first-run movie pass, free
shrimp cocktail, free game of bowling, free $5 in match play and a
free Keno ticket. Very good deal if you were heading there to ride
the roller coaster. And keep your eyes open, Stateline will be
renamed Primadonna soon. To get to Stateline, head south on I-15
for about 30 minutes. You can't miss it!

There is a coupon in the freebie mag "Tourguide" for $5 off the
dinner show "Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana. It's a real rarity
to find a coupon for a show so popular and good!

The Sands is offering a $2 slot tournament, and if you have never
been in one, it's a cheap way to get started! Also, there are
coupons on the entry form desk for $1 off. Be sure to take one
before you register! They pick a winner based on score each hour.
The winner gets a $50 food and drink certificate. Each player then
receives a scratch card, in which you try to spell money, with
various prizes awarded. If you don't win, you still have another
chance. All the cards are put together and at the end of each hour,
a random card is drawn. The winner receives a card, similar to the
previous one, only this one is worth $100,000. Again, you must
scratch the right blocks to spell money. My friend happened to get
his card picked and scratched one right letter. The prize was a $10
food and drink certificate. Not bad for a buck. And even if you
come out a loser, you still get one of the best souvenirs in Las
Vegas, the famous Sands coffee mug!

Another good deal at the Sands is the Viva Las Vegas afternoon
show. You can find free tickets at most car rental agencies. It's
first come, first seated, so get there a little early. It's not the
best show in Las Vegas, but it's free!

The Imperial Palace also has a scratch card promotion. At the front
entrance, pick up a certificate for a funbook and a Slotto card.
Take it to the redemption booth and get a free visor and slotto
card. The slotto card has various prizes, and everyone gets a
prize. The best coupon will give you free admission to the Auto
Collection, which if you are into cars, is a must see!

If you haven't seen the Pirate Show at Treasure Island, you are
missing one of the best freebies in Las Vegas.  Pirates battle it
out against the good guys right in front of the casino. Flames
shoot above your head, and water splashes in front of your face.
And one of the ships is sinks right into the lagoon. Who's ship
sinks? Well, let's say that good guys don't always win. Currently,
the show starts at 4:00 PM and every 90 minutes. Treasure Island
has added a little more viewing space, but it's still unbelievably
crowded. Get there at least 1/2 hour early!

Right next door from Treasure Island is the Mirage volcano.
Although it's been around for a couple of years now, it still is
quite a show. If you haven't seen it yet, get there a little early
and check it out. Currently, the Volcano erupts every 15 minutes.

While you are downtown, stop by the Horseshoe from 4 PM - Midnight
for a free souvenir photograph. What makes this one good is that in
the background are 100 $10,000 bills. Show this to the neighbors
and tell them it's your prize winning photograph. Jealousy can be
fun!

ATTRACTIONS

* The Fremont Street Experience is looking great, and is at about
the 1/2 way point of completion. For those who do not know what's
going on, let me give you the scoop. Fremont Street in Downtown Las
Vegas has been closed to traffic for quite awhile now. Over the
street, a huge canopy is being built - 100 feet high and 1500 feet
long. About 1.4 million lights will make the canopy into a huge
light show. Back on the ground, beautiful landscaping and
entertainment will hopefully put downtown back into competition
with the strip. If all goes well, the project will be completed
this winter. In the meantime, it can be a little difficult getting
around downtown, but it's worth the good deals on food and
gambling!

* The Flamingo has opened the newest wildlife habitat on the strip.
Set on 15 acres of beautiful landscaping, foliage and ponds, you
will be able to see flamingos (of course) and other waterfowl. And
I just happened to see the new commercial for the Paradise Garden
Buffet at the Flamingo. It overlooks the habitat and should be a
very popular buffet soon. I'll be sure to check out this one soon!

Think you have what it takes to become a star? The Four Queens
Hotel/Casino downtown is having a Karaoke Talent Search. It happens
every night except Monday, with 15 weekly finalists competing
Fridays at midnight for a 1st place prize of $50, plus other prizes
and cash drawings. First and second place winners qualify for the
grand prize Karaoke contest on September 24, where 4 contestants
will win a one-week paid engagement in the French Quarter Showroom.
Times are Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sun from 7 pm - Midnight, and Fri &
Sat from 9 pm to 4 am. Good luck!

The Debbie Reynolds' Hollywood Movie Museum has thousands of
props, rare film clips and costumes. Tours begin on the hour from
9 am to 10 pm daily. Price is $7.95

Now that 100 degree days are here, why not do something fun and
wet? Go to Wet and Wild!  Take a plunge on one of many waterslides,
play in the pool with your kids, or relax on an inner tube while
traveling on the Lazy River. The park is located on the Las Vegas
Strip, between Sahara Ave. and Desert Inn Road. It's open from 10
am - 6 pm. Tickets are $19.95 for general admission, $14.95 for
children ages 3-9, and $9.95 for seniors 55 and older. There is
also a coupon in the What's On magazine for $2 off the admission
price.

Another good attraction to take the kids to is the Lied Discovery
Children's Museum.  It has many neat and exciting "hands-on"
exhibits for kids of all ages. It is open Tue. and Thur - Sat from
10 am - 5 pm, Wed from 10 am - 7 pm, Sun from 12 - 5 pm, and is
closed on Mondays. Prices are $5 for adults, $4 for kids 12 - 17 &
seniors, and kids 2 and under are free. The museum is located at
833 N. Las Vegas Blvd. Call 382-5437 for more info.

The Pioneer club in downtown Las Vegas has the Nevada Gold Museum.
Here you can see over 3,000 gaming chips and L.V. memorabilia
valued over $1 million.

Have some kids with you? Want to try your luck at something
besides pulling a handle on a slot? Why not try some of the games
at Circus Circus, Treasure Island or the Excalibur? The games are
"carnival midway" style, in which you can win various prizes. There
are many different games, each requiring a different skill. And
many of them are competitive (there is nothing worse than a 5 year
old beating you!). Most are priced from 25 cents to $1. If you want
to play at Circus Circus, ride the monorail beforehand. They will
give you a coupon sheet with "buy on get one free" games coupons.

The MGM themepark is a far cry from Disneyland, but is still quite
enjoyable. At $15 per adult, it's cheaper than gambling, but if you
like rides, it may not be worth it. When I went, the roller coaster
was not running, and there are 2 rides where you get wet. Great for
summer, but because it was the middle of december, I skipped them
(Yes it does get cold here). There were only about 4 or 5 more
rides available, and I have a hard time remembering what they were
(although I can still name every ride at Disneyland!). The MGM
themepark's pricing structure is as follows: You must buy an
all-day wristband at $16.95 for adults, and $13.95 for children 12
and under. After 7 pm, the pass is $10.95 for everyone. The park is
now open from 10am - 10 pm.

Although not in Las Vegas, the Desperado roller coaster at Buffalo
Bills is worth mentioning. It's about 35 miles south on I-15, at
Stateline. $4 lets you ride the tallest roller coaster in the
world.  At speeds of 85-91 mph, it's not a ride meant for the weak
of stomach! Save your money on the log ride, it's not worth the $3.
See above for coupons for Stateline.

The Luxor's "Secrets of the Luxor Pyramid" takes you from past to
future. There are three attractions, which are priced separately or
as a group. The first is a motion-simulator ride, in which you sit
on a movable seat, while watching a computer-generated movie. This
is the best of the three, and is very realistic - almost too
realistic for the weak-stomached. Don't worry, just close your eyes
and you'll be fine! The second attraction is a "live" tv show
taping. The actors are both real and filmed, and it's very hard to
tell which is which. There is also a small segment in which you
wear 3-D glasses for some cool effects. The last attraction is a 7
story tall movie theater. Not much else to say about this one, it
was my least favorite. One recommendation though, if you decide to
do all three, do them in order, or you'll be lost. On my last visit
I decided to do the three attractions again, and was a little
disappointed. The second show which used to feature real actors,
doesn't anymore! It's been change around and has lost it's thrill
in my opinion.

Grand Slam Canyon at Circus Circus was a huge disappointment for
me. They have supposedly redone some of it, adding more rides. When
I went last year, there was a roller coaster, a laser-tag game, and
two water rides. The roller coaster was great, the others not so.
The laser tag would be fun if you were about 10 years old, not for
adults. The water flume ride would have been nice outside in 100
degree weather. But being drenched to the bone (not exaggerating)
and being frozen in an air-conditioned dome was not my idea of fun.
The last ride is gone now, I will not miss that one. Circus Circus
has changed their pricing structure more than I've cared to keep up
with, so check it out when you get here.

Another attraction the Ethel M Chocolate Factory in Henderson.  The
easiest way to get there is to take Tropicana east to Mountain
Vista. Take a right and go down to Sunset. At Sunset, take a left
and look for the sign.  The tour is free, and you get a free sample
at the end of the tour.  But I think the better attraction here is
the Cactus Garden.  Cacti from around the world are displayed here,
some older than myself.

Another tour in Henderson is the Ocean Spray Cranberry World West
tour.  There is a guided tour and a self-guided tour. I took the
self guided one. The tour was OK, nothing fabulous, although I was
in quite a rush. What I really liked about this tour is the free
juice at the end. You can take a sample of every juice they make,
and by the time you do, you will be stuffed with juice! It's really
refreshing on a hot desert day. There is also a theater, exhibit
hall, museum, demonstration kitchen and gift shop.  The center is
open 9 am - 5 pm daily. It's located on Gibson road - take I-15
south to Lake Mead, go west to Gibson Rd. and turn left.  There is
a coupon in the current What's On in Las Vegas for a free gift -
another freebie!

Had enough chocolate and cranberry juice?  How about some
marshmallows?  The Kidd's Marshmallow company has daily tours of
their marshmallow factory.  The tours are self-guided, and you will
receive a sample bag at the end.  There is also a gift shop filled
with souvenirs.  The tours go from 9 am - 4:30 pm daily.  Like the
Cranberry World, Kidd's is located on Gibson road, so follow the
same directions as above.

CASINOS:

* Circus Circus Enterprises just recently told the plans and theme
for their new resort. It will be a combined effort with Mirage
Resort, Inc. It's name will be Monte Carlo and will contain over
3,000 rooms. The design will be late 19th century Victorian, and
will have a very elegant look. Even the standard rooms will be done
in marble and granite finishes. Their will be 6 restaurants, a
90,000 square foot casino, and a pool area with a wave pool, lazy
river ride, waterfalls and rapids slide. The cost is estimated at
$325 million and will be built directly across from the MGM
entrance.

* The MGM Grand has announced a restructuring plan to save the
casino $24 million a year. The plan will result in the layoff of
770 employees and leasing out of their restaurants. Also, it was
announced that the MGM will begin focusing on the average gambler,
not just the high-roller. Also, the company may extend the hours of
the themepark and adding restaurants and shops to attract adults.

The "Disney" style monorail which will link Bally's with it's big
sister, the MGM Grand, is finished! It's totally free and an easy
way to travel the strip. You can get on it at Bally's - Poolside at
the end of Bally's Avenue Shoppes - and at MGM Grand - Between
Valet Entrance and Parking Garage. It will be able to transport
100,000 guest a day! One added note - The walk from the strip to
the monorail entrance at Bally's is LONG! You will have to walk
though the whole casino and then though the Avenue Shoppes to get
there. Accident? I don't think so.

Ground has been broken for the New York-New York mega resort hotel
and casino.  Built like the New York City skyline, the hotel will
have 2,119 rooms, a 300-foot long Brooklyn Bridge entrance, a
roller coaster that will circle the hotel, and many different areas
that recreate some of the famous places within the city. Even
former New York City mayor Ed Koch was at the groundbreaking
ceremonies!  Lets just wait and see if the plans change though!

The long awaited Hard Rock Hotel/Casino is now open in Las Vegas.
The grand opening was on Friday, March 10, with some of music's
greatest stars.  Although the opening was on Friday, I had the
opportunity to see the resort beforehand.  On Tuesday, March 7 at
2 am, the doors opened to the public for the first time.  There was
quite a turnout, and there was a long line.  But at about 2:15, I
walked through the doors.  The first thing I noticed was the LOUD
rock n' roll music, which I loved at first.  The casino was filled
with items from music stars, including jackets, motorcycles,
guitars and just about anything else you can think of.  The casino
was actually smaller than I thought it would be, and nickel
machines were scarce.  I sat and played video poker for awhile, and
this is when the loud music got on my nerves.  It's a little
difficult concentrating on gambling when your ears are ringing.  I
don't think I would even try playing the table games, where even
more concentration is needed.  In my opinion, the casino would be
a fun place to see the memorabilia, have a beer, and maybe play the
slots.  But as far as other gambling, unless you are deaf, you may
have trouble concentrating.  The hotel is a hard place to get into,
but you may want to call and see.  I didn't get to see much of the
hotel, but the pool is supposed to be spectacular, complete with
sand and rock n' roll underwater!
* I recently visited the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino again, and it seems
like they are getting what they wanted to. The place was packed
with a younger crowd than I have ever seen in a casino. Ok, ok,
maybe Circus Circus has an even younger crowd, but I'm talking
legal age. 8-) The center bar was standing room only, and trying to
maneuver around the tables games was almost impossible. But it was
fun!

As of Jan. 31, Bob Stupak's Vegas World hotel/casino has been shut
down, sort of.  The hotel will no longer be accepting reservations,
and the casino will be scaled back. The casino/hotel will be
re-opened in April, 1996, and will be called the Stratosphere
Hotel. Hopefully, but doubtful, the 1,149 foot space needle will be
open too, and will have a roller coaster and a "Space Shot"
amusement ride on the tower.

Speaking of space, the Hilton will begin construction of a Star
Trek interactive attraction. According to the Las Vegas Review
Journal, the attraction will allow visitors to assume the
identities of Starfleet or alien crew members and participate in a
"Star Trek" voyage, actually determining it's outcome. The voyage
will begin as you are debriefed in the Deep Space Nine promenade,
which will feature interactive video and virtual reality stations,
a Cardassian restaurant and a Starfleet lounge.  The 50+ million
dollar attraction will be open by late 1996, and the admission fee
should be under $10. Only in Vegas!

The people at Circus Circus have announced plans for a 1,000 room
addition to the Luxor.  It would link the Luxor to the Excalibur.

SHOWS!
     I've added the following to be a guide of the shows currently
playing in Las Vegas. I've tried to be as accurate as possible, but
prices and times sometimes change, so double check when you get
here. Some places will let you make reservations awhile in advance,
while some may give you a few days. Shows do not include tax unless
otherwise noted. Also, some of the Celebrity Headliner shows may
change prices often, so definetly double check!  I've also tried to
include any age restrictions, but I don't think I cover them all,
so check on it when you get here.

Aladdin
     Aladdin Showroom - "County Tonight"
     7:15 and 10 pm
     $21.95 with buffet, under 18 $14.95
     $17.95 with cocktails, under 18 $11.95
     Dark Tuesday

Bally's
     Celebrity Room - Celebrity entertainment
     Times vary with entertainer.
     Louie Anderson           Aug 3 - 27          $27.50
     Paul Anka                Aug 10 - 22         $38.50
     Freddie Roman and Mal Z.
          Lawrence            Aug 24 - 30         $22
     Andrew Dice Clay         Aug 25 - 26         $45
     George Carlin            Aug 31 - Sept 6     $33
     Harry Blackstone         Sept 7 - 13         $27.50
     Louie Anderson           Sept 14 - 27        $27.50
     Jose Louis Rodriguez     Sept 14 - 16        $47.30
     Bernadette Peters        Sept 28 - Oct 4     $35.20

     Jubilee Theatre - "Jubilee"
     8 pm only on Sunday and Monday
     8 and 11 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
     $42 (including tax)
     Dark Friday
     Must be over 18 to attend

Caesars Palace
     Circus Maximus - Celebrity entertainment
     Times vary with entertainer.
     David Copperfield        July 18 - Aug 8     $65
     Clint Black              Aug 10 - 13         $65
     Julio Iglesias           Aug 15 - 20         $70
     Natalie Cole             Aug 31 - Sept 3     $60
     Chicago                  Sept 7 - 11         $50
     Temptations and 4 Tops   Sept 21 - 24        $45
     Ray Charles              Sept 28 - Oct 1     $55

Debbie Reynolds
     "The Smothers Brothers"
     July 11 - 27 (Call for times)
     $29.95

     "Debbie Reynolds"
     July 28 -  (Call for times)
     $29.95

Excalibur
     King Arthur's Arena - "King Arthur's Tournament"
     6 and 8:30 pm nightly
     $29.95 (including dinner, tax and tip)

     King Arthur's Arena - "Symphony in White" (Royal Lipizzaner
                                               Stallions)
     2 pm on Mon - Fri (except Wed)
     Noon and 2 pm on Sat & Sun
     $6.95
     Dark Wed

Flamingo
     Flamingo Showroom - "The Great Radio City Spectacular"
     7:45 pm - Dinner Show $34.60 - $40.25
     10:30 pm - Cocktail Show $29.45
     Dark Sunday
* There is a coupon for a funbook in the freebie mags. Take it to
the redemption desk and receive a funbook with a $3 off coupon.

     Bugsy's Celebrity Theatre - "Forever Plaid"
     7:30 and 10 pm
     $15.95
     Dark Monday
* There is a coupon in the freebie mags for $3.00 off.

Golden Nugget
     "Country Fever"
     7:15 and 10:15 pm
     $22.50 (includes tax and dinner)
     Dark Friday

Hacienda
     Fiesta Theatre - "Lance Burton: World Champion Magician"
     Tues - Sat 7:30 and 10:30pm
     Sun - 7:30 pm
     $29.65
     Dark Monday

Harrah's
     Commander's Theatre - "Spellbound - A Concert of Illusion"
     7:30 and 10 pm
     $24.95 (includes one drink)
     Dark Sunday

Imperial Palace
     Imperial Theatre - "Legends in Concert"
     7:30 and 10:30 pm
     $29.95 (Includes tax and tip) Children 12 and under 1/2 price
     Dark Sunday

     Shangri-La Pool - "Hawaiian Hot Luau Imperial Style"
     6:30 pm on Tuesday only
     $23.95 (Includes buffet)

Lady Luck
     "Melinda: 'First Lady of Magic'"
     8 pm on Tues-Sun (Family Show)
     10:30 pm on Tues-Sat (Adult Show)
     $24.95 or $29.95 (VIP Admission) Both include 2 drinks
     Dark Mondays

     "Lady Luck Hawaiian Luau"
     7:30pm on Mondays only
     $14.95 (includes buffet)
     $9.95 (show only)
* Coupon in Freebie Mags for $3 off ticket price and a free gift

Las Vegas Hilton
     Hilton Showroom - "Starlight Express"
     7:30 and 10:30 pm nightly except Wed & Thurs
     9 pm on Wed & Thurs
     $39.50 - $45

MGM Grand
     Grand Theatre - "EFX"
     7:30 pm nightly, additional shows 10:30 pm on Mon, Thur and
     Sat.
     $70 (includes tax and tip_
     Dark Tuesday

     Celebrity entertainment
     Times vary with entertainer.
     The Righteous Brothers        Thru Aug 2     Unknown
     Randy Travis                  Aug 2 - 6      $49

The Mirage
     Theatre Mirage - "Siegfried and Roy"
     7:30 and 11pm nightly except Wed.
     $78.35 (includes tax and tip)
     Dark Wednesday

     Barry Manilow                 Aug 24 - 29    $49.75

Plaza
     "Hot Rockin' Country"
     7:30 and 10:30 pm nightly
     $19.95 (Includes one drink)
     Dark Tuesday
* There is a coupon in the freebie mags for $5.00 off. I also
remember seeing buy 1 get 1 free coupons at a rental car agency.
Check around

Rio
     Copacabana Complex - "Copacababa Dinner Show"
     6 and 8:30 pm nightly except Sun and Mon.
     $34.95 (includes dinner)
     Dark Sunday and Monday

Riviera
     Mardi Gras Entertainment Center - "An Evening at La Cage"
     7:30 and 9:30pm nightly with additional shows at 11:15 pm on
     Wed and Sat.
     $16.95 (includes two drinks)
     $24.90 (includes buffet)
     Dark Tuesday
* Stop by one of the Las Vegas Visitor's Center for a $3 off coupon
for this show.
     Mardi Gras Entertainment Center - "Crazy Girls: Sensuality,
                                        Passion and Pudgy!"
     8:30 and 10:30 pm nightly
     Additional Midnight show on Sat.
     $14.95 (includes 2 drinks) 21 and over
     Dark Monday
* Stop by one of the Las Vegas Visitor's Center for a $3 off coupon
for this show.

     Versailles Theatre - "Splash II, Voyage of a Lifetime"
     7:30 (family show) and 10:30 (adult show) nightly
     $31.75, $42.75 and $53.75

Sahara
     Congo Room - "Boy-Lesque"
     11 pm nightly
     $19.50
     Dark Thursday

     Congo Theatre - "Beehive"
     8 pm nightly
     $24.50
     Dark Thursday

Sands
     Copa Room - "Glitz"
     7:30 and 10:30 pm nightly
     $23.95 adults $14.95 for children 12 and under
     Dark Sunday
* When you go get your free mug, you will be given a coupon book.
Inside you will find a 2 for 1 coupon for this show.

     Copa Room - "Viva Las Vegas"
     1 and 3:30 pm Mon - Fri
     $10

Sheraton Desert Inn
     Crystal Room - "Sugar Babies - The Burlesque Musical"
     8 pm nightly
     $35
     Dark Monday

Stardust
     Stardust Theatre - "Enter the Night"
     7:30 and 10:30 pm on Wed-Sat
     8 pm on Sun - Mon
     $24.90 (Includes two drinks and tip)
     Dark Tuesday

Treasure Island
     Treasure Island Showroom - "Mystere"
     7:30 and 10:30 pm nightly
     $57.20 adults $28.60 for children under 12
     Dark Monday and Tuesday

Tropicanna
     Tiffany Theatre - "Folies Bergere"
     7:30 (Dinner Show) $28.95 and up
     10:30 (Cocktail Show) $22.95
     Dark Thursday
* Coupons available in Freebie Mags for $5 off dinner show or $3
off cocktail show

Westward Ho
     "Hurray America"
     8 pm nightly
     $12.95 (includes one drink)
     Dark Saturday

*COMEDY CLUBS:
     Can't get into a show tonight? Try one of the many comedy
shows. Sometimes when everything else is sold-out, the comedy shows
still have room. Note - none of these prices include tax.

Harrah's - The Improv
     8 and 10:30 nightly
     $13.95

Maxim - Comedy Max
     7, 9 and 10:30 pm nightly
     $13.90 (includes 2 drinks)
     $17.45 (includes 2 drinks and buffet)

      - Comedy Magic
     1 and 3 pm daily
     $8.25 (includes 2 drinks)
     $10.25 (include 2 drinks and brunch)
* See Comedy Max, and get free tickets to Comedy Magic.

MGM Grand - Catch a Rising Star
     8 and 10:30 pm
     $12.50

Riveria - Comedy Club
     8 and 10 pm nightly plus 11:45 show on Fri and Sat
     $13.95 (includes 2 drinks)
* Stop by one of the Las Vegas Visitor's Center for a $3 off coupon
for this show.

San Remo  - Comedy Cabaret
     8 and 10 pm nightly except Sun at 7 and 9pm
     $14.95
     Dark Wednesday
*There is a coupon in the freebie mags for $2.00 per person or 2
for 1 senior special.

Tropicana - The Comedy Stop
     8 and 10:30 pm nightly
     $12.95 (includes 2 drinks)
* Stop by one of the Las Vegas Visitor's Center for a buy one
ticket, get one free coupon for this show.

FOR THE LADIES
     With all the topless shows which appeal to men, I thought I
would add a little section of shows that appeal to women.

Olympic Gardens
     "Calendar Men" (Exotic male dance revue)
     8 pm nightly except Monday
     $12.50 and two drink minimum on Sun - Thurs
     $15.00 and two drink minimum on Fri - Sat

Stardust
     "Manpower Australia" (All male dance revue)
     Thru Aug. 27
     8:30 nightly except at 8 and 10:30 on Fri and Sat
     $22 and $30
     Dark Monday

THE GREAT OUTDOORS:

Tired of the heat? I'm getting there. Take a ride up to Mount
Charleston, located in the Toiyabe National Forest. Temperatures
average 20 - 30 degrees lower than the valley, and the scenery is
quite beautiful. All this in about an hours drive. Mt. Charleston
is the 5th highest mountain in Nevada (11,918 ft) and offers
hiking, camping, a hotel and 2 restaurant/lodges. Take Hwy 95 north
towards Reno, take a left at either 157 or 156, both will take you
up.

The Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most beautiful and
strangest looking places near Las Vegas.  The 46,000 acre area is
composed of bright red sandstone, and used to be part of the sea
floor. Millions of years of erosion has constructed some wonderful
rock formations. It's really hard to describe in words, you just
have to see it to appreciate it. Among the natural sandstone
sculptures, you will see petrified trees, Indian petroglyphs and
plenty of wildlife (lizards to be exact!). A new road has recently
been built which will take you into the northern end of the park.
This used to be a day hike, but now is easily traveled by car. The
new area is as beautiful (and colorful) as a rainbow. Red, whites,
pinks and even some purple cover the rocks. The park is about an
hour outside of Las Vegas, and is very easy to get to. Take I-15
north to the Valley of Fire turnoff. That's it! The park charges a
$3 per car admission fee. If you have the time, you may might to
take a slightly longer way back. It passes along side Lake Mead,
and has some very beautiful sights. When you reach the other
entrance out of the park, keep going straight. When you reach the
end of the road, take a right on Northshore Rd. If you want to take
a swim, turn off at Overton Beach. Or if you would rather just get
your feet wet, a little further down is Roger's Spring. A literal
oasis in the desert, it's warm waters fill a large pool and is very
refreshing to tired legs and feet. Continue down Northshore Road
about 40 miles until you reach Lake Mead Blvd. Here, take a right.
Soon you will see one of the best views of the city as you descend
back into the valley. Continue on Lake Mead until you reach I-15
and head right back into the city.

Tired of casinos, crowds and noise?  Las Vegas has much more to
offer than just gambling.  The Lake Mead National Recreation Area
is just about 30 minutes east of the strip, and offers fishing,
hiking and exploring.  It is currently free to use the area, but
plans are underway to charge an admission fee.  The area is filled
with several different rock formations, and the water is clear and
beautiful.  In the summer, there are several beaches to swim at.
Several marinas dot the lake, and you can rent several types of
boats, depending on you needs.  Fishing is great, and Stripped bass
are the big catch here.  There is plenty of desert to explore, and
if you think the desert is just "dead land", then you must take a
better look. Plants are plentiful and finding a cactus is not hard.

There are many types of wildlife, including rabbits, lizards,
ground squirrels and many types of waterfowl near the lake.  Just
be careful where you walk.  Rattlesnakes are present, and although
I've never seen one near Lake Mead, I've seen one over in Red Rock
Canyon. There are some scorpions too, but they stay hidden in the
day under rocks.  So make sure to kick a rock over before picking
it up!  Another animal I've seen quite often here is coyotes.  They
run when they see you, but if you are quick with a camera, they are
beautiful creatures.  Also in the Lake Mead Rec. Area is a fish
hatchery and Hoover Dam.  The dam is a must see, even if you don't
take the tour inside.  I would strongly recommend the tour, but the
lines can be long at times.  The dam is open from 8-4 p.m.. The Dam
has recently constructed a new visitors center and parking garage.
The garage is great, plenty of parking. The visitors center on the
other hand was packed! I went the first week it had opened, and it
could explain the crowds.

I've done quite a bit of hiking in the Lake Mead area, and
recently I discovered the Railroad Pass Trail.  The reason I'm
writing about it is that in my opinion, it was the best trail I
have hiked so far.  The trail follows the path of the old railroad
that went to Hoover Dam. I'm just estimating, but the trail is
between 4 - 5 miles long, roundtrip.  The trail has a very slight
uphill grade, and is easy for experienced hikers. Beginners should
have no problem, except for the distance of the hike.  The trail
makes its way along side the mountains overlooking Lake Mead, and
offers spectacular views. There are 4 old railroad tunnels blasted
right though the mountains, and are quite cool to walk through
compared to the heat outside. There is also an abandoned mine shaft
along the way, but be very careful if you want to take a look.  I
strongly urge everyone not to explore it, as there is no way to
know how stable it is.  To get to the parking area, take 93 95
south towards Boulder City. Follow the signs to Hoover Dam (you
should be on 93).  While making your descent towards Lake Mead, you
will see a sign telling you to make a left to go to Lake Mead
Marina.  Take a left, and watch on your right for the Railroad Pass
Trail parking area.  Now, on the right side of where you entered,
you will see a very little bridge. On top is the trail, and this is
where you want to start. Follow this, and you will reach a gate.
The gate is only to stop traffic from go down the trail, so
proceed.  Coming up on the right will be the abandoned mine shaft.
It's easy to see, just look up a little and you will see pieces of
steel fence around it. The tunnels start at about half way down the
trail.  You will know when the trail ends, because the fifth tunnel
is filled with concrete.  But look up, there is an observation deck
above it, and someone will probably wave at you, wondering how you
got down there! If you decide to hike this trail, bring lots of
liquids, and drink before you get thirsty. Don't worry about losing
your way, the trail is very wide and hard to lose.  Also, on the
way, you can take a small .3 mile hike to the Gold Strike Casino.
Nothing better than a cold cocktail after a hike! Happy hiking!

Feel like doing some fishing?  Lake Mead offers excellent fishing
year round. The following is from Sunset Bait and Tackle, which
originally appeared in the Las Vegas Review Journal.

     Fishing success in Lake Mead is dependent, in large part, on
     water temperature, forage supply, weather conditions and other
     factors.  The season is open year-round, but fishing is
     generally slow during December, January and February.  It
     begins to improve in March and will peak in August and
     September.

     Additionally, the quality of Mead summer fishing is greatly
     influenced by boat traffic.  This includes all water craft,
     but especially jet skis.  Stripers spook easily to
     disturbances by humans.  Best summer fishing, therefore, can
     be expected during early morning hours before human activity
     goes into high gear.

     Summer and fall anglers will find stripers easy to locate.
     The fish generally feed on the surface as they attack forage
     shad.  Look for concentrations of gulls, grebes, cormorants
     and herons to locate schooling striped bass.

     This surface action, often referred to as "boiling," takes
     place around the clock.  Catch there surface feeders by using
     Sassy Shad, Spots, jigs, Spooks and similar lures.

     Toward late fall, when water cools and bigger fish approach
     the shoreline, use the rainbow trout pattern of the Bomber
     Long A.  This lure measures about 5 inches in length and
     floats.  Crank slowly.  The Long A is most effective at night
     and early morning hours.

     Typical Mead Stripers weigh about 3 1/2 pounds.  Biggest Mead
     striper is just over 52 pounds.

     Lake Mead Gamefish:  Striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie,
     bluegill, channel catfish.

My personal method for catching stripers is using Shad, which can
be caught along the shore with a cast net.  Place a shad on the
hook and use a bobber or sinker, depending on if they are surface
feeding or not.  Not too complicated, but it does work.  There are
plenty of fishing areas along the lake, and most are down unpaved
roads. Be careful, some of the roads are in good conditions, others
you would need a high clearance vehicle. Good Luck!

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is one of the most
beautiful areas in Las Vegas. Rugged mountain and bright red
sandstone surrounds a 13 mile loop road. There is a wide variety of
wildlife here, including roadrunners, jackrabbits, desert kangaroo
rats, and the larger coyotes, mountain lions and mule deer. Many
natural springs dot the area, with many trails leading to them. The
park is open from 8-5 daily and has a very nice visitors center.
Take a break behind the center, sometimes there are painters who
each try to capture the beauty of the canyon. The park is planning
on charging a $5 fee, but at this time, the plan has not been
implemented.
If you are at the canyon on a hot day, try taking a hike at Lost
Creek Canyon. It's a very short hike, and their is a nice waterfall
at the end of the trail. The water is very cool and refreshing, and
is a nice break on those hot summer days.
* Uhhh, the waterfall is all dried up. I guess all the snow finally
melted from Mt. Charleston. Hope no one was expecting to cool off!
8-)

GAMBLING:

* Make way for Cool Millions, the new Million+ progressive slot in
Nevada. What makes this statewide progressive slot unique is that
the first million is paid instantly. The remainder of the jackpot
is paid in 19 annual installments. It's a 3 coin dollar machine,
and if you play, make sure you put all $3 in, or you can't win the
big jackpot. So give it a try, and if you win, remember who told
you about it! 8-)

At the Fiesta Hotel/Casino, a new way of playing Keno has been
introduced.  If you have never played Keno, here is the basics. You
receive a card filled with 80 numbers.  You can pick anywhere from
3 to 15 numbers on that card. 20 numbers are drawn and you hope all
of your numbers are picked. Small payoffs are given if you get most
of the numbers, and a high payoff is given if you get all of the
numbers.  What makes the Keno game different at the Fiesta is you
can pick the numbers!  Players are given turns to press a button,
which releases the balls from the "ball and blower" machine.  This
makes the game interactive and much more fun.  The Fiesta is
located at 2400 N. Rancho Drive, and is one of the newest
Hotel/Casinos in Las Vegas.

I would like to recommend a program I found on America On-Line,
which teaches video poker. It's called Video Poker Tutor, and will
teach you the do's and do not's of the game. If you have never
played video poker, get this program, or at least read a book.
Video poker machines usually have good odds, if you know what you
are doing. If you play perfectly, you add to your chance of hitting
something big, and will have more play time for your buck. Video
poker machines used to be 10's/Jack or better, meaning you needed
a pair a tens or Jacks to at least tie that hand.  Now you can find
Joker's Wild, Deuces Wild and Joker/Deuces Wild machines.

RADIO:

Just arrived for a vacation in Las Vegas?  Want to know what shows
are playing, what buffets are here, etc...?  Turn you AM radio to
1140 KXNO.  It's casino radio, a guide to what's happening in the
city.

ONLY IN VEGAS:

* The Rio will soon have Mardi Gras parades every 2 hours. The
parades will feature 60 people, complete with singers and lights,
in the casino. In the casino? Yes, floating above the games
suspended on cables!

* Have you seen the Mountain Dew commercial filmed in Vegas with
Mel Torme? I still can't figure out how he jumps off the Rio's neon
sign and lands in downtown Las Vegas!?! 8-)

* McCarran International Airport has recently moved up to the
number 8 slot of the busiest airports in the U.S.. A new parking
expansion is currently underway and should solve the parking
problem. Also, did you know their is a new route to the airport?
Head south on I-15 and you can take a tunnel under the runway to
the airport!

The Las Vegas Review Journal has just published it's best/worst
list of Las Vegas. The survey was taken from Las Vegas locals and
the RJ staff, and put all together. I'll put some of the ones that
would best help someone traveling here.

Item                Locals              Staff
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Downtown Hotel      Golden Nugget       Golden Nugget
Strip Hotel         The Mirage          Caesar's Palace
Arcade              Luxor               Treasure Island
Hotel Attraction    Treasure Island     Treasure Island
                    (Pirate Show)       (Pirate Show)
Hotel Theme         MGM Grand           Treasure Island
Neon Display        Rio                 Rio
Production Shows    Mystere (T. I.)     Mystere (T. I.)
Dancers in a show   Les Folies Bergere  Les Folies Bergere
                    (Tropicana)         (Tropicana)
Showgirls           Les Folies Bergere  Jubilee
                    (Tropicana)         (Bally's)
Lounge              Las Vegas Hilton    Las Vegas Hilton
Hotel Shopping      Forum Shops         Forum Shops
                    (Caesars Palace)    (Caesars Palace)
Bingo               Showboat            Showboat
BlackJack           Binion's Horseshoe  Binion's Horseshoe
Keno Lounge         Showboat            Showboat
Poker Room          Binion's Horseshoe  Binion's Horseshoe
Slots               Showboat            Arizona Charlie's
Sports Book         Las Vegas Hilton    Caesars Palace
Video Poker         Showboat            Palace Station
Slot Club           Gold Coast          Caesars Palace
Buffet              Rio (of course!)    Rio
Coffee Shop         Rio                 Sheraton Desert Inn
Steak Special       Binion's Horseshoe  Binion's Horseshoe
Cocktail Waitress   Rio                 Rio (A Must See!!!)
Friendliest
     Employees      Rio                 Luxor
Place to Hike       Red Rock Canyon     Red Rock Canyon
Amusement Ride      Desperado           Desperado
Family Attraction   MGM Grand Themepark Wet 'N Wild
Worst Parking Lot   MGM Grand           Imperial Palace
Smokiest Casino     El Cortez           Binion's Horseshoe
Worst Uniforms      Showboat            Excalibur
Ugliest Building    Stratosphere Tower  Riveria

There were many more items rated, but unless you live here, they
don't really matter.  I agree with alot of the items, and hopefully
it will give you an idea of were the locals go!

If you missed 48 hours on March 30th, you missed a great show
about gambling, comps, sports bets, etc. They had a segment all
about families coming to Las Vegas. In my opinion, this is a great
place for families to come to. There is so much to do besides
gambling, but if you want to keep your kids away from the casino,
you may have trouble. To get to the carnival-style games at Circus
Circus, you must walk though the casino. To get to the themepark at
MGM Grand, you must walk though the casino. It goes on and on. It's
almost impossible to keep away from it totally. And if you have
ever been to Circus Circus on a weekend, it seems that there are
more kids in the casino than adults!  Although Las Vegas is
becoming a family attraction, some casinos such as the Riveria and
Tropicana now openly advertise an "adults only" attitude. And as
far as Downtown, the casinos have always catered to adults.  Best
bet is to ask when you make reservations, whether you are looking
for a family hotel or adults hotel.  Best places for a family
vacation are the Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus, Mirage and
Treasure Island.  The Las Vegas Hilton even has a Youth Hotel that
offers a baby-sitting service with overnight dormitory facilities.
The MGM Grand has the King Looey Youth Activity Center, open for
children who are age 3 - 12.  Great if you want to do some gambling
without the kids!

As far as shows for kids, I think the best would be "King
Arthur's Tournament" at the Excalibur.  The show is great, you must
eat with your hands, and you can yell, stomp and pound as much as
you like.  Great for wearing out the kids for bedtime!  As far as
other shows, each casino has it's own policy.  Several shows have
an early show, which is usually toned down for families. The late
show may be topless and a little too racey for kids.  Check before
you buy the tickets.

Are you planning to get a haircut before your Las Vegas vacation?
Maybe you should wait until you get here! A little Off the Top hair
salon has a deal for you! For $20, you get a shampoo, haircut,
blowdry, and a scalp, neck and shoulder massage. Not too bad for 20
bucks. Oh, did I mention the haircutters are ladies in lingerie???

FROM OUR READERS:

The following are comments from our readers. Anything in ... is my
comments. If anyone else ever wants to add or complain about
anything, just let me know!

     - I spent my time staying at the Luxor, which has got to be
one of the nicest hotels on the strip.  And the best part is that
it's very low on the kid factor.  Sure I saw children, but not as
many as say MGM or Excalibur.  The other good thing about it is you
don't have to travel across a mile of blackjack tables and slot
machines to get to the attractions.

...I agree. The way the Luxor is designed is great for keeping the
kids out of the casino. The attractions are built on the second
floor, above the casino. In places like the Excalibur, MGM and
Circus Circus, the kids must walk though the casino to get to the
attractions. ...

     -In addition to the buffets your recommended, I'd like to add
two. The first being the Manhattan Buffet at the Luxor.  While
their lunch buffet is about the same as everyone else, their
breakfast buffet has got to be one of the better ones.  Not only do
they have the staples, but they have quite the array of cereal,
fresh fruit, and bagels (can't find to many of those east of the
Mississippi).  It's separated into food stations, and if you get
there before 9 a.m., your bound not to wait in a long line (even
after 9, the line progresses fairly well).  For, I believe, $4.49
it's quite a bargain.
     The other buffet I'd mention is Imperial Palace.  I choose
this place because dinner is a bargain (under 7 bucks) and they may
be one of the simplest buffets around.  There are no waitress,
because the drinks are on the line, and the food is very simple.
Which is good when you start becoming buffeted out.  It's basically
a 'Here's your table, there's the food. Eat it' type of place,
which didn't bother me a bit.

     - Of course like any tourist I went to the Rio buffet.  The
prices have been lowered to 1.99, 3.99, and 6.99 respectively.
And, of course, it was one of the best buffets I ate at.  Not
because the food was orgasmic, but because there was so much of it.
The other entrance that they opened now gets just as crowded as the
first one.  The only thing I didn't like about it was some of the
stuff (desserts, Diner, Western) were all the way across the
restaurant, and when you got the food from there, you had to cross
through a maze of tables.  Otherwise, food was good, and service
was fairly quick.  Thanks for the suggestion.

...Yes, it seems like everyone has finally discovered the new
entrance. As far as the deserts, I would walk a mile for something
that good! 8-) ...

     - From Thursday thru Saturday, avoid the sea battle at
Treasure Island and Grand Slam Canyon at Circus Circus.  In fact,
unless you have children, avoid Circus Circus altogether on
weekends.  The Treasure Island show must be the greatest show in
Las Vegas because when I tried to see it at 10 pm and 11:30 pm I
couldn't find a place to stand or sit without being trampled.  Even
the sidewalk across the street was crowded.  If you want to see the
show, arrive there when the last show ends or you'll never get a
place.

...Yes, seeing the Pirate Show on the weekend is tough with all the
people. But one advantage about seeing it on the weekend is the
shows offer extra pyrotechnics. Best bet is to see it once during
the week and then decide if you want to battle the crowds on the
weekend...

     Circus Circus on weekends, forget about it.  The circus acts
and the midway games are way too crowded on that second floor
between Thurs-Sat.  I went into the entrance of Grand Slam Canyon,
saw how many people there were and turned around.  I didn't see
what the crowd was like at the MGM on Saturday, but considering it
was 105 degrees I don't think it was that bad.

...Yes, I would agree about Circus Circus on weekends. When I used
to come out here to vacation, I used to stay there because the
rooms were such a good deal. But believe me, on weekends, I got the
you know what out of that place! ...

     - I went to Planet Hollywood and, lo and behold, I was
actually able to get a table immediately.  The food isn't bad there
but of course it's way out in price range. I mean, c'mon, 12.00 for
a drink in a souvenir glass, what do they think we are.  Anyway, if
you don't want to eat, I believe your free to walk around the
premises and take pictures of all the artifacts.  Picture taking
note:  One of the best places to take a picture of the Planet
Hollywood sign is on the mezzaznine entrance to the restaurant,
right by the Jeanie's Costume.

     - The best video game place on the strip is in the Luxor.
Virtualand is two floors of everything.  I spent more time in there
than gambling.  Games range from 25 cents to three dollars.  There
are three motion type virtual games in there:  AS-1, is a space
simulator game similar to a movie motion ride; Gloc-360 is a flight
simulator in a sphere that will spin you around at the slightest
push of the throttle; and Formula 1 Racers.  All are $3 apiece.  My
favorite there was Stars Wars on the big video screen.  It's a
definite two player game that goes for $1 (one or two players).
One person is the pilot, the other is the gunner.  It's a fast
paced game and once you learn it you can go pretty far on it.

...I'm a video game nut too! There is an arcade in the Forum Shops
at Caesars that is great too!...

     - Finally, concerning the monorail.  The monorail is a great
idea, but will only work well when it's finally implemented.  For
example, I walked from the Luxor, over to walkways, to the MGM.
Then I had to walk all the way across the casino to reach the
monorail station.  When I got on the monorail, while it put me a
Bally's, it puts you all the way in the back of the Hotel.  You
then have to walk about a half a mile to reach the Strip.  It's
probably quicker (especially at night) just to walk down the strip.
It gives you a chance to walk off the buffet anyway.

...It's nice to know that I'm not the only person who has a
complaint about the monorail!...

     I hope you can use some of this stuff in your guide.  Thanks
once again for your help.
                                   -Rich


     I found your guide very informative.  One thing, the circus
circus buffets, I'm afraid, are horrible.  I and many I know have
concluded this after many trials.  I think this should be noted.
Good luck on your guide.
                                   -Greg

...I've heard many people say that the buffet is horrible. To me,
it's a great place to fill up cheaply. Yes, the food is not too
great, but for the price, I'll fill up on salad and mashed
potatoes! 8-) One thing I do like about it though is that it stays
open until 11pm. Most others close early, and there is nothing
worse than getting a "buffet craving" at 10:30pm! But with the
Showboat buffet open all night, I shouldn't have this problem
again!...

WARNING:

Just a reminder when you are out exploring the desert. Bring
liquids with you! Drink plenty before and while you are hiking or
just doing a little exploring. It's hot, it's dry, and it's better
to be prepared than to be dehydrated!

Las Vegas has always had an image full of sex and glamour.  If you
have never been here before, you may be surprised by the flyers you
will be handed walking down the strip.  They are filled with
beautiful women, with phone numbers and advertisements such as
"Nude dancing - direct to your hotel room".  Here's where the
problem is. Quite a few of these, not all but many, are
prostitutes. Prostitution is illegal in Clark County, where Las
Vegas is.  Outside of Clark County, it's legal.  If you get a
prostitute in the city, you could be arrested, or worse, get a STD,
since the girls are not regularly checked.  As far as trying to
find a nude entertainer to dance in your room, alot of girls will
tell you they won't "just dance".  And if you find one who will,
she'll want at least $100, for up to an hour of dancing.  If
dancing is what you are looking for, check out one of the many
"Nude Entertainment" clubs.  If you are really looking for a
prostitute, the safest and closest place is one of the many
"ranches" near Pahrump in Nye County.  There is the famous Chicken
Ranch (made famous by the musical/movie "The Best Little Whorehouse
in Texas", where it used to reside), Mabel's Whorehouse, The Cherry
Patch Ranch and Madam Butterfly's.  It's not 100% safe sex, but the
girls are checked very often, are trained in spotting certain
diseases, and are very careful to have the safest sex possible.
You can't say that about the prostitutes in Vegas.

Just another small warning for visitors is beware of flooded areas.
Las Vegas received a record amount of rain in January, and the
roads become flooding quick and easily.  Don't drive through water
in which you don't know the depth, and also be careful while out in
the desert.  The washes are fun to explore, but will quickly fill
with water from a nearby rainstorm.


*                  LAUGHLIN INFORMATION GUIDE

I've decided to add this section due to a number of requests from
readers. I'll try to keep it as updated as possible, but not living
there, it will be much more difficult! Any help from readers will
be greatly appreciated!

Laughlin is one of Nevada's newer boomtowns. Located on the
Colorado River, it's directly across from Bullhead City, Arizona.
The area has been growing at a rapid rate, and rooms are usually
very inexpensive. To get to Laughlin - Take I515 (95/93) towards
Boulder City. Immediately after passing the Railroad Pass Casino,
take a right on 95. In about an hour's time, you will hit route
163. Get off here and head towards Laughlin. And yes, it's hot here
too. Temperatures are usually higher than Las Vegas's!

WHAT TO DO:

Lake Mohave extends from Hoover Dam in the north to Davis Dam in
the south. The lake offers swimming, boating, fishing, jet skiing
and sun bathing. It's clear blue waters sometimes never get wider
than the old Colorado River, and it's canyon walls frame the river
perfectly. The closest entrance to the lake is at Katherine
Landing, Arizona. In Bullhead City, take 95, 68 and north on an
unnamed road to the lake.

It's not the Hoover, but it's still an interesting piece of
construction! The Davis Dam holds back Lake Mohave and produces
electricity for the region. Visitors can take a free self-guided
tour on the Arizona side of the Dam from 7:30am to 3:30 pm. Take
Casino Drive 2 miles north and a right on 163. You can't miss it!

For a nice river ride, take one of the two Laughlin/Bullhead City
tours. The Fiesta Queen (at Harrah's) and the Little Belle (at the
Edgewater) both offer one hour narrated cruises of the area. Price
for both are the same. $10 for adults, $6 for children 12 and
under. Starting times for both are at 11:30 am and last cruise is
at 6:30 pm. If you stop at one of the Nevada Visitor's Centers, you
can pick up a flyer for a funbook at the Edgewater. Redeem it for
a funbook which has a $1 off coupon for the Little Belle.

The Ramada Express offers steam locomotive train rides around the
property. Best part is that it's free. By the way, this is the only
property which is not directly on the river. It's a great place to
visit, but unless you want a somewhat long walk, stay somewhere
else.

In the future, I will be updating this list along with other phone
numbers, reviews, etc. Any suggestions, comments, donations?
Contact me at Email address [e-mail]

I hope this will help you have a fun and enjoyable time in Las
Vegas!

Please distribute this wherever you please, just please don't
change anything! 8-)