LAS VEGAS -- Getting around in a strange city can be challenging. A few pointers can often make a world of difference. Here are some tips on visiting Las Vegas.
McCarran International Airport is one of the most beautiful, cleanest and efficient facilities in the world. Travelers know they're in Las Vegas the minute they disembark because the unique "music" of the slot machines fills the terminal. McCarran is only minutes from all hotels and Las Vegas is an easy city in which to get around.
A taxi to a Strip hotel from the airport will cost $7 to $10; to a Downtown hotel, between $10 and $15. Airport shuttle fares are $3.50 to the Strip hotels and $4.75 to Downtown hotels.
There is more live entertainment in Las Vegas than in any other city in the world. But for the novice, it may be intimidating.
It's not difficult to get into a good show. Most hotels have gone to a ticket-only policy but some take reservations similar to calling a restaurant for reservations. The best way to determine a hotel's showroom policy is to check with the hotel.
Some showroom tickets include drinks, tip and tax; some do not. Show prices range anywhere from $9 to $95 a person.
Superstars such as Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra and Julio Iglesias command higher prices. Big production shows such as Folies Bergere cost between $16 and $35, depending on the show time and whether a person eats dinner. The Siegfried and Roy magic spectacular at The Mirage costs $72.85 per person including tip, tax and two drinks.
Although a person can tip what they wish, there are some loose customs many people follow. Bartenders generally get $1 per round for parties of 2-4, more for larger groups. It is customary to tip $1 every now and then to a keno runner who is used for an extended period of time. It will be appreciated.
If a slot machine pays off, remember the change girl with the lucky coins. Cocktail waitresses generally get $1 a round for parties of 2-4, more for larger groups. Tips can be given directly to dealers between blackjack hands, throws of the dice at craps or spins of the roulette wheel.
Hotel maids expect $1 a day at the end of the visit; pool attendants get 50 cents to $1 for towels, pads, lounges, etc. For waiters, the standard 15- to 20-percent rule applies and it is the same for room service.
Many showrooms sell tickets that have assigned seats. These tickets often include the tip. In resort showrooms that use restaurant-style reservations and seating, it is customary to tip the showroom maitre d' $5 to $20 to improve seating. Showroom waiters get $5 to $10 for a party of 2-4 at a cocktails-only show, or $10 to $20 for a dinner show depending on the service and quality of food.
Taxi drivers expect $1 to $2 for a direct route, more if the driver is friendly and helps with the door and your luggage. Tour guides receive $1 to $2 a person at the end for the trip. For valet parking, $1 is standard, $2 if the service is extra-quick.
Cuisines from more than 30 countries are represented in Las Vegas restaurants, both in and out of the hotels. There is always something available to please everyone's palette. Hotel gourmet restaurants are less expensive than in other cities.
Perhaps the least expensive dining in America is the Las Vegas hotel buffets. Nearly all hotels have breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. A person can't eat this well at home for these prices.
The minimum age to drink or gamble is 21. There are no closing hours in Las Vegas for the sale or consumption of liquor.
During the summer, temperatures of 100-plus degrees are not uncommon, but all places of business are air conditioned. During the winter, it's more like 50 degrees during the day, colder at night.
Every part of the world has its own language and Las Vegas is no exception. Here are some hints to make the local lingo more understandable.
Tip -- Same as a toke.
Toke -- Same as a gratuity.
Comp -- Short for free or complimentary.
RFB comp -- The casino is impressed with a credit rating and has ordered that a customer be given free room, food and beverage (RFB) during a hotel stay.
In red -- A comped customer's name usually appears "in red" on a maitre d's reservation chart.
High roller -- A customer with the reputation of wagering large sums of money in the casino.
Marker -- An IOU owed the casino by a gambler allowed by the hotel to play on credit.
Coupons -- Redeemable for nearly everything from a free meal to a free pull on a slot machine. (Ask the hotel whether it has a coupon book.)
Shooter -- A gambler who is rolling the dice on a craps table.
Shoe -- A container from which several decks of cards are dealt on the Baccarat and blackjack tables which prevents the dealer from holding cards.
Stickman -- The dealer who moves the dice around on a craps table with a hook-shaped stick.
Drop box -- A locked box located on live gambling tables where dealers deposit paper money.
Boxman -- The craps table dealer who sits over the drop box and supervises bets and payoffs.
Pit boss-- A casino boss who oversees numerous table dealers.
Limit -- The least or maximum bet accepted at a gambling table.
Spoon -- One device used by slot machine cheaters.
Hit me -- A phrase used by blackjack players who want another card from the dealer.
Eye in the sky -- A one-way mirror surveillance in the casino area. Be sure to smile! Mirrors or dark glass that circle casino ceilings conceal people who are assigned to watch the casino action to prevent cheating by players or dealers. There are also cameras behind the decorative looking glass.
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For information on how to get complete show listings and comprehensive current news about Las Vegas, THE LAS VEGAS GUIDE, e-mail a request to: CIS 73503,471. Don╒t forget to include a return address (e-mail or otherwise).
