The Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas will give you whatever your heart desires.
My Posts on Las Vegas
General Info:
Areas:
- Historic downtown Las Vegas
- The Strip
Introduction to Las Vegas
What can I say about Las Vegas that hasn’t already been said? With its rise from small desert outpost to mafia gambling center to the Entertainment Capital of the World, this city of bright lights and nonstop action wows everyone that sets foot on the iconic Strip. It can bring you to life or eat you alive, but no matter your tastes, it’ll leave you wanting more.
The land making up Las Vegas was originally a winter residence for the Southern Paiute people who used the area’s natural springs before moving to higher ground in the summer. In 1829, Mexican scout Rafael Rivera was the first person of European descent to pass through the area. He left the caravan of Spanish explorer Antonio Armijo (1804-1850) in search of water and discovered Las Vegas Springs. This resulted in the shortening of the Old Spanish Trail from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, referred to as the Armijo Route.
Las Vegas, which is Spanish for The Meadows, was settled by pioneers after explorer John C. Frémont (1813-1890) arrived in 1844. In 1855, the Mormons built a fort that became the first permanent structure in the area. Las Vegas was officially founded on May 15, 1905, and incorporated on March 16, 1911. The first casino opened in 1906, but was forced to close after the state outlawed gambling in 1909.
In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling and casinos sprung back into action, and development started on the Strip in 1941. After World War II, Las Vegas became famous for its lavish hotels and casinos as well as big-name entertainment, and the rest is history. Both the city and its gaming and entertainment industry continue to grow and evolve, and things are constantly changing.
Getting to Las Vegas
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), formerly McCarran International Airport, is located just a few minutes from the Strip. It opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, was renamed in December 1948 for Senator Pat McCarran (1876-1954), and again for Senator Harry Reid (1939-2021) in December 2021. It serves several destinations in North America, Europe, and Asia (as of February 2025). Many hotels have airport shuttles to get you quickly into the action.
Getting Around Las Vegas
If you need to get from your hotel to that show you booked, make sure you know the distance and give yourself plenty of time. What looks nearby could take a good 45-minute walk in the sweltering heat. Thankfully, the transportation system in Las Vegas is fairly convenient.
Free Monorails
First of all, on the west side of the Strip, free monorails can take you from resort to resort. For example, you can travel from Mandalay Bay to Luxor and Excalibur on the Mandalay Bay Tram.
On the Aria Express, it’s possible to get between the Park MGM (formerly the Monte Carlo) and Bellagio with stops at the Aria, Waldorf Astoria, and Vdara.
Finally, the Mirage-Treasure Island Tram takes you from the former Mirage to the Treasure Island. It’s temporarily closed while the Mirage is transforming into the Hard Rock Las Vegas (as of February 2025). It’s expected to reopen in May 2027.
Las Vegas Monorail
On the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard, the Las Vegas Monorail goes from MGM Grand to the SAHARA Las Vegas with stops at the Horseshoe/Paris Las Vegas, the Flamingo/Caesar’s Palace, Harrah’s/LINQ, the Las Vegas Convention Center, and Westgate.
You can either buy paper tickets at vending machines or customer service booths at each station, or download an app on your phone to make boarding easier and get a discount on tickets. Full fares are US$6 for a single ride, US$15 for an unlimited day pass, US$26 for 2 days, US$32 for 3 days, US$39 for 4 days, US$47 for 5 days, and US$62 for 7 days (as of February 2025). For discounted eTickets, it’s US$5.50 for a single ride, US$13.45 for an unlimited day pass, US$23.75 for 2 days, US$29.95 for 3 days, US$37 for 4 days, US$44.50 for 5 days, and US$57.50 for 7 days (as of February 2025).
The Deuce
The Deuce is a 24-hour public bus that runs northbound and southbound along Las Vegas Boulevard between Fremont Street and the South Strip. There are multiple stops in front of most major resorts. You can buy single ride and multi-day tickets on the rideRTC app. Full fares are US$4 for a single ride, US$6 for a 2-hour pass, US$8 for a 24-hour pass, and US$20 for a 3-day pass (as of February 2025). Reduced fare tickets for kids age 6-17 and seniors 60+ are US$2 for a single ride, US$3 for a 2-hour pass, US$4 for a 24-hour pass, and US$10 for a 3-day pass (as of February 2025). Kids under 6 ride free.
Taxis and Ride Shares
As far as taxis and ride shares, each hotel has a good system with designated pickup areas. Obviously, this will cost significantly more than public transportation.
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
World-famous hotels of epic size and grandeur (and high cost) line the Las Vegas Strip while more modest accommodation can be found off the strip or downtown around Fremont Street. I’ve had the opportunity to stay at three different hotels on two separate trips to Las Vegas – two in the downtown area and one on the Strip.
Aria Resort & Casino
The Aria is the best hotel I’ve stayed at in Vegas. Modern, elegant, and comfortable, it has everything necessary to give you a complete stay in the city. It opened on December 16, 2009.
I was impressed from the very beginning of my stay, entering the lobby and being greeted at check-in by a man who welcomed us and gave us several ideas on what to do while in town, along with some entertaining stories.
From there, we walked through the casino to access the elevator to our room on the 16th floor. It was quite a long walk down the hallway, and this was our least favorite bit about the hotel. When we wanted to leave, it seemed like it would take at least 10 to 15 minutes just to get out to the front entrance or ride share pickup area.
The room, however, was immaculate. As soon as we entered, the shades automatically drew open to reveal the sunlight and a semi-spectacular view of the pool below and the southern part of the Strip. The entire room was wired to a tablet that sat at the side of the bed, and we were able to control lighting, the shades, TV, and the air conditioning from the tablet.
The features of the hotel were excellent. It’s possible to stay an entire week at the Aria without leaving the hotel (but who wants to do that, right?!). There are enough restaurants not to repeat a meal during your stay, as well as a shopping mall, The Shops at Crystals, attached to the hotel. We also were able to enjoy the pool, although for just a short time.
I can’t really think of any negatives other than the time it took to get out of the hotel. Staff was friendly and attentive, housekeeping did a fantastic job cleaning the room, and the casino floor was enjoyable to play on.
Downtown Grand
Downtown Grand is located in downtown Las Vegas, a block from Fremont Street. It originally opened in 1968 as Lady Luck and expanded with two towers built in 1986 and 1989. Lady Luck shut down in 2006 and was renovated over the next seven years, reopening as the Downtown Grand on October 27, 2013. The hotel expanded with the construction of another tower that opened on September 22, 2020, nearly doubling its room capacity.
Downtown Grand features many of the modern amenities and luxury of hotels on the Strip. Although we only stayed two nights, we enjoyed the room very much and thought it was a great value. The only negative was the noise level. It was difficult to sleep.
El Cortez Hotel & Casino
One of the oldest hotels in continuous operation in Las Vegas, the El Cortez is a great option if you’re looking to save some cash. With rooms for every taste and budget, we stayed in one of the basic rooms. It wasn’t anything special but it was comfortable and served its purpose. Keep in mind the El Cortez has been a 21+ only property since April 1, 2022.
El Cortez has earned a place in Vegas history, opening on November 7, 1941, as downtown Las Vegas’ first major resort. Owner John Kell Houssels Sr. (1895–1979) sold it four years later to mobsters Bugsy Siegel (1906-1947), Meyer Lansky (1902-1983), Gus Greenbaum (1893-1958), and Moe Sedway (1894-1952). The group sold it back to Houssels a year later for a US$166,000 profit.
Jackie Gaughan (1920-2014) owned the hotel from 1963 to 2008, when he sold it to Kenny Epstein. Since then, Epstein has spent millions of dollars on renovations and improvements. The restaurant, Siegel’s 1941, features Bugsy Siegel memorabilia.
Entertainment in Las Vegas
One of the best reasons to visit Las Vegas is the shows. Want to see acrobats set to popular music? Comedians? Magicians? Top musical acts and singers? A topless revue? Ranging from kid-friendly to filthy and raunchy, you can find it in Vegas.
There are dozens of shows to choose from. The hardest part is making a decision for a short stay. You can help narrow down your choices by visiting Vegas.com to see what’s on and how much you’re likely to spend.
If you don’t want to pay top dollar to sit up front and don’t mind waiting until the same day of a show, several discount ticket outlets line the strip to fill empty seats. You can find deals from 10% to 50% off on shows, dining, and more. I generally used these outlets on the same day of a show to buy tickets.
I’ve been lucky enough to see a few different shows on my two trips to the city. Here are my thoughts:
Absinthe
Absinthe is not for the faint of heart or close-minded. It’s a series of death-defying acrobatic acts with a foul-mouthed comedy show in between. I’ve never laughed so hard or held my breath so much in the space of 90 minutes. And with only 12 rows of seating, it all happens right in front of your face!
Held in what’s supposed to represent a low-budget circus tent in front of Caesar’s Palace, the seats are uncomfortable folding chairs, but the show is one of the best I have ever seen. I don’t think I’ve ever been so awestruck by acrobats and jugglers before.
In the beginning, I thought the ticket was pricey but once the show was over I felt it was worth every penny. But, as I mentioned, if you can’t handle sexist, racist, and filthy humor, much of it geared towards specific audience members, this show is definitely NOT for you.
Penn & Teller
The classic comedy and magic duo of Penn and Teller have been entertaining Las Vegas audiences for years from their own theater at the Rio. I’ve watched them twice and witnessed almost completely different acts both times. They wowed me during both shows, even with the repeat tricks, and they’re gracious enough to spend time with guests by taking pictures and signing autographs in the hallway after the show.
Terry Fator
My brother booked tickets to Terry Fator, an award-winning ventriloquist. He had his own theater at the Mirage but is now performing at The Strat. In the beginning, I wasn’t too interested to see the show, but once it started I found every second enjoyable.
One of the best things about the show is that it’s one of the very few in Vegas that encourages photos and video. Another great thing is Terry’s commitment to US soldiers, which left many in the audience with a tear or two in their eye.
Rock of Ages
The big haired 80s rock musical, Rock of Ages, ran for four years until it closed on January 1, 2017. I saw it in 2015 at the Venetian and had a great time listening to the music and laughing at the storyline.
Shopping in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a shopper’s paradise. Several hotels have premium shopping malls on-site, and outlet malls are located off the Strip. Some of my favorites include the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, Las Vegas North Premium Outlets, and Town Square, among others.
Sports in Las Vegas
Las Vegas isn’t just for sports betting anymore. If you’re looking for high-level professional and college sports, you can find that as well. The Vegas Golden Knights, an NHL team that started play in October 2017, plays at the T-Mobile Arena.
The Raiders moved to Las Vegas from Oakland, California, in 2020 to bring NFL football to the city. They play at the incredible Allegiant Stadium, which also hosts concerts and other sporting events.
The Athletics are planning to move to Las Vegas from Oakland, bringing Major League Baseball to the city. They’ll play the 2025 through 2027 seasons, with an option for 2028, at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, as the city prepares the new stadium on the Strip (as of February 2025). It will be located on the former site of the Tropicana.
The Las Vegas Aces are a WNBA team that moved to the city in 2017 from San Antonio, Texas, and began play in the 2018 season. Their home is Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay.
As for college sports, the UNLV Rebels play men’s NCAA basketball at the Thomas & Mack Center, football at Sam Boyd Stadium, and several other men’s and women’s sports.