Las Vegas Tips, Entertainment and News

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Here comes summer! Vegas Hotel Hunt is in full swing and the Summer 2008 Deals are rolling in every day. If you’re still trying to decide which hotel to stay at, while price is undoubtedly the most important factor, hotel location is probably number two. Not sure which hotels are where? Try checking out our new mapping tool, Vegas Vision. It is a map of The Las Vegas Strip which uses Google’s Street View technology to give you a real look at each hotel. You can travel up and down the street, jump from hotel to hotel, change your view, and explore Las Vegas! It’s a great tool to get a feel for the layout and spacing of hotels on The Strip. Even if you’re a Vegas veteran, it is still fun to cruise up and down Las Vegas Boulevard, checking out the new hotels that have opened since your last trip (try Palazzo), and to also reminisce on your favorite Vegas memories.

As always, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or use our Contact Form to let us know what you think about Vegas Vision!

Every year, Las Vegas hotels spend millions to try to lure you into their casinos. Before you gamble a dime, however, you need to be on their property. What better way to get you there than offering free entertainment? The Las Vegas Strip is full of free attractions, events, and shows. Many of these productions are absolutely fabulous, and are worth seeing every chance you get. For example, the Bellagio Fountains are incredible. They are gorgeous at night (especially for those of you lucky enough to be watching them from a Bellagio fountain view suite), and worth watching again during the day. Unfortunately, not every free show is on par with The Fountains. The quality of shows really runs the gamut, all the way from the stupendous to the downright embarrassing. That’s not to say that they all aren’t worth a visit, however!

Take for example the animatronics in the Forum Shops at Caesars. While seemingly a little dated, less than classy, and a little cheesy, they are still fun. Even if it just isn’t your ticket, you probably won’t be able to keep yourself from laughing at the hoards of people who’ve gathered around just to see a few flames, fireballs, and robots speaking in a room with terrible acoustics.

Perhaps equally cheesy is the Sirens of TI spectacle at Treasure Island. From the lip syncing to the absurd songs, it isn’t about to win the Tony for Best Musical. Still, you’d be surprised at how packed the “docks” of TI are at show time! Some may cite the fireworks, pyrotechnics, and dancing “sirens”, but come on! The real draw is seeing a pirate ship the middle of the desert! And, like it or not, you’ll probably find yourself joking with your friends as you incessantly try to get those snappy song lyrics out of your head (something about honey and shaking?).

Needless to say, there are lots of free things to do in Las Vegas. And, if you’ve got a few bucks to spare, your choices are nearly limitless. While sometimes lacking the wow-factor, odds are you’ll get at least a sprinkle of entertainment out of each one. If not, take comfort in knowing you’re only steps away from a casino resort with hundreds of other things to do (ut-oh, their marketing scheme worked!).

Want a sneak peek? Use the playlist below to check out some of the free Las Vegas attractions.

It is not uncommon that you hear of someone running to the casino to make a big first bet as soon as they land in Las Vegas.  Whether it’s red 18 on the roulette wheel, or a Yo at the craps table, that precious first bet might just be a nice predictor of your luck for the rest of the trip.  Unfortunately, as any statistician will pound into your head, more often than not, you will lose that first bet, which by no coincidence will likely be the tone for the rest of the trip.

 While most gamblers understand that the odds are stacked against them, there may still be one bet in Las Vegas that may give you an edge: The Twenty Dollar Tip. 

Tipping the front desk attendant can pay dividends!  When checking in at a Las Vegas hotel, you will always be asked for your credit card and state ID.  Try sandwiching a twice folded $20 bill between the two cards and politely ask, “Are there any complimentary room upgrades available?”  You would be surprised at what this easy trick can accomplish.  From complimentary champagne, to rooms with better views, and even suites, Mr. Jefferson can bring you a lot!  And, as if this wasn’t a nice enough bet already, often when the attendant isn’t willing/able to divy out an upgrade, you will be given your $20 back.  You won’t find that at a craps table! 

Still not sure? Try checking out FrontDeskTip.com for some great stories about this trick.

You may feel a little bit nervous, but as we pointed out in our last post, Las Vegas runs on tips (something front desk attendants are usually left out of).  Unless your attendant is a rookie, he/she will know exactly what you’re after.  Give it a shot.  What if it fails and you lose your $20?  Well, you just lost your first bet, welcome to Las Vegas!