Experience the thrilling excess of the brashest city in the US on city breaks to Las Vegas, where massive, neon-lit hotel casinos are the stars of the show.
The shimmering four-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South, known as the Strip, is the heart of the city. Hotel resorts scream for attention with huge electric signs, flashy decor and eye-catching attractions. The 350m Stratosphere tower soars over them all. New York New York crams all the iconic buildings of the Big Apple's skyline into its own exterior and the black, glass pyramid of Luxor, complete with replica Sphinx, sends a super-powerful light beam from its tip up into the Vegas night.
Best of Las Vegas city breaks for...
- Free & cheap: The Bellagio Water Fountains is the one not-to-be-missed free show in Vegas. At least twice each hour, a sophisticated choreographed show sees water shooting, dancing and twirling to music from Manilow to Mantovani.
- Shopping: A striking flying saucer called “The Cloud” hovers over the entrance to the Fashion Show Mall. Inside browse the latest designs in seven flagship department stores and hundreds of shops and catch catwalk fashion shows throughout the day.
- Romance: For some Parisian romance, Vegas-style, lead your loved one to Paris Las Vegas. Take the lift to the top of the half-size replica of the Eiffel Tower, from where there are breathtaking views along the length of the Strip.
- Families: At Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat in the Mirage, kids can get close up to white lions and tigers and watch the lovable dolphins frolic with their trainers.
- Active types: Thrill-seekers can enjoy bird's-eye views of the desert scenery from secure para-gliding harnesses as they zip down the cable systems at Bootleg Canyon Flightlines, 20 miles away near Boulder City.
Getting into Las Vegas from McCarran International Airport
- McCarran International Airport is just a few minutes from the southern end of the Strip. Bell Trans Airport Shuttles, available from the Bell Booth, are the cheapest way to get to all major Las Vegas hotels.
Getting around on weekend breaks in Las Vegas
- Bus The Deuce 24-hour double-decker bus fleet runs the length of the Strip. Buy an all-day pass and hop on and off to your heart's content.
- Monorail The Las Vegas Monorail runs from one end of the Strip to the other, stopping at selected major hotels along the way.
