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Hotels
There are so many options, so many varied and varying possibilities in
the Las Vegas hotel area of choices for visitors and tourists that my
choosing only one to crow and gush about seems unfair. But I have to
start this piece with a huge nod of kudos to my favorite Las Vegas
hotel: the Paris.
The Paris Las Vegas hotel is affordable. It is even “cheap” or
inexpensive, to use a nicer word, when you take them up on a non-weekend
offer—a package deal of casino gambling coins/cash, a coupon or two for
discounted dining, and even, in some luckier cases, an airline ticket
price reduction. The Paris Las Vegas hotel is also clean, quiet,
well-maintained, and staffed by clever, courteous, and accessible
people. But the best part for me of the Paris Las Vegas hotel is
downstairs in the Paris casino. The walk to the entrance of the Paris is
a cobbled walk of shops and eateries on either side and a ceiling
painted like the Paris sky (must be “painted). Inside the Paris is
really outside: the décor, temperature control, ambience, and
furnishings all contribute to the feel of being outdoors in Paris, near
and under trees and, even, in some parts of the casino, under the Eiffel
Tower! From the outside of the casino building, you see the Tour
d’Eiffel to scale, built as it is around and atop the Paris Las Vegas
hotel and casino. Inside, you are at the ground floor of inside the legs
of the great and one-of-a-kind architectural phenomenon.
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Maybe, though, I should digress before I start speaking in tongues I
have no business (or skill) speaking. Other Las Vegas hotel delights
abound. As you likely have read about, seen, or heard about, many of the
Las Vegas hotel and casino accompaniments and structures simulate a
place somewhere in the world. The Las Vegas hotel that does this is
usually on the strip (in the center of town, that is), and boasts such
thematic likenesses that when you drive or walk through the center of
the area, you feel as if you are a world-traveler, visiting modified or
reduced countries, cities, and cultures. New York is represented in
black and white and post-mod pop (and when I was there, after 9-1-1,
sadly, the New York, New York had constructed a long fence of donated
t-shirts belonging to firefighters, victims, and survivors and
residents. The t-shirts, numbering in the thousands, had signatures and
sayings and notes of thanks and empowerment…making for the whole viewing
and visit experience one of true realism, not just imitation Las Vegas
hotel-style). The Bellagio is water wonderful; the Luxor is mystical
Egyptian; the Monte Carlo is classic; and the Venetian is Italian magic.
Of course, to visit Las Vegas hotel history, one must not be so dazzled
by the new that one misses the Rat Pack and Elvis days recapitulated at
every older Las Vegas hotel and casino from the Flamingo to Ceasar’s top
the MGM to The Sands. But I tell you what: I bet if Frank and Elvis and
Sammy and George were alive and in town, they would swing by to catch an
O show or drop in at the Paris for a quick spin of the roulette. Mais
oui.
Las Vegas Hotels Cheap
If you want to travel to Las Vegas on a budget, it’s more than possible,
with a huge number of hotels to choose from in various locations that
offer just what you’re looking for! Whether you want to stay on the
strip, visit old Las Vegas, or find lodging in one of the outlying
communities, you will find a number of nice, cheap Las Vegas hotels.
Many of the casinos offer lodging incentives to their visitors,
encouraging them to spend more than just one night and check out their
establishment and all that Las Vegas has to offer. Usually when we think
“cheap”, we think of seedy rooms with air conditioning that doesn’t work
and marginal accommodations, but not any more! There are a huge number
of hotels, motels, and casinos competing for your business, and they
will offer you their bottom line and great service for your business.
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Cheap Las Vegas hotels are located throughout the city, some nestled
amongst the most luxurious hotels on the strip and have casinos attached
as well. It is even possible to stay at some of the most popular resorts
on a lean budget. Hotels and casinos such as Circus! Circus!, the
Flamingo, Harrah’s, the Mardi Gras, and the Sahara all offer low nightly
room rates well under $70! Many of these hotels also offer free shuttle
service to the strip, as well as high speed internet access and discount
tickets for meals and other local amenities and activities. If you’re
planning on visiting with a group of people, or attending a convention,
even greater may discounts apply. Also be sure to mention if you are a
senior citizen, a government employee, a member of AAA, or any a member
of any other organization which may allow you a discount. Inquire with
the specific hotel for what discounts they offer to specific groups.
Check out websites such as www.all-hotels.com and
www.las-vegas.hotelscheap.org, among others, for great deals on rooms,
rental cars, city guides, and great Las Vegas attractions.
Packages
If you’ve never taken a Las Vegas vacation, I definitely recommend doing
it at least once in your life. Las Vegas vacations can be exciting, and
can give you a taste of a sort of glamorous life even if for just a
short while. So long as you have some money to spend, you’ll generally
be treated like royalty on a Las Vegas vacation. Of course, when you run
out of money you’ll probably get a very different impression of Las
Vegas.
The best way to do a Las Vegas vacation is definitely to splurge a
little. See a show or two, get a nice room on the strip, and live it up
for a while. There’s some great venues in Las Vegas, and almost always
some great shows to see. Gambling can be a lot of fun too if that’s your
thing, but just make sure you can afford to lose anything you gamble
with!
Even on the cheap, a Las Vegas vacation can be fun. It’s just one of
those cities you have to see in your life. You don’t have to stay in one
of those big name casino hotel resorts, and can find plenty of
affordable rates along the strip, or even more affordable a short drive
out. Since you don’t really, or at least shouldn’t really, be spending a
whole lot of time in your room, I don’t really think it matters much
where you stay in a Las Vegas vacation. Of course, it’s nice to be on or
near the strip so you can easily walk from one place to another. If you
are going in the summer, this is key, as it is brutal to walk very far
during a hot summer day in Las Vegas.
Having said all that, I’ve been on Las Vegas vacations twice, and I feel
like I’ve had enough of it for two lifetimes. Even though I’ll probably
wait until I’m reincarnated for the third time before I go back, the Las
Vegas vacations I took were certainly worthwhile and made for
interesting memories and funny photographs to share with people.
If you’ve ever seen the Chevy Chase movie National Lampoon’s Las Vegas
Vacation, you’ll have seen some great examples of how not to take a Las
Vegas vacation. Well, at least the part about staying in a trailer with
your in laws in the middle of nowhere.
Many of the cheap Las Vegas Hotels also have incentives
for guests who stay and gamble at their establishment, and the more you play the
more you save. Whenever you decide to go to Las Vegas, there won’t be a shortage
of fine, reasonable hotel accommodation from which you can choose. Take
advantage of the many cheap Las Vegas Hotels and save the rest of your money for
the fun stuff! How much time are you really going to spend in your hotel room
anyway? Have a great vacation!!
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Las Vegas