Description

Las Vegas is often referred to as the ‘sin city’ and is located in the state of Nevada in the United States. It is the entertainment capital of the world which has legalized gambling in 1931. More than 38.5 million people visit Las Vegas each year and seventeen of the 20 biggest hotels in the U.S. are in Las Vegas. The principal sources of income for the Las Vegas government are tourism and gaming which in turn support the retail and dining industries.

Shopping

Shopping in Las Vegas can be an exhilarating experience. Las Vegas has scores of malls, each mall comprising of hundreds of stores selling fashion clothing from major brands, many restaurants, movie screens, designer stuff and factory outlets. Las Vegas also has a plethora of shops dealing with one-of-a-kind antique collection stores where a fanciful person is bound to get carried away. There are specialty stores which sell sports stuff, jewellery, chocolates, toys and fine porcelain.

Restaurants

Las Vegas is the city of excesses. It is home to some of the world’s best chefs and fine dining. Food is at its best, the ambience and architecture are ostentatious and all this for an affordable price, as per European standards. Some of the master chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Palmer and well-known culinary families from New York and New Orleans have opened shop here. Some of the restaurants are Valentino, La Scala Ristorante, Viaggio, Cili, Chinos, BOA Steakhouse, Spago, Sushi Roku, and Bertolini’s etc. A tourist will never go hungry even in the wee hours of morning as there are a lot of late night restaurants like Firefly on Paradise, Bootlegger Bistro, r bar cafe, Lucky Chengs that are open for service. From Breakfast, brunch, lunch, desserts, dinner to late night, 24 hours, private or outdoor dining, romantic dinner to quick service every imaginable service and cuisine can be found each catering to specific requirement of the clientele. From the Italian Gelato to the Spanish tapas and paella to the Middle Eastern hummus dining in Las Vegas for a tourist is like having a slice of any place in the world on his plate.

Night Life

The choices of nightlife in Vegas are infinite. Though casinos with slot machines are a major pull for all the tourists there are other forms of entertainment too on offer. From striptease, burlesque and cabarets tourists are lured to participate in exclusive adult entertainment. Elvis impersonators, showgirls in feathered headdresses, magicians and comedians all provide entertainment in Las Vegas. For tourists who come to enjoy a family vacation there are sports bars and exclusive dance zones where they can dance their night away. Las Vegas however has a reputation as a Mecca for sex tourism and attracts a lot of tourists from all over United States and the world, looking for sexual thrills. La Femme at the MGM Grand has been copied from the Crazy Horse in Paris, famed for popularizing the art of nudity. Sports bars like The Beach, ESPN Zone and All Star Café which feature big TV screens in their restaurants are popular. Nightclubs have large dance floors and cutting-edge sound, effects and lighting like Ice Las Vegas, Pure and Club Rio are favorite hang outs. Most of them also have full-service bars and eclectic food.

Activities

A tourist can never get bored in Las Vegas for it has something to offer for everyone. One can choose anything from horseback riding, snowboarding, bungy jumping and skydiving. Roller coasters, Exotic animals, excursions and browsing art museums and galleries, the list is endless. However, there are a few must see things in Las Vegas. The
Dancing fountain at the Bellagio has more than 1000 fountains dance to the works of Frank Sinatra and others. Choreographed water jets over 220 feet into the sky in tune with the lights and music. One of the best free shows is the Fremont Street Experience. This canopy is located above the pedestrian mall in downtown Las Vegas and consists of over 2 million lights.
At the Flamingo Hilton Wildlife Habitat is a 15 acre desert menagerie where a tourist can see penguins, pink flamingos, as well as swans, turtles, fish and a variety of birds.
At the Lion Habitat at MGM Grand visitors are allowed to walk around, above, below and through the center of a grand lion pride which are put in a glass enclosed habitat.
Another must see is Planet Hollywood where one can find a huge collection of movie industry memorabilia. Visitors can see James Bond's trick car devices, and memorabilia of movies like Terminator and Independence Day. Visitors can buy souvenirs like T-shirts and shot-glasses from the gift shop.
At the Star trek experience, the visitor is made to get involved in a space battle which is an out of the world experience. The Volcano at the Mirage Hotel blows its top in a show-stopping eruption which the tourists should not miss. An incredible laser light and water show erupts from the cliff at Mystic Falls Park and wolf atop the cliff begins the show with eerie long howls and then the water show shoots high. There are scores of such shows most of them for free and worth the visit.

Communications

The international access code for USA is +1. The outgoing code is 011, followed by the relevant country code. Plenty of pay phones are available throughout the country. Cingular and T-Mobile are the largest mobile operators and cover the entire nation. Internet is widely available.

Contacts

Consulate in UK: United States Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7499 9000
Consulate in Canada: United States Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 5335
Consulate in Australia: United States Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6214 5600
Consulate in South Africa: United States Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 1048
UK Embassy or Consulate: British Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 588 6500
Canadian Consulate: Canadian Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 682 1740
Australian Consulate: Australian Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 797 3000
South African Consulate: South African Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 232 4400

Currency

USD

Attractions

If a tourist is tired of shopping, gambling, dining, watching shows and enjoying the nightlife in Las Vegas, then they can get away from the city to explore the neighboring areas. It is possible to reach The Grand Canyon in a full-day excursion from Las Vegas, which is one of the natural wonders of the world. It was formed by the cutting action of the Colorado River over millions of years. The Grand Canyon National Park is an interesting area which comprises two separate areas which are the South Rim and the North Rim. Another such excursion can be to see the Hoover Dam which is an hour's drive from Las Vegas. The Hoover Dam Stretching 1,247ft across the Colorado River is an excellent illustration of the engineering of its time. Another tourist attraction is the
Red Rock Canyon which is a dramatic valley ten miles west of Las Vegas where waterfalls cascade into the canyons. It is a good spot for walking, rock climbing, cycling or simply a scenic drive. The Mojave Desert Park has a 21km scenic drive. Coach tours can be organized through most hotels.

Language

English

Language Description

English is the official language of the country. Spanish is taught as the second language in most schools. French, German and Italian speaking population are also widely present.

Tipping

15% tip is expected by most services, including waiters, driver and bartenders. In the more expensive hotels a 15% charge is added onto the bill, so there is no need to tip extra. Tipping is not necessary in self catering restaurants and fact food joints.