Las Vegas

The word may mean 'meadow' in Spanish but in any other language it means gambling. For years nothing more than a watering stop, it has grown into a mammoth, neon lit, 24hr city where avarice is a virtue the kindly Casino owners do their best to encourage. It is capitalism run riot and one has to admire the million cunning ways that have been devised to encourage people to indulge in excessive behaviour. 30 million people come here every year and the city has done its best, through careful marketing and police action to rid the town of its 'Mob' image. It is still a place that can lure stars to perform, even if the golden years of the Rat Pack and Elvis are long gone.

In order to go one better than the neighbour's, hotel/casino design is out of this world. In order to keep one step ahead, developers think nothing of blasting last years model down to make way for this years latest themed mega-hotel. Many of the hotels have put in theme parks in a not entirely convincing attempt to appeal to the 'family tourist'.

Despite the 'Liberace Experience' the Guggenheim Hermitage, the Elvis-A-Rama and other alternatives to the gambling there is no getting away from the fact that the hotels with their huge casinos are the main attraction.

MGM Grand

The world's biggest hotel has a theme park and 'Lion Experience'.

Paris

Complete with scale models of the Eiffel Tower (half size!) and Arc de Triomphe. Amongst the restaurants here there is even one on top of the Eiffel Tower.

New York, New York

Tour the city on the Manhattan Express Rollercoaster.

Caesar's Palace

A place that sums up, in it's aping of the hedonistic excesses of Rome, Las Vegas. Still one of the best.

There are many more, each one with its own theme, each theme more bizarre and extravagant than the last.

When Casino Burn Out sets in?

You could visit the Hoover Dam or the lake that it produced, Lake Mead. The lake is 500 miles around and offers watersports for all. Red Rock Canyon is worth a visit especially at dawn or sunset. And, of course, there are various types of trips available to the Grand Canyon.

Or You Could Get Married

The other thing for which Vegas is famous is the ease with which it is possible to get married. You can get drive in weddings or have 'Elvis' as your best man; in Vegas all things are possible. If you are over 18, have ID and aren't already married then, having paid over the money, you are away. Romantic? Hilarious? Kitsch? A Bad Idea? It probably depends how the marriage turns out.

Away from the Tables what about Food, Drink and a Place to Sleep?

If you can tear yourself away from gambling to indulge in any of these then you are not trying hard enough! Las Vegas isn't as cheap as it was. Hotels have realised that they don't need to cut each other's throats to separate people from their money. Many of the Hotels and Restaurants have shown signs of moving up market. You are advised to try and book rooms in advance. Apart from the massive hotels there are still plenty of motels at reasonable prices, some hotels are geared up for camper vans to overnight in their car parks. Although Haute Cuisine is now available, the all you can eat buffet is still to be found all over. I can't imagine why, but in many Casinos drinks are free! In every hotel and casino, there are numerous bars in which to either celebrate, or drown your sorrows.