It’s Showtime in Vegas!

August 31st, 2009

The Entertainment Capital of the World is also home to some of the most popular shows in the world. Vegas is a place that offers you a million different ways to have fun and theatre is one of those. The city never sleeps, because people often run out of time to experience the best of Vegas.

In Las Vegas, show tickets are quite pricey. However, there are a few free shows for people who would want to spend their hard-earned money elsewhere. Some of the most popular shows cost $100 and above, for the best seats. If you wish to watch a show for free, you can step into the Dueling Pianos show at New York. If the cost is not an issue, the Elton John show at Caesar’s Palace is a great option. The Barry Manilow show at the Las Vegas Hilton is also quite expensive. However, the money you spend will be well worth the entertainment that these shows offer.

The variety of shows in Vegas is mind-boggling. Making a choice can often be a Herculean task, and people mostly end up watching more than one show in a single night. Some of the most popular shows in Vegas are Ka, Zumanity, Beatles LOVE, Rick Thomas Magic show, etc.

If you are looking to go with the crowd’s favorite, you must watch the Blue Man Group, organized at the Luxor. With a combination of exceptional music and slapstick comedy, crowds love it and you would, too.

The Chippendales is another popular show among the ladies. Organized at the Rio, the show is a great choice for an exciting evening in Vegas. For the kids, the Lance Burton magic show is the ideal choice. Held at the Monte Carlo, the show also appeals to the older generation.

The Beatles LOVE show is very special and if you are a Beatles fan, you would certainly have the time of your life. Although radically different from the dazzling and creative “Cirque De Soleil” shows, the Beatles LOVE has managed to carve a niche for itself. The show pays tribute to some of the most memorable Beatles hits. McCartney and Starr have helped in creating the song list, which also includes some of their less popular songs.

Vegas is a paradise for bachelors. The Las Vegas Show Girls is perhaps one of the most frequented shows in the Sin City. With its musical bonanza and topless girls, men will get a chance to be men again!! Infamous though it may be, the music and aerobics can make for a great bachelor’s party.

Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas

July 16th, 2009

For gamers the Bellagio Hotel and Casino at the Las Vegas strip at Nevada in the United States acts as a paradise for fun lovers. The Bellagio is a four-Starred luxury hotel in Las Vegas and provides an astounding experience for all its visitors. Impressed by the Bellagio in Italy, the whole Bellagio Hotel acts itself as a standing monument to its original inspiration and works to create an Italian experience for those who stay there or come to try their luck at the Hotel’s casino. After the demolition of the Dunes Casino (before the Bellagio was constructed it was Dunes) in 1998, the Bellagio was the most expensive casino to be constructed during that time.

The Bellagio Casino is a big favorite with poker lovers. The Casino has made a name for itself for the heavy elite bets which its high roller games draw. The best poker halls in the Bellagio include Bobby’s poker room which has been named after the world poker champion Bobby Baldwin; in addition to this the hotel also host several other gaming rooms and events such as the club drive, slots, table games and many other such activities which become the primary hangouts for all poker lovers and gamers who stay at the Bellagio. Also, the high table limits in the poker rooms pull a huge crowd of poker players from all over the world.

The Fountains of Bellagio are known all over the world for their magnificence and beauty and any and everyone who comes to Las Vegas must see this spectacular show!
When the fountains of the Bellagio dance to the music of popular Broadway scores, they are soothing and exciting to watch and a spectacular delight for the whole family to enjoy. The fountain show is choreographed with automatic computerized lights and music and is one of the world’s best musical fountains. The fountains are set in a lake of fresh water and mesmerize the audience with its brilliant mix of light and music. Some of the music used is well known numbers such as the background scores in many films like the one in the film Ocean’s Thirteen.

Mr. Steve Wynn, Chairman of Mirage Resorts, was the person who conceived and designed the fountains of the Bellagio. The complex, choreographic structure of the fountains will stand as a testament to his skill and as a masterpiece model for all the future works on fountain shows. The Dancing waters at the Bellagio mark the highest entertainment for all age groups visiting the hotel.

Another crowd pleaser and entertainer of the masses in the “Bellagio Surprise” which is an travel package offered by the hotel includes the world renowned Cirque du Soleil’s aquatic production of the “O” show. This theatric and acrobatic performance of dance, acrobatics, music and water form a fluid entertaining session. It is a unique piece of the entire Bellagio experience. The aquatic troupe of world renowned acrobats, divers and swimmers are sure to capture the attention of the gazing crowd with their exhilarating performance.

In addition to the entertainment available, there is also the actual hotel and its exquisite amenities which will certainly make your stay here an experience in luxury.
To stay at the Bellagio is yet another splendid experience and must not be missed if you can afford it. Get some rest and relaxation in one of the finest luxurious rooms in the Spa tower where the luxurious steam bath will add its worth for your money. One of the best rooms in the hotel is the spacious room in the main tower which is sure to leave any guest enchanted and delighted at their stay.

Although the rooms are expensive and a stay here probably designed for an elite group of the rich and famous, it is also possible for the average planner to find an equal share of the Bellagio experience and stay at the hotel for more reasonable prices especially if they take advantage of some of the seasonal packages and offers.

Binion’s Horseshoe Las Vegas

June 3rd, 2009

Binion’s Horseshoe Hotel and Casino, located in Las Vegas, is best known for its casino and its rich history. It attracted over 1,000 customers to its reopening in April 2004. The remodeled hotel, now owned by MTR Gaming Group, opened to a lot of excitement. The opening included showgirls from Harrah’s and the Rio, and the “Keystone Boys Choir” from Philadelphia. After the ribbon-cutting ceremonies, people in attendance couldn’t wait to get to the tables and slots.

Binion’s, named for its founder Benny Binion, opened its doors in 1951. Designed to look like a riverboat, the hotel had velvet wallpaper, low ceilings, and soft lights. Benny, his wife Teddy Jane, sons Jack and Ted, and daughter Becky were all involved in running the hotel. Binion’s Horseshoe offered comps to all gamblers, no matter what the stakes were. It also offered higher table limits than you could find at other casinos in Las Vegas. Gambling was the key attraction – not entertainment.

Benny’s life was threatened because of raising the stakes for gambling to ten times higher than at other casinos. Instead of backing down, he doubled the odds on the craps tables. In his casino, there were no private pits for the wealthy. Everyone was given an equal chance to win.

After Benny was sent to Leavenworth for four years for not paying taxes, his sons were in charge of running the hotel. While in prison, Benny sold his share of the casino to Joe W. Brown, a gambler, so that he could pay his legal costs. Although Benny could no longer hold a gaming license after his release, he was kept on the payroll as a “consultant” until his death in 1989. Teddy Jane died in 1994, and the estate was divided between their sons and daughters. Jack was given 43 percent, Ted 20 percent, and Becky and her sister Brenda each got 19 percent.

The Binion family had a lot of internal problems. The Nevada Gaming Commission was keeping watch on Ted Binion, because of his problems with drugs. He was also friendly with “Fat Herbie” Blitzstein, a gangster. Ted was eventually kept from even entering the casino. In 1998, his gaming license was taken away, and he had to sell his interest of twenty per cent to his sister, Becky. After a long legal battle with her brother Jack, Becky and her husband Nick took over the hotel. Jack kept a very small interest in the hotel, so that he could keep his gaming license. He was no longer involved with Binion’s.

Unfortunately, Becky and her husband Nick lacked experience in the day-to-day operations of the hotel. She tried cutting costs, but gamblers were unhappy with her decision. She decided to do away with an exhibit that Binion’s was known for, which held $1 million in $10,000 bills, and to close one of the most popular restaurants in the casino. The Horseshoe, which had been extremely profitable when her father and brothers ran it, was now in debt. After the hotel was forced to close in January 2004, Becky and Rick sold it to Harrah’s Entertainment, who then sold the hotel to MTR Gaming Group.

The World Series of Poker Tournaments has been held at the Horseshoe Hotel since 1970. Many of us are familiar with WSOP Tournaments on television, especially the Texas Hold`Em Tournaments. These tournaments are still taking place at Binion’s, and are attracting many customers who only want to gamble. There are so many other hotels in Las Vegas to go to for entertainment, but Binion’s is the place to be for gaming.

The Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas

February 22nd, 2009

Hard Rock Las VegasBasically a glorified coffee shop, the Hard Rock Café Las Vegas is known for the rock memorabilia on all the walls. Located next to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the atmosphere at the Hard Rock Café is very casual and relaxed. The cuisine is American, and prices are $15 or less. This is a chain restaurant, and looks like any other Hard Rock Café in any other city. Easy to find, because of an 84-foot guitar at the front of the building, the Hard Rock offers an Elvis wall, the “Tower of Power” with many LCD monitors, and a guitar display. Food includes quesadillas, Bloody Mary shrimp, huge burgers, and vegetable pasta.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino was built in 1995 by Peter Morton, co-founder of the Hard Rock Café franchise. It was expanded in 1999 and in 2007. On May 11, 2006, the Morgans Hotel Group signed agreements to purchase the Hotel and Casino, together with rights to use the Hard Rock name for other territories. They also purchased the Hard Rock Café.

The Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas is known as one of the premier hotels in Las Vegas, especially among younger vacationers. Room prices range from $70 to $250 per night. Children under the age of 13 can stay in their parents’ room. Prices for the hotel’s Las Vegas suites can be very high. Rooms during weekends and holidays have higher rates. Many rooms offer “sweeping views of the street below”.

The Hard Rock Hotel has an enormous casino, with smaller lounges for higher stakes gambling. There are more than 600 slot machines on the floor of the main casino, and hundreds of gaming tables. The Peacock Lounge offers a quiet night of high stakes gambling. The Lounge offers leather seats, as well as triple digit tables. The high stakes room for slot machine gambling is the Fender Room. You can also have fun gambling in the main casino area. Table games include blackjack, roulette and poker.

There are many bars and restaurants within the hotel. The swimming area is divided into two pools, each with a different theme. Enjoy a day on a simulated beach at the Beach Club, or walk to the Palapa. This pool bar offers swim-up blackjack tables for guests who would like to gamble while they relax in the pool.

Located on Paradise Road in Las Vegas, some well-known restaurants are NOBU, A.J.’s Steakhouse, Mr. Lucky’s, and Pink Taco. Features of the property include a hotel tower, a 30,000 square-foot casino, three cocktail lounges, retail stores, a spa, and “The Joint”, a music venue. The hotel also contains over 60,000 square feet of meeting space, and over 130,000 square feet of special event space. Amenities offered in the rooms include TV with pay movies and high-speed internet access, available for a fee. There’s a parking garage attached to the hotel, which is free to guests who self-park. Valet service is also available to guests for a fee.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is planning to expand again in 2009. This multi-phase project will bring in several new restaurants and bars, a nightclub, a spa and health club, and Wasted Space, a rock club. The expansion will also increase capacity at the pool, which will have new features, including a topless-bathing section. The hotel was featured in the film Con Air, and was also featured in other movies and television shows. It’s a fun place to visit, and will continue to attract many guests because of its reputation, as well as that of the Hard Rock Café.

The Flamingo Hotel Review – Las Vegas

November 11th, 2008

The Flamingo can be described as one of the Strip’s “senior citizens” and has a very interesting history behind it. The hotel has changed greatly since Ben “Bugsy” Siegel first started this 105-room hotel in the Vegas oasis in 1946. Even when it first began it has earned itself a reputation for luxury and Bugsy had the janitors dressed in tuxedos. This tropical paradise of swaying palms and waterfalls attracted the rich and famous.

Owned and operated by Harrah’s Entertainment, the Flamingo Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The site, which occupies
40 acres, was originally owned by one of the first settlers of Las Vegas, Charles “Pops” Squires. He paid $8.75 an acre for the land. In 1944, Margaret Folsom bought the tract of land for $7,500. She later sold it to William R. “Billy” Wilkerson, who owned Café Trocadero, Ciro’s and LaRue’s, located on the Sunset Strip. He liked exotic birds, and had seen the pink flamingos when he traveled to Florida.

Wilkerson purchased 33 acres of land, located south of the Las Vegas Frontier, so that he could build a hotel. His hotel would include a casino, nightclub, restaurant, indoor shops, and a health club with steam rooms and a gym. He didn’t have enough funds to complete his vision. On February 26, 1949 Wilkerson formed a partnership with a man who introduced himself as Harry Rothberg. In reality, this led to “Bugsy” Siegel, his partner, opening the Flamingo for a total cost of $6 million on December 26, 1946.

Entertainment at the opening of the Flamingo included Xavier Cugar, George Jessel and Jimmy Durante. Unfortunately, the opening was a disaster. The crowds of celebrities “Bugsy” Siegel hoped for didn’t materialize. The desert’s first air-conditioning system kept breaking down, and the luxury rooms being built to attract people to stay at the hotel weren’t ready. Also, the chefs, waiters, bartenders, etc. weren’t experienced. Within two weeks of its opening, the Flamingo was almost $300,000 in debt. The entire operation was shut down in late January, 1947.

Through the years, the Flamingo Hotel has been renovated and enlarged. One pf the more recent features of the Flamingo hotel was the addition of a Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville nightclub. There are now over 3,500 rooms, which have been upgraded. Prices vary from $75 for the smaller rooms to $350 and up for suites. Timeshare suites are also available. Children under the age of twelve stay for free in their parents’ room. Some rooms are designed based on the old retro Rat Pack theme (a reminder of the days of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin), and have hot pink accent walls. You can find hot pink lights, TV screens set into the mirrors and iPod stations in the bathrooms.

The Flamingo offers eight restaurants, several bars, and a rather large casino. Shows by the Second City are featured as a nightly event. If you are traveling with your family, the Flamingo Paradise Garden Buffet offers good food.

Enjoy leisure time at any one of five beautiful outdoor pools, three night-lit tennis courts, or the health club and spa. There are also whirlpools, water slides, many fountains, and actual live groups of the exotic flamingos on islands around the hotel. In addition to these birds visitors will also be greeted by the sight of swans, ducks and koi fish that swim in the ponds. The health club provides a variety of machines, including treadmills and stair machines, for just $20 a day.

Take advantage of spa services, which include massages, facials, and full body wraps. This modernized hotel also offers 24-hour room service, and laundry and dry cleaning services. You can even find wedding chapels within the hotel. Where else can you find so many varied activities, and a rich history!

Las Vegas Star Trek, the Experience

September 14th, 2008

Star Trek, The Experience is located at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, but unfortunately this grand show may be closing forever on September 1, 2008. So for all you Star Trekkies out there, my advice is don’t delay! What’s more, how about staying at the Las Vegas Hilton, so that you can benefit from all that Star Trek, the Experience offers while enjoying luxury and comfort at the same time!

You can also see the Borg Invasion in four dimensions and Klingon Encounter, and eat at Quark’s Restaurant. The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, located near the intersection of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue, is located about 1.5 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.

Purchase a ticket before noon, when the first ride opens daily. Visitors can also walk through a Star Trek museum that has a collection of memorabilia and gadgets from the whole history of Star Trek. You will also see displays for all of the important alien species from the series, including the Klingons. At the end of the museum is a corridor which lead visitors to the rides. Dual mission ticket prices are $42.99 per person, $35.99 for children under twelve and seniors 65+, and $33.99 for Nevada residents. There are also group discount tickets. The rides close at 8:30 p.m. Your ticket entitles you to unlimited rides.

Star Trek, the Experience opened ten years ago. Much of its popularity came about because of the Star Trek: The Next Generation movies. Fans were drawn to the exhibit because it gave them a chance to examine a Trek time line with a collection of sci-fi memorabilia. Visitors could carry on a conversation with a Klingon over a drink after crossing the bridge of the Enterprise. Unfortunately, the exhibit isn’t drawing as many fans today.

The collection of props, costumed “aliens” and adventure simulators was an escape from the non-stop noise of slot machines. There isn’t any information as of now about who will fill the empty space when The Experience closes.

The Borg Invasion 4-D features live performers; the exact experience varies. This ride takes groups of about forty people. There is a Starfleet science station room that has a large view screen in front; beyond a podium are several Starfleet personnel. When entering a room that appears to be a sort of escape craft, visitors are then to put on the 3-D glasses or goggles that are available and then to take their seats. After this, the space shuttle leaves the station which is a thrilling ride for all inside and excites audiences of all ages, the shuttle then gets sucked into the “Borg Cube”. The 3-D effects are used when the front of the shuttle is blown open. Some effects include droplets of water, wind bursts and minor motion.

To experience The Klingon Encounter, you will have to enter a small room which has graphics of outer space. At the same time you can view scenes from several Star Trek movies on a tiny television screen which is placed at the upper right corner of the room.

The group of visitors will then enter an even smaller, dim room where they will wait for the simulator ride to begin. You can line up in front of the various doors, while you will be guided and directed to watch the screens above for a safety demonstration of the shuttle simulator ride. You’ll experience blackness, loud noises, many light flashes simulating the ‘transporter effect”, sound effects and cold air. After that, the lights return, and the walls, floor and ceiling will seem to have vanished leaving you on what appears to be a transporter pad. The room is a lot larger than the original room and there will not be any doors – which will only add to the experience. You are now aboard the USS Enterprise-D, a transporter room as shown in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

At the end of The Experience, you’ll be led into an elevator, and then to the Deep Space Nine Promenade and Quark’s Bar and Restaurant. I would recommend making dinner reservations prior to enjoying Star Trek, the Experience. Remember to make reservations as soon as possible, because, after September 1, 2008, this attraction will no longer exist.

Circus Circus Las Vegas

August 31st, 2008

Are you planning a holiday in Las Vegas? You should think about staying at the Circus Circus Hotel Las Vegas. This amazing hotel and casino with a fascinating circus theme, has a great deal to offer its guests, and you’re assured of an unforgettable stay. The Circus Circus Hotel Las Vegas is one of the most popular options for accommodation in this city, and is well worth a visit. This hotel, located on the Las Vegas Strip near the Convention Center, is the fifth largest hotel in the world, and hosts the biggest theme park in the country, the Adventuredome, which features the only double-loop indoor roller coaster in the world.

The 3,774 rooms at the Circus Circus Hotel Las Vegas are sparkling clean and very comfortable. They are air-conditioned, and come with amenities such as a safe in the room, alarm clock, electronic door locks, ironing facilities on request, radio, remote controlled TV, voice mail telephone, hair dryer and pay-per-view movies. The suites have refrigerators as well.

But there’s so much to do at the Circus Circus Hotel Las Vegas that it isn’t likely that you’ll be spending much time in your room! This hotel offers of range of interesting activities that are great for families with children, too.

To start with, of course, the performances that give the Circus Circus its name … the Permanent Circus above the casino floor offers awesome entertainment while you play. Highly skilled trapeze artistes, acrobats and other performers offer a marvelous show every day. There is no charge for the ten minute shows, and even though the sixty seats are usually occupied quickly, you’ll find standing room. The show is performed every thirty minutes between 11 am and midnight.

The casino itself is a great place for a flutter. In fact, there are three casinos here at the Circus Circus, and you’ll love them all. And when you’re tired of playing, you can always take a break watching the Permanent Circus high above and marveling at their amazing antics!

Kids of all ages will be delighted by the Adventuredome at Circus Circus. Five acres of fun! Incredible, gravity-defying roller coasters such as the Inverter, Chaos, the Slingshot and the Canyon Blaster, great rides for children, bumper cars and the Rim Runner make the Adventure Dome a great place to spend a lot of time.

And what about the food at the Circus Circus Las Vegas?
Did you know that the restaurant The Steak House at the Circus Circus has been judged the best steak house in Las Vegas for twenty years? The Steak House’s well-deserved reputation makes it a great place to eat – try the luscious prime rib or the mouth-watering lobster. And don’t miss the superb Champagne Sunday Brunch! You’ll find prices reasonable here at the Steak House, which is open for dinner every day. The restaurant is so popular that it is wise to make your reservations ahead of time.
As its name suggests, Mexitalia Express offers excellent Mexican and Italian cuisine. Spices, sauces and delicious flavors make this a great place for a freshly prepared, delicious meal. The food is brought to your table quickly, too! Mexitalia Express is located on the Promenade Level and offers lunch and dinner service between 12 noon and 9 pm.

Feel like a refreshing dip? There are three swimming pools at the Circus Circus Las Vegas, so pick a hot day and a cool pool and just chill out in the sun.
All in all, the Circus Circus Las Vegas is a great place for the traveler to Las Vegas. Full of entertainment and excitement, you’re sure to have fun here – and your family will love it, too.