A Quick & Easy Las Vegas, Nevada Vacation Travel Guide

by Joan Avery

World-renowned for its lavish casinos, stunning hotels and wild nightlife, Las Vegas, Nevada is one of the most popular and most frequented vacation destinations year-round.Whether you are living it up with your friends on a Vegas bachelor party getaway, setting up a surprise romantic rendezvous with that special someone, or planning a family vacation on a budget, Las Vegas has everything you need to have an unforgettable vacation.You can shop ‘till you drop at the numerous outlets and malls along the Vegas Strip, catch an amazing show like Cirque De Soliel, or cuddle with your honey on a romantic Gondola Ride at the Venetian.For a big bang for your buck, check out the hotels' unbelievable buffets and take advantage of the many free attractions, like the dancing fountains at the Bellagio.Of course, you can't forget about the nightlife! Las Vegas rules the night with its world famous dance clubs and lounges.Book Your Las Vegas Vacation Online or Call 1 (888) 782-9722 Toll Free!

Las Vegas Nightlife

Risque

3655 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 This chic lounge is the perfect spot for after dinner drinks and late-night desserts, cocktails and fine wines, and certainly dancing.

Nightlife Details

Risque is decked out with plush couches, luxuriant beds, and expansive ottomans surrounding an intimate dance floor. This chic lounge is the perfect spot for after dinner drinks and late-night desserts, cocktails and fine wines, and certainly dancing. Jean-Claude Canestrier, who has been named "Top Pastry Chef" in the world in an international competition sponsored by Pastry Arts & Design magazine, has created a sumptuous selection of sweets for the one-of-a-kind dessert bar at Risque. Sweet times are in store for you at Risque, which has been touted as the "city's steamiest ultra lounge."

ghostbar

4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89103 True to its name, the bar feels as if it's floating over Vegas, a world apart from the chaos below.

Nightlife Details

Located on the 55th floor of the Palms and accessible only by express elevator, ghostbar is a realm unto itself. True to its name, the bar feels as if it's floating over Vegas, a world apart from the chaos below. Three of the bar's four walls are glass, and the view through those windows - a proper 180 degrees - is absolutely breathtaking. But ghostbar is more than its view. The room is perfectly rectangular and festooned with space-age bachelor-pad furnishings; it's the best of Hollywood and Vegas combined. The crowd lounging on those silver sofas is older, but hip and energetic. Service is courteous and quick - everything you'd expect for the cover charge (between $10 and $20, depending on the day). Still, the view alone is worth the trip skyward. You'll never feel more in touch with Vegas' intangible spirit as when you're standing on the transparent glass section of ghostbar's outdoor patio, looking straight down. It's vertigo, sure, but it feels kind of good.The hottest bar and nightclub combo in Las Vegas right now has got to be ghostbar and Rain nightclub. Operated by the n9ne group out of Chicago, the ghostbar has a similar feel to the Chi-town original. VIPVEGAS.com recommends you arrive by 10pm to the ghostbar to throw back a martini or two back before you head downstairs to Rain. Also before you head back downstairs, grab a few unsuspecting newcomers and introduce them to the glass section of the patio, where it feels as if you're suspended mid air, 55 floors above the city.. It's a different kind of high, to be sure.

Body English

4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Overall Rating: A Vegas club rich with European style and charm inside the Hard Rock Hotel.

Nightlife Details

For years this underground space was Babys, until the Hard Rock owners decided to freshen things up. And, boy, did they. Body English is one of the most popular nightclubs in Las Vegas, and while many others are going in the direction of minimalist chic, Body English piles on the Old World, European charm.Here you'll find Baccarat crystal chandeliers, plush leather booths, mirrored walls and so many good looking 20 and 30 somethings, you'll swear you stumbled upon a Beautiful People convention. Though the club is located below ground level, under the Joint, everything else here is upper level: the upper floor of Body English is lined with those comfy booths, but to sit there you'll have to shell out a minimum of $300 per bottle per group of four. A large, roomy bar upstairs is a nice alternative for those who would rather stand and mingle - and look at the dancers below. VIP areas include a space that lets those inside see out, but those outside can't see in. If clubs got points for elegant, roomy restrooms, Body English would be right up there. Good news, especially, for ladies tired of those very long lines found at many clubs. Resident music makers DJ AM (Saturday and Sunday) and DJ Vice (Friday) keep things - and everyone in the club - moving.

ICE

200 E. Harmon Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Even though this club is called ICE, chances are, you'll work up a sweat.

Nightlife Details

ICE describes itself as a meta-club. "Meta" because under one roof here you'll find several different "clubs within a club" to suit your mood and the experience you're looking for on any given night. The chic 17,000-square-foot hotspot features 40-foot ceilings and six unique environments, including a balcony overlooking the entire venue. Check out the "Fur Room," so-named for its fur-upholstered walls, or the lounge, which features a VIP area overlooking the 4,000-square-foot Brazilian walnut dance floor. Even though this club is called ICE, chances are, you'll work up a sweat grooving to the hottest tunes. Have no fear, because ICE boasts a unique atmospheric control system on the dance floor, highlighted by liquid nitrogen special effects.

Add an ICE VIP package to your Las Vegas Vacation when you book with BookIt.com

Whiskey Sky - Whiskey Bar

2300 Paseo Verde Pkwy., Henderson, Nevada 89052 Whiskey Bar boasts a sophisticated, inviting ambience welccoming you to relax.

Nightlife Details

When you step into Whiskey Bar, either through the bar's mammoth 2,000-pound main doors or by descending down a sleek white staircase from the casino at Green Valley Ranch Station, you'll immediately notice the sophisticated, inviting ambience. Whiskey Sky has a comfortable "living room" feel with dark paneled walls, a 12-foot fireplace and sofas and chairs hidden in nooks and crannies throughout the room.

The bar is the perfect place to relax, enjoy a drink and do some people-watching, but if you're looking for a nightclub atmosphere, venture into a small, separate room that has a dance floor and is filled with throbbing music. If that's all too much, you can escape outside for some fresh air and conversation at Whiskey Beach, the 8-acre pool area adjacent to Whiskey Sky. There are comfortable chairs and cozy beds to lounge on with plenty of heat lamps nearby, making things cozy even on chilly winter nights.

Oh, and did we mention the view? Whiskey Sky offers a breathtaking view of the Strip and the Vegas Valley. Whiskey Beach is a veritable playground with a walk-in pool and sand beach, disappearing edge pool, a cafe, an amphitheater for live entertainment and private "dens" with their own flat-screen TVs, sound systems and misters for hot summer days.

Away from the Vegas Strip, but well worth the trip, Whiskey Sky is a destination, not just a stopping-off point. Best bet, come out during an extended bachelor or bachelorette party, and spend Wednesday night here, during the Whiskey Beach promotion that packs in the beautiful people and keeps people partying throughout the evening in both the pool paradise and the Whiskey Sky inside. If you've been to the Sky Bar in LA, then you know what the scene is like, and it can't be beat.

Las Vages Shopping

The Shops in Desert Passage at the Aladdin

3663 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 The Shops in Desert Passage at the Aladdin, one of the city's premier shopping and entertainment destinations, transports visitors back to exotic marketplaces.

Shopping Details

Home to more than 140 specialty shops, 10 award winning restaurants and a pair of the hottest nightspots on the Strip, Desert Passage is much more than an ordinary shopping experience.

Location

Located on the 50-yard line of the Las Vegas Strip at the Aladdin Resort & Casino. Adjacent to the Paris Hotel and across from Bellagio.

Stores

Aveda, Brighton, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Department 56, GAP, L’Occitane, Lucky Brand Jeans, Steve Madden, Tommy Bahama, Tumi, Sharper Image, Sur La Table, Z Gallerie

Events

Visitors can take a pedi-cab tour of the shopping center's desert setting, experience an indoor thunder and rainstorm, or live entertainment on our Mainstage Thursday - Monday hourly from 1:15 - 7:15pm.

Restaurants

Aromi d'Italia, Blondies Sports Bar & Grill, Cheeseburger at the Oasis, Commander's Palace, Crustacean, La Salsa Cantina, Lombardi's Romagna Mia, Merchants Harbor Coffee House, Oyster Bay Seafood & Wine Bar, Todai Japanese Seafood Buffet

Fashion Show Las Vegas

3200 Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Conveniently located off Interstate 15 at Spring Mountain Road and Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), across from Treasure Island.

Shopping Details

The NEW Fashion Show Las Vegas showcases 7 flagship department stores including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Dillard’s, Robinsons-May, and Nevada’s only Bloomingdale’s Home and Nordstrom. Visitors will discover the latest in fashionable apparel and home design from 250 renowned shops and restaurants such as Tommy Bahama, Steve Madden, Louis Vuitton, Bang & Olufsen, Williams-Sonoma, Abercrombie & Fitch, California Pizza Kitchen, and many more.

Fashion Show’s new Great Hall showcases a state-of-the-art elevated stage and runway with multi-media productions of fashion shows and lifestyle events. In Fall 2003, Fashion Show will welcome Nevada’s only Lord & Taylor department store, along with “The Cloud”, a 400-foot-long structure hovering 180 feet over a 72,000-square-foot Plaza on the Strip that provides shade by day and acts as a massive projection surface at night. In addition, a 360-foot-long Media Curve features four movable LED screens that broadcast events occurring inside Fashion Show or simulcast events occurring world-wide via live broadcasts. Additional retail, dining and event experiences are planned to open in Spring 2004, including new shops and restaurants, a casual dining Food Hall and a spectacular Private Event Space featuring panoramic windows overlooking the Strip.

Underground and covered parking are available along with eight valet parking locations.

Receive a FREE Shop & Play package when you present your Power Pass Card at the Concierge Desk.

AddAdd a Fashion Show Mall shopping package to your Las Vegas Vacation when you book with BookIt.com!

Logo & Gift Shops

The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Take a souvenir home to someone special, or get a keepsake for yourself.

Shopping Details

Find logo merchandise and fabulous gifts in our many retail outlets. There’s something for everyone on your list – including you.

The Watch Boutique

The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Time is of the essence, especially when the timepieces are this exquisite.

Shopping Details

Showcasing a large assortment of elegant watches from Breitling to Cartier, fine jewelry including David Yurman and giftware from around the world, the Watch Boutique offers you elegant gifts of time.Store hours are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.Conveniently located near the elevator lobby.

Las Vegas Premium Outlets

875 S. Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89106 Overall Rating: Las Vegas Premium Outlets is conveniently located directly off I-15, Exit 41 A, Charleston Blvd. West, only minutes from The Strip.

Shopping Details

Las Vegas Premium Outlets features 120 designer and name brand outlets stores including A/X Armani Exchange, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren, St. John, Tahari, Theory and more. Present your Power Pass card at the Information Center and recieve a VIP Coupon Book filled with additional discounts at participating stores.

Las Vages Attractions

The Excalibur

3850 Las Vegas Blvd. South, South Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada 89190 Come visit the world of Camelot on the Las Vegas Strip

Attractions Details

This Bavarian style castle, has plenty of turrets, spires, belfries, a moat, and a bell tower, with staff members in elaborate royal-court costumes, strolling performers in the Renaissance Village shops, and lingo such as "minstrel," "Roundtable," and "knight" attached to most everything. This is a favorite of families with kids. It's perfect if your idea of heaven is a Renaissance faire. The elaborate dinner show is a hit with kids of all ages. The hotel's two pools have a nicely landscaped sunning area with soaring waterfalls and water slides.
Phone: (800) 937-7777

Extreme Skydiving

Jean Sport Aviation Center, Jean, Nevada 89019 Sky dive above Las Vegas!

Attractions Details

Allow the experts at Las Vegas Extreme Skydiving to show you the city...from a different dimension. View the Las Vegas Strip from 2 miles above the earth at 120 mph for the greatest adrenaline charged adventure of your life. We offer tandem skydiving for beginners and solo skydiving for experienced jumpers, so if you are ready to experience skydiving in Las Vegas then book a dive today at Vegas Extreme Skydiving! You must be at least 18 years of age, sober and weigh less than 245 lbs. Present your Power Pass card and receive a $20 discount on Tandem jump and a souvenir T-Shirt (a $40 value.)
Phone:(866) EXT-JUMP

Visit Extreme Skydiving Official Site

Las Vages Discounts

Top Las Vegas Specials

5 Star Las Vegas Luxury!

Bellagio Las VegasStay at One of Las Vegas' Most Luxurious Hotels on the Exciting Vegas Strip. Enjoy Upscale Dining and Nighttime Entertainment at any of the Bellagio's 19 Restaurants and 5 Lounges. Home to the Acclaimed "O" by Cirque du Soleil Show!

The Newest Las Vegas Strip Hotel!

Wynn Las VegasLas Vegas' Newest Luxury Hotel and Destination Casino Resort on the World Famous Las Vegas Strip. Stay and Play with the High Rollers at Vegas' New Hot Spot!

Vegas' Renowed 5 Star Hotel Resort!

The Venetian Resort Hotel CasinoInspired by Venice and Located in the Heart of the Famous Las Vegas Strip, the Venetian Resort is a complete Las Vegas Destination Resort!