Las Vegas

The first hole in your trip plan is that Las Vegas is in the United States, not Australia, New Zealand or Antarctica! ; ) Try the US branch...

Must try Bryce Canyon. Much better than the Grand Canyon. Great motel with the best food in the whole of the USA. Try to visit when there is still snow on the mountains. The red colour contrasts well with the white.

I can give you some info, but you will also get a lot if you SEARCH the USA Branch before you ask there. <BR><BR>There are 80,000 (give or take) rooms in Las Vegas, and the prices operate like the stock market, on a weekly, daily, and hourly basis. Some basic parameters: (1) do not plan to be there on a Friday or Saturday night at all, and make certain it is not a holiday weekend either - prices can multiply ten times; (2) stay on the Strip (aka South Las Vegas Boulevard) between Tropicana Ave and Spring Mountain Rd (ie, the Luxor to Treasure Island) - it is the most fun and you can find a reasonable room in the heart of the place; (3) you do not need a car in town; (4) the backpackers tend to be north of the Strip in seedier areas, and a long way from the highlights - not recommended; (5) so treat yourself to a decent room for three nights (which is enough, max four); (6) look at Expedia for prices, but you will find similar discounts on many, many websites.<BR><BR>Look at Harrahs, Luxor, Excalibur, Treasure Island, NYNY, etc - they are mid-range and can offer good room rates on the &quot;market&quot;. If you have the time, I would definitely recommend a loop - Hoover Dam &gt; Grand Canyon (not in Nevada) &gt; Lake Powell &gt; Bryce Canyon NP &gt; Zion NP &gt; and back to Las Vegas on the I-15. Driving is absolutely cazy - but fun and exciting. If you go June - September it will be really hot, outside that it is reasonable (although in winter the national parks including the Grand Canyon wil be well below freezing. Have fun - should be seen once for a short time.

I used to go to Vegas 4-5 times per year when I lived in Arizona. I always liked the Luxor, because most upper/middle-tier casino hotel rooms are the same, and the Luxor was $130/night on the weekends and half that in the week. The best places are Mandalay and Hard Rock and maybe Palms for young people/partiers, but more like $200/night. Imperial Palace is dead center of the strip, no-frills and very cheap considering its location. If you want dirt cheap, try circus-circus or somewhere off of the strip or in downtown Las Vegas (downtown Las Vegas is old Las Vegas--very different from the strip). Flamingo is a good value, priced more like I.P. but slightly nicer pool and slightly worse location. Tons of choices, just search online. If you have questions about specific hotels you can email me and I'd be happy to answer.

There's very little else to do in Nevada...except Lake Tahoe which is great for skiing. Grand Canyon of course, and Hoover Dam is worth seeing. If you had time I'd go to Arizona to Sedona...about 3 1/2 hours drive from Las Vegas. Beautiful place with red rocks and one of the spiritual vortexes of the world (I'm not into that stuff, but some are...I think there's like 8 vortices?). Oh and the world's biggest thermometer is on the highway between Vegas and L.A....don't miss that. (kidding) Laughlin's a little more white trash, but fun and it's on a river so you can rent a jetski or somethin.

Can anyone comment on the Vegas $20 tip rule?

scroll down to later posts.

The $20 dollar trick: giving the hotel desk worker a twenty to upgrade your room when checking in. Everything I have heard about makes me believe it is worth it. Just make sure you hide the twenty under your credit card and ask if there are any available upgrades available during the exchange.

If it works you get a much better room.

If it doesnt work they will give you your money back and tell you there is nothing they can offer