Rising from the desert like a neon
oasis, Las Vegas is a jaw-dropping
extravaganza. Along the Strip, some of
the world’s biggest hotels lure people
in with their colossal casinos and
wacky themes. In this crazy, colourful
city you can ride in a Venetian
gondola, sleep in a pyramid and get
married by the king of rock and roll.
VEGAS BY NUMBERS
Visitors to the city in 2014 41 million
Miles of neon lighted tubing 15,000
Weddings each day 300
Biggest ever slot machine win $39.7 million
Bedrooms at the MGM Grand over 5,000
Water jets in the Bellagio Hotel’s fountain 1,200
Famous fountains
The Bellagio Hotel is
one of the Strip’s most
popular attractions. Its
world-famous fountain
puts on spectacular
displays. High-powered
jets send water twirling
to music, spinning and
dancing as high as 140m
(460ft) into theair.
City of light
Vegas doesn’t let a little thing like night-
time slow it down! Whether you fancy a
late night buffet, want to get married
at midnight or gamble until the sun
comes up, anything is possible. When
viewed from space, the Las Vegas
Strip at night is said to be the
brightest stretch of land on Earth.
Wedding capital
of the world
Las Vegas is one of the most famous
spots on the planet to get married.
Couples can tie the knot with
a drive-thru wedding, take a
gondola through the Venetian
hotel’s Grand Canal or get
hitched by an Elvis Presley
impersonator.
Show business
The hottest stars on the planet perform in Vegas.
From magic to acrobatics, comedy to music,
every show shimmers with glitz and glamour.
O
by Cirque du Soleil features world-class
gymnasts, divers and synchronized swimmers
performing in and around a pool holding 6.8
million litres (1.5 million gallons) of water.
Ride on high
The tallest freestanding observation tower
in the USA is called the Stratosphere –
home to a high altitude theme park. Thrill
seekers hop onto rides that catapult them
over the edge of the tower, then leave them
dangling 109 storeys in the air. For the truly
fearless there is also the Sky Jump. Gutsy
visitors are lowered at heart-stopping speed
all the way to the ground in the highest
controlled descent in the world.
Bonkers buffets
In a city where
biggest, brashest
and brightest rule,
it’s no surprise that
the eating options
are equally over the
top. Caesars Palace
is home to one of the
city’s largest buffets
with 500 dishes to
choose from every
single day.
Pyramid of
light
At the Egyptian themed
Luxor Hotel, guests
stay in a 30-storey high
pyramid made out of
black glass. At night
the tip of the pyramid
projects a ray of light
into the sky above the
city. The beam is so
brilliant it can be seen
by airline pilots 160km
(100mi) away.
SKIPPING THE
STRIP
The Strip creates jobs for a
huge number of locals, but
in their free-time most city
dwellers choose to avoid this
tourist hot spot. To escape
the desert heat, families
head out instead to the
surrounding canyons and
mountains. There’s fun to be
had hiking, biking, kayaking
and, in winter, even skiing.
French fancy
When it comes to themed
venues, Las Vegas goes all
out! The Paris Hotel is entirely
based on the French capital,
featuring a half-sized replica
of the Eiffel Tower outside
with its own observation
deck and restaurant. Visitors
strolling through the cobbled
boulevards inside the hotel can
gaze up at other landmarks,
including the Louvre and the
Paris Opera House.
VEGAS BY NUMBERS
Visitors to the city in 2014 41 million
Miles of neon lighted tubing 15,000
Weddings each day 300
Biggest ever slot machine win $39.7 million
Bedrooms at the MGM Grand over 5,000
Water jets in the Bellagio Hotel’s fountain 1,200