Las Vegas

Las Vegas - a dazzling beacon in the Nevada desert. Las Vegas holidays redefine the boundaries of extravagance and excess. The infamous four-mile stretch known as 'The Strip' attracts more than 38 million people every year. The Strip boasts some of the largest and most glamorous casinos in the world, including: Luxor, shaped as a black glass pyramid with a full-size sphinx; the Venetian with its romantic gondola rides and opulent frescos; New York New York with its Manhattan skyline and rollercoaster ride; and the Bellagio with its famous dancing fountains.

Founded in 1905 the city was a stopover on the Union Pacific railway between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. It wasn't until the 1930s, when gambling was made legal, that Las Vegas really began to attract the crowds. Among its A-list tourists were Elvis Priestly and Frank Sinatra, eager to visit America's playground for the rich. Nowadays, there are plenty of cheap deals to Las Vegas for families, who flock to the city to enjoy its theme parks, excellent shopping and extravagant shows.

Everything in Las Vegas is done on a gigantic scale; it has 14 of the 15 largest hotels in the USA. Since the 1990s, hotels along the Strip have been relentless in their bid for the largest hotel in the world. So far the MGM Grand is in first place with its 5,000 rooms yet to be beaten. The extravagance and sheer excess can be a little overwhelming to first timers, so one of the best ways to get to grips with the city is to take a leisurely stroll along the length of the Strip. Watch the famous dancing fountains at the Bellagio, ride the exhilarating roller coaster at New York New York, stop for a bite to eat at one of the many cafes and restaurants, and browse the designer boutiques.

Las Vegas is renowned, not only for its gambling and impromptu wedding ceremonies, but also for its extravagant entertainment. Las Vegas shows, as you might expect, combine anything and everything imaginable, including Broadway-style musicals, pop concerts, stand-up comedians, circus acts, magic tricks, mud wrestling, boxing and dancing girls. Family shows can be found on the Strip in the afternoon, while late-night performances are more adult-orientated. Downtown Las Vegas centres round Fremont Street, with its smaller, cheaper casinos than the Strip, a dizzying selection of bars, restaurants and dazzling light and sound shows.

Deals to Las Vegas also include a wealth of excursions. Those who need to escape the ringing of the slot machines for a few hours can take excursions to Red Rock Canyon, 20 miles west of the city, which is a popular haunt for keen hikers and bikers. Also of interest is Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Valley of Fire. A little further a field lies the Grand Canyon National Park, 150 miles east of Las Vegas. One of the natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is an enormous chasm carved into the rocks of the Colorado Plateau.

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