Las Vegas Things to Do

City passes and discount cards – are they good value? Do you save money and time? Or is it cheaper to buy tickets individually? We took up the challenge on a recent trip to Las Vegas, to see if the passes really do save you money, how much value they provide, and how to make the most of the benefits.

Just because the decadence that usually comes with the idea of Las Vegas doesn’t necessarily harmonize with the typical notion of Christmas doesn’t mean that Christmas in Vegas is anything less than spectacular or festive. Las Vegas is a place that caters to its clients more so than any other, and this holiday season, you can be sure to spend it how you’d like when you’re in Vegas for Christmas.

If you find yourself in Las Vegas and indulging in some of its pleasantries, you might not stop to think about its sordid past. But if you stop for a moment and catch yourself thinking about the history of these gilded walls, you might inadvertently stumble into one of the highlights of any trip to Vegas: a trip down memory lane. And while the rumors of Las Vegas’ early mob roots are many, the true stories therein are much darker and more impressive than even Hollywood can do justice to. Find out how the darker side of America built this city of sin at the new Mob Museum in the heart of Las Vegas.

What better way to explore Nevada’s famous Red Rock Canyon than under the wing of an experienced local guide? It stands to reason that the uninitiated would do well to seek assistance when unlocking the wonders (and avoiding the dangers) of the Mohave Valley, and those who do are justly rewarded.

My favorite sightseeing casinos are the Bellagio and the Luxor. If you’ve never been, the former is where those dancing fountains at the end of Ocean’s Eleven are. As this is one of the top luxury hotels in the country, let alone Vegas, it’s pretty opulent, and you might even see some celebrities.

If you know Las Vegas from TV or movies, you’ll probably expect a lot of glitz, glamour and white tigers. While Vegas has those in spades (at least the glitz and glamour, anyway), there’s more to do than roll craps and nurse hangovers.