Yikes! Haven't been to Vegas in a few years due to pressing personal families matters so this blog won't get much attention for another few months at least. Sorry about that, but you weren't reading this anyway!
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Apologies for the thin posting here at Las Vegas Blog, but I've been busy with several other online projects listed below. After I get my act together, however, I'll be back with the latest on my latest trip to Las Vegas in January 2012 where the CES 2012 Computer Electronics Show rocked the city with the latest in technology and gadgets.
I had a fairly pleasant and inexpensive stay at the historic Golden Gate Hotel in downtown Las Vegas and was even detoured by filming of the new Jim Carrey movie along Fremont Street. I also learned a bit more about the ravaged Las Vegas Real Estate market from an agent who explained how positive cash flow .
Here are the new projects
Retire USA Retirement Information
Retirement Blog
Travel and History Blog
US History Website
US History Blog
History and Civil War Blog
Also will soon be working on the Airport Codes site and the QuickAid Airport Directory
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Las Vegas Monorail to LAS McCarran Airport? Not ... yet ... but.... maybe....
The Las Vegas Monorail project can be considered a success or a great failure depending on your perspective. Although ridership has been under the projected levels and the system is struggling under a large debt load, millions have enjoyed the cheap, fast transportation up and down the Las Vegas Strip and to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
After about two years of negotiations and planning, the system was prepared to enter bankruptcy in an effort to reduce current debt payments which in turn was to enable the Monorail to enter "monorail phase II", an extension of the system to McCarran International Airport. However a November judicial decision has put the kabosh on that plan, the judge suggesting that implementation of the plan would simply push failure of the system out to a maximum of 2019 after which the hose of cards would collapse.
After about two years of negotiations and planning, the system was prepared to enter bankruptcy in an effort to reduce current debt payments which in turn was to enable the Monorail to enter "monorail phase II", an extension of the system to McCarran International Airport. However a November judicial decision has put the kabosh on that plan, the judge suggesting that implementation of the plan would simply push failure of the system out to a maximum of 2019 after which the hose of cards would collapse.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Jan 1, 2012
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Harmon Hotel at MGM CityCenter may be imploded
About.com has a nice explanation of the complicated situation at Las Vegas' Harmon Hotel where owner MGM has applied for permission to implode the building, citing structural defects that may make the Harmon prone to major damage during an earthquake.
However the builder is challenging this structural diagnosis and offering to re-engineer as needed to fix the problems. They claim that MGM is mostly just concerned about difficulties filling the new rooms in a downturned Las Vegas economy.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Macau vs Las Vegas as the gambling capital of the world
Although it's hard to beat Las Vegas for variety and amazing resorts and casinos, Macau's gambling revenue simply dwarfs that of Las Vegas Casinos. Macau's annual gaming revenue stands at about 20 billion, with Las Vegas at about a third of that amount.
With the Las Vegas economy still reeling from the recession - hurting both the housing and the travel sectors, combined with the Asian economic explosion, it seems unlikely that Vegas will ever reclaim the fame of being the number one gambling hotspot in the world, but it's also true Macau is unlikely to attract north American visitors for some time.
More from the Las Vegas Sun
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Las Vegas Bargains on Twitter
Twitter is one of the best ways to track some great bargains in Las Vegas, especially in this summer of a LOT of great hotel and vacation package bargains. Obviously you should also be looking at a LOT of websites such as Kayak.com, individual Airline websites (a list of them is here), Expedia, Travelocity, and Tripadvisor. All these sites offer hotel and airline combo packages that are often (but not always) your best bet in terms of a bargain trip.
Only with careful searches can you uncover the very best bargains, as generally hotels would prefer folks to pay the "rack rate" or higher rates than the very best they'll be offering during specials.
Enter Twitter, which is often the source of great tips on bargains from individual hotels in Las Vegas. Here's a partial Las Vegas list on Twitter. Follow it for some information from Las Vegas folks and properties.
Also note that most of the Las Vegas hotels have Facebook pages and those will sometimes feature specials. Facebook and Twitter are a great way to get a fast response from many hotels as well.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Binions, Downtown Las Vegas, 2005
Few Las Vegas venues capture the colorful history of old Las Vegas as the old Binions. The hotel and casino are small compared with the newer mega-resort venues up and down the strip, and after near bankrupcy and sale to Harrah's in 2004 the venue is now resurrected as Binions Gambling Hall and Hotel http://www.binions.com/
History of Binions:
In 1951 Benny Binion reopened the Eldorado Club and Apache Hotel, naming the new venue the "Horseshoe Casino" and styling it as a riverboat.
Only a few years later Binion was convicted of tax evasion and served about 4 years in Leavenworth.
As a convicted felon Binion could no longer own the casino but his family had a controlling interest and he continued as consultant until his death in 1989.
In 1970 the World Series of Poker began at the Horseshoe and would eventually create the largest poker tournament series in the world.
Daughter Becky Behnen acquired controlling interest in the casino in 1998, but legal conflicts with the culinary workers and bartenders unions led Binions to near bankupcy, leading to a sale to Harrah's in 2004.
Vdara Hotel, CityCenter Las Vegas
The Vdara Hotel and Spa is one of Las Vegas' newest and most elegant venues, part of the CityCenter Complex near the middle of the Las Vegas Strip and home to Vdara, Crystals Retail Shopping Complex, the Aria Resort and Casino, The Mandarin Oriental, and the Veer Towers.
Vdara's design is upscale and elegant rather than overly flashy or loud, offering something of a respite from the more hectic Las Vegas lifestyle you'd find in the resort casinos. For a little less talk and a lot more action you may want to stay at the Aria Resort and Casino which is right next door - just past the Vdara's very intriguing crashing kayaks sculpture.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Bellagio Heist - 1.5 Million in Chips Stolen
The bbc reports on the Bellagio Casino heist where a man on a motorcycle managed to get away with 1.5 million in chips. Since the chips are only good at Bellagio, it's not clear how the bandit plans to cash them in without detection.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Illegal Las Vegas
An audio interview over at Jay's Las Vegas addresses some of the questions about Las Vegas' seamier side, especially relating to drugs, sex, and mob activity. It's an interview with former mob operative Andrew DiDanato, author Jay Rankin, and crime author Denny Griffin:
Friday, September 10, 2010
The CES Effect at the Bellagio
One of the best budget tips for Las Vegas is the fact that Hotel rates vary about as *dramatically* as you will find anywhere in the world, especially around holidays, special events, and weekends.
For example take a look at these special Bellagio rates - which themselves are far lower than the "rack rate" would be as these are internet specials for the first week of January 2011.
| Jan 2 $90 | 3 $90 | 4 $90 | 5 $199 | 6 $329 | 7 $329 | 8 $219 |
| 9 $119 |
Second, you are absolutely right to gasp at the $90 and say "Honey, we're goin' to Vegas!". The Bellagio, along with several other premier properties like the Venetian, the Aria Resort, Vdara, the new Cosmopolitan, the Wynn, MGM, and more are slashing rates like crazy as the economy continues to hit everybody hard with less frequent trips, smaller conventions, etc. NOW is the best time in years to visit as the specials and rates are fantastic as long as you check to make sure you are going on the "off days" when the rates are low.
Note that the "second tier" hotels are also very cheap, offering beautifully appointed rooms and suites for under $50. Show ticket specials abound and food is always reasonable at many venues - though the best restaurants will easily set you back a few hundred for two so they are not for the budget traveler.
In general, as long as you stay away from the gaming tables and fine wine, your Las Vegas vacation will be a great deal.
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opens December 15, 2010
Photo Credit: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Cosmopolitan is Las Vegas' newest grand hotel. They've just signed to be marketed by the Marriot corporation but the Cosmopolitan will certainly be in a class by itself as one of Las Vegas' most exclusive new properties.
The Cosmopolitan will offer upscale, classy rooms with a very "chic" feel to the property. They'll offer gaming "cabanas" along with a beautiful new set of pools and desert motifs.
Located in the CityCenter Complex between the Bellagio and Aria Las Vegas.
Rooms:
http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/stay/rooms-and-suites.aspx
Restaurants: http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/taste/restaurant-collection.aspx
The Cosmopolitan is Las Vegas' newest grand hotel. They've just signed to be marketed by the Marriot corporation but the Cosmopolitan will certainly be in a class by itself as one of Las Vegas' most exclusive new properties.
The Cosmopolitan will offer upscale, classy rooms with a very "chic" feel to the property. They'll offer gaming "cabanas" along with a beautiful new set of pools and desert motifs.
Located in the CityCenter Complex between the Bellagio and Aria Las Vegas.
Rooms:
http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/stay/rooms-and-suites.aspx
Restaurants: http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/taste/restaurant-collection.aspx
Friday, August 13, 2010
Vegas Bob on Gourmet Dining in Las Vegas
Vegas Bob over at Twitter has a nice article about gourmet dining in Las Vegas, his home town:
For example look at all the options in the MGM Grand alone!
- At the MGM Grand:
- Joel Robuchon at the MGM Grand, with a AAA 5-diamond rating, offers a two course $109 Summer Tasting menu.
- L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Summer Tasting Menu for $95 per person. For those that wish to dine early L’Unique is served until 6:45 PM for $49.
- Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak offers its 3 course Summer Tasting Menu for $85 per person.
- Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill offers its 3 course Summer Tasting Menu for $45 per person.
- Nob Hill Tavern by Michael Mina also has a 3 course Summer Tasting Menu for $45 per person.
- Fiamma Trattoria & Bar has a 3 course Summer Tasting Menu for $45 per person and a 4 course version for $60 per person.
- Seablue’s 3 course Summer Tasting Menu is $49 per person.
- Shibuya’s 4 course Summer Tasting Menu is $59 per person.
- Pearl offers a 3 course Summer Tasting Menu at $45 per person.
- Diego offers a 2 course Summer Tasting Menu and includes a cocktail at $34 per person.
BBC and Lonely Planet on Las Vegas
Check out the BBC's mini guide to Las Vegas HERE. Although it was originally written by Lonely Planet, we're going to hope that this gives you something of a UK vision of a Las Vegas Vacation, partly because the UK vision is not going to be that different from any other. Incredible huge hotels, world class attractions, Cirque Shows, casinos, swimming pools, amazing dining, and more.
But wait... the article actually seems very thin and it suggests several "out of the way" places which in my opinion are the last place you want to be in Las Vegas (unless you live there and are sick of all the big cool places to go).
So, based on their odd vision of vegas I am recommending you keep reading Las Vegas blog posts here at LasVegas1.net to get a better feel for the city, and plan your trip accordingly. A mid week low cost suite at a big hotel like the Bellagio, Venetian, Wynn, etc. with some great dining and some poolside relaxation and a Cirque du Soleil Show will give you a trip to remember, and with current specials and pricing it won't even make a major dent in your wallet as long as you can show great restraint at the gambling tables or slots.
In the meantime we
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Venetian August Special - Suite, Two Phantom Tickets, Credits for $119 weekdays.
Visiting Las Vegas could hardly be more affordable than it is this summer as the economy continues to hammer away at profits and first rate Las Vegas venues continue to drop prices in an effort to lure customers to the casino. Venetian Special
The Venetian suites are fantastic (Palazzo's too but I have not stayed there), and Phantom of the Opera is a spectacular play filled with great music. You'd normally pay about $150 for two tickets to this show, so your room is basically "better than free" with this amazing deal.
Obviously your best bet in Vegas is "not betting", but no rollers and low rollers can have a great time in other venues which offer some of the world's best values in terms of vacation bang for the buck.
I just returned from a Travel and History family trip to Europe where we'd often spend $150 and more on nice but modest rooms in big cities like Paris. I could not help but think of the Venetian Suite my wife and I booked last year at $109 plus many credits, which was larger and far more spectacular than any we had in Europe. Of course Paris Las Vegas can't really match "real" Paris (except that it's much cleaner), but in terms of great hotels and amenities at small cost it is hard to beat Las Vegas during discounted times. NOTE - Las Vegas on the weekends / Holidays / and During the Computer Electronics Show CES 2011 or other major events can get VERY expensive, though you'll usually find bargains even in the high season as soon as you venture out from the major venues such as Venetian, Bellagio, Wynn and more along the Las Vegas Strip.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Las Vegas Travel Bargains Galore this Summer
We've noted before that the Las Vegas Economy is suffering mightily from the economic problems that continue to challenge the whole world. However as an entertainment consumer this means some amazing travel bargains for you in one of the world's most amazing cities.
Hotels are offering great to spectacular deals this summer all over the city. In the bargain category you'll find rooms at the budget/ quality hotels like Circus Circus and Palace Station for about $30 per night - often *including* a buffet or two! But why not splurge when the splurging is cheap? Top Las Vegas hotels are having regular deals with beautiful, luxurious suites in the $100 per night range. This often includes some casino play (and generally in my experience the higher end hotels are more "honest" with these credits. For example at the Venetian our slot credits amounted to approximately their face value, where at lesser places the "free play" is often on machines that rarely pay out). Generally you should subtract the actual value of credits and meals from your room cost to get the real value of your room or package deal - though the actual value can be different from the face value claimed by the hotel.
We recommend you start at Kayak.com to find some great prices. Also consider Hotwire.com, especially if you'd like a high-end place and are not picky about which one. However I've found Hotwire is not such a great bargain finder in the Las Vegas area where rates vary enormously from event to event and from day to day. If at all possible you want to hit Vegas mid-week when no major events are in the city. At that time you'll generally pay a *fraction* of the cost for your great room - discounts can be as much as 80% at many hotels where weekend rooms during big events can run $500 per night, down to $100 per night during slow times.
So if you want to live like a celebrity for a few days, consider a quick trip to Vegas this summer.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Las Vegas Economy 2010
The Las Vegas Economy - from gaming to housing to jobs - has suffered greatly since the economic meltdown that hit the USA and continues to slow progress around the globe.
Here, from University of Las Vegas' Center for Business Research, are several resources discussing the current conditions and prospect for Las Vegas as well as the entire state of Nevada:
Latest Nevada business conditions
Current Clark County economic data
Quarterly Indicators: Southern Nevada Business Confidence Index
Las Vegas Housing Market Conditions
Current Clark County economic data
Quarterly Indicators: Southern Nevada Business Confidence Index
Las Vegas Housing Market Conditions
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Las Vegas Pool Tours
Destination 360 has a great feature with virtual tours of over 20 of Las Vegas swimming pool hotspots. Although many people never manage to make it out to the pool during a Las Vegas trip, you should make this part of your plans because the pool architectures alone are worth a visit, especially at the newer premium pools you'll find at Mandalay Bay, the Palazzo Las Vegas, and many more.
Click HERE for the pool tour
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Todd English P.U.B. opens at Crystals CityCenter
Now THIS is a Pub people! The new Todd English PUB has opened at Crystals in CityCenter Las Vegas, promising an upscale experience with a raw bar, carvery, and huge selection of draught beers from around the world.
The Las Vegas news has a great article with pictures here.
Crystals is the amazing new retail outlet within CityCenter, MGMs middle strip development that almost was sidelined as the global - and Las Vegas - economies nearly collapsed in 2008/2009. However after injections of cash from CityCenter partner Dubai World, the project is now nearing full completion with Aria Resort and Casino, Mandarin Oriental, Vdara Hotel, and Crystals shopping all going strong.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Viceroy in the Aria Resort
On your next Las Vegas Trip be sure to tour the new Aria Resort and Casino, Vdara Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Crystals Shopping, and the other new venues located in the beautiful CityCenter developement next to the Bellagio (and easily accessed via a free tram from the Bellagio).
MGM is in the final stages of completing CityCenter and the Aria and Vdara and Crystals are all open with some beautiful interior work.
MGM is in the final stages of completing CityCenter and the Aria and Vdara and Crystals are all open with some beautiful interior work.
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