CES Las Vegas 2008

The Computer Electronics Show here in Las Vegas is in many ways *the big* technology event of the year. I'm here covering it but the posts will be at Joe Duck:
http://joeduck.com

Taking the Bus?

Las Vegas has a great selection of transportation options that vary quite a bit in terms of cost. Many folks take taxis around, but it's not clear to me that they save any time over the cheaper alternatives since during big events you may have to wait in a taxi line at the hotel. The Monorail is fantastic, and it is what you want to take if you are near a monorail station - basically places between the Sahara on North Las Vegas Strip and MGM to the South. This is *the way* to get up and down the strip unless you *really* love to walk. The strip his huge so wear great shoes in any case, even if you'll be taking transportation you'll be walking a lot.

Here is a good roundup of McCarran Airport to Strip and Downtown via bus:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070901202908AAGJftl

The $5 shuttles from the Airport are comfortable but usually pretty slow as they stop at many hotels.

Powering Las Vegas

Some stats from the National Geographic special regarding power consumption at some of the Las Vegas hot spots:

Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino:

$1.7-2.0 million per month power bill
Uses enough A/C for 5000 homes
7000 employees

The Mandalay Bay also has the countries largest ballroom, which seats over 6000 people.

The LUXOR spotlight shines like an amazing beacon into the sky above Las Vegas, and on into space. It is visible from outer space. The electric bill for the "sky beam"? $125,000 per year.

Surfing in the Mandalay Bay wave pool, which holds about 1.5 million gallons of water. The electrically powered wave machine uses turbine pumps that can shoot out over 100,000 gallons per minute into chambers. Releasing the water in the chambers creates the waves.

Bellagio Las Vegas

The Bellagio is one of Las Vegas premier hotel casinos and probably ranks about equal in qaulity with the Wynn even though the Wynn was designed to be fancier and tends to be more expensive. I think the new Palazzo may be even nicer but I have not been there yet or read reviews.

Luxury Hotels
Cirque Du Soleil
Bellagio Nightlife
Bellagio Weddings
Amenities at Bellagio
Restaurants of the Bellagio
Spa Services at Bellagio Las Vegas
The Bellagio Casino and Gaming

The Bellagio is a favorite hotel for many Las Vegas regulars, combining as it does a central strip location, a glamourous and tasteful european decor, and Las Vegas' most beautiful free attraction the Bellagio Fountains, which put on a super show every half hour. Don't miss the fountains of the Bellagio regardless of where you stay - this is really a spectacular syphony of music and water. Great "seats" are always free and always good - just stand anywhere.

I'd recommend being down at the fountains rather than far away, and although it's tempting to watch them from high above across the street at the Paris Las Vegas I think it's much more spectacular up close.

CES Las Vegas. From Kevin Costner to Donny Deutsch to Bill Gates

CES Las Vegas is coming up next week and I'll be there covering the world's top tech event. CES takes over Las Vegas for CES and it is remarkable how expensive the motels are during the event. Rooms that would be $100 can go for $400, though usually it looks like the rates about about two to three times the midweek and one to two times weekend rates.

I think Donny Deutsch will be at CES for his "Road to CES" series on his show "The Big Idea"

Kevin Costner will be performing with his band for the CEA awards show, but I'm more exited to see Mary J Blige at Paris Las Vegas for the Monster Retailer party.

And of course Bill Gates will be talking on Sunday about the future of technology.

Clearly, CES is going to be hopping in Las Vegas.

Harrah's is more than just Harrah's

The Harrah's Hotel Corporation runs several major hotels in Las Vegas including Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, and the Rio, home to what many locals say is the best buffet in Las Vegas (and that is saying a lot - Buffets in Las Vegas are generally spectacular, though at about $24 for the Rio Buffet you'll want to stuff yourself silly to make sure you get your money's worth.

Here are the hotels in the Harrah's Las Vegas Empire:

Caesars Palace Check Caesars Deals

Harrah's Las Vegas (budget priced Harrah Deals

Paris Las Vegas Paris Deals

Rio (all suites - often low priced though check for rates) Rio Deals

Flamingo Las Vegas (low priced, good room deals) Flamingo Deals

Bally's Las Vegas Bally's Deals

Imperial Palace (great rates, but be careful on Harrah's side rooms which are *LOUD!* until about 1:30am. Usually they'll move you to a better room if you ask. Palace Deals

At the Flamingo don't miss the Bodies exhibit (unless you are really squeamish). The plasticized full body anatomically exploded human specimens offer an amazing glimpse into human biology.

Plaza Hotel, Downtown Las Vegas

Plaza Hotel, Downtown Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

This is a shot of the Plaza Hotel at the end of Fremont Street from under the Freemont Street Experience Canopy - a spectacular light show that runs nightly from dark until about midnight.

Downtown Las Vegas is a very different experience from the more trafficked Las Vegas Strip hotels. Downtown the hotels are not the mega-resorts, rather they offer far more modest surroundings and casinos. The advantage is generally much cheaper rates for rooms that are usually fine, and the intrigue of the original Las Vegas venue which is an area of several square blocks bordered on one end by the Plaza Hotel. Unlike the strip, you can visit several casinos in a short time here but don't expect the same level of glamour.