LAS VEGAS! A PLACE TO BE

Vegas stands out like a jewel in the desert. The bright lights can be seen from great distances and act as a beacon bringing in droves of visitors in search of riches, romance, and a myriad of other goals year after year. If the lights weren't enough from a distance, once you've entered Vegas you will discover that the lights and sounds are even more pronounced up close and personal. Vegas is probably the ultimate experience in sound and light. If you're not hearing the clinking of slots or music from the Elvis impersonators you are hearing chapel bells from someone getting married along the strip.

Whether you are coming to Vegas for the casinos and hopes of finding fame and fortune, the fabulous shows and big name headliners, the wonderful food that is one of the biggest sins to be found in this city, golf, marriage and happily ever after, or the nightlife that has earned Vegas the title of 'Sin City'. You are well on your way to an experience you are unlikely to forget.

While Vegas has not always been thought of us an appropriate vacation destination for those with families, this city is really trying to mend its ways and foster a more family-friendly reputation. They are even developing resorts and hotels with kids and family entertainment in mind. From theme park like atmospheres to everything in between the Vegas hotels of today are marketing to a much younger audience.

If you haven't checked out some of the newer hotel and resort experiences in Vegas, perhaps now is the ideal time in which to do so. There are so many fun ways to enjoy your time in Vegas that the problem isn't choosing which casino to visit or which hotel you want to stay in, it's deciding which attractions you must see and which attractions you can actually live without.

In order to attract visitors hotels and resorts are going to further and further extremes and levels of competition. Some of these hotels have even gone to the extent of bringing thrill rides into the mix in an effort to attract new guests and thrill seekers. If it is not ride that is being offered, it's the biggest shows and brightest stars to perform for your pleasure. With the tight competition among casinos for your business it's hard to imagine just how much money these hotels and casinos are bringing in each and every year but you can rest assured they wouldn't be constantly building, upgrading, and offering more and more features and services if it wasn't a highly profitable endeavor for them.

The fierce competition among hotels and casinos is good news to some extent for you as a potential guest. The tightness of the competition keeps the prices relatively affordable and allows you to pick and choose which hotel you want according to the services and amenities they offer rather than by the prices of the rooms. In fact, if you find another hotel that you aren't as interested in for less money, try bartering with the hotel you prefer. It is possible to get a lower price by going back and forth between two or three competing hotels.

Saving money is a great idea in Vegas, the more money you save on hotel accommodations, the more money you'll have to spend on the entertainment of choice. Also, consider some of the 'perks' offered by hotels when considering the price of the rooms. Some of the perks will include complimentary breakfast buffets or lunch and dinner buffets. Compare the price of buying breakfast to the price difference in the room before you make your ultimate decision. Some of them offer show tickets or discounts such as buy one get one free offer for attractions that may have been on your itinerary at any rate. It's always good to shop for the best bargain and Vegas is one of those cities where it can't really hurt to ask for a better deal.

Have you been to Las Vegas before? Tell us your Vegas experience via the comment box.

5 THINGS YOU CAN DO IN LAS VEGAS FOR FREE WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME

There are several things you can enjoy in Las Vegas that don't cost a cent.  These can be quite enjoyable and will take you all over Las Vegas.

The following are free things you can do in Las Vegas on arrival.

•   Go casino hopping: Check out several hotels you like and see what they have to offer.  Most of the hotels have a theme and it is neat to see all the different ways they follow that theme in their casinos and décor. You may even find something that you really like and spend a day at that hotel. Caesar's Palace with its casino and Forum Shoppes and Coliseum could take a whole day to get through.

•  The Fremont Experience is in Downtown on Fremont Street.  The Neon Museum is also in this area.  This is a facility that houses the old neon signs of older hotels and casinos. You can also head over to the Arts Factory and browse their art collection for free.

• The White Tiger Exhibit at the Mirage is a special treat. The two white Bengal tigers grace this habitat complete with a little river running through it so the tigers can have a swim.  These are very beautiful and majestic animals and are part of Siegfried and Roy's magic act.

• Along those same lines, down at the MGM Grand is the lion habitat. They have two to three lions that you can watch walk through trees and under waterfalls.

• Cruising the strip is a tourist favorite especially at night.  The lights are on and the city is quite beautiful in its neon glory.  It is also fun to walk the strip at night.  You won't be alone.  There are as many people on it at two in the morning as at two in the daytime.

 These are free things can do in Las Vegas without spending a dime. So get out there, have fun and get some good photo opportunities to share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.

Got a Las Vegas experience? Share with us via the comment box.

ARRIVING IN LAS VEGAS McCARRAN AIRPORT BASIC TIPS

When you arrive in Las Vegas, you will land at the McCarran International Airport. The airport is east of the strip. Long layovers at this airport don't have to be wasted time. Jump on a shuttle and go gambling or sightseeing before your flight. If you can't leave the airport, there are plenty of slot machines there to keep you busy.

The cheapest way to get to your hotel is by shuttle van. The vans will wait for people in a marked area at the terminal. They make stops at most of the hotels.

Taxicabs are eagerly awaiting people getting off the planes. The highest amount you should have to pay is around $20 (fare may change at any point in time). Be careful of drivers who want to take the quickest route. It may be quicker, but they charge by the mile, and it can be very expensive. 

To find out how long it will take you to get to Las Vegas, look at this quick rundown.  Dallas takes two hours. Chicago takes four hours. New York takes five hours. San Francisco takes 1 ½  hours.  Sydney takes eighteen hours, and London takes about eleven hours.

If you rent a car, make sure you follow the laws in Nevada concerning driving.  Residential street are usually 25 mph, where on major roads, it goes up to 45. Radar detectors are heavily employed to make sure everyone is doing the speed limit, especially in any school zones.

Don't go drinking and try to drive either. Nevada police are extremely vigilant about catching drunk drivers. You will be considered legally drunk if your blood alcohol level is above 0.08%.

Watch for road conditions that might be hazardous as well. Look for the orange cones or signs stating road work is going on.  Local people tend to drive fast and be discourteous.

Follow this basic tips on arriving in Las Vegas and you will enjoy your trip.

Welcome to Las Vegas!!!