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What would Santa Say?Except for Orlando, more Americans are traveling to Las
Vegas for Christmas than anywhere else. Edited by Madelyn Miller, the travellady Where to Stay
The Westin Casuarina Spa & Hotel
JW MARRIOT LAS VEGAS RESORT & SPA Best Free MapPick up a copy of What’s On Las Vegas. It was the only free map I found that indicated where all the streets were. Essential if you are going off the Strip. Best AdviceWear comfortable shoes. Even if you cab it, or valet park, you will often walk 30 minutes to get to your destination. When I was there in January 2005, I ate at several restaurants in the Forum Shops at Caesars. I found the signage confusing and site maps non-existent. And many of the employees were new, and had no idea where the restaurants were. A shopping center spokesperson said this has been improved—I hope so. You will have to see for yourself. Have a master plan. You can’t do it all. I focused on food and shows. I did not gamble a nickel or spend any money in the tempting Las Vegas Strip stores. I did however, window shop enroute to the restaurants and shows. Recommended RestaurantsJapengo at Hyatt Lake Las Vegas 702) 567-1234 Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill 702-731-7731 Bradley Ogden 702-731-7110 HANK'S Fine Dining and Classic Steakhouse in Green Valley Resort 702-617-7777 Sushi Roku 702-733-7373 Il Mulino New York 702-492-6000. Spago www.wolfgangpuck.com or 702.369.0360 Tsunami Grill China Spice in Green Valley Resort (702) 617-7777 Chinois How to find out more about the restaurants 2005 Las Vegas Restaurants Diffordsguide to City Drinking #0.1 BEST BAR The Whiskey Bar’s Living Room BEST CHOCOLATE DESSERT Chinois has an incredible chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce and a crunchy bottom BEST ORIENTAL DESSERT Crispy Banana Spring Rolls with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream at Chinois BEST MEAL DEAL Mesa Grill has a $11 hamburger with fries. You get all of the ambiance and can splurge on a decadent dessert with your savings. BEST BUFFET This one is a surprise. It is not an all-you-can-eat-stuff-your-face buffet, but a healthy buffet at the spa in Green Valley Resort. There is a choice of 12 teas, 5 fruity flavored elixirs to add to hot water or sparkling water, two granolas, pretzels, fruit and more healthy choices available free to anyone having a spa treatment. BEST INTRODUCTION TO LAS VEGAS MEAL My very first appetizer was at Japengo in the Hyatt Lake Las Vegas. The tuna tartare parfait was served on a bed of ice. Talk about smoke and mirrors of Las Vegas, reinterpreted with a zen slant. Since Japengo has a master sushi chef (the only one in Nevada) it set the bar for my trip. PARKING Nearly all hotels have their own large lots or garages where visitors can park for free. But be sure to mark down your spot, as signage is not good and it gets confusing to find your car again at night. Best Spa Treatments
Best ShowsMamma Mia www.mamma-mia.com "O" by Cirque du Soleil at Bellagio www.cirquedusoleil.com 888-488-7111 Mystère by Cirque du Soleil at Treasure Island www.cirquedusoleil.com 800-392-1999 ZUMANITY, ANOTHER SIDE OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL at New York-New York www.zumanity.com 866-606-7111 How to Get a Good Deal on Show Tickets
Tix4Tonight sells same-day half price tickets to a variety
of Las Vegas shows. Three locations: Fashion Show Mall: strip entrance in front of Neiman-Marcus; South Strip: next to Harley Davidson Café at Harmon ; North Strip: Across from Stardust Hotel(Opening new location soon at Hawaiian Marketplace) Number of shows available on typical day: 35-40 shows/attractions Hours: Tix4Tonight's hours are from noon to 9 p.m. seven
days a week at all locations. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served
basis with the shows posted on screens at the ticket booths starting at 11:30
a.m. each day. Informational phone number/website: 877-849-4868. www.tix4tonight.com Vegas’ version of planes, trains and automobiles, where you drive, fly and float the Grand Canyon, is a great way to take a break from the Vegas strip. Jump into the jeep, hop onto the helicopter and board the boat! Most Spectacular Site Off the StripWhat better way to escape the Vegas Strip for the day, and return by nightfall with countless adventures to tell your friends? This awe-inspiring tour, available at VEGAS.com, will take you to the heart of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World in true action-movie style. You can book this 8 hour tour for $303.00 per person at http://shop.vegas.com/tours/tour.jsp?tour=grandcanyoncombo_pin&loc=grand&title=Grand+Canyon+Tours Airport InfoLocated about one mile from the Strip, McCarran International Airport is an ultra-modern facility that introduces you to this gaming capital with slot and video poker machines. When departing, get there early, as lines can get long—especially on the weekends. |
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TM
Does Las Vegas' holiday boom say more about how Americans are changing? -- or
more about how Las Vegas is changing?
Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa 
HYATT LAKE LAS VEGAS RESORT
Green Tea Wrap at Green Valley Spa (702) 617-7777
TIX4TONIGHT
Tix4Tonight accepts all major credit cards