"LAS VEGAS" a Las Vegas Travel Page by worldtrekker

Las Vegas is one of the most dynamic and spectacular cities on earth. In the early 1900's it didn't even exist, now in 2001, it's home to over 1 million people! Las Vegas is the fastest growing city in the country. Between 1990 - 1998 its population increased by 55% to 1.3 million. I personally know 4 New Yorkers who moved there in that time period. There's an average of 10,000 new residents a month. That's 120,000 per year. It's outrageous!

Las Vegas has become the #1 tourist destination in the United States, bypassing Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Nearly 34 million passengers come through McCarren International Airport every year making it one of the world's busiest airports!

Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps. The action keeps going day and night. When you're inside the casinos, there are no windows and no clocks and you can easily lose track of the time and that is the PLAN. The casinos want you to stay and play the slots. They lure you any way they can with stunning architecture, fun performances and displays outside and then more performances, glamour, shopping, rides, and the chance to win it big on the inside. In reality though, almost nobody wins. But, that doesn't seem to bother people. They're here to experience this incredible city of lights with its fascinating hotels. The free drinks while you're gambling don't hurt either. You could be playing a nickel machine and get free drinks! Just don't forget to tip the waitress or you may not get another too quick!

The main area where tourists spend all their time is on the Strip which consists of 4 miles of Las Vegas Boulevard between the Sahara and Mandalay Bay. Almost every building along the way is a casino, each one demanding the attention of the tourists who crowd the road day and night. Most of the newer, better known casinos are located on the south and central part of the Strip, beginning at McCarren Airport and going north to the Venetian and Treasure Island. I would concentrate my time here.

Las Vegas boasts 19 of the world's 20 largest hotels. The second largest hotel is not in Vegas; Thailand's Ambassador City Jomtien with 5000 rooms. The MGM has only 5 rooms more to make it #1! These monsters are much more than merely hotel/casinos. They're extraordinary places, self contained fantasylands of genuine excitement that can stretch as much as a mile from end to end. Each one has its own extravagent combination of showrooms, swimming pools, luxurious guest quarters and restaurants, high-tech rides and attractions.