Lads holiday...

Ibiza it is then

Courtown

Las Vegas. The ultimate playground for adults. It is seriously 25 hours a day, 8 days a week, 367 days a year... it never stops.

It can be a black hole for money, so be careful if you do a bit of gambling there. Poker is a lot safer if you know how to play; the house has no advantage in poker. It's a zero-sum game and you're only playing against other people. The only differential is the varying skill levels.

The nightlife is absolutely sick, but just be aware that casinos can take a very dim view of drunk people trying to game (especially at poker; I saw a bunch of guys on their spring break being ejected from the Venetian for being too intoxicated at the poker table).

Very safe on The Strip; a bit seedier and less safe off-Strip. That said, I would recommend going to Fremont Street, Old Las Vegas where it all began. Here you have the originals, Binion's Hotel And Casino and The Golden Nugget Hotel And Casino. The light show over the Fremont Street Strip is breathtaking.

Stunning hotels that are pretty reasonable. Even the top ones (Caesar's, Bellagio, Mirage, Venetian, Aria, etc.) can be very reasonable off-peak times. If you're going there, get a hotel close to the heart of the Strip. Some hotels are just that little bit away from the heart of the action.

Taxis are very abundant and very reasonable. If you don't hire a car, you will rely on taxis a lot. The distances are very deceptive in Vegas. Everything is so huge, you won't believe. To walk from the front entrance of Caesar's Palace to the front entrance of the Bellagio can take 10 minutes. And these hotels are directly next door to each other. But if going from one place to another, use taxis. They are very, very cheap and always available.

The airport is mere minutes away from the city centre by taxi and despite the huge queues that can form at the airport's taxi rank, they clear very quickly and you won't be standing there long.

If you want to buy stuff like clothes there, hit the Outlet Malls located at either end of the Strip. Levi, Nike, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, etc. all have outlets here and the bargains are sick (3 pairs of Levi 501's for $25, anyone?).

The one thing about Vegas is always that you do need a lot of money going there to properly have a good time. It is not a place that can be properly done, enjoyed or experienced on a budget. But it is somewhere that you will just have the absolute time of your life and will never forget. I've been there a few times and it hasn't lost its magic yet.

Timing is crucial: during the summer, the temperatures can soar to 40+ degrees centigrade. Going in the summer can be pure suicide for someone from Ireland. But this is off-peak for them, so it can work out cheaper.

Aside from the obvious, one of the best attractions of Las Vegas are the Fountains of Bellagio, found at the front of the Bellagio; a vast, choreographed water feature with performances set to light and music. The massive 8 acre lake is filled with over 1200 nozzles/fountains, 4500 lights and cost an estimated $40,000,000 to construct. It is spectacular. Here's an example:





As the final video says: Viva Las Vegas... :cool: