Las Vegas Rentals for Nature Lovers

Forget the slots and the roulette table and go climb a rock. Unbeknownst to most that are blinded by the bright lights of the Strip and the casinos, Las Vegas has a side that can appeal to any nature lover.

If you want to take a trip to Las Vegas but aren't interested in drinking and gambling there really are other options. Try getting a Las Vegas vacation home rental near the Mojave Desert and Red Rock Nation Conservation Area. Rain, wind, and geological forces crafted the 600 million year old wonder that is Red Rock Canyon. It towers above desert lands in all of its faceted majesty and is a great place to climb, hike, or simply enjoy natural beauty.

Viva Las Vegas

There is no city in the world like Las Vegas. A Las Vegas vacation is all about fun and fantasy. It’s a trip around the world. Only in Vegas can you see a collage of larger than life replicas of the Eiffel Tower, a Sphinx, a Roman Forum and the Statue of Liberty…just to name a few of Vegas’ most famous landmarks. Only in Vegas can you experience an erupting volcano, pirates battling playgirls, western shoot-outs, dare-devil circus acts and the best people-watching on the planet long a three or four mile strip.

A Vegas vacation is guaranteed to entertain and enthrall. Win a fortune and lose it again in less than one hour. Catch a performance by today’s hottest stars like Elton John or Celine Dion or a performance by stars of yesterday like the Sammy Davis or Elvis Presley. “Hey Honey, are you sure that guy isn’t the real Elvis?”

Often called Sin City, Las Vegas is a contradiction of experiences. It’s glitzy and gaudy; tacky and terrific; eccentric and exciting. Here’s a surprising bit of Vegas trivia: There are more churches per capita in Sin City than in any other city in America . One thing for sure; vacation rentals in Vegas are never boring!

When to Go (and Not to Go) to Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a year-round destination, but the weather is not the same year-round. Inside the casinos, the weather is always the same, but outdoors the weather can change dramatically with the seasons. Typical of desert environments, summer daytime weather is very hot and dry, but temperatures drop 20º or more at night. Winter brings nighttime temperatures near freezing, but days are temperate. In January, a Las Vegas visitor can ski the Mount Charleston’s slope in the early morning and water- ski at Lake Mead in the same day. Las Vegas residents say the best seasons in Las Vegas are late spring and early fall.

Las Vegas crowds and prices skyrocket during holidays and when large conventions come to town. Las Vegas is a major convention destination with many conventions topping the 100,000 mark in attendance. It pays to check convention schedules with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority before booking your Las Vegas vacation. Although you can escape the crowds to your vacation rental, the casinos, shows and restaurants are mobbed during major conventions. If you are not part of the convention, avoid doing Vegas during convention periods.

Getting Around Las Vegas

If you only plan to stay on the Strip and spend your days on in-door pursuits, you probably won’t need a car in Las Vegas. McCarran International Airport is close to the city and a taxi ride to the Strip runs about $12-$15. Once settled, a sleek high-tech monorail whisks visitors between hotel casinos along the Strip for $3 one-way. Many hotels also offer complimentary trams service between casinos or you can don your most comfortable walking shoes and take in the sights on foot.

However, if your vacation rental is away from the Strip and when you are ready to escape the neon for nature, a rental car allows you the freedom to set your own pace. As in most major cities, car rental rates vary depending on the rental period and type of car. Several major airlines like Delta and American Airlines offer special Fly & Drive packages with savings on combining airfare and car rental. Use Internet resources to make comparison shopping easy. Save on rental rates with AAA, AARP and airline frequent flyer partnerships. Check daily versus weekly rates. Look for rentals with unlimited miles if you plan to explore some of the popular attractions outside the city.

Heads up: Las Vegas is a compact city and traffic at peak times is heavy. Avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic by parking toward the end of the Strip and using the monorail or trams. Don’t worry about parking, many of the casino hotels offer free valet service and there are self-parking lots nearby.

Las Vegas Hoover Dam

Frankly, my dear, I want to see the dam!
Visiting the Hoover Dam is a popular activity during Las Vegas family vacations. And, since it is such a popular tourist attraction, it's likely to be crowded. If possible, usher the family out the door early in the morning to beat some of the rush. Remember to leave all purses and bags of any kind behind because they are forbidden on the tour for security reasons.

It's smart not to drive your own car to the Hoover Dam as traffic around the area tends to be heavy. Tour buses offer shuttle services in order to alleviate the situation by both reducing the number of vehicles and getting people in and out faster.

Las Vegas for the family.

With shows, arcades, amusement rides and premium shopping abound, the savvy family savvy traveler to find accommodations to meet all of their travel needs, directly through the owner. The vacation property owner can efficiently and economically market their home by the beach, ski slopes, lake house, city, mountains, you want for your Las Vegas family vacation!

Las Vegas Hotel Rooms above the Strip

Be careful what you ask for! While enjoying a Las Vegas family vacation think twice before you try to wow the fam. by getting a hotel room with a great view of the Strip. The flashing lights and sounds might be exciting at first but they could turn into a nightmare at bedtime.

Some hotel rooms offering views of the Strip are situated above music stages that showcase musicians until the wee hours of the morning. And, closing the door to the balcony doesn't even come close to silencing the tunes. If you really have your heart set on one of these rooms, ask to see the inside of one first and check out the noise factor (bands usually play on the stages all day so you should be able to assess the situation accurately).

Family Friendly Las Vegas

You may be surprised to discover that Las Vegas is not just for grown-ups. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, there are around 400 family-oriented shows and activities in and around the city. Here’s a sample of some Vegas fun the whole family:

• Watch the dare-devil acts at Circus-Circus or spend an entire day in the Adventuredome indoor theme park.
• Take to the animals at the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo or the Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand.
• See the dazzling 54-foot high volcano eruption at the Mirage every 15 minutes from dusk until midnight.
• Go behind-the-scene at Ethel M’s Chocolate Factory. Free samples!
• Learn about life in the West and the desert at Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History.
• Catch a performance at the Las Vegas Comedy Pet Theatre. Popovich’s show features a wild and heart-warming mixture of comedy, juggling skills and animal acts.
• Get a bird’s eye view from atop the Stratosphere Tower, the tallest building in the America West. On a clear day, you can see Arizona and California and at night the WOW factor is high when the neon lights of Vegas come alive.

Las Vegas vacation home rentals are also family friendly. Instead of sharing an expensive, cramped hotel room and jockeying for the bathroom, a family of four or more can enjoy privacy and all the comforts of home and more.

Las Vegas Special Interest Freebies

You can easily spend $200 on a single show or round of golf in Las Vegas; however, there are also many fun and fascinating freebies for all ages interests near your vacation rental.

· The Bellagio Conservatory is a glass-domed 90,000 square foot conservatory filled with over 1,200 kinds of exotic plants and flowers. Displays are changed monthly. Admission is free.

· Ron Lee’s World of Clowns offers a free self-guided factory tour.

· Wine lovers can enjoy free tours and wine tasting at the Pahrump Valley Vineyards.

· Car buffs get revved up at the Shelby American Inc. sports car museum featuring the latest version of Shelby American sports vehicles and a dozen Cobra cars. Free tours of the assembly area are offered Monday-Friday at 10 a.m.

· Stoogie aficionados can take a free tour of the Don Pablo Cigar Company.

· The Lost City of Atlantis Show at Caesars delights friends of the sea. There’s a 50,000 gallon saltwater aquarium and shows daily at 11 am.

· The Fremont Street Experience is a free one-of-a-kind light and sound show. Over two million lights are projected on a massive canopy stretching over 1,400 feet along Main Street to Fourth Street accompanied by 100,000 watts of sound. Come for the show and stay for the fun.

Get the idea? There’s more than gambling in Vegas.

Getting Married or Divorced in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known for wild and wacky, and ritzy and romantic weddings. Over 120,000 couples wed in Las Vegas each year. Some weddings are planned months in advance; while other weddings are “spontaneous” events. Prices for elegant ceremony at the Bellagio start at $1,500 and rise accordingly. The Little White Chapel is probably the best-known venue for a quickie wedding. You can get married at the Elvis Wedding Chapel by a Elvis look-a-like. You can wed between poker hands in a casino. You can say your vows in the Tunnel of Love Drive-Thru Chapel with special rates for bikers. Get married in privacy at poolside or in the spa at your Las Vegas vacation home rental. No matter what wedding you chose, if you want your wedding to be legal, get a marriage license at the Clark County Courthouse. It’s open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until midnight.

On the other hand, the reputation for a “quickie” 24-hour divorce Las Vegas is a myth. If you meet the guy or gal of your dreams during your vacation, you can’t get married one night and divorced the next morning. For a legal divorce in Nevada, you or your spouse must be a full-time resident of Nevada for at least six total weeks before commencement of the action according to Nevada Statute NRS 125.020. Beware of companies offering a “simplified” divorce with no residency. Just as a marriage requires a license to be legal, a divorce must meet residency requirements or it is not legal in all 50 states.

Vegas Tips for Novice Gamblers

Although there are many reasons to visit Las Vegas besides gambling; few visitors can resist the lure of the tables and slots. From penny slots to million dollar high-roller stakes, Las Vegas offers just about every gambling option known to man. Casinos are open 24 hours a day. Sometimes Lady Luck smiles and sometimes she turns on you. Vegas veterans offer these tips:

• Set your limits. Determine your gambling budget before your arrive in Vegas and stick to it. Gambling is not a way to make money. Don’t bet the farm in an effort to win.
• Play at the right casino. All casinos are not the same. Check out casinos until you find one that has the atmosphere you enjoy.
• If you are a novice gambler, practice playing early morning when tables are not crowded.
• Start small. Choose table play with low minimum plays so that you don’t loose your cash too quickly.
• If and when you double your money, stash your original gambling funds and play on your winnings.
• Get the most bang for your buck by joining players’ clubs. Most major Las Vegas casinos have a “club” you can join and earn rewards like free dining or merchandise based on how much money you spend. It’s free to join, but you must register and receive a player’s card that tracks play electronically.
• Enjoy the free cocktails, but don’t over-imbibe and let alcohol dull your judgment.
• Play the games you enjoy most and join in the camaraderie. Cheer for the winners and commiserate with the losers. Have fun!

Return to your Las Vegas vacation home rental at the end of the day. Relax, recoup and revive. Tomorrow’s another day of fun and fantasy in Vegas.

Finding Out What’s Happening in Las Vegas

Research and planning are important parts of successful travel. The Internet offers a goldmine of Las Vegas travel resources. Find the perfect Las Vegas vacation home rental. Compare vacation rental properties and amenities. Read reviews from previous vacation renters. See what you are getting before you book by browsing photographs of vacation rental homes. Use location maps to choose a vacation rental in the most convenient location.

Visit Websites of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Nevada Commission on Tourism for up-to-date and accurate information about area attractions and current events.

Plan your itinerary before you leave home, but save some time for surprises and spontaneity. When you arrive at your Las Vegas rental, pick up brochures, tourist publications and local newspapers with local calendars of events and discount coupons.

Exciting Las Vegas Day Trips

Away from the crowds along the Strip, there are Las Vegas vacation home rentals nestled in nature that are within a short drive to some of America’s greatest natural wonders. Outside of the neon landscape of Vegas, there are breathtaking desert, canyon and mountain landscapes waiting to be discovered. Grab a guidebook and a map and head out in your rental car or book an organized tour. Here are some day trip ideas for your Las Vegas must-see-must-do list:

• Valley of Fire State Park is located about one hour northeast of Las Vegas. It derives its name from incredible red sandstone formations formed by the shifting sand dunes during the age of the dinosaurs. Sites of interest within the park include: Arch Rock, Beehive formations, Elephant Rock, Mouse’s Tank, Rainbow Vista. Seven Sisters and Poodle Rock. Look for examples of ancient Indian art on Atlatl Rock.
• See the Grand Canyon without the 300 mile drive. Scenic Airlines runs deluxe guided air and ground tours that include a flight over the canyon, a bus excursion through the park and lunch. Tour prices start at $219 for an experience that is sure to be a highlight of your vacation.
• Visit HooverDam. Located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas at the Nevada-Arizona border, Hoover Dam has been hailed as "the Eighth Wonder of the World.” The engineering marvel stands 736 feet high, 1,244 feet wide at its crest, and is 660 feet thick at its base with enough concrete in its structure to pave a highway across the United States . Two guided tours leave at regular intervals throughout the day.
  

Planning a Vacation to the Vegas Strip

Las Vegas is the gambling and nightlife capital of the world. As the saying goes, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

When you think of Vegas, you think of the Vegas Strip. The Strip is where all the most famous hotels and casinos are located. It’s where the most action is happening in the city of Las Vegas. Basically, it’s the place you want to be when in Las Vegas.

When planning a vacation to the Vegas Strip, the first step in the planning process is to locate a place to stay. While there are many great hotels on The Strip, you will often find that the price for rooms is extremely high. A good alternative is to stay at one of the Las Vegas Strip vacation rentals. These rental properties are available to vacationers who not only want to save a bit of money, but also have the time of their life in Vegas.

If money isn’t an issue, consider staying at one of the many luxury vacation rentals in Las Vegas. At these luxury rentals, you will be overwhelmed by the lavishness. You will also be overwhelmed by the bang you can get for your buck.

Las Vegas vacation rentals are undoubtedly the best option for those looking to on or near the Vegas Strip. Once you’ve booked your rental, you can move on to more important things like where you are going to gamble away your money!

Fun Non-Gambling Activities in Vegas

When you think of Las Vegas, the first thing you probably think of is gambling. Whether it’s poker, roulette or blackjack, Vegas is famous of its gambling culture.

However, there are a lot of non-gambling activities in Vegas.

World Famous Shows
Vegas is renowned for the famous shows that occur daily. Whether it’s musical shows, magic shows or anything in between, you can find it in Las Vegas.

Golfing
Many people don’t realize how much of a golfing destination Las Vegas has become. With dozens and dozens of golf courses, you can easily find a golf course to your liking.

Unique Lodging Options
There is quite the variety in Las Vegas vacation rentals. Whether you want to stay at one of the many simple vacation home rentals in Las Vegas or at an exquisite luxury palace, you can find it in Las Vegas.

Outdoor Activities
Since Las Vegas is located in the desert, the weather is good nearly year round. You can escape the action of the city and retreat to an area mountain or lake. Las Vegas vacation rentals are located throughout the city and the outlying areas.

World Class Dining
The restaurants in Las Vegas are some of the best restaurants in the world. Almost every famous restaurant chain is represented in Vegas. There are also a number of restaurants special to only Las Vegas that are worth visiting.