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 Monday, August 13, 2007 11:48 AM CDT |
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The lure of Las Vegas
Kate Reese, from the small town of Rochester near Springfield, was glad to hear AirTran will start daily non-stop flights Aug. 15 from Central Illinois Regional Airport to her favorite city. At 77, Reese closes her small bait shop near Lake Sangchris twice during the warm months and again four months every winter to head to the city of lights. She flew from Peoria in the past. But AirTran's entry into the Las Vegas market will raise her odds of finding a fare that can save her a few extra bucks to spend on the slot machines. She also can combine her trip with a stopover in the Twin Cities to visit friends, she said. Her daughter owns a house in Las Vegas, so lodging is free when she visits. But Reese loves Las Vegas for more reasons than dots on a pair of dice. "I like the climate. I like the casinos. I like the food. Anytime Engelbert Humperdinck sings at the Orleans, I'm there. ... Mainly, it's the lights and the atmosphere. It's a going city. It's fun to show new people around because there's so much to do," she said. Travelers can keep expenses down and still enjoy the time of their lives if they play their cards right, agreed Todd Hoback, 40, of Bloomington. His Bloomington home will be just 3½ hours from Las Vegas when the AirTran service gets off the ground. Hoback is a corporate communications project manager at Country Insurance & Financial Services who was 10 when he first stayed in Las Vegas. It was the day Elvis died, and lights on the Strip were turned off. The town was in mourning. "We had more fun at Hoover dam," he said. Hoback visited again in 1996 to drive a friend to his wedding. That trip was all it took to make Hoback want to return nearly every year. He's been back for more weddings, a retirement party and his own 40th birthday party earlier this year when about 20 people joined him. Sleep is something he doesn't do much there. But Hoback never gets tired of Las Vegas. "It's the sheer volume of entertainment. There is always something to do you've never done," said Hoback, who enjoys the popular poker game, Texas Hold 'em. "They continually rebuild Las Vegas. ... There is always something new to see. You can go to Chicago and see all the sights and don't have to go back for five years. It doesn't change that much. But with Las Vegas, it's changing all the time." Robbie Roberts, 62, of Bloomington, who works for Idearc Media Corp., remembers stories her grandparents telling her how Las Vegas was unlike any other city in America. "They were certainly right. I try to make several trips a year just to keep up on what's new. It's literally impossible to catch all the shows on any one trip. The production schedule changes every 18 months or so. Construction is constant, 24/7. The rivalry between the big developers is what keeps me returning. Who is going to outdo whom?" she said. She gambles and notes that not everyone loses. "Vegas has been very good to me over the years," she said. Reese, Hoback, Roberts and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority offer tips for people who might be headed to the city of Wayne Newton for the first time. Call it the Newcomer's Survival Guide to Las Vegas: • Tourism officials say the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is one of the 12 busiest in the world. More than 40 air carriers have more than 1,100 flights arriving and departing daily. Bloomington joins a list of more than 125 cities with direct flights. • Hoback suggests short stays. "Three or four days in Vegas are plenty. Go for a day or two, and you won't see much. Go for a week and an half you'll be burned out. Most people go out three or four days and come back and sleep for a day." • He also suggests planning ahead, so no time is wasted. Order show tickets well in advance. Some are booked months ahead. But factor in free time to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. • Unless a five-star restaurant or a gala show is included in your itinerary, the 39 million people who visit Las Vegas each year to gamble, see a show, sight see or play golf usually dress casually. T-shirts, shorts and tennis shoes are the norm during the warm months. Don't forget the bathing suits, sunglasses and sunscreen. Las Vegas has 320 days of sunshine annually. This is the desert. Drink plenty of liquids. But Las Vegas lies at an elevation of 2,000 feet, so winter evenings can get chilly. Pack long pants, sweaters and jackets when visiting that time of year. • Security is tight in tourist areas, which are among the safest places to visit in the world. Still, be on guard and watch your purse, change bucket or chips at the casinos. Help is always near if needed. • Cell-phone use is not allowed while seated at a casino game. Smoking generally is permitted in casinos, but not in public areas, including restaurants, the Las Vegas Convention Center and at McCarran. • Name your price for lodging and food in Las Vegas. Tourism officials say rooms are available for $50 a night or $1,000. A couple can enjoy a day for about $100 -- excluding trips to the gaming tables. Good-tasting, reasonably-priced buffets are offered at a variety of restaurants. "That's one of the nice things about Las Vegas. There are both extremes. Beautiful hotels, gourmet dining, high-end shows, it's all over the place. But, if you want to go to bargain basement, you can do that. The rooms are still great. You can pick whatever you want," Hoback said. • Take only the money you can afford to lose. The slot machines aren't a bad bet. Nevada state law requires a minimum 75 percent payout on average. If you have a bad run at the tables, you can quickly lose your stake. Hoback keeps to a predetermined limit by only playing Texas Hold'em in tournaments. Nearly every casino runs one at all hours. Each charges a fixed entry fee. "If you only have $40 to play with, the financial ups and downs make it likely you'll go broke in minutes," he said. "Maybe play nickel slots instead. You'll get more fun and value for your dollar. "Know how to play your chosen game before you get there, don't try to learn on the spot," he added. "You want to know what you're doing when you sit down to play." Players must be at least 21. • The norm for tipping is 15 to 20 percent. Everyone in a tour group should tip guides $1 to $2. Valet parking attendants and housekeeping normally receive $2. Bellhops usually get $1 to $2 per piece of luggage. A small tip is also appropriate for keno runners and slot attendants. Making a small bet for the dealer is the usual way to tip. • City tourism officials boast Las Vegas has more accessible guest rooms than anywhere else in the U.S. Casinos have special modifications from rooms where people in wheelchairs can play slot machines to Braille and large-print cards for Bingo. Some casinos offer electronic bingo for people who are blind or who have dexterity problems. Taxis, shuttles and Limousine services have vehicles with lifts. The city recognizes disabled parking permits from other cities or you can get one from Las Vegas city officials. • Everybody has their favorite entertainment. For Reese, it's Engelbert Humperdinck. Roberts suggests one of the Cirque du Soleil shows. Hoback likes the shows, but he also looks for the unusual, like a skydiving silo where a jet engine keeps people aloft so they can feel like they're free-falling. Hoback also stressed that not every attraction costs money. Just walking the Strip, you can see a simulated volcano erupt every hour at the Mirage, visit a replica of the Eiffel Tower, watch dancing fountains at the Bellagio or pirate ships at Treasure Island. Nearby, check out Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, Area 51 and Death Valley, Hoback said. • Though not ordinarily viewed as a family destination, Las Vegas hotels have swimming pools, arcades and carnival rides. Children younger than 12 often can stay in their parents' room free of charge. Some shows cater to families, too. • Options for getting around include a monorail that travels the length of the Strip, buses and taxis. But expect to walk. The Strip is like a big outdoor mall. Be careful, you might just fall in love with the place. Tourism officials point out Howard Hughes stayed at the Desert Inn for so long he eventually was asked to leave. If that happens to you, just hope that you get lucky enough at the gaming tables to do what he did. He bought the hotel. "Just have fun," Roberts said. "And, remember, what happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas." If you goLas Vegas Visitor Information Center: (702) 892-7575. Open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority: visit www.LVCVA.com AirTran Airways: www.airtran.com Central Illinois Regional Airport: www.cira.com McCarran International Airport: www.mccarran.com E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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