With the over 40 million people that visit Las Vegas annually, it’s no surprise that Sin City is a people watching mecca.

With all the various attractions, people watching can happen just about anywhere in Las Vegas. But what’s most important is knowing which are the very best people watching spots in Vegas.

Vegas residents are repeat visitors are “in the know” and have learned there are particular locations that turn out to be more entertaining and offer a good variety while people watching.

The benches around the Fountains at Bellagio are a great spot. When the sun sets, the crowd grows big to enjoy the awesome Fountains at Bellagio. Find a bench and enjoy the people show.

Many of Vegas’ restaurants are prime locations for people watching. While enjoying a nice meal, you can see tons of people walking by that you probably wouldn’t notice if you were just casually walking around. A couple of favorite picks are Il Foraio in New York New York and Margaritaville at the Flamingo.

Another great, people watching spot is the luxurious Forum Shops at famous Caesar’s Palace. The Shops offers a wide selection of quality stores from some of the top designers in the world. Because of this, many first-time, Las Vegas visitors flock to the shopping mall, making it an excellent location to people watch.

Heading toward downtown, be sure to check out Fremont Street. Try to find a bench either near the middle of Fremont Street or around the end of the street, near the many souvenir shops. You’ll see a wide variety of people from people with wealth to the down and out.

If you play poker, then you know very well that there is absolutely nothing like sitting on an airplane and looking out the window while making the descent toward Las Vegas.

In the middle of the desert shines all those lights from pyramids, volcanoes, pirate ships, city buildings, and so much more. You know your walk down the famous Strip will offer an unrivaled excitement, and that your time to hit the felt is near.

Playing in a poker game in Las Vegas is like playing tennis at the US Open. There is no better venue in the world. It’s where the best of the best come to play.

More importantly, it’s also where the tourists who know little about poker come to play. That’s where you will have an opportunity to make your money.

That said, if you’re the type that likes a challenge and money isn’t an issue to you, then you want to head straight to the Bellagio. From the synchronized fountains and lake outside to the elegance of the décor inside, you will quickly realize that this is where the big boys play.

Just keep in mind that when you walk into that room, you’re shark bait. You better have some form of poker strategy prepared.

If you want a neat environment with a challenging yet beatable game, then try the Mirage. This used to be where the big players hung out until the Bellagio came along. Now it’s a room for players that just love the game.

From the second you walk into the hotel, you will see that you’re in a jungle. Keep in mind that the poker room is the same way. Most of the time you will be safe, but predators are always lurking.

If you want to get the taste of some old school poker with an older crowd, and somewhere that is a little bit off from the hustle and bustle, then you can try the Tropicana. They will often host a poker tournament as well as cash games.

Otherwise, you can pretty much walk into any casino in Las Vegas and find a poker game. Casinos know how popular the game is, and that if they host poker games, there’s a better chance that those people will play their other games that give the house a large advantage.

If you’re to play anything besides poker, make it blackjack or craps.

Charlie Palmer Steak is located in the Four Seasons Las Vegas, off the main lobby.

This fine steak restaurant opened in November 1999.  Charlie Palmer Steak is Charlie Palmer’s second venture in Las Vegas having opened Aureole at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino to critical acclaim.

In the tradition of a great steakhouse, Charlie Palmer Steak is a comfortable, spacious restaurant with an understated, clubby atmosphere.

Charlie Palmer Steak is quickly establishing itself as one of the most innovative steakhouses in Las Vegas. The restaurant offers two types of dining experience.

The upscale dining room is comfortable and spacious in warm ochre tones accented by dark mahogany panels. Grand arches, reminiscent of an elegant Spanish home, give a sense of intimacy and privacy to the understated room.

Charlie Palmer Steak
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
3960 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada  89119
(702) 632-5120

If the Las Vegas Hilton was good enough for Elvis Presley, then it’s good enough for us all. Elvis stayed and performed at the Las Vegas Hilton more than 800 times, which means the gaming, entertainment, and accommodations are truly fit for a King.

The Las Vegas Hilton (so named in 1971) originally opened as the International Hotel in 1969 and served as the venue where Elvis Presley broke all Vegas show attendance records.

Las Vegas Hilton is located just one block from the Strip, and this resort offers a stop on the Las Vegas Monorail. It’s approximately four miles from McCarran International Airport.

Accommodations at the Hilton are elegantly appointed offering several modern amenities. The Premium Room offers plush pillow-top mattresses and bed linens, flat screen televisions, high speed Internet access, MP3 ports for digital players and other high-end amenities.

A simple upgrade gives guests access to the exclusive executive experience of the Resort Club lounge, located on the 24th floor of the hotel’s North Tower. Resort Club guests enjoy complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, and an evening wine and cheese reception as well current newspapers and magazines, concierge services and flat screen televisions.

The casino offers a variety of gaming options, including slots and video poker machines, a poker room, and table games. The Race & Sports Superbook is the largest of its kind in the world, featuring more than 40 video screens.

One of this Hilton’s most popular features is Star Trek: the Experience. This 65,000 square-foot exhibit features a motion simulator, a Star Trek museum with costumes and memorabilia, and guests can battle the BORG and the Klingons in two other attractions. It’s been recently reported that the Star Trek show will end.

The Hilton is also home to performances by Barry Manilow, as well as other headline entertainers in the theater. The resort also offers the show Sunset Strip, and Menopause: the Musical.

The hotel’s spa, The Spa at The Las Vegas Hilton, is available to guests for a daily fee of $20 (waived with the purchase of a treatment), and features massages, beauty treatments, saunas, fitness center, and lockers.

Other amenities include a seasonal heated pool, tennis courts, cabanas, whirlpool, nine stores, a beauty salon, video arcade, a business center, shoe shine service, mail services, and safe deposit boxes (for a fee). Dining options include 11 restaurants, and several fast food outlets. Beverages are served at eight bars, and happy hours by the pool.

Guest rooms feature, cable TV, high-speed Internet access, two telephones, and voicemail. Premium rooms include Pillow Top Premium Mattress, Flat Screen Plasma Television, CD and MP3 Player and in-room refrigerator.

Las Vegas Hilton
3000 S. Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
888.732.7117 or 702.732.5111

Bobby’s Room, which is located in Las Vegas’ Bellagio Hotel and Casino, has long been home to the biggest poker games in the world.

But recently, those games have gotten even bigger as the world’s richest poker players like Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, and Jennifer Harman are stepping their game up.

Most games held in this luxurious poker room feature $4,000/$8,000 blinds which are already big enough.

However, the players have recently been anteing up $8,000/$16,000 for blinds which means each hand is averaging $200,000 – $300,000 a pot. Seeing as how hands don’t take too long to play, that’s a lot of money being exchanged in a single hand.

Some of these card sharks will be heading off to major poker tournaments soon so it’s hard to see the blinds staying this high, but many predict the games will be much bigger in the future.

Only in Las Vegas. You can truly experience the Big Apple thrills of New York City along with the magical allure of Sin City Las Vegas. The best part is it’s all in one place at the New York New York Hotel & Casino.

There’s no need to travel to the Big Apple, when you can live and breathe it in the Nevada desert. What is so astonishing is that visiting the New York New York Hotel & Casino is quite possibly the closest one may ever get to actually seeing New York City in person.

An amazing resort it is, the New York New York Hotel Las Vegas is a themed hotel taken right from downtown New York City.

At the the New York New York Hotel & Casino, step back and experience the driving energy of New York City. Its excitement, its drive, its pulse. This incredible Las Vegas resort is one of the most unforgettable places in all of the world.

The New York New York features twelve small scale replicas of the 1930’s era New York City skyscrapers.

The New York New York Hotel & Casino also offers thrill seekers something to wet their appetite. The “Manhattan Express” roller coaster whips you through the mighty skyscrapers and runs along the famous Vegas Strip offering fantastic views of Sin City.

Visitors to the New York New York Hotel & Casino will view amazing recreations of many of the most famous New York City landmarks including Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and the impressive Manhattan Skyline.

For gamblers, there is something for everybody. Try your luck at various games such as Craps, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Roulette,Big Six, slots, video poker, Wheel of Fortune, Keno and many more.

New York New York Hotel Las Vegas
3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South (The Strip)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-740-6915

Courtesy of: New York New York Hotel & Casino.

Once a children’s paradise, TI (formerly Treasure Island) Las Vegas is now a playpen for adults. From the hottest nightclubs in town to a luxurious pool and party tub, TI is able to meet just about any decadent desire that may arise.

The British navy has left TI, which is now watched over by a bevy of beautiful sirens. In the fast-paced Sirens of TI show, visitors watch as the sirens protect their booty from a team of pirates with surprising ferocity.

Guest rooms integrate comfort, style and elegance as well as offer breathtaking views of the Las Vegas Strip through floor-to-ceiling windows.

A 95,000-square-foot casino is comprised of several thousand slot and video poker machines in addition to table games and a poker room.

TI has 2,885 rooms, which includes 220 suites.

Dining options are diverse at TI, consisting of Isla Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar, the enjoyable Kahunaville, The Buffet at TI, Social House and Canter’s Deli which is known for serving enormous portions.

Another popular spot at TI is Mist, the perfect place to have a few drinks, socialize and people-watch.

But perhaps the crowning glory of TI is Mystère, a Cirque du Soleil production now in its second decade at the resort.

Many of the pirates may have departed TI, but they have left countless treasures behind for guests to enjoy.  Source: LasVegas.com

Treasure Island – TI
3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Fremont Street in Las Vegas is one of the most famous – and most colorful – streets in the world.

Founded in 1905, it was named for American explorer, soldier, and Senator John Charles Fremont. Today the thoroughfare is closed to vehicles to encourage visitors to explore the many attractions there. Here is just a sampling of what you’ll find….

The Fremont Street Experience. The western-most five blocks of Fremont Street are covered by a 90-foot high, barrel-vaulted canopy, housing 12.5 LED display units. Every hour beginning at dusk and lasting under after midnight, the canopy erupts in light and sound. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Las Vegas…and it’s free.

Neon Museum. Where do the huge, dramatic, colorful signs of Las Vegas go when they retire? They go to the city’s Neon Museum, located just off of Fremont Street. Here you’ll find the horseman from the Hacienda Hotel, the original lamp sign from the original Aladdin’s Hotel and Casino, and the martini glass from outside of the Red Barn Restaurant.

The Casinos. Many of the Fremont casinos, such as the Golden Nugget and Binion’s, have been there for decades. These are the ones with the huge, neon signs and the gambler-friendly playing areas. Even if you’re not a gambler, it’s fun to see these Vegas icons.

Affordable Meals. Fremont Street is also home to a number of “Las Vegas” specials, those affordable steaks, seafood, and prime rib dinners for which the city has long been famous. The exact “deals” change frequently. Look for signs outside of the Fremont Street establishments.  Source: www.kathika.com

Las Vegas now has offerings to meet those consumers’ varying tastes, from elite luxury to discount bargains. Sin City has it all for any need.

Here, then, are suggestions for the top spots for visitors wanting to splurge:

Luxe attractions: It may be 10 years old, but Bellagio still can’t be beat for spectacular sightseeing without leaving the property. The fountains out front continue to captivate visitors. Inside, the conservatory offers creative and whimsical floral displays.

Luxe casino: Wynn Las Vegas offers a large yet surprisingly subdued (read: quiet) casino environment. High-rollers regularly enjoy playing the ultra-pricey slot machine, a Double Diamond reel that costs $5,000 a spin. Three Double Diamonds means a jackpot of $2.5 million for the lucky player.

Luxe escape: For those suffering from a sense of been there, done that, there’s the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, an oasis 20 miles east of the Strip in suburban Henderson. The hotel is free of gambling, and grown-ups and kids will enjoy boat rides on the man-made lake and “Dive-In Movies” poolside on summer evenings.

Luxe service: With a staff of 24 concierges, the Signature at MGM Grand gets frequent accolades for its superior service. The bridesmaids’ dresses got lost in transit? The staff will quickly rustle up replacements. Want to rent a Lamborghini? No problem — it’ll be out front in 20 minutes.

Luxe shopping: Whether you’re window-shopping or actually spending, Wynn Las Vegas offers an incomparable experience. The Rolex store recently sold its most expensive watch, for $485,000. There’s even a Ferrari/Maserati dealership, with in-stock models starting at just $120,000.

Luxe view: The Four Seasons wins hands-down. This hotel occupies five upper floors of Mandalay Bay. The north-facing rooms’ floor-to-ceiling windows offer breathtaking vistas of the entire Strip, especially after dark.

So Italy is a bit too far away – don’t worry.  You can still get the traditional Italian experience of a Venetian gondola ride right here in Las Vegas.

There are even private gondolas available for sixty dollars that allow you to traverse the Venice-inspired waterways with just you and a friend.  As elegant and romantic as a true Venetian gondola ride, this has become one of the many required stops on any trip to Vegas.

The gondola rides are offered solely, as you would expect, at The Venetian.  But the interconnectedness of the city makes visiting a simple jaunt, whether from nearby hotels such as Treasure Island and The Mirage, or a mere cab or tram ride down the strip.  Everyone is invited to take in the passion and wonder that has been transplanted from Italy and left to remain here, just steps from the casino floor.

If you want to ride in the gondolas at The Venetian in Las Vegas, you can choose between indoor and outdoor rides.  The indoor ride is the more popular, whisking you through the mall that is attached to the hotel, decorated with facades, bridges and other monuments that resemble the green canals of Venice.

Called the Grand Canal, the lilting voices of the gondoliers carry throughout the mall, many of whom were trained in Italy by the masters.  Gondolas at the Venetian Las Vegas are just about everywhere – it’s definitely the main selling point of the famous hotel.  Source: Destination 360

Prive Nightclub is a new nightclub on the Las Vegas strip. Prive Nightclub opened just before New Years Eve 2008 and is located inside the Planet Hollywood Casino.

Prive Nightclub boasts a 350 sq. ft Brazilian Cherry Wood dance floor, surrounded by Greek Theatre influenced design complete with grand sofas to lounge upon, and 3 elevated levels.

Directly across from Privé Nightclub you’ll find The Living room, modeled after the popular cigar lounges of times past complete with plush leather sofas, beautiful burgundy drapery, Persian rugs, and granite bar.

Prive Nightclub Las Vegas is owned by the famous OPM Group, is a unique transplant from the exalted Miami club scene into the luxury of Las Vegas. Prive is one of a prodigious family of nightclubs including Mansion, SET, and Opium Garden.

No expense was spared in the creation of this extravagant venue located in Renowned designer Francois Frossard designed the 12,000 square feet club to be uncontestable one of the best in Las Vegas.  Frossard’s expertise is reflected in Prive Nightclub’s polished atmosphere and ultra modern decoration, and it is clearly the perfect setting for an A-list style night out on the town.