Gina Rice is the author of this page. She has graduated from the specialist program called the VEGAS CERTIFIED TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL program.  This means she has traveled to the destination, inspected various hotels and taken a certification course offered by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.  When you are calling or emailing our Tampa travel agency office about a Las Vegas Vacation we have you speak with our Vegas Specialist… Gina who knows Vegas!  What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas but Gina brought her knowledge home to share with the traveling public of Tampa to help you book exciting and affordable Las Vegas vacation packages.

Las Vegas is truly the land of nonstop excitement and gambling.  It seems like an adult Disneyworld to me built with replicas of the world.  Vegas is a multi-faceted destination that no longer appeals solely to adult gamblers.  Of course, some of the most sophisticated gaming is available in Las Vegas, but even families travel there and take day trips out to the Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon or the Hoover Dam.  Other people travel to Las Vegas for the shows and the famous name chefs that have restaurants on the strip.  Overall it is one of the vacation destination wonders in the United States.

Some tidbits from my last trip to Las Vegas…
by Gina Rice, Las Vegas Certified Travel Professional

I was lucky enough to stay at the Bellagio and it was truly magnificent.  From the minute you walk in the lobby you see the 2000 hand blown glass flower lights by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.  That alone was amazing, but there was so much more.  The Conservatory and Gardens next to the lobby was very pretty.  The show of water, music and light at the Fountains of Bellagio was also beautiful where more than 1000 fountains dance to music.  I loved the chocolates at The Jean Philippe Patisserie plus the huge window display of moving chocolate art was fun to watch.  And of course the wide variety of slots and table games in the Casino was probably the most popular part of the resort.  I felt pampered with the Spa and Salon services too.  I ate dinner at the Circo Restaurant which was very good Italian and had breakfast at Buffet at Bellagio which has the biggest spread of food I have ever seen!  The Piano Bar next to the casino was quaint and nice.  I enjoyed a glass of red wine and the piano music one afternoon.  And of course the rooms were immaculate.

Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is home to 17 of the 20 largest hotels in the United States.

(PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU)

I went in July which was very hot, but it’s not like Florida weather.  It is not humid at all.  Water misting machines are everywhere and they help keep you cool when you venture outside.  I could not believe the line at the Bellagio to catch a taxi.  One night it took us about half an hour in line, so leave plenty of time to get to your destination.  The traffic is bumper to bumper on the strip and I do not recommend a car unless you plan on venturing out of the city.  My mother in law was getting ready for hip surgery, so we did not walk the strip, but it appeared that walking was faster than taxi’s so the extra money you spend to upgrade your hotel to a mid-strip location can make all the difference in the World. 

(PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU)

Most of the less expensive hotels are on one end of the strip or another and some of our clients who have been going to Las Vegas for years; even like downtown the Freemont  Street Experience that is more like the old Las Vegas before the mega upscale hotels were built.  That is the beauty of Las Vegas for a get-a-way as they offer something for everybody in every price range.

Each resort seems to have a different theme and style and here are a few of the ones I saw

Caesar’s Palace – Roman style, Forum Shops

Circus Circus Hotel, Casino and Theme Park with America’s largest indoor theme park

Excalibur – looks like a castle

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino – Ka Cirque du Soleil and famous Studio 54 night club

Mirage – I saw the Beatles show “Love” by Cirque du Soleil which was so cute and entertaining.

Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino – multi level dining and entertainment complex

Gaming - Las Vegas casinos offer an exciting variety of gaming options, ranging from traditional table games to sports books to high-tech devices.

(PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU)

New York – New York Hotel and Casino
Brooklyn Bridge, Skyscrapers and the Empire State Building replicas

Paris Las Vegas – half scale replica of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre and Paris Opera House

Stratosphere - America’s tallest free-standing tower with indoor and outdoor observation decks.

Venetian Resort – winding canals with authentic gondolas featuring the Grand Canal Shops.  We ate lunch at Taqueria Canonita – upscale Mexican food that was very good.

Wynn Las Vegas – Le Reve show was the best.  This show features breathtaking performances in an intimate aqua theater in the round with aerial acrobatics, provocative choreography and artistic athleticism.  I ate at the restaurant Alex which was very upscale and superb.  I think it was one of the best meals I had in Las Vegas.  The service was exceptional.

Fremont Street Experience
Located in classic Downtown Las Vegas, this five-block pedestrian promenade features 10 casinos, 10,000 slots and more than 60 restaurants, bars and lounges. Overhead is Viva Vision -- the largest big screen on the planet -- featuring nightly state-of-the-art light and sound shows.


(PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU)

Freemont Street Experience – Downtown Las Vegas – synchronized sound and visual displays that feature music videos, movies, and IMAX-esque presentations.  Free nightly shows.  This seems to be the newest sensation everyone wants to see.

Red Rock Canyon
This scenic park is located just a few miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. Visitors can go hiking, rock climbing or take a scenic drive through the park.

(PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU)

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area – 13 mile scenic loop and drive and more than 30 miles of hiking trails.  I loved looking at these mountains from afar.

There are several airlines going into Las Vegas, so we can shop around and find the best deal.  From Florida, we usually suggest at least four nights, but we still do many three night weekends with a Red Eye flight on the return.  We almost always book a vacation package for our clients rather than separate hotels and air because hotels allow tour operators to discount as long as they include things like airfare and airport transfers as they post a higher rooom rate online to increase yield with unsuspecting do it yourself travelers.

Hoover Dam is an engineering wonder of the world just 35 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Formerly named Boulder Dam, this historic man-made creation tamed the mighty Colorado River and created North America's largest man-made lake, Lake Mead. The 726-foot-high, arch-gravity dam is 660 feet thick and forever changed the face of the western United States. On-site tours of the dam are available to the public throughout the year.

(PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU)

Lately USAir and Southwest seem to have the best prices from Tampa to Las Vegas.  But, if it is a “deal” you are looking for you need to be flexible with your travel dates.  If you call me and tell me you want a 4 night stay anywhere during these 2-3 weeks, I will surely be able to find a great price.  Flexibility is the key to finding a good rate on Las Vegas as prices fluctuate based on the capacity of the hotels due to convention business or special events and the airfare changes as much as the hotels.

I look forward to another trip to Las Vegas because it is always different from year to year.  It is a great destination when you look at the different hotels, dining and activities offered.  This destination works well for corporate functions, singles, families, girlfriend trips, guy trips, bachelor parties and weddings.  They have something for everybody in Las Vegas so get on a plane for the weekend of your life!