Craftsteak At The MGM...A Great Choice For A Great Meal

If you are looking to drop some cash somewhere other than the slots or tables while in Las Vegas, head to the far end of The Strip to MGM. Inside you'll find a great place to dine at Craftsteak, Tom Colicchio's restaurant. Certainly not an inexpensive meal, but well worth every penny. Vegetarians don't be put off by this steakhouse as their non-meat menu items are every bit as good as their Kobe Beef!  Dining at Craftsteak is very comfortable, very cozy and one of your best decisions while in Las Vegas.

Its hard to go wrong with any menu item...from their steak to seafood and everything in-between. There is one item, however that caught my eye at the end of the meal. Assuming you have room for it, and you'll want to be sure you do, order the Cinnamon Monkey Bread. Anyone that has ever had monkey break is going to think I'm crazy for recommending something so "simple" but it was AMAZING. We shared it along with the Chocolate Ganache Cake, which was very good in its own right, but the Cinnamon Monkey Bread was unforgettable. The sounds coming from our table as we jostled the plate from one person to the next were nothing short of the Big O! We quickly wondered how we could get the recipe and make it at home, but we knew that we'd never be that lucky. The fact that Craftsteak doesn't open for breakfast is a true shame....I only wonder if they offer TAKE OUT!

Good, Cheap Eats

When you are in Las Vegas sometimes the most difficult thing to find is something inexpensive to eat, especially for lunch. Well, those $1 hot dogs are still there, but seriously do you want to put that in your body?!

My favorite place to have lunch in Las Vegas (besides the Chipotle located under the McDonalds near Harrahs) is Planet Hollywood's Earl of Sandwich you can get some really great sandwiches, soups, and salads that not only taste great, but also leave some extra money in your pocket for gambling! If you aren't overly hungry, the sandwhich is just big enough to share with a friend if you just need something to get you by. Open 24hrs this place even has breakfast...yet another nearly impossible thing to find with reasonable prices in Las Vegas...after all everyone is still sleeping!

Inexpensive Drinks Without Having To Gamble...Casino Royale!

If you are tired of spending your money gambling just to get a free drink, why not save some cash and head over to the Casino Royale on the Las Vegas Strip! Famous for their $1 Michelob's and $1 Frozen Margaritas, this is the place to hit, even if you are just grabbing a quick drink.  Not a Michelob fan? Don't worry, they have a selection of other beers for a few $ which is still cheaper than most hotel/casino bars. The best part isn't a special deal or happy hour...it is all the time! And thanks to Las Vegas' lovely "rule" that you can walk in the streets with alcohol, you can bring your "travellers" with you!

Le Rêve At Wynn Las Vegas - The Ultimate Show!

If you are looking for a show that is extraordinary, I without a doubt recommend Le Rêve at Wynn Las Vegas. It is by far my favorite show in Las Vegas and I have been to enough shows to compare.  Le Rêve offers the ultimate performance in a unique aqua theater-in-the-round.

Le Rêve which means "the dream" in French is a collection of dreams...all of which are nothing like any dreams I've had.  A combination of synchronized swimming, acrobatics, dance, music and special effects it tantalizes the spirit and the mind.  Best advice it to just sit back and enjoy the show! Stunning visual effects will surprise you and keep you entertained.

There are three seating choices:  Splash Zone (first 2 rows) for $99; Premium Seating $129; and VIP Indulgence/Champagne Circle $179.  Where else are the least expensive seats in the front rows? Why? Due to the theather being around a "pool" there is a chance you will get wet. They do provide towels for you and during the performance I saw no one received more than a few splashes. Truth be told there is not a bad seat in the house.  If you are lower you will spend a lot of time looking up at the acrobatic portion of the show, however down close you'll be near the water action. If you would like to save $20 on the Premium Seating, please feel free to use this link  Le Reve - Save $20 on Premium Tickets.

Getting Out Of The Airport FAST

Ever get to the Las Vegas airport and peer out at all the people standing in line waiting for a taxi? Want to get on with your vacation right away? There are more ways to The Strip than a taxi cab!

Upon arrival at the airport, while you are likely waiting with everyone else by Baggage Claim, head to your right (east side) to doors 1-4  and check out the taxi line. Does it look like a long line? We once waited in the Las Vegas sun and heat for more than 1 1/2 hours to catch a taxi. The next trip we got smart...

Once you get your luggage make your decision. If the line is long, don't think twice!

Head to the opposite side of the taxi exit to the shuttle exit one the west side of Baggage Claim between doors 7 and 13. Have you ever ridden one of the Las Vegas shuttles? They are convenient, quick, clean and while you might have to go to a couple hotels before yours, it usually doesn't take very long.

You'll see quite a few medium bus-like shuttles out there with names like Showtime, CLS, Bel Trans, and Executive. There are plenty of people to direct you to the correct shuttle, depending upon your hotel destination. Cost is $6 per person, one way to The Strip hotels and about $8 to the Downtown. You can also purchase a round-trip fare at that time, but to be honest I usually take the shuttle to the hotel, but a taxi back to the airport for the convenience factor.

If you have a large group or you want to arrive in style you might want to opt for limo service, which is located out the same doors. There are usually quite a few limos waiting for their next passengers with vehicles ranging from sedans which usually seat 4 (at a cost of around $35) to Stretch Humvees that seat 14 (at a cost of around $94.) Little did you know the walk-up-service is actually less expensive than calling ahead. Granted you are limited to whatever vehicles are there at the time, but usually there is a good pick to choose from.

An Introduction To My Love Of Las Vegas

I'm a hard-core fan of Las Vegas.  Years ago before I ever took my first trip there I wondered why anyone would go to "Sin City" or the "Land of Excess"...happily I'm glad I took a trip there to find out why.  I love, love Las Vegas.  From the lights to the food to the casinos to the weather...I love it.

As anyone that has visited Las Vegas over the years, it is a city that is constantly changing. A casino that was there a year ago is likely gone and another is being built in its place.  The smaller casinos are dying and megacasinos are everywhere.

Get ready for a great ride! I'll find you deals for great hotel stays in LV that will be hard to compete with.

To begin with, how about:

My favorite things about Las Vegas:

• The Fountains of Bellagio - I get misty-eyed everytime I watch the shows. Some day I want to take a "camping chair" and prop myself up and see how many shows I can watch in a day; I bet my friend Kevin will join me in the fun. I've searched for a DVD recording of the shows, perhaps recorded by The Bellagio itself, but to no such luck. Granted youtube is always an option, but I'd really like a quailty recording.
• The thrill of finding the increasingly-hard-to-find deals on The Strip. I used to be able to go with a mit full of coupons for a free drink, free deck of cards (you get the picture) but now you are lucky to find anything. Fortunately the casinos have been good to me and I've had my share of great hotel room deals!
• The food...oh the food.  If I could eat the entire time while in Las Vegas, I would. My newest love is BLT Burger in the Mirage. Now if you are a vegetarian you must try the falafel which is superb. Of course all the great Italian and French pastries you can find in the high-end casinos are nothing to sneeze at either.