Fact Sheets & Video - Las Vegas

You may need to catch your breath when you first hit Vegas - the atmosphere can be dizzying!

The main strip is full of life, bright lights and buildings that have to be seen to be believed. You can take your pick from an erupting volcano, a replica pyramid and even a Vegas style Eiffel Tower. With Elvis look-alikes and brides-to-be around every turn, as well as a nightlife that carries on through the day, Las Vegas is like no other place on earth.

If you want to save money in the city that never sleeps, it's best to start with your hotel accommodation. The trick to finding cheap accommodation in Vegas is all in the timing. If you avoid convention season during February, March and November and stick to the weekdays, you're likely to find a $500 room for only $100. And there's no better way to experience Vegas than in five-star luxury.

Fancy being spontaneous and eloping? It's easier then you think in Vegas! It seems everyone's doing it these days, even celebrities like Britney Spears. Drive to The Little White Wedding Chapel, where the tunnel of vows awaits you. A drive-through wedding here will cost you a grand total of $60. There are more than 100 shows on in Las Vegas every night of the year, and one of the best is the Cirque du Soleil. No matter which of their three shows you see, you'll be blown away. Tickets to top shows like this cost around $150, but you can pick up half price tickets to less spectacular shows. Take a walk down the main drag and catch some of the weirdest shows absolutely free, including a fountain show and a pirate show.

Whether you like it or not Vegas means gambling, and every hotel has a casino. If you're feeling lucky but don't want to spend the cash, head to Luxor for free lessons with fake chips. At this table you can gamble your heart out without blowing your life savings.

Vegas is the city of cheap eats too, and has been hailed as the buffet capital of the universe. There's only one thing to eat in Vegas, and that's as much as you possibly can. The buffet at Excalibur Casino is one of the biggest in the world, offering more food than you've probably ever seen before in one sitting. A feast here will cost you about $20 a head.

You've saved money with free entertainment, cheap eats and gambling lessons, but there's still much more to Vegas. Take a ride to the top of the town at the Stratosphere, the tallest building in town and one white knuckle ride. The Big Shot ride is perched on top of Stratosphere and lifts you high into the sky in next to no seconds. While you're screaming make sure you open your eyes to catch the best view in town.

When it's party time, the Bar at Times Square rocks on every night at the New York New York Hotel Casino. For Star Trek fans, Quark's Bar and Restaurant is an ideal place to hang with other trekkies - or why not make a splash at Coyote Ugly, where you can join the scantily-clad chicks dancing on the bar.

There's certainly something for Elvis fans in Vegas. There are more Elvis look-alikes here then anywhere else on the planet, plus there's the Elvis-a-rama Museum. This has the biggest collection of the King's stuff outside of Graceland - 2000 pieces worth a whole $15 million.

If your funds haven't run dry, there's always the Forum Shops attached to Caesar's Palace. They have plenty of designer labels for you to choose from - and don't forget to take a look at the fantastic dcor while you're there.

Click here for our guide to great Vegas savings.

The facts:

Jetset and Air New Zealand flies to Las Vegas. Return prices start from $1438 from the east coast and $1764 from the west coast.

Jetset

Tel: 13 63 83

Accommodation at the five-star Hilton Grand Vacations costs $99 per person per night.

Car hire with Hertz starts from about $35 a day.

Hertz

Tel: 13 30 39

Las Vegas for Australians

Tel: 02 9356 2266

Prices correct at 16/2/04