Majestic Hoover Dam

If you have a "to do" list just like Jamie Sullivan in "A Walk to Remember" and you are in Las Vegas, head to Hoover Dam and you can be in two places at one time.

Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. It is strategically located to hold such massive amount of water flow between the canyons of Arizona and Nevada.

A few meters walk will send you to a totally different time zone. The penstock towers' wall clocks,  standing on each state's side, will show the time difference. During winter and autumn, the time difference is one hour. So, if it's 9am in Nevada (Pacific Standard Time), it's 10am in Arizona (Mountain Standard Time).  During spring, since Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, the two states will have no time difference. Weird and fascinating at the same time.

Marvel at this engineering genius and see how more than 100 died to make the desert bloom.

 

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The Venetian Las Vegas

 

Inspired by the Italian city of Venice, The Venetian Resort will take you to Italy with its winding canals, singing gondoliers, marble floors, and famous landmarks. Prominent in its design is the recreation of St. Mark's Companile and the Rialto Bridge.

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Known as the hotel with the largest standard hotel rooms, The Venetian, will impress you from the moment you step inside its private elevators leading to the suites. Only hotel guests are allowed beyond a certain point. (There are guards who check for room keys before you can proceed inside.) The spacious bathroom is furnished with italian marble. The sunken living room has a surprise pull-put bed. The three TV sets (one at the living room, bedroom and another inside the bathroom) will make everyone happy. Other great things about their suites are the egyptian sheets, dvd player, dual-line phones with data port, in-suite fax, copier and printer combos. Oh, and the electric window curtain is quite nice too.

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Canal Shoppes

Walk the cobblestone walkways and imagine yourself in William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice and/or Othello. To make your experience authentically italian, catch a ride on the gondolas with your own opera singing gondolier after shopping in chic boutiques or watching a show. $16/ride.

 

 

 

Verdict:

You certainly get what you pay for when you stay at The Venetian. Private, classy, with high-quality amenities -- you'll go home with a smile. We did. :)

 

 

 

 

Caesar's Palace Las Vegas

 

Celebrating the glory of Rome, Caesar's Palace represent the ultimate in Vegas experience. The Roman colonnades, Roman pillars, giant Roman statues, Gladiator clad models ready to pose for pictures -- all speak Vegas even after 2 decades from its opening in 1966.

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 The 3,384 units are spread over five towers. The guest rooms and suites are elegantly designed. We stayed in one of the de luxe rooms in the Palace Tower. Marble-finished bathrooms, soaking tubs, flat-screen tv, and floor to ceiling windows took my breath away.

 

 

 

 

Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis

Inspired by the Baths of Caracalla, in Rome, Caesars did not scrimp on cost to renovate the Garden of the Gods pools and gardens.  It's six swimming pools surrounded by fountains and regal statues look like an emperors masterpiece. There are two outdoor wedding chapels that are just charming.

 

 

 

 

The Forum Shops

It will not be Vegas without the shopping. The Forum has a multitude of stores that cater to the average shopper to the high-end market.

 

 

 

Verdict:

My sister and brother found the pillows in our room too soft, but it was fine with me. Navigating the casino to get to our tower was a little bit confusing at first but you sort of memorize the way after a while. Nevertheless, it's still a long way when you are already exhausted from walking all over The Strip. Overall, my stay at Caesars was a sweet experience. I had a grand time. It made me feel that I was really in Las Vegas.

 

 

 

 

Fabulous Las Vegas

 

Everything is larger than life in Las Vegas. Expect nothing but the best. After all it is the Entertainment Capital of the World.

To best experience Las Vegas, wait for night time. It is during this time that  Las Vegas comes alive. Elvis, showgirls, and street performers all come out to entertain the crowds.

Marvel at the neon lights, dancing water soaring 240 feet high, laser beam visible from space, erupting volcanoes, and the throng of people coming up, down and over the Strip.

But that's not all, because once you step inside any of the iconic casino hotels, you will be taken to an entirely different universe. Hop from one hotel to the next. Rub elbows with the Romans at Caesars Palace, ride a gondola at the Venetian, go up the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Casino Resort, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at the New York-New York hotel and casino, dine with Pharoah at the Luxor, go back to medieval time at Excalibur, and party like a rock star at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. There's actually more, but you have to experience them for yourself.

 

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