Ok, you've arrived in Vegas. Now where do you stay? You can't complain about accommodations, there is something for every budget and taste here. If only you'd know where to look. The first place you can obtain information is the airport. The big resorts in town have airport check-in desks, where you can reserve a room. This is sometimes very helpful, because the hotels reception area might be crowded.
It is good to know that in Las Vegas there are three most important accommodation areas: The Strip, Off The Strip and Downtown. The most attractive is The Strip (that is in fact the nickname of las Vegas Boulevard, a three mile area which hosts some of the most famous resorts in the world). Usually, accommodation on the Strip is more expensive.
Las Vegas Strip Map
The Strip is in fact the three-mile portion of Las Vegas Boulevard that crosses the town south to north. It is also the most crowded area in Las Vegas, as big resorts provide a lot of entertainment at their “front-doors”. Some of the Strip's free attractions are “The Fountains Show” at Bellagio, “The Syrens of TI” at Treasure Island, The Stratosphere Tower that is visible from anywhere in town, the errupting volcano at the Mirage.
The Las Vegas Boulevard got its nickname as a reminder of former LA police officer that lived in Los Angeles, on Sunset Strip. This guy, who's name was actually Guy McAfee, owned a small chain of illegal gambling establishments. Due to that, he was forced to resign his position in LA Police Department and moved to Las Vegas, back in 1938. Here he bought Pair-O-Dice club that he soon transformed in Las Vegas Boulevard's first casino. Of course, other casinos and the first Las Vegas' real resorts followed. Back then, the newly-rising Strip located out of Las Vegas, in Clark County, a smaller city where local politics was easier to dominate. Politics changed in Las Vegas over the years, but The Strip still belongs to Clark County.
The Strip building-boom began in the early '90s, and since then it has been the gaming-capital of the world.
For tourists that don't come to Vegas by car, mobility on the Strip is now easier by Monorail (see Monorail Map).
Las Vegas Off The Strip Map
In Las Vegas, if you say “off the Strip resorts”, you mean those resorts that are placed around the Strip area, at a convenient blocks-away distance. The Strip is usually accessible by car or shuttle. Orleans, Rio All-Suites, Sahara and Hard Rock Hotel are some of the most famous resorts located off the Strip.
Las Vegas Downtown Map
The most important attraction downtown is “Freemont Street Experience”, a four-block long pedestrian area of night partying. The main resort on Freemont Street is Golden Nugget; the first plan about the happening at its entrance included Venice-style canals. One way or another plans changed and the attraction was converted to an impressive light & sound overhead canopy, that cost $70 million. The 1,400 feet long area includes retail shops, souvenir boutiques and hosts many street-parties.