h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ok, special offer in the travel agent's window was just too good to pass by, so we're heading for Vegas baby in August!

Anybody been? Any tips or suggestions?

Never been there. I'd say, just watch yourself with the gambling, and beware of the one-armed bandits and Elvis impersonators...

Neither husband or me are big gamblers, so I think we can keep that experience fairly cheap. I'm more excited about the prospect of seeing the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon.

Vagas and cheap in the same sentence = is not ever heard!

OK, take water with you on those field trips, it will be terribly hot in August, don't forget your sunscreen either!

Inside the city limits you'll be able to view, Venetian canals, the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Hotel and the Egyptian pyramids, and the Star Trek Experience.

Elton John does a show about once a week in Vegas.

wave to the hoover dam from me

Great, thanks guys!

I've seen Elton John in Luxembourg. The show was hit after hit after hit, but I do wish I'd seen him 30 years ago when he was a young man.

Woohoo! Can I stow away in yer suitcase? Don't gamble too much, bring suncream and don't get shotgun married to someone else while drunk!

I was in Las Vegas for two days. (That was enough!) Stayed in the Stratosphere Hotel, which is famous for its large tower. Went up there and looked down over the city, and thought about the last time I'd been on a high building looking down over a city: on the dome of St Peter's. Rome is worth looking at. Vegas isn't.

Walk the strip: it's interesting. Bring water.

Go see a show, perhaps Penn & Teller. I, with my family, went to see Phantom of the Opera: high on special effects; low on storytelling. (Also low on musical variety: I think it's a cut-down version of the show, and all the songs sound exactly the same.) It was in the Venetian, but mercifully the theatre had clear air. The rest of the place stank: they pump perfume through the air conditioners.



The Grand Canyon is worth seeing. The Grand Canyon amazing. is The Grand Canyon is magnificent. We arrived at sunset, and the red sandstone rocks were on fire. We got up to watch the next two dawns, and another sunset, but it was hazy all those times. The first sunset was the best. Do walk down into the canyon. (Do bring lots and lots of water.) Do walk along the rim, too. Even at its busiest, you can find quiet spots.

Do have fun!

TRiG.

Haven't been there since 1980, but do remember you could do most things cheap unless you gambled. Food and drinks were ofte free or lowpriced since it was used as a bait to get you to gamble at their establishment.

Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon was nice. However, going down Grand Canyon is easy, climbing up again is NOT... Bring MUCH water!

Have fun!

If you are going to gamble (and you will at some point), stay away from the slots. Roulette and craps are all right for a quick buzz, but you should probably learn how to play blackjack properly - it's a slower-moving game and hence easier to monitor and control your budget. I'm guessing green gamblers such as yourselves wouldn't dream of sitting down at a poker table, but that's an obvious no-no unless you know what you are doing.

B

Thanks MB!

Blackjack is pontoon, right? I've played that before on an on-board casino at sea. And yes, I'll stay clear of the poker tables.

Way back in the mists of time, I believe I wrote a Guide Entry about it...

B

Vegas or blackjack?

That's good advice from MB. I spent an enjoyable two hours at a blackjack table in Atlantic City some years ago. The cost of those two hours was about $20, which was the money I lost (at a low-stakes table and with no more wedge in my pocket than I was prepared to lose) and the price of the two drinks (very cheap) that I ordered Before that though, I spent less than 15 minutes on the slots with the free $5-worth of quarters they give you in a plastic cup. It's not hard to work out which was the best value for money there, and you should find that most food and drink at the casinos is very reasonably priced (hotel rooms too sometimes) because they want you to be there as long as possible.

If you're a high-roller you'll get all kinds of stuff for free

Blackjack isn't exactly the same as Pontoon - some of the rules are slightly different. There's no "five card trick", for example.

Pontoon's a bit like Bridge, except that it floats.

And what's floating craps then?

If we had tags on h2g2 like on Twitter, I'd give that one a #dontgothere