Las Vegas for Dummies, Second Edition (Paperback)

by Mary Herczog (Author) "It's Vegas, baby!" is the catchphrase from the independent movie hit Swingers- and that's all you need to know..." (more)
Key Phrases: insurance bet, shooter rolls, rack rates, Las Vegas, Center Strip, South Strip (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Las Vegas is a truly original city, where the greatest landmarks are all reproductions, and the name of the game is gambling. This neon jungle is, at turns, classy, tacky, cheesy, and sleazy, but it's always entertaining. If there's one sure bet in this town, it's that you'll never be bored.

Las Vegas For Dummies gives you the lowdown on this city, which is fast challenging Orlando as the number-one tourist destination in the U.S. The city has more hotel rooms (over 120,000) than any other, and for sheer spectacle, it's hard to beat this town. You can watch a volcano explode, see a pirate ship sink, stroll by the Arc de Triumph and cross the Brooklyn Bridge – all on the same street. And then you can gamble. This guide will help you plan the best trip imaginable, whether you are

• An inexperienced traveler looking for guidance in determining whether to take a trip to Vegas, and how to plan for it
• An experienced traveler who doesn't have a lot of time to devote to trip planning
• Any traveler who only has a few days to spend in Las Vegas and needs expert advice on maximizing a minimum of time
• A traveler who doesn't like big, thick travel guides that list every single hotel, restaurant, or attraction, but instead looks for a book that focuses on the places that will provide the best or most unique experiences

Las Vegas For Dummies is clearly organized and segmented so you won't have to read what came before or after any chapter. You'll uncover tips for

• Planning your trip by taking a gander at the Las Vegas weather; special events; and tips for families, seniors, travelers with disabilities, and gay and lesbian travelers
• Ironing out the details, by considering the use of a travel agent, buying a package deal, or searching for the best airfares
• Settling into Vegas by exploring some of the neighborhoods and modes of transportation
• Dining in Las Vegas, from buffets to brunches, the city's top restaurants to its cheapest meals
• Exploring the city's attractions, entertainment, shopping, and recreational opportunities
• Living up the Vegas nightlife, from splashy production shows such as Cirque de Soleil to the hottest dance clubs in town

If a city exists that has its heart right on its sleeve, it's Las Vegas. Don't come here looking for culture and self-improvement, but do come here looking for a whale of a good time. You're sure to have it.

From the Back Cover
Your insider’s guide to the best places and prices

Plan a winning Vegas vacation

With scores of glittering casinos and an astonishing array of glitzy shows and over-the-top spectacles, Las Vegas can be a mind-boggling experience. Relax! This easy-to-understand guide is a sure bet for a great Vegas trip – complete with gambling tips!

Discover:

• Down-to-earth trip-planning advice
• What you shouldn’t miss – and what you can skip
• The best restaurants and hotels for every budget
• Dozens of detailed maps

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2 edition (November 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764554484
• ISBN-13: 978-0764554483
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,157,403 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I normally love Dummies books - this one is just not up to par, September 14, 2005

By	Lisa Shea "LisaShea.com" - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Las Vegas For Dummies (Dummies Travel) (Paperback)

Dummies books in general are nicely laid out, with easy to read text, informative highlights, and simple symbols to keep you in check. That all being said, this just isn't my favorite travel book about Vegas. The Dummies style works great for figuring out how your software works, but it doesn't seem to key in properly to what Las Vegas is all about.

I think the main issue here is that the Dummies book tries to cover a number of different topics in a very shallow manner. Let's start at the beginning. It dedicates the first two chapters on how to get to Vegas. It lists things like "surf the web" to find cheap airline rates. I really didn't need a book to tell me that. It tells you to bring a cell phone. Really, if I get a book on Vegas, I want to know what to do and see in Vegas, and where to stay. The rest of this intro stuff is just fluff.

OK, so we get to the actual "arrival" part of the book. Once again you have a ton of fluff about "look on the web to find hotel prices" and "avoiding hidden costs". They could almost have a cookie cutter travel book at this point, with no actual content about the city you are visiting. When we finally get to the actual hotel descriptions, there is a brief paragraph (or maybe 2) on each one. I would really have liked some sort of easy to use table listing them all and their features, rather than having to scan the paragraphs hoping they mentioned the items I was interested in.

The restaurant area is the same way, a paragraph on each, no real organization to help you out on making your choices. But don't blink - quickly you are into "gambling tips and tricks". Really, if I wanted to learn how to gamble, there are ample books on the topic. I need to know the details in Vegas to choose where to stay and eat, and I still really haven't gotten enough of that information.

You get some information on shows and nightclubs, but then you get lists of top 10 things that aren't in Vegas any more. This might be historically informative, and I might not have minded its inclusion if otherwise the book was chock-full of specific, useful information. But given how much of the rest of the book was already generic, it sort of rubbed that in my face. So now I know even more about things that aren't around any more :)

I do love Dummies books. I own many of them and think they're great. For some reason, the Vegas Dummies book is the worst book in my Vegas collection. I guess it just goes to show that no one system can fit every need.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good place to start your research, January 4, 2003

By	pech "food lover, mystery lover" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Las Vegas for Dummies (Paperback)

This is the second for Dummies book on travel I have purchased. I did not find it as helpful as the first book (on Hawaii), but it has some great basic information to start your research on if this is your first time to Las Vegas. The rest of my research was on the internet- mostly looking at pictures to get a feel of what I would like to see in person. You can narrow down quite a bit of your searching by reading this easy to read first half of this book, which is devoted to accomodations and attractions. It quickly gives you a summary of all you need to know.

The book was particurlarly helpful in summarizing what all the casinos on the strip offer to do besides gamble- shows, museums, etc. and there are a lot to sort through, and several are free! My family accused me of being to Las Vegas before because I had such a clear idea of where to go and what to see attraction-wise in what seems a chaotic city of entertainment, something this book is invaluable for.

Also helpful were tips on which casinos were connected to what if you want to beat the heat or not walk as far. This book needs to get updated though in that respect. The other half of the book gives tips and instructions on gambling for those going to do less looking and more gambling.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vegas Baby, Vegas!, January 7, 2001

By	"mokie74" (Stoneham MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Las Vegas for Dummies (Paperback)

I had already been to Las Vegas before looking through this book. But it's filled with great info and a very fun way of looking at it. I have had really good luck with all the "Dummie" books I've read. Having already been there I can tell you that the info the author gives is top notch and right on the button!