Las Vegas: A winner on a roll !!
Written: Sep 18 '02 (Updated Apr 29 '09)
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Pros: easy to use, on the money information
Cons: small print
The Bottom Line: I have found the Frommer's books easy to use and a great source of information. We did most of our trip with Frommers at our side.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Frommer's Las Vegas 2000 (City Annual) Books |
I started using the Frommer's books as a source for traveling about three years ago. One of the first I used for reference was the Las Vegas 2000 book.
I was about to go on a trip to Las Vegas with my wife and four of our children. Having not been in Vegas in over ten years I was not sure what would be interesting for us. Frommer's put me in the right direction.
The book opens with a section it calls postcards. There were fifteen pages of beautifully full, bright, and detailed pictures of Las Vegas' top spots. There were pictures of the Strip, Treasure Islands Pirate ship battle, the Venetian, Mirage, golf courses, and water parks.
This perked my interest in the area. So on to the contents I went. The book is divided into eleven plus sections. The first is an introduction and overview. What I like about it is that it grabs you right away. The very first pages tell you of Frommer's favorite Las Vegas experiences. This includes items that don't cost, like a stroll on the strip at night, to a dinner show at Caesars Magical Empire. This section certainly entices.
Also as part of the introduction they tell you which hotels are best for certain amenities. The Mirage was one listed for the best pool. Rated as best as luxury resorts were the Bellagio and Venetian. It rates the best for families, for rooms,for bathrooms, etc. They do the very same rating the best dining places. All this is done with few words, in a nutshell.
The second chapter helps guide you in what you need to plan for. It gives phone numbers and email addresses to get visitors information. Then we go to money. Get info on ATM's, traveler's checks credit cards etc. Also found is a boxed section giving approximately how much things cost. Ride from the airport, room rates, buffet prices, and ticket for shows. Advice as to when to go is also here. Temperatures at different times of year, and what conventions may be coming in.
Look here for helpful hints on health, insurance, and travelers with disabilities. Also included are hints and where to look further in the book for traveling Seniors, couples, singles, woman, and gay and lesbian.
This section closes with hints on how to get there. Plane, car, public transport, and package tours etc. It's very detailed. "The #108 bus departs from the airport and will take you to the Stratosphere, where you can get a transfer to......."
Chapter three gives information for foreign visitors. Visas, passports, medical requirement, custom allowances, general safety, what airlines, and getting around. Many of the chapters have a half or full page just for fast facts. Embassy phone numbers, emergency numbers, drinking laws etc.
In chapter four we start to get to know Las Vegas a bit more intimately. We get the city layout, the different sections, how to get there, car rental info, etc. This section has a lot to absorb.
It continues with another fast fact page. "Baby sitter services can be found...", etc. Many sections also have a "Did you know?" box. "Did you know that Las Vegas (Sin City) has more churches per capita than any other city in America".
The fifth chapter is a guide to accommodations. It helps give info by asking questions like, Where should I stay, What am I looking for in a hotel, What am I willing to pay. With the questions are suggestions. The book seems very fair and in hind site it gave us all the information we needed.
As the fifth chapter continues it divides again into Sections of Vegas, giving the most expensive choices first. As you read about a hotel it gives very detailed info about the place including address, phone and email numbers. Etc "The attractive suites, with brass trimmed lacquer have small sitting areas and fully ......."
They give good information. You will note some places with a white star in a black field. These starred places are Frommer's picks to definitely go to. Maps of the area are broken down in detail with numbers depicting different sites.
Expensive, Moderate, and Inexpensive are all listed. Even Inexpensive can have a star as highly recommended.
The book goes to the next geographical section and continue with the listings of Very expensive,etc,.............
In the sixth chapter we learn a bit more about food and dining. They list restaurants by cuisine, American, Asian, bagals, barbecue, bistro's , buffets and brunches. etc.
That guide helps you as you choose a place in a different area. Again look for the stars and the prices. Restaurants are open all different hours of the day. Also listed are family friendly restaurants.
Ok, you hav eaten and now you are ready to do something. Turn to chapter seven and find out "What to see and do in Vegas"
The first thing the book suggests is what to do if you are in Vegas for just a certain amount of time. ..."If you have one day spend most of your time casino-hopping. These buildings are like no other ........."
They give suggestions for two, three, and four days or more. I like this because it advises you to what most people want to see and gives a time frame on how long it should take.
Listed are all the Vegas attractions. You will see The Freemont Street Experience, Liberace Museum, The Magic and Movie hall of fame The Mirage Dolphin Habitat, and more. Find out the when, where, and how much. It's all there.
Under the entertainment section is How to get married, The book writes. "This is one of the most popular things people do in Las Vegas." You can find where to get your license, a suitable place place that is tacky enough, and of course where to find the Elvis impersonator to marry you.
After marraige comes kids. At least in this book it does. The next listing are kid friendly entertainment. Circus circus, New York New York, Wet and Wild are amoung some of the listings.
Further into this chapter are organized tours and golf information.
Finally chapter eight takes us to the true nitty gritty of Vegas. "About Casino Gambling" It first tells us about some of the myths of gambling...."There are folks who can give us systems for winning....." Well I never met one.
The study of the games come next. What is the game, some basic rules, and how to play. It studies Baccarat, Big Six Black Jack, Craps, Keno, Poker, Roulette, Slots and more..
Now that you know the games Frommer tells us where to go. The book lets us in on all the types of casino's and what kind of people frequent them. Winning odds, and all kinds of interesting information. I studied this part of the book hard. Now I just want to know and the book never told me is "How do I cash in!!"
Now that you have made a lot of money it's time for chapter nine, shopping. You can shop at a mall,factory outlet,hotel shopping arcade, and small shops. You can find vintage clothing, antiques, and even wigs.
Put on your wig and get ready for "Las Vegas After Dark" chapter ten. This will be where you can find a complete listing of all the Major shows, who is playing where. and information about Headliner Showrooms.
More info can be found about Comedy Clubs, CoffeeHouses, Piano Bars, Gay bars, Dance clubs and Strip Clubs. As with all the other places you get the info you may or may not need. ..."Once the nicest strip club in town, it now edges into the seedy end of things..."
When you are finished with all this it's time for a side trip in chapter eleven. Why not try the Hoover Dam to cool off right after visiting The Valley of Fire State Park. Red Rock canyon is another destination. These are all listed and more, giving very detailed information as to how to get there, how long will it take, what to expect to see.
Thanks to this book I got a little help on getting a flight, we stayed at the Mirage, took a walk along the strip at night, went to a couple of dinner shows, did some events for the kids entertainment, and even gambled. I suppose I didn't read chapter eight very well. I'll have to start saving my pennies again.
If I go again soon I may not even have to get a more up to date book. This one has most of what I need. Mmm, I wonder if a newer issue will have an updated chapter eight?
A few other travel books reviewed by pops
1,000 Places To See Before You Die
Wonderful Weekends From NY
National Geographic, National Parks Guide
National Parks For Dummies
How To Beat Jet Lag
Las Vegas Frommer's
An Off Beat and Informative Look At Australia
Recommended:
Yes
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