Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 4 . GETTING TO KNOW LAS VEGAS
Mid-Strip is a long stretch of the street between Harmon Avenue and Spring
Mountain Road, including Bellagio, Caesars, The Mirage and Treasure Island,
Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas, The Flamingo Las Vegas, and Harrah’s, among other
hotels and casinos.
The North Strip stretches north from Spring Mountain Road all the way to
the Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower and includes Stardust, Sahara, The Riviera,
and Circus Circus, to name a few of the accommodations and attractions.
EAST OF THE STRIP/CONVENTION CENTER
This area has grown up around the Las Vegas Convention Center. Las Vegas is
one of the nation’s top convention cities, attracting more than 2.9 million conventioneers
each year. The major hotel in this section is the Las Vegas Hilton,
but in recent years, Marriott has built Residence Inn and Courtyard properties
here, and the Hard Rock Hotel has opened. You’ll find many excellent smaller
hotels and motels southward along Paradise Road. All of these hotels offer close
proximity to the Strip.
BETWEEN THE STRIP & DOWNTOWN
The area between the Strip and Downtown is a seedy stretch dotted with tacky
wedding chapels, bail-bond operations, pawnshops, and cheap motels.
However, the area known as the Gateway District (roughly north and south
of Charleston Blvd. to the west of Las Vegas Blvd. S.) is slowly but surely gaining
a name for itself as an actual artists’ colony. Studios, small cafes, and other
signs of life are springing up, and we hope this movement will last.
DOWNTOWN
Also known as “Glitter Gulch” (narrower streets make the neon seem brighter),
downtown Las Vegas, which is centered on Fremont Street between Main and
9th streets, was the first section of the city to develop hotels and casinos. With
the exception of the Golden Nugget, which looks like it belongs in Monte
Carlo, this area has traditionally been more casual than the Strip. But with the
advent of the Fremont Street Experience (p. 179), Downtown has experienced
a revitalization. The area is clean, the crowds are low-key and friendly, and the
light show overhead is as ostentatious as anything on the Strip. Don’t overlook
this area. Las Vegas Boulevard runs all the way into Fremont Street Downtown.
2 Getting Around
It shouldn’t be too hard to navigate your way around. But remember, between
huge hotel acreage, increased and very slow traffic, and lots and lots of people
trying to explore like you, getting around takes a lot longer than you might
think. Heck, it can take 15 to 20 minutes to get from your room to another part
of your hotel! Always allow for plenty of time to get from point A to point B.
A warning note: The Las Vegas monorail is under construction. This upcoming
transport system will surely alter Vegas traffic flow in the best of all possible
ways, as the monorail will run from the Sahara Hotel, zigzag out to the Hilton
and the Convention Center, and then come back down the east side of the Strip,
making several stops along its 4-mile journey before ending at the MGM Grand
and turning around for a return trip. A fabulous idea, and we can’t wait. And it
won’t be too much longer now—the monorail is scheduled to open in January
2004. For $2.50 per person one-way, you will get to ride in comfort, in deluxe
modern cars on these driverless trains, complete with roving attendants to
answer your questions. Look for stations at MGM Grand, Bally’s/Paris, the