There are far too many fine Las Vegas hotel casinos to mention in one article. I've listed the casinos in the order below as you stroll from south to north on the strip. These are the ones I've visited. You will find your own pleasure palaces.

Mandalay Bay Hotel Casino

It's quite new and close to the airport. Like most things in Vegas, it's larger than life, containing a large tropical bay, complete with sandy beach. With 3,700 rooms, many restaurants, and two wedding chapels, and its own House of Blues, it's a world of its own.

Luxor Hotel Casino

Right next door is this black-glass pyramid, guarded by a huge sphinx. It has 4,400 rooms, not counting restaurants, spa, shops, and the replica of King Tut's tomb in the basement.

Excalibur Hotel Casino

For a change of pace, step along to the Excalibur Hotel Casino.

There are 4008 rooms in this huge white castle, which encompasses a complete medieval village. You want dragons, jesters and jousting? You want to take your sweetheart to the Excalibur chapel, become Henry VIII and marry your queen? You can do it here, and the marriage will be legal.

New York, New York

Let's walk past the Tropicana and the MGM Grand, and take a look at New York, New York.

Tourists from the Big Apple will feel quite at home - maybe - with the Statue of Liberty, the skyscrapers, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and Coney Island. You can eat New York food and watch Broadway shows in this small, exclusive (only 2035 rooms!) Hotel Casino.

Monte Carlo

Moving on, past the Aladdin, we reach the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino. If you haven't visited the original, this will do nicely. You can visit restaurants, a spa, tennis courts. You can take the River Ride. And, of course, there's the ubiquitous wedding chapel.

Paris

See the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe. Almost 3000 rooms, and quite European. Much of the staff was ferried over from France when the place opened; I don't know how many are left. Don't try to drop a quarter into the more expensive slot machines. Those are $25 slugs being fed in by that (ex)-millionaire.

Bellagio

Pass beneath Bally's moving walkways and enter the Bellagio, a Florentine palace with thousands of fountains and a unique display of dancing waterspouts. Wander the gardens and gaze at the Italian villas. This impressive cathedral of a casino contains a host of restaurants, an art gallery, botanical gardens and two wedding chapels. Take in the shopping mall, the spa, and the aquatic show.

Caesar's Palace Hotel Casino

Caesar's Palace, with its ornate statues and unique design, opened in 1966. It is still one of the most spectacular sights in Las Vegas. It conjures up the grandeur of Imperial Rome, with 2,440 rooms, spa, shops, restaurants, a wedding palace and a circus. Caesar's has been a top attraction in Vegas for three generations of vacationers.

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

Continue past the Imperial Palace, the Mirage, with its erupting volcano, past Harrah's, and you will arrive at Treasure Island. Watch the naval battle, where the British and American navy battle to destruction. Guess which navy wins. There are restaurants and shows, and two wedding chapels, plus a full-sized replica of HMS Britannica, where weddings also take place.

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

Like to visit Venice and ride the canals on a gondola? You can do all that, amongst ornate palaces. Visit the shopping mall and the health spa, and enjoy the wax museum. The hotel has 3,000 rooms, and there are plans for building a 1,200 seat event center.

Circus Circus Hotel and Casino

Past the New Frontier, the venerable Stardust, past the Hilton, you arrive at Circus, Circus, the first major casino to cater to families. This place is a circus, a theme park carnival, a casino, and a giant hotel in one exciting package.

We're almost at the end of the strip, now. We walk past the Riviera, the venerable Sahara, built in 1952, and the Palace Station Hotel and casino. What's left?

The Stratosphere

For the grand finale, we might as well soar. The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino anchors the strip, and, at 1081 feet, is the tallest building in Las Vegas. Here, you can dine at the top of the world, and look out at the strip, the downtown lights, and the desert beyond this glittering oasis. This stop is a fitting end to our tour of the sights of Las Vegas.

For die-hard gamblers it is a mecca of delight guaranteed to send them into spasms of pure rapture. After all, who can resist the lure of flashing lights, the ringing bells of the slot machines, the exotic and complimentary drinks served literally on a silver tray, and, of course, the smell of money in the air. Money to be made and money to be lost. Got to remember the word moderation when you enter the hypnotic world of the casinos.

Fortunately Las Vegas offers plenty to do besides gambling. Why the sightseeing opportunities alone are enough to keep you occupied for days on end, not to mention the eating, drinking, and endless round of shows and various amusements available. Yes, it is true that Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world!

For my friend Lauren and I our journey to Las Vegas began on a Sunday evening, with a six hour nonstop flight from Philadelphia compliments of US Airways. Although still suffering from a touch of plane-fatigue, we immediately revived upon being awakened from our naps to hear that the plane was at last above Vegas, and it was time to prepare for descent. As the plane began its descent we could look out the window and see Las Vegas pulsating beneath us.

Even from the air the city was a visual feast, and Lauren and I began excitedly pointing out the various famous landmarks, The Stratosphere, MGM Grand, etc.

We landed in Las Vegas about 9:00 AM in the morning with our luggage, cameras, pamphlets and guide books, and a small budget earmarked mostly for entertainment which did not include gambling. This had nothing to do with any feelings of morality on our part, but was simply a concession to the realities of our financial situation. Sure we planned to do a little gambling, but we had to set strict limits for ourselves so as not to get carried away and spend more than we could afford.

Exiting the airport, we walked instantly into what felt like a dense wall of heat. The shock of these extreme temperatures , 90's and heading to triple digits , after the comfortable coolness of the airport interior was almost disorienting. We had to remind ourselves that this was to be expected, as we had arrived in the middle of the Nevada desert.

Checking into the Imperial Palace Hotel, we were glad that we had pre-booked a room. The clerk at the front desk informed us that due to an unusually high volume of tourists needing rooms immediately, we would've had to wait until next week before a room with two beds became available.

First Day in Vegas

The next day, our first full day exploring Las Vegas, we decided to learn the ins and outs of the land of glitz and glamour by taking the monorail to all the stops. Tickets for the Las Vegas Monorail are available in the hotels at machines, and at the stations themselves at machines. We each bought a one day (24 hour) ticket for $15, which is good for anywhere you want to go. The Monorail is the perfect way to get a bird's-eye view of this magnificent city, and its many offerings without wearing yourself and your feet out.

Now Lauren and I are both huge Start Trek fans, so out of all the marvelous attractions waiting for us, what do you think was the first place we set off for? If you guessed the Las Vegas Hilton and its famed Star Trek Experience, give yourself a pat on the back for being right.

And it is quite an experience, although for true devotees like ourselves only being rocketed directly into outer space on the Enterprise itself with Captain Kirk by our side would have provided complete satisfaction. We managed to make due, however, with the 2 available rides, The Klingon Adventure and the Borg Invasion, plus pouring over the Star Trek museum displays. These provided an interesting distraction for killing time while waiting in a long line.

The Klingon Adventure, a simulated ride, was quite lively and won't disappoint anyone brave enough to go on it. Here I feel I must add a word of caution, however, for those with weak stomachs as it can be a rocky road from beginning to end.

"The Borg Invasion," was in 4D, (for the uninitiated, that's 3D with a seat that bounces and jolts very realistically so that the physical experience matches the one seen on-screen). The special effects are remarkable, and Lauren and I enjoyed it tremendously.

Our adrenaline high crashed soon after this, and jet-lagged and weary, we were more than ready to retreat to our room in the hotel and get some badly needed rest.

Day #2 in Vegas

The next day dawned with temperatures rapidly rising to triple digits, and heat so strong the entire city seemed enclosed in a capsule of haze. We had no trouble deciding to spend our day indoors touring the artificially cooled Wynn Hotel and letting the outside world manage on its own. After a quick breakfast, we walked over to the Wynn and immersed ourselves in its luxurious beauty.

We began by paying a reasonable fee to view Steve Wynn's private collection of Impressionist art and the painting Andy Warhol did of him. It was an interesting collection but surprisingly small with only about 10 paintings; a Rembrandt, 2 Picassos, a Degas, a Monet of lilly pads and a bridge, a Manet portrait, and a Mandrian. All of this, naturally, was topped off by Warhol's portrait of Steve Wynn.

Next came a visit to the Wynn Esplanade, a collection of unique and lavish boutiques, among them Oscar de la Renta and the world's first Rolex-only store, Wynn & Co. Watches. Lesson learned from visiting several of these stores out of curiosity , if you have to ask how much something is, not only can't you afford it, but you shouldn't be here, where prices go from exorbitant to over the moon in the blink of an eye.

We returned to our hotel for a short rest that afternoon, and by evening were ready for some dinner and entertainment. Unfortunately, the cost of a meal at Planet Hollywood put an end to any ideas we'd had about finding a cheap show to see. Even the price of a hamburger made our wallets tremble. But that's how it is in Las Vegas. The cost of food and entertainment is always triple what it would be anywhere else. It's just part of the town, much the same way the casinos and neon lights are.

Third Day in Vegas

Ceasars Palace was the destination for today, and we decided to begin with some shopping. The shops at Ceasars Palace Forum are a testament to architectural talent given free reign. The theme is Roman complete with large statues like those found in the gardens and homes of ancient Rome, and ceilings painted with breathtakingly lovely murals. Oh yes, there is plenty of atmosphere here! The entrance is four stories high and holds an enormous floor to ceiling atrium that is a wonder all by itself.

The carefully selected shops were definitely chosen for those with deeper wallets than ourselves, and contained all the famous brand names, such as Gucci, Versace, Lalique, etc. Although we couldn't make many purchases, we did have a grand time going from store to store and browsing to our hearts content.

Next we elected to see one of the light and sound shows that Ceasars is famous for. There are several to choose from.

The shows are unique in that they feature animated statues in the fountains in the rotundas that cover the length of the mall. Having seen these shows on television and been intrigued by them, I'd always wanted to see one in person. The last one in the back of the mall, built interestingly enough over a large aquarium, is also the best and most exciting, with explosions and marvelous lighting effects.

Day 4, Egyptian Vegas

The next day, our fourth in Vegas, Lauren and I determined to visit the Luxor, known, of course, for its Egyptian theme. Since we'd both had a fascination with ancient Egypt for several years now, we knew that we certainly couldn't pass up the opportunity to view Las Vegas' tribute to that long ago time and place.

At the Luxor we took turns having our picture taken standing between the giant paws of the Sphinx, then went inside and had a drink, cruised through the gift shops unable to resist picking up a few presents for our friends at home, and then went through the King Tut's Tomb exhibit.

They have authentic replicas of many of the objects found in King Tut's tomb, and a life-size "tomb" with viewing windows to peer through. There is no better way to get a feel for the size of the original tomb other than actually being there inside of it.

Afterwards we spent some time playing the slot machines, without having any success, but enjoying ourselves anyway.

Winding Up Our Stay

Saturday was our final day in Vegas so we decided to make the most of it. First we visited the New York, New York hotel/casino, which on the outside is an exact reproduction of the New York City skyline, with a miniature New York City built in great detail inside. They also have a roller coaster that runs all around the entire building with a terrific roar. We, or rather, I made the mistake of riding it, and while Lauren fared quite well, I became extremely ill. It didn't really surprise me though, as I have had a love/hate relationship with roller coasters for most of my life for that very reason.

Once I'd recovered enough to safely move around, we gave the place a quick once-over and played a few last rounds on the slot machines. Undaunted despite our winless status, we vowed that one day we'd be back and tackle the casinos once again.

We rode the Trolley home. The Trolley is really just as good as the monorail in its own way. It goes around the Las Vegas Strip circuit from the top of the Strip at the Stratosphere to the bottom of Mandalay Bay. You can get on and ride all the way around for only two dollars, which since the entire distance takes roughly two hours amounts to just a dollar an hour. Great deal!

Our return journey home began that night at what I considered to be the ungodly hour of twelve, with another non-stop 6 hour return flight. So much flying at one time left me feeling punch drunk when we deplaned in Philadelphia, but, nevertheless, happy to be back home. Both Lauren and I had had a wonderful time and didn't regret a moment or a dime spent on this fantastic trip. In fact, we were already making plans for our return trip, but home was home and we'd had enough of being tourists for the time being.

Yes indeed, it was good to be back!

For a few years I was a Security Officer for some of the most well known casinos and shopping venues on the Las Vegas Strip. During that time, I learned a lot about the nature of people, and how to protect yourself when you are visiting Las Vegas.

I have included 10 tips that you might find useful the next time you are visiting a casino or hotel in town.

1. Protecting Your Possessions:

   Unfortunately, not everyone comes to Las Vegas for a simple vacation like many folks. Vegas is known for attracting not only tourists, but also those people who would like to separate you from your money.
   
   Here is a short list of things to watch for: Do not leave handbags or purses laying on the ground or the next seat when you are gambling. Thieves are getting braver every day. They don't hide in the shadows anymore. They will walk right past you and take your belongings as if it belonged to them the whole time, and then dare you to say anything.
   
   Also, just because you leave valuables in your room does not mean they are safe. Always lock up your jewelry or money in the safe if the hotel provides one. Make sure if you have anything valuable in your luggage that you put it away. Thieves will always go for things that are the most accessible first.
   
   A common practice of hotel thieves is to walk down the hallway as if they are going to their room and push on each door to see if any of them open. When they find a door open they just walk on in and begin stealing your belongings. If they happen to walk in on you in the room, they will often just pretend they got confused as to which room was theirs because they all look the same.

2. The Art of the Trick Roll:

   Men, you especially need to pay attention to this. Let me give you a little scenario. You are at the blackjack table and are having a great time. After a while, you decide to take a break and go to the bar. While you are there, a very attractive woman sits down beside you and begins to strike up a conversation. You begin to think that things are going great and she suggest that you take her up to your room. You feel like nothing could go wrong and then you wake up and find it's the afternoon of the next day.
   
   As you try to clear the cobwebs from your head, you begin to realize that you are alone in your room and all your money and credit cards are gone. Now if you haven't figured it out yet, let me explain to you what just happened. While you were gambling the night before, you were being watched. And before you go thinking it was because you're such a stud, it was you were seen as an easy mark.
   
   Chances are you were drinking at the table and the woman who met you at the bar noticed that you were getting drunk and had already started losing control of reality. At some point she distracted you, and placed knock out drops in your drink. This often happens when you are in your room, and she suggests you go take a warm shower to relax and get ready, but some have even been brazen enough to put the drops in your drink right there at the bar. By the time you get upstairs you are just about out of it, and if anyone asks, she just tells them you had too much to drink and she is making sure you get to bed.
   
   While you are knocked out, she will turn the heat up on the thermostat a little bit to make you nice and comfortable. Then while you are sleeping away, she has full access to anything she wants, and by the time you wake up she is long gone. You may ask yourself, why doesn't somebody do something about it. I can tell you from experience that we make every effort to stop this from happening.
   
   The fact is that 97% of these “trick rolls” will not get reported to the police. I think you know why, but just in case you don't, it's because these men don't want their wives to find out.

3. Bucket or Voucher Thieves:

   Another common trick for thieves is that when you go to cash in your ticket at the Machine, they will be waiting right behind you and as soon as the money comes out they will grab it and run. They will also cruise through the casino to see if you may have left your credits on the slot machine, while you went to get a drink or to the restroom. When they see the credits, they just cash it out, and take it to be cashed in as if it was theirs all along.
   
   At some of the older casinos that still pay out in coins the thief will use a trick that was perfected in the old days. They will walk around with a few coins in their hand as if they are looking for a machine to play.
   
   When they see you with a bucket full of coins, they will casually drop a couple coins on the floor on the opposite side of where your bucket is, and then politely let you know you accidentally dropped your money. When you thank them and lean over to pick up the loose change they will move around to the other side and take your bucket of money, and just walk off. Chances are you are so busy playing that you won't even notice it's gone for a few minutes. By that time they are already gone, and out on the street.

4. Scams:

   It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway. If it looks to good to be true, then it is. There are many people out there, not just in Las Vegas, but probably in your town too, that are trying to run a game on people. But somehow, Vegas seems to attract a lot of them.
   
   Let me tell you about one particularly interesting scam. A young lady was sitting at a bar in a casino, when a man sat down beside her and ordered both of them a drink. They began to talk and got along quite well, actually talking to each other at the bar for a couple hours. At that point the man said that he was getting a little hungry. He told the woman that he had won two free meals at the steakhouse in the casino, and asked if she would like to join him.
   
   Since they had been talking for so long, she felt comfortable with him and agreed, not wanting to miss out on the chance for a free meal at the steakhouse. They ordered their meals, the best steaks in the place and a bottle of the most expensive wine to go with it. While they were finishing up, the man excused himself to use the restroom and, (you guessed it) never came back, leaving this woman with a bill for over $250.00. Let me say again, if it looks to good to be true, it is.

5. No More Freebies:

   You will hear the street vendors say it all up and down the strip and inside the casinos. Get this or that for free! It's free, just try it out. Let me warn you, there is no free lunch.
   
   If it is being offered for free, then there is a catch. Las Vegas has changed since the old days when, if you lost all your money, you could still get a meal at the buffet on the house. Those days are gone. Today it is all about the bottom line, and if anything is offered to you, you can be sure that somewhere, the house is going to make money on it.

6. 86'd (You're Outta Here!):

   It started with the Kefauver Commission on organized crime, and was known as the Black Book. It was actually a list of all the crime figures who were banned from going into any casinos in Las Vegas, and some were even banned from the casinos in Reno as well. As time went on, each casino would add to the list, any person who was caught in their place of business being disruptive or cheating. They would be 86'd or thrown out of the casino.
   
   In the past, this was done literally. If a card cheat was found out, he was lucky if he got out of the casino with only a few broken fingers. Today, of course, those methods are not allowed, but the list still remains. Now, let me tell you something about that list you may not know. Each casino is privately owned, and therefore private property. Many people come in thinking it is public property, but they would be wrong. The owner(s) of each property have the authority to ask you to leave for any reason they want.
   
   Normally, the owners will give the authority to 86 someone to the security department who acts on behalf of the owner. Once you are kicked out of a casino, it is for life! And here is something else you may not have thought of. Many of the major corporations own more than one casino, so if you are kicked out of one, you are 86'd from all the casinos they own.

7. Las Vegas Fever:

   This is something that occurs way too much, but in a place like Las Vegas it might really surprise you. Everyday we would see people who would get caught up in the excitement and everything going on around them, and forget to do one thing. They would forget to eat.
   
   We would always see people passing out in the casinos, because they would simply not take time away to replenish themselves. I even saw one young lady who passed out in the buffet line. She was so close! With all the food in this town, how is it even remotely possible that anyone would forget to eat. But it does happen.

8. Be Aware of Your Surroundings:

   I am seriously not trying to frighten you away. Things like this could happen in any city in the world. It's just that they happen with more frequency here.
   
   Always make sure you know what is going on around you. When you get out of your car, lock it. And always pay close attention to your children. Which brings me to my next point.

9. Do Not Leave Your Children Unattended:

   Forgive me, because I'm about to give you a list of dont's, but you would not believe what some people actually do with their children, in order to go gambling. Do not send your children to an arcade room alone. If they are going, make sure someone goes with them. The same goes for the restroom, do not send them in alone. Waiting at the door is not good enough.
   
   Believe me, there are pedophiles just waiting where you least expect them. If they are left in the hotel room, make sure there is someone old enough to stay with them. Do not leave your kids in the car, while you go inside to gamble (Oh, yes they did!). And under no circumstances, leave your kids with a stranger while you go cash in your chips.

10. If You Win, Leave!

    This may sound strange to you, but there is nothing worse than seeing someone lose everything they have on a chance.
    
    I once saw a man who had just come into town and had just placed his first bet on the craps table. This was his first experience in Las Vegas and the worst thing that could possibly happen to him happened. He placed his entire paycheck on a roll, and won!
    
    Now why do I say that is the worst thing that could have happened to him. It's because he now thought he was invincible. He went from his hourly job in the Midwest, to being a highroller on Fremont St in Las Vegas in less than a day. He actually won $10,000 on that one roll. And then he proceeded to lose it all.
    
    Several people encouraged him to walk away, but he wouldn't listen. He not only lost everything he had won, plus his paycheck, but he now had to go back home and tell his wife that he had lost their house.
    
    If you are winning, good for you. Take a break and walk away. Go get something to eat or get some fresh air. Save yourself a lot of heartache.

These are just a few tips from what I have seen during working in the casinos. Las Vegas is an exciting town and there is a lot to do here. Just make sure that when you come here, you are able to leave safe and sound.