So I know a lot of you are little Las Vegas fiends (ahem, Hannah Beth? Yeah. I'm talkin' to you). I'm leaving on Monday for a week in Sin City and I'm unbelievably excited. It'll be the first time I've been there as a legal adult and I can finally partake in the drinking and gambling and other sin type activities. Yay!

So what's your favorite spot, if you've been? Where do you generally spend most of your time, etc, etc?

Thanks for sharing your Las Vegas knowledge with little ol' me.

PS: How jealous are you that A) I'm going to Vegas and B) I am ALSO seeing Lucy Kaplansky at the House of Blues while in Vegas? Hmm. I know. You hate me. :)

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001

Answers

Yes, you got me. I'm a sucker for Vegas. Actually, when I was in California last weekend my friend was like, wanna drive to Vegas instead of San Fran? You know I thought about it.

I've stayed at the Flamingo and Paris, and once off the strip. Because I'm cheap, and not a huge gambler, I'm a big fan of gambling at the Sahara - $1 tables. Can't beat it. Plus it has this old school vegas type feel. Ah hell, just read this.

You have to go to the Venetian, it's so beautiful. (Plus there's a Burberry store there.) Really, you can't go wrong no matter where you go.

I've always wanted to go to the Hard Rock and celebrity spot, but I've never been. It's supposedly where all the hip wanna-bes, gonna- bes and sort-of ares hang out.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001

We went in April. We stayed at the Monte Carlo, which is very reasonably priced and smack dab in the middle of the strip. We were happy with our room and our stay. The Bellagio is just gorgeous, if we had the cashola we'd stay there. Catch the Bellagio water show, the best place to see it is at the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris.

The Venetian is nice if a little cramped, be sure to sign up a couple days early if you want a gondola ride. I personally liked the shopping at the newly revamped Aladdin. For good eats head to the Mandalay Bay or the MGM. We ate at Emeril's Fish House and had the best bottle of Reisling I've ever drank.

Our trip to the Sahara to see the Rat Pack perform (EXCELLENT excellent show, I highly recommend it) confirmed my belief that one should limit one's adventures off of the strip. Some parts of Vegas are just scary, people. Scarier than your town's scariest ghetto.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2001

Vegas, a.k.a. my future wedding destination, if I stay with a man who wants to be married by an Elvis impersonator.

This is one option.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2001

I should add: the MGM Grand has a great set of pools but is otherwise not the best place to stay.

Oh, and the $7 roller coaster on top of New York, New York? Worth it. The egg creams? Not so much.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2001

Except that it's $10 now. But it's a good coaster. The Big Shot, however? Not for the faint of heart.

As naked Hannah said - "I have a love/hate relationship with falling. I mean, I love it, but I hate it."

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2001

Yep. I am the most eloquent gal alive.

And Hannah Beth, I love, love, love that picture of me and Falafel.

Everyone I know who has been to the Hard Rock has seen Dennis Rodman there. If seeing Dennis Rodman is a big priority of yours, you should go.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

I'm going to Vegas the first week in December for my company retreat. I think we're staying at Ceasar's, and we have an activity at a goat ranch. This should definitely be interesting.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

May I recommend the Voodoo Lounge at the top of the Rio Suites hotel? Very fun, hip place with delicious drinks and great people watching. Best view of the entire city on the terrace. Worth the $10 cover. Bring your little black cocktail dress...this is the place to wear it and see and be seen.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

May I recommend Fong's Garden? It's a little out of the way, but worth the trip. (That's sarcasm, and an inside joke. Sorry to those of you who aren't in on it.)

Vegas is where I met a fraction of the MATH group. I've only been there once, and I stayed at the Paris, which was pleasant. I have to concur with the NYNY rollercoaster, but the Big Shot rules all. It's the reason I most want to get back there. Oh, and I really want to try out the wind tunnel, but I don't know where that is.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2001

the wind tunnel Is that the thing that Incubus went to on MTV Diary? Because I really want to go to that too.

It's Vegas week on the Travel channel and really, this is not helping my love for the Vegas. Did you know that it would take you 342 years to stay in every hotel room in the city? Well. It would.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

I can't comment on whether or not it was on MTV.

It's called Fly Away Indoor Skydiving, and is one of about 4 indoor wind tunnels in the country. I don't know where the others are, but could there be any better location?

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

Did you know you can get a room, on the strip, at the Luxor (which I have stayed at and personally liked) for $49, plus you get two $25 airline vouchers good for any airline, anytime, any destination; two passes to the spa ($70 value); discounts on shopping up to $35. It's their Egyptian Passage Internet Special and it's SO tempting.

$49 a night, for a hotel in Vegas? I SO want to be there!

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002