Christmas Means Hotel Deals In Las Vegas
Reba McEntire Signs Up For Vegas Shows
Posted: 8:06 am PST December 6, 2005
I know it's probably a little late for most of you, but if you can arrange your schedule to visit Las Vegas in the two weeks before Christmas you're going to save yourself a ton of money, as usual.I had heard some carping that room rates were significantly higher this December during what has historically been the slowest and cheapest time of the year, but a quick survey of the Web sites for several major hotels showed that's just not the case.You can get rooms at high-end places such as Bellagio and the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas for as low as $159 a night, the Mirage for as low as $89 and Bally's for as low as $59 a night. That represents a savings of up to 50 percent over what these hotels usually charge.If you can't do it this time, keep it in mind for your Vegas vacation for 2006.
Country singing superstar and sitcom star Reba McEntire will take the stage at the Las Vegas Hilton next year, performing a minimum of 30 concerts starting in May 2006.The singer, whose new "best-of" collection "No. 1s" is currently burning up the country charts, will perform on the same stage currently home to Barry Manilow for about 100 nights a year. Tickets are on sale now and range from $138 all the way up to $225 a ticket, but the high-end prices include VIP seating and a meet-and-greet with Reba herself.For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Las Vegas Hilton box office at )(800) 222-5361 or visit online at LVHilton.com.
It's hard not to read something into the sale last week of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Laughlin.Harrah's Entertainment sold the property to American Real Estate Partners, the company headed by Carl Icahn that also owns the Stratosphere, both Arizona Charlie's properties in Las Vegas, and the Sands in Atlantic City, for $170 million.Harrah's executives say that the property didn't fit in with their overall strategy, but it starts to get really interesting when trying to determine what plans the company has for its Vegas properties, including the Flamingo Las Vegas, among others. Harrah's will still get to keep the Flamingo name in the deal (so the Laughlin hotel will be renamed) but getting rid of a sister property and raising some cash in the bargain may mean big changes casino once know as "Bugsy's folly."
As a part of the New Year's Eve celebration, Mayor Oscar Goodman will host what aims to be the World's Largest Toast, with more than 12,000 people hoisting a glass of Beaulieu Vineyard wine.The imbibing is scheduled to occur under the canopy of the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas at 11:50 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2005 and is just one part of the citywide festivities for the holiday. As usual, Fireworks by Grucci of New York will provide the pyrotechnic extravaganza, an eye-popping, five-mile-long display launched from 10 resort rooftops up and down the Strip and in downtown Las Vegas.The group toast will occur in a cordoned outdoor area that will also feature live musical acts, hotel-sponsored bars and a light-and-laser show at midnight. Participants must be 21 and older and pay $45 to obtain a fluorescent-colored wrist band to gain access to the toasting area.
A lot of people have been asking me about the publication date for my upcoming travel guidebook, Moon Handbooks Las Vegas. Although many online retailers indicate that the book won't be coming out until next year sometime, I have it on very good authority that the book is shipping to stores (both virtual and bricks-and-mortar) right about now and should be in your hot little hands before the end of the year.A lot of other people are asking me how this book is different from the eight bazillion other books out there about Las Vegas. Well, I wrote it so it's better of course, but one of the ways I intend to make Moon Handbooks Las Vegas standout is by offering updates to the book via my Web site Vegas4Visitors.com. If something major happens that affects what is printed in the book (a show closes, a hotel is imploded), I'll put an update on Vegas4Visitors and you can make a notation in your copy of the guide.If you're interested in pre-ordering a copy, visit the special page we've set up on the site where you can read more about the title and reserve your own.
Country singing superstar and sitcom star Reba McEntire will take the stage at the Las Vegas Hilton next year, performing a minimum of 30 concerts starting in May 2006.The singer, whose new "best-of" collection "No. 1s" is currently burning up the country charts, will perform on the same stage currently home to Barry Manilow for about 100 nights a year. Tickets are on sale now and range from $138 all the way up to $225 a ticket, but the high-end prices include VIP seating and a meet-and-greet with Reba herself.For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Las Vegas Hilton box office at )(800) 222-5361 or visit online at LVHilton.com.
It's hard not to read something into the sale last week of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Laughlin.Harrah's Entertainment sold the property to American Real Estate Partners, the company headed by Carl Icahn that also owns the Stratosphere, both Arizona Charlie's properties in Las Vegas, and the Sands in Atlantic City, for $170 million.Harrah's executives say that the property didn't fit in with their overall strategy, but it starts to get really interesting when trying to determine what plans the company has for its Vegas properties, including the Flamingo Las Vegas, among others. Harrah's will still get to keep the Flamingo name in the deal (so the Laughlin hotel will be renamed) but getting rid of a sister property and raising some cash in the bargain may mean big changes casino once know as "Bugsy's folly."
As a part of the New Year's Eve celebration, Mayor Oscar Goodman will host what aims to be the World's Largest Toast, with more than 12,000 people hoisting a glass of Beaulieu Vineyard wine.The imbibing is scheduled to occur under the canopy of the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas at 11:50 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2005 and is just one part of the citywide festivities for the holiday. As usual, Fireworks by Grucci of New York will provide the pyrotechnic extravaganza, an eye-popping, five-mile-long display launched from 10 resort rooftops up and down the Strip and in downtown Las Vegas.The group toast will occur in a cordoned outdoor area that will also feature live musical acts, hotel-sponsored bars and a light-and-laser show at midnight. Participants must be 21 and older and pay $45 to obtain a fluorescent-colored wrist band to gain access to the toasting area.
A lot of people have been asking me about the publication date for my upcoming travel guidebook, Moon Handbooks Las Vegas. Although many online retailers indicate that the book won't be coming out until next year sometime, I have it on very good authority that the book is shipping to stores (both virtual and bricks-and-mortar) right about now and should be in your hot little hands before the end of the year.A lot of other people are asking me how this book is different from the eight bazillion other books out there about Las Vegas. Well, I wrote it so it's better of course, but one of the ways I intend to make Moon Handbooks Las Vegas standout is by offering updates to the book via my Web site Vegas4Visitors.com. If something major happens that affects what is printed in the book (a show closes, a hotel is imploded), I'll put an update on Vegas4Visitors and you can make a notation in your copy of the guide.If you're interested in pre-ordering a copy, visit the special page we've set up on the site where you can read more about the title and reserve your own.
The Full Story
- Christmas Means Hotel Deals In Las Vegas
- Avenue Q's Puppets Can Teach You Something
- Vegas Q&A: What's A Vegas Writer Really Do?
In Next Week's Column
Next week: The latest from Las Vegas.Plus, don't forget to send your questions about Las Vegas. I've got room for more, so send them in today!Click here to go to the main page of Vegas4Visitors.com and see all of the fantastic resources Vegas4Visitors has to offer you when planning your next trip to Las Vegas.Rick Garman is the head writer for Vegas4Visitors
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