5 comments about Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide to Las Vegas (Eyewitness Travel Top 10).

1. I am planning to go to Las Vegas and so I bought this book. This is really useful. I especially like the photos and they make me more looking forward to my trip. Of course, since this is a pocket book, you cannot expect too much detail from it. However, this is more than enough for me who is going for a 5- to 6-day trip.



2. It was a good book with a great list of top 10 things but the problem is that the times and stuff in the book are way outdated. Don't use this book to go by the times that the hotels do their performaces. It does help to rate places well but I was pretty disappointed in the information. I would suggest you get the 2006 guide to vegas because it is a lot more helpful.



3. This book is great for anyone who hasn't been to Las Vegas in awhile. It gives you good insight into the new hotels and attractions. The book also gives you a low down on the best places to go to eat, people watch and party !



4. We forgot to bring it along on the trip, but still utilized it for many searches and planning before the trip. we will definitely bring it with on out next Vegas experience!



5. This book lists the Tropicana as the #2 hotel after all the big themed hotels. I chose the Tropicana over two other hotels based on this book's rating, since I've had luck with these Top 10 guides for other cities like Cancun, San Fran, and Seattle. This book is a bit outdated, but even a couple of years back, the Tropicana couldn't have deserved to be #2. In fact, I would rate it #2 on the list of the worst hotels I've ever stayed in.
   
   We booked a Garden room, but they put us in a Tower room at first. The hallways were dark, with peeling wallpaper and damaged wood trim. The elevators had poorly-painted pictures on the door with the paint peeling off. Our non-smoking room smelled of smoke and we couldn't get the window open, so we called the desk and they sent someone to spray it down, adding more of whatever odor was already attempting to cover the cigarette stench. We went back to the desk and got the Garden room we had paid for, which was a step up, but not far up. I had to pick the toilet seat up off of the bathroom floor and reattach it. The hot water in the bathtub wouldn't completely turn off. The air wasn't turning on, so I opened the balcony door, kicking over a half-empty beer can as I stepped out. Our departing flight got canceled and we had to stay an extra night, so we booked a hotel that was luxurious in comparison to the Tropicana - the Comfort Inn!

No comments about Frommer's Las Vegas Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day).

5 comments about Las Vegas Little Black Book: A Guy's Guide to the Perfect Vegas Getaway.

1. Overall the book was ok. Honestly I was expecting a bit more from a so called "Vegas Insider". It did have a few helpful tips, and the rating systems for the hotels and Gentleman's Clubs were helpful in selecting where to stay and what to do. I would not pay more than $10 for it again, and it should be updated yearly, if for no other reason than things change so often in Vegas.



2. If you are a guy, and are a guy who is only in Vegas for one thing, women, you will enjoy this book. Whether you are a bachelor, a soon-to-be-married gentleman, or a "Night at the Roxbury" woman hound, you will do just fine with this, as it is just what you need. I do mean, need.
   I can think of a guy I used to work with who considers himself "all that" and would go to Vegas JUST for the ladies and the clubs. I, on the other hand, enjoy ALL facets of the city.
   While I love to read anything informative, this book teaches you things such as how to manage your money. Uh, watch the Travel Channel's shows on Vegas. It teaches you how to gamble. Again, refer to the TC or play in those online rooms. Those are both free. Finally, the book actually teaches someone, or tries to do this, how to eat a steak and how to enjoy a buffet. So, I guess this is a book notorious for the obvious. Or, maybe the ideal clientel has never experienced many elements of life.
   I know I say this as someone who has lived just south of Vegas for a year, and I have visited both Laughlin and Vegas many times, but I am sorry. This book is worth nothing more than a read at B'n'N or Borders. And trust me, you won't need more than an hour, as a quick skim is all that is needed.
   
   My one positive note, though, is that, even though I laughed at both the topics in this book and at those who probably think this literature really is the answer to finding a great time in this city, the information about hotels is truly useful. I was indeed happy that I read that section because I followed DeMontmollin's advice and chose a room at the Flamingo. Upon arriving at my hotel, I quickly understood his advice that this hotel was for the cultured and not for the "clubber," I was pleasantly surprised. This book offers a nice explanation of each "type" of hotel, as does it succeed in locating where you want to go with what you will need to expect to travel (walk or cab) to get there.
   
   With a "3," I offer a mixed review. Very good at times, unforgetable at others. If you find this book for cheap on Amazon, less than three dollar, it will be worth the read. Otherwise, just use the three dollars in gas and drive to one of the main bookstores. Bring a notebook, and set aside one hour to jot down key ideas. Heck, just place what you want (phone numbers, ket notes) in your cell. Then, when you get to Vegas, you won't have to worry about looking like a tourist or an obvious dud. Yes, dud.
   
   -JM



3. Hiram Norman and Dave DeMontmollin you wrote a great book.
   
   This book is a must for a guy's weekend in Vegas. Plan your weekend in order that you make the most out of your stay in Vegas.
   
   These guys tell you where to stay, where to go, how to meet & have a great time in Vegas.
   
   Very insightful, very funny, very informative.



4. While this book definately isn't for families it can be applied to travelers other than just men. I just bought this book (I'm a 32 year old married woman)and found some great advice that can apply to anyone that is looking to let loose and have some fun.
   
   I am soon traveling to Vegas with my husband and two girlfriends. The information on the bars and clubs was extremely helpful. We also plan to hit a strip club while there and this book helped us decide. While I've been to several local strip clubs, I have never been to one in a big city and it outlines some of the basics that are different than what I'm used to.
   
   I have been to Vegas 4 other times in the past couple years, but this will be my first trip that is completely social. This will be an exceptional tool to have.



5. I just got back from my first trip to vegas and this book guided me every step of the way. From the best place to stay or eat to the top strip clubs and bars it covers it all in a very unique set up compared to all other travel guides. I wanna keep it simple so if your a guy who is going to vegas to for a "guys weekend" this book will greatly improve you trip!

3 comments about Afoot & Afield Las Vegas And Southern Nevada: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide (Afoot and Afield).

1. This is definitely the best guide available for hiking in the southern Nevada region. This book includes a wide variety of hikes with great descriptions of the areas and how to get to them. It has ideas for hikes of various lengths and difficulties and as well as information on conservation and safety. It includes great maps and photos and lists areas not found in most other guides. If you want to explore areas within a 3 hour drive of Las Vegas, this is the most comprehensive book I have found. I highly recommend it!



2. I have a long shelf full of southwest guidebooks. For the Las Vegas area, Beffort's book is the best choice for people unfamiliar with the desert. It has a good mix of easy and difficult hikes.
   
   My sister and her husband recently visited Vegas while I was out of town. He was at a convention; she wanted to see something other than casinos. I turned her loose with a few suggestions and Beffort's book. She did three of the trips in the Spring Mountains and didn't get lost, uncharacteristic for her. The credit goes to good directions in the book.



3. One hell of a book. Great descriptions of hikes in around the vegas area. As well as a few extra bonuses with Death Valley and what not. Even has some Mojave action in there. Well This is a definate must if headin to the Vegas region and need a little something more than the usual Vegas experience.

5 comments about Comp City: A Guide to Free Casino Vacations, Second Edition.

1. I used to visit Vegas alot but two kids later, i find the visits few and far in between. This book is great to read and re-read before you even start to plan your trip(s)to SIN CITY. It'll give you a good heads up on how to get the best bang for you buck and live like the high rollers...well,.....kinda. The info in the book works!!! Good Luck to all



2. Max Rubin is pathetic. I can't believe I bought this book. He would likely pull gum off the bottom of park bench and be proud of himself for finding a way to get free candy.
   
   First of all, he is way wrong with his numbers. He must play at the dingiest casinos because he thinks betting $200 per hand makes you a high roller. It doesn't, it makes you perhaps a premium player but you'll be fairly limited as to what you can get comped at the nicer hotels.
   
   Second, do you want to spend your vacation hustling a few dollars like a common beggar?



3. The reviewers who said Rubin is a cheat and a thief don't know what they are talking about, nor do the ones who say this is only for $100 and up players. He gives numerous ways for players of EVERY bankroll level to maximize their return in comps. If the casino doesn't want to give it, they don't. If they do, why not take it? Would you turn down buying a car that costs $18k normally for $15k just because you know other people are paying $18k for it, but you got the better price because you knew invoice on it? OF course not. Applied properly, this is the best edge any average player will EVER have versus the casinos, bar none, and all it takes is learning basic blackjack strategy and asking to be treated as you deserve. Some people just don't understand it, and I am thankful for that, as that is what keeps Las Vegas profitable for people like me. Trust me; this book is brilliant, well writen, well thought out, and anyone who loses sleep over getting extra comp value out of a casino is not of sound mind anyways. And as far as selling boxing tickets you got as a comp when you don;t like boxing? Why not? They're yours.



4. First, let me say that Rubin doesn't tell you to grovel before the pit bosses to get a comp, nor does he advocate stealing. He does say that it pays to ask, and at worst, they'll say no, but often they say yes, or at least make some kind of offer. He tells hilarious stories about Vegas characters, some of whom were thieves, but he doesn't favor copying their example.
   What he does want to teach is his ACES method of gathering comps, which is based on blackjack played with the black chips. But you don't have to lay down a C-note to use his methods. Even a low roller like me can get good comps, (particularly with the rise of the California tribal casinos creating wonderful competion for the gaming public) if I use his methods.



5. in light of an upcoming casino vacation, i figured, "what the heck, I'd might as well try to get as much free stuff out of the casinos if they're gonna take my hard earned money." So I ended up buying this book. I mean, who doesn't like free stuff?? Well after reading the book several times, and applying the tips Max Rubin tells you to do while playing table games, I ended up getting more in comps than I have ever did. and that was my first time using Max's comp counting techniques. I'd imagine that it would take a bit of practice to get higher-end comps and nicer accomadations. But after the first meal comp, this book had paid for itself. To think after all these years of getting beat by the casinos and getting nothing for my $25 to $200 bets. Thanks Max!!

4 comments about Streetwise Las Vegas Map - Laminated City Street Map of Las Vegas, Nevada - with integrated monorail lines and stations.

1. This small folding laminated map can be much more convenient that a standard paper folding road map. I've used both, and found that the Rand McNally road map uses such a small scale that it's annoyingly difficult to read. By contrast, the Streetwise Las Vegas map is much easier, as its scale is larger and the text is printed in an easy-to-read font.

   A word of warning: This map does not cover all of the city of Las Vegas. It definitely hits all of the main areas a tourist would be apt to go, from the airport to the downtown Fremont area, and from the strip to UNLV, and everything in between. But the suburbs of the city are not covered, so you'll need another map if you're planning on venturing out of the glitzy part of Vegas.




2. This is a great general reference map of Vegas...but is a little out of date as it only shows part of I 215- which is now finished. It also is only of Vegas proper.



3. Slightly out of date. Save your $5.95 and go to AAA!



4. This is my 3rd map from Streetwise. The first I bought when I moved to Orlando and the 2nd was for the streets of Sydney. Now I'm relocating to Las Vegas and these maps have always been a big factor in locating my apartments. Thank you!

1 comments about Zagat 2008 Best of Las Vegas Restaurants (Zagatsurvey : Las Vegas Restaurants).

1. I was hoping to find reviews for restaurants in the downtown area where I was staying, but the book was for the most part limited to restaurants in the strip area. Also, I was hoping to find some bargains, but the book leaned toward the more expensive. Perhaps that is what the Zagat books are known for.
   On the positive side, the size of the book is good for taking traveling.

5 comments about Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas.

1. The book is a quick read and will open your eyes to how much is going on that is unnoticed around us. I bought this book to read on the plane to Vegas and it sure gave you a different perspective to what was going on below your feet. You will look at the overpasses, casinos and landscape in a different light.
   
   It was sad to read the stirring stories of the results of compulsive addictive behaviors like alcoholism, drug abuse and gambling. All in all it was a nice dip in a world that most ignore but pass by every day of their life.
   
   Rob



2. Writing a book about tunnels under a city can almost always spark interest in readers. There are so many tunnels, and so many cities that have them - an astonishing number, in nearly every country of the world. However, most anything written about underground spaces of the cities that have them range from ultra-dry Corps of Engineer type-documents to historical works of varying merit, some of which slide more into myth instead of fact. In other words, there is little written about under city tunnels that is both interesting and factual.
   
   Las Vegas and its tunnels, and Matthew O'Brian's telling of them, is quite different, and of a much higher caliber. His book is "Beneath The Neon." Matthew brings a human touch of reality and immediacy to the people who live below Las Vegas, who are in continual danger of their lives. "Beneath The Neon" therefore, is a very interesting, entertaining and factual book.
   
   Take the tunnels of Orange County, in Southern California, for instance, which has miles of tunnels and spaces, many as wide as the four lanes above them, all of which are bone dry and empty of life. Most of these tunnels channel into massive floodways, snaking through the Los Angeles basin, and eventually empty into the Pacific. Of the few times a decade that they are full of water, people are amazed at both the volume and speed of the water. Whoever gets caught in one of these channels has little hope of survival. Go here for a look at the scope of the tunnels under Los Angeles.
   
   Then there is the Burro Schmidt Tunnel in the upper Mojave desert, a couple of hours north of L.A., built over a number of years by a single individual, through solid granite. Here is a link.
   
   Secret tunnels of historical significance and mystery can be found under San Francisco. And under Seattle.
   
   Cities don't have a monopoly on tunnels either. Colleges and universities sometimes have their own. Here is a similar link. But by far the biggest and most astonishing underground of all, is under Tokyo.
   
   Many tunnels have small collections of people; homeless, addicts, and iconoclasts. The only apparent exception is Los Angeles, where there are no homeless living in the wide, dry, and accommodating tunnels. It is not that these tunnels are policed, it is just that the homeless there are likely smart enough to know better.
   
   But what really interests O'Brien are the homeless people who live in the tunnels under the bright oven that is Las Vegas. He estimates that there are 300 people at any time, who are living in small encampments throughout the tunnel system, and in the course of his research, he got to know many of them.
   
   There is evidence of these people everywhere: an old set of pans; heaps of garbage, including many old mattresses; and graffiti. If you were to wander through the tunnels, you would never know it was 110 degrees or more just above your head. Down there it's quiet, dark, cool--and wet.
   
   You would think the tunnels are dangerous, but O'Brien said they don't feel that way. But he had a guide who knowingly led him around through those spaces, so who is to say? He was most impressed by being underneath Caesar's Palace, for the tunnels are not relegated just to being beside and under the expressways through the city.
   
   The tunnels under Vegas are storm drainage tunnels, built around 1977 to control runoff from the local wash. Prior to that, there were stories of cars washing up in culverts around the town after a sudden downpour. When Vegas started to expand, it was decided that the city needed a subtler way to deal with the results of storms, thus the tunnels were born. Today there are 450 miles of flood channels in Las Vegas, including 300 miles of them underground. O'Brien says that the Las Vegas master plan created in the 1990s calls for 1,000 miles of flood channels and tunnels within 25 years.
   
   Most of the time the tunnels are dry, largely because it doesn't rain much in Vegas. But when it does, O'Brien says, the water level in the tunnels can rise rapidly, quickly turning into a flash flood. Down there is not where you'd want to be if such a thing were to happen. Which is why on a pillar deep underground, someone has helpfully spray painted, "In case of flood swim for your f---ing life."
   
   In fact, spray painting--the graffiti kind--is a major element to the tunnels. Everywhere there is some kind of graffiti, much of it meaningless and uninteresting. But in some places, it turns into art, as the photos in the book, taken by Danny Mollohan, testify.
   
   Because of its unique and dynamic presence in the world, Las Vegas is the subject of more books than any typical community of its size. The Las Vegas metro population is roughly the same as that of Columbus, Ohio, but you don't see many authors flocking to the Buckeye State capital in search of best-selling material.
   
   Nonfiction books about Las Vegas commonly come in four flavors:
   
   -- Gambling: Tomes of wisdom and mathematics to beat the odds (or at least not lose all your money during your first hour in the casino).
   
   -- History: Documenting the city's past, from John C. Fremont's brief stop to the Rat Pack era to the rise of the mega resorts.
   
   -- Organized crime: All the dirty details -- some of them actually true -- about Bugsy Siegel, Tony Spilotro and other lovable crooks.
   
   -- Photo essays: Artful pix of leggy showgirls, crowded craps tables and neon signs.
   
   But Matt O'Brien's "Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas" doesn't fall into any of these categories. It's a refreshing departure from the usual fare.
   
   O'Brien, is the news editor of CityLife, a weekly newspaper owned by the same company as the Review-Journal. "Beneath The Neon" is not a boring engineering-type textbook. It is a glowing, personal journey of discovery. Get this book. You will enjoy the read, written by a mostly likely future Pulitzer prize winning journalist.
   
   HERE is a link to some photos of the tunnels under Las Vegas.



3. I lived in Las Vegas for the past 4 years and heard the author talking about it on the news out there. I bought it for my 24 year old son who just loved visiting me in Las Vegas but I decided to read it myself first. It is just amazing to me what goes on under the very streets I worked, played and lived on.



4. Well written, new angle, just a really good story and well written.
   Someone please help the homeless in this land of abundance.



5. Mathew O'Brien is a man of his time, but more than that he is an explorer of his generation and an excellent writer. I have enjoyed this book immensely, and learned from it. In the book, he explores the tunnels and storm drains, which like giant endless catacombs wind their dark dangerous web under Las Vegas. He interviews and befriends those people who make these tunnels their home, wile looking at those who live the seeming life of luxury in the hotels, casinos and wonderful restaurants above.
   In this contrast of lifestyles, between those who live in the dark dangerous world of the tunnels and storm drains and those who live in the opulence of luxury above: I was startled to find that the ones living in the darkness have hope, while those above have none.
   
   This is an important book when considering our American way of life, our problems and our future. I think that, by inference one can feel the dissolution of what used to be our great middle class. Where has it gone? Mathew O'Brien will probably write a book about that subject. I'm looking forward to reading it.

4 comments about Las Vegas (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. These books are some of the best. They are so well written and very very helpful. If you have never been to Las Vegas, there is almost nothing left out of here to help you on your way to seeing one of the best cities in the world. If however you've been to Vegas many many times (like myself), there is still stuff in here you never knew. It's completely up to date and the pictures are brilliant and the glossy look of this book makes it more magical. I love Vegas and even if you don't need a guide to the city, you have this as almost a keep sake. I would highly recommend this particularily to new visitors because of the amount of information. It is great for shoppers instead of gamblers, good for hotel recomendations and where to eat etc. This is one great book. I love it.



2. As a fan of this collection (the Eyewitness Travel Guides), I can say that "Las Vegas" book doesn't worth a cent. No hotels' maps, just a few words about them. Don't buy!!!



3. If you are planning a trip to Sin City this is a great place to start looking. It covers all of the hotels and lays them out logically by region. Las Vegas is easiest to see when divided into three and I really appreciated the way it was laid out. Great recommendations for shopping and the pictures are wonderful.



4. I want to travel to Las Vegas. I was trying to find a guide to obtain information and I didn't see anyone. I searched here at Amazon a book and I found this one. I saw one review of another user and it was helpful for me. I bought this book and when I received the book I was very pleased because on this book it has a lot of information of Las Vegas, what you can do, what to visit. You can plan your own travel with this book. It will be very helpful for anyone who wants to visit Las Vegas.

2 comments about Michelin Las Vegas 2008 (Michelin Guide Las Vegas).

1. Las Vegas is a city known for indulgence. While I had found some great places to eat, it has been difficult. The Michelin Las Vegas Red Guide does a great job of uncovering some amazing places to eat. I really appreciate that while many of the best places are on the strip, that there are many great finds off the strip. Looking forward to trying them all.



2. This Michelin guide to Las Vegas is the worst guide of any city I have ever bought. I have a complete collection of more than 50 Michelin guides, mostly of european countries and cities and they are great, very detailed with precise indications and a through research.
   
   This guide is nothing like those. It is very thin, for every hotel there's just a little paragraph and a photo, same thing for restaurants. This is a complete waste of money.
   
   How can you describe all the amenities of monster hotels like the MGM Grand, the Bellagio or the venetian in 10 lines? They don't even compare room amenities or features of each hotel.
   
   Same thing goes for the restaurants, the european guides tell you which are the best entrees and specialities for each restaurant, in this guide you will find a simple picture and a very brief description.
   
   I own some 6 guides to Las Vegas and this one by far is the most useless of them all. It's a simple (and very incomplete) listing of the major hotels and restaurants with no worthy information.
   
   If you are like me and trust the Michelin guides, be prepared for a surprise with this one, better yet, dont waste your money and buy the Fodors guide or the Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas.