5 comments about Neon Nuptials: The Complete Guide to Las Vegas Weddings.

1. This is a great guide to getting spliced in Lost Wages. Van Vechten has a nice style - He's very informative, but keeps things light and humorous. Even if you're not planning on getting married anytime soon, it's a fun read and a good addition to your Vegas library.



2. After reading about a local couple renewing their vows in Las Vegas with an Elvis impersonator performing the ceremony, it doesn't surprise me that there's a whole book devoted to Las Vegas weddings.
   This book covers the pricing, description of the facility, hours, types of ceremonies and even languages spoken. It also factors in how clean they are, how romantic, friendly and even how oddball the place might be.
   If you're thinking of taking the plunge into matrimony, this book will help you plan the ultimate Las Vegas wedding.



3. I was really impressed by the information contained in this book, you definitely feel confident about planning a wedding from a far. i enjoyed the little snippets of historical significance and i truely believe this book will make our journey to the states and the alter one to remember!



4. My fiance and I are going to Las Vegas in May to tie the knot. I was so excited to find this book! It gives totally complete reveiws of each and every chapel and rates them in a fun and informative way using grades such as "Kitch Factor" and "Romance Quotient" along with hours and costs etc. Every chapel is listed....there are separate sections for stand alone chapels and those in the casinos. It gives history of the chapels and little quirks, if Elvis is in the building, or the more traditional. There are all kinds of tips along the way, and at the end is some info on great restaurants and entertainment. I have read it cover to cover and am so glad it came into my life at the right time. It has made my planning MUCH easier! If you are getting married Vegas Style you NEED this book!



5. Out of all the books I read on weddings in Vegas, this one was the best! It had everything I wanted to know about the locations and accomodations. Well worth the money if you plan on getting married there, but don't know what chapel to choose.

5 comments about Frommer's Las Vegas with Kids (Frommer's With Kids).

1. I highly recommend this book to anyone headed for Las Vegas with the kids in tow. It paints a very complete picture of the city and answers questions you'd never even think to ask.
   
   This book was published just as we were planning a trip that includes a stop in Las Vegas. Our three kids (ages 10, 8, 6) love to travel, but we have learned that you can never do enough research when it comes to planning a trip with kids.
   
   Having been to Vegas more than a few times without the kids, we have a pretty good feel for the place. Even so, a vacation with the kids along needs to be a very different type of trip, so we still found ourselves with many questions. Happily, this book answers them all!
   
   Very specific information on everything from hotels, restaurants, and attractions (including which places are NOT kid-friendly). Also includes info on side trips, shopping, etc. Everything is broken down into price categories (from very expensive to inexpensive and everything between). Definitely written by someone who understands that kids are not just miniature adults.
   
   I only wish I could get hold of such complete information for all our destinations!



2. This is an incredibly detailed book that has a huge amount of information on what to do, see, and avoid in Vegas if you are traveling with children. The section on which restaurants and buffets to eat at for families that are on a budget is more than worth the price of this book. This book, along with "The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas" by Bob Sehlinger will make planning your trip to Vegas fun and informative. Both are highly recommended!!



3. This book really helped us decide what to do in Las Vegas. We do not gamble so we wanted "other" things to do. What we found is Las Vegas is not "family" friendly and you have to take your children into the gaming areas of most casinos to see the attractions. The book did offer suggestions that we did find helpful. Like how to avoid certain crowds and what shows are appropriate for kids. Much better than some of the other books out there.



4. Loaded with helpful info for planning a family trip. Maps, phone numbers, drive times, etc.
   
   If it had pictures I would have given it a 5.



5. I really liked the book, and the only reason I gave it 4 stars is because a good part of the book talks about hotel accomadations and booking flights, etc. and I had already done that by the time I bought the book. So half of the book was of no use to me, but the book had good recommendations.

5 comments about The Last Honest Place in America: Paradise and Perdition in the New Las Vegas (Nation Books).

1. The writer does a good job of exploring the sides of the city that tourist seldom see, from advocates for the homeless to the personal lives of long-time casino workers. The book really hits its stride with the stories about the Honorable Oscar Goodman. However, as the book goes on, the writer's political bias becomes more and more prevalent with the last few chapters turning into nothing but a political rant against the GOP and its supporters. I would recommend the first 80 percent of the book, but after that, one could read the New York Times Opinion page and see the same tired demagoguery you can see here.



2. I stumbled onto this book while prepping for my 1st ever visit to Vegas. What we have here is an outstanding piece of 1st person journalism, story telling and ground level interviews with long time "core" Vegas denizens from a long time Vegas expert. The narrative is colorful, imaginative and thought provoking. I cannot over state how much I enjoyed this sage piece of story telling and biting social commentary about Vegas and indeed our nation as a whole. I'd kill for an autographed copy.....



3. Marc Cooper's book is a collection of essays about Las Vegas. The first quarter of the book is a history of the city, which will be old material unless this is the first book you've read on the subject. Why does everyone who writes about Las Vegas feel obligated to rehash the city's history? The rest of the book is an assortment of essays about such things as the Ted Binion murder trial, a Franciscan monk who works with the homeless, corruption in local politics, the life story of the author's favorite blackjack dealer, a self-help group for gambling addicts, and a transsexual stripper who is trying to unionize the city's strippers. Cooper loves to gamble and conveys the addictive nature of trying to win at blackjack. What surprised me most is that for only $250 you can take a 100 hour course on how to be a blackjack dealer - surely a bargain for training that actually leads to a job.
   
   I can't help but compare this book to Hal Rothman's "Neon Metropolis," which covers the same territory. Rothman's book covers a wider variety of topics and focuses more on life away from The Strip than Cooper does. On the other hand, Cooper doesn't seem to have an ideological axe to grind like Rothman, although both writers are politically liberal. Cooper's theme, that Las Vegas is an "honest" place at a time when Americans have lost faith in other institutions, seems like quite a stretch.
   
   Cooper's book feels like it was published too hastily: There's an epilogue with updates on his stories - why not simply revise the main part of the book instead? There are a few factual errors, there's no index, and someone should tell Cooper that the possessive form of "it" is not "it's."



4. I picked this book up at the Mandalay Bay's Reading Room bookstore during my last visit to Vegas but read it after I got home. How can anyone take time to read a book in Vegas?
   
   Marc Cooper's writing keeps moving for a quick overview of Vegas history, focusing on the couple of years after 9/11. For a book crammed with a lot of info and trivia, I didn't find any chapter where it slowed down or lagged.
   
   Cooper writes about his own experience as a Vegas gambler (where most visitors and tourists exist), and chats with a transsexual stripper trying to unionize nude dancers, Blackjack dealers and other older Vegas denizens who reminisce about the Sin City they used to know. He also profiles the "Big O," Oscar Goodman, who first made his mark as a mob lawyer and now acts as the mayor of Las Vegas.
   
   Cooper then moves on to listen to professionals working with addicted gamblers and an activist-monk fighting for the homeless, showing an underside to the party.
   
   (I think the book would've been more interesting if Cooper had used his investigative skills to take a closer peek at the ultra-rich in Vegas, juxtaposing that with the chapters about the bottom-dwelling addicts and homeless. At the same time I was reading this book, I also read the latest Vanity Fair article by upper-crust gadfly, Dominick Dunne, detailing a lavish visit to the opening of the new Wynn Hotel & Casino. It would've fit nicely into Cooper's book, broadening it from the richest to the poorest in Vegas).
   
   There are several complaints about Cooper turning political near the end of the book. There are snide comments about the War in Iraq and the Bush Administration, but the book doesn't turn into a complete political screed.
   The venom Cooper reserves for an abstinence group meeting near Vegas does interfere with the flow, however. He talks about strippers, gambling addicts, crazy homeless, mobsters and even mob attorneys while remaining objective and indifferent to any of their messy details--but he completely tears into virgins participating in an abstinence program. It just about ruins the book.
   
   (Also, there are no less than six typos in the epilogue alone in the paperback I read).
   
   But this is still a good Vegas read.



5. This is a fairly good hit and miss book on modern day Las Vegas. If you like Vegas, and want some snapshots of the modern incarnation thereof, this is a good book to read. There are some very interesting chapters (e.g. chapters on Oscar Goodman, and Binions) but there are also some so-so ones (e.g. homeless problem and transvesite stripper).
   
   The writing is average but the book moves along at a good pace. It is a good airplane read but there are more interesting books on Vegas out there.

No comments about Moon Las Vegas (Moon Handbooks).

1 comments about Lonely Planet Las Vegas Encounter.

1. Lonely Planet's new series of Encounter guides allow the read to "discover twice the city in half the time." I've always celebrated Lonely Planet guides for their compact size and sturdy construction, and the Encounter guides are even smaller, with glossy and thin (but durable) pages. The information is focused and direct. Currency, tipping, and basic services are listed on the inside cover and in a closing chapter, instead of at the front of the book. The guide gets rights down to business in the opening pages with outlines of top agendas in Vegas--cruising the Strip, buffet dining, getting married, gambling, visiting vintage Vegas or cheap Vegas (which is getting harder these days), and so forth. The outlines have parenthetical page number references to the gaming, dining, and amusements entries that make up the majority of the guide.
   
   The book reviews 14 Strip casinos and one in the downtown area (Binion's, which is now owned by a Strip franchise) and a plethora of museums, unique shops, and dining options. The guide has brief entries on all the hot night clubs and shows as well as a short chapter on excursions into the surrounding area. The author elects to focus more on a subjective assessment of the vibe of various attractions and let the reader do their own Internet research on room prices and other rapidly-changing details.
   
   The small format book has a large pull-out map as well as several pages of localized maps. The monorail map is the essential Strip guide, with excellent 3-D representations of all the Strip casinos, color-coded by closest rail stop.

5 comments about The Underground Guide To Las Vegas (Underground Guide to Las Vegas).

1. I went to Vegas twice and was very frustrated trying to find the real fun hidden beneath all the tourist ugliness. I wanted someone to write exactly this book, and that's exactly what I got. It's well-written, funny, sharp and perceptive. Now I actually want to go back, and do it right the next time. This book is worth every penny and many more.



2. This book is more like an expanded, cheaply produced pamphlet than a real guidebook. It's small, insubstantial, poorly produced, and has little useful information compared to the other guidebooks I consulted. It has the feel of amateurish reviews from underground or college newspapers. This book would probably be rather useful if you want to connect with the Las Vegas gay community, or if you're moving to L.V. to attend college, or if you wish to pick up prostitutes, or if you are into binge drinking on a budget.
   I did appreciate the information on coffee shops and bookstores. Other than that, there is little here for the tourist who just prefers to stay off the beaten track.



3. I grew up in Vegas and still find this book useful. Keene did his homework. And more than that, he gathered an amazing roster of contributors. I mean, who better to guide the traveling drunkard through the liquor-lined streets of Vegas than the city's top boozer himself, Seth Barkan.
   
   Not only is this book useful, it's smart, witty and fun to read.
   
   This book could what finish what the tiger started: Wipe Siegfried and Roy's Vegas off the map.



4. Was very objective and interesting to read. A lot of information in a small book.



5. I love this book. I'm a new arrival in Vegas and I'm looking for the 'Underground' things to do. Everyone knows of the major hotels on the strip but what else is there to do? Thanks to this book in my hands, I now have ideas on where to go.
   
   Things I love about this book.
   
   I like the snark and the descriptive writing. eg. "Strippers with breasts the size of Thanksgiving Turkeys."
   
   There seems to be something for everyone. There's a gay section of course but it's not a totally gay themed production like someone suggested. There are plenty of sections on outdoor activities, things for kids, bars, tips on getting comped and upcoming conventions.
   
   Things I didn't like about the book.
   
   Nothing really. It's about 3 years or so out of date which means entries on the Fronter are outdated since the hotel has been demolished. Can't blame the author for that.
   
   It you want a book to give you information that only the locals (and professional tourists) will know then this is the book for you.

5 comments about Frommer's Las Vegas 2007 (Frommer's Complete).

1. Having been to Vegas a few times for conventions I have a good idea of what's there and where, but for the most part haven't really had the chance to experience it. So, knowing that I'm going for a vacation with someone (for the first time) I wanted to get a guide book to help us plan our time there. This book was really no help at all, even less so since I'd already booked our travel & accomodations (which probably half the book is dedicated to). Also the breakdown of South Strip/Mid Strip/North Strip was confusing to me. The entire organization of the book (to me) made it difficult to glean much useful information from, and for the most part they didn't really delve into anything, nor even give a broad overview. They picked what they liked and talked about it, leaving out most of Vegas, much less most of the strip.



2. I've always relied on Frommer's for any travel literataure I need. This book was no exception....all my questions asked and very good reviews, etc.



3. Frommer's Las Vegas 2006 offers everything you want to know about Las Vegas - both good and bad. Having been there before, and having read a previous edition of Frommers Las Vegas, it is useful to get an updated perspective of the 'old' and 'new' hotels, attractions, dining, gambling and so much more. Frommers is the best guide on Las Vegas I have come across.



4. Great book. Good info. Recently used the book on the trip and their info was dead on. Well worth the money and unlike other travel books the info seemed to be up-to-date. Just wish they reviewed more of the restaurants.



5. As always Frommer's line of books is top quality. If you are going to Vegas for the first time, get this book.
   
   Frank Scoblete: author of Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!

3 comments about Ron Kay's Guide to Zion National Park: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Zion National Park But Didn't Know Who To Ask!.

1. We have just completed an Elderhostel trip around the Grand Circle under Ron's tutelage, and I have reviewed an electronic version of this book (I am in the process of purchasing the paper volume). Ron is an authentic naturalist and a dedicated advocate for the glories of this region which he has explored from corner to corner. He's also a very effective teacher. From an up-close and personal perspective, I doubt that there is anyone better qualified and able to write a book with this title and I recommend it strongly.



2. Amazing! I have made many trips to Zion National Park and this book made it a new experience. I would recommend this to any person wishing to visit the canyons or looking for information about the beautiful area. Ron did a great job on this book; I will use it for many years to come. I never leave reviews, but this has me so excited I think others should experiance Zion with the information this book provides.



3. My family and I have visited Zion in the past and it is a wonderful place. However, this book is just magnificent!! We are now in the process of visiting many many more areas in which we have not hiked and explored! It is so informative and exciting that I think it is an awesome read and so very helpful in planning our hikes in the park. Anyone who is interested in finding out the many possibilites and adventures that are waiting to be seen, Ron Kay's book is a must have for everyone!!

No comments about Wallpaper City Guide: Las Vegas (Wallpaper City Guides (Phaidon Press)).

3 comments about A Short History Of Las Vegas: Second Edition.

1. This book is a look back at Las Vegas and the area from prehistoric times to the present. It is very informative and packed with information that history buffs will love. It also explains the evolution of Las Vegas from a western town teetering on the edge of becoming a ghost town to the boom that started with the building of the Hoover (Boulder) Dam and continues today. This book is very academic in nature, so you have to love history to like this book. Overall a very interesting book.



2. This books gives an general overall history of Las Vegas and its chameleonistic changes over time. From the dawn of mans first wanderings into the Las Vegas area to modern day gambling mecca and suburban success, this book packs a short, but sweet punch into a somewhat short span. This book is good for people interested in Las Vegas history where general Nevada history leaves off,



3. The Lands have an easy, breezy writing style. In particular they bring the last 100 years of Las Vegas history alive with many photos of the times and observations of citizens and visitors alike who were there. Although they do not discuss the role the divorce business or the wedding industry played in the city's development (and weddings are associated with Vegas almost as much as gaming), the picture of the city presented here is fun and informative. To quote the authors quoting Steve Wynn, "Las Vegas is a party that never stops. God bless this daffy place."