5 comments about Kidding Around Las Vegas: A Parent's Guide to Las Vegas (Kidding Around Las Vegas) (Kidding Around Las Vegas) (Kidding Around Las Vegas).

1. As a single mother of 3 adolescent kids, this book was a godsend! I was able to find all kinds of fun things for them to do while I was enjoying myself in Las Vegas. I love the organization of the book and all the "local" tips. It is apparent that the author is a long-time resident of Las Vegas and that she has kids herself. The suggested activities are fun and wholesome, which I was worried about. I didn't know if there would be "wholesome" things for my kids to do in Las Vegas until I read this book! Thanks Ms. Espin for all the advice!



2. Let me start of by saying I am not much of a reader, but when I received a copy of this book I was moved. The honesty in this book and the references are on point. I have gone to many of these places myself and done a lot of the things said in this book and they are just like kathy said they were. I find this book a good reference when I am bored and have nothing better to do. It also helped me when I had company and didn't know what to do with them. I took them to a few places that the book said to and then I gave them the book and they just had a blast. I recommend this to everybody even the locals who think they know everything about this town(I used to be one of them) its so informational that its kind of mind blowing that kathy took her time to study and find all of these places. Thank you kathy for a wonderful book and I hope there are many more to come.



3. Las Vegas and kids? Yes, it is possible to bring your children to Sin City and find a good time is had by all - thanks to Kathy Espin. With the glut of gaming books, mob tales and Elvis stories it is a delightful treat to find something that offers a fresh twist! As a long-time resident, I was happily surprised to learn that even us old Vegas 'Hound Dogs' can still learn a new trick or two!



4. Whoever this lady is, she saved our trip! My wife found this book online while we were planning a long weekend trip to Las Vegas. We thought we would figure out the kids entertainment plans when we got there, but this book did ALL the legwork for us. She has a light hearted writing style, but she obviously knows "her" town!
   Ms.Espin, my children thank you, my wife thanks you, and my WALLET thanks you! (Now, can you teach me how to win at poker?)



5. I bought this book to help us decide if Las Vegas could be a family vacation destination. After reading it, I see that most of Vegas is for adults only. However, if you end up with your children in Vegas and need to entertain them, this book is priceless! It exhaustingly covers every nook and cranny of kid-accessible entertainment in and around the greater Las Vegas area. This is invaluable information written by a long-time Vegas resident and experienced mom.

5 comments about 24/7: Living It Up and Doubling Down in the New Las Vegas.

1. I just read this book after it being recommended by a dealer. I play pretty high stakes baccarat and BJ and when in Vegas live those crazy hours. I was extremely excited when I first bought the book and read the plot outline and the first few pages. However it begins to drag on far too long when he spends time with people like conventioneers. It is pretty surprising that he had such wild swings in his bankroll, at times he'd be down 10-20 grand and come back with a couple thousand dollars left. There wasn't enough about a "wild time" in Vegas in my opinion, it seems his stay while nice because his free bankroll, was fairly dull in many ways.



2. Its a cliche but the phrase "A great read" is applicable. Book is entertaining throughout, one that I reread a few years later and enjoyed equally the second time around. Mr Martinez is one of the few writers that captures the adrenaline of Las Vegas, the feeling of non-stop action.
   You won't be disappointed.



3. I read this when I need a Vegas fix. If you like Vegas or casino gambling you will love this book. This is the reality show of books. Martinez go head to head with the casinos and experiences the up and downs of a real gambler. Enjoying the high of winning and the despair of losing.



4. 24/7 sounds like an adrenaline and hormone ride, but it actually isn't. Andres Martinez is a middle class, stable guy who is given $50,000 by a publisher and told to go to Las Vegas and gamble it up or down. What he makes in profit he gets to keep. I won't ruin the plot for you, but Martinez plays a great deal of baccarat and blackjack along with some slots and a single game of poker. As a narrator, he seems like a kind man whose decency, unfortunately, detracts from the story's value. Everything's pretty tame here, and for those of us who read books as a way to vicariously escape our own moderation, it's more bourgeois than ideal. Martinez is strongest when talking about his own childhood in Mexico or about The World Cup. He's weakest and annoying when talking politics. He appears to have all the usual biases of the mainstream press. Indeed, he views "libertarian" as a pejorative even though a careful study of his former country would prove to him the extent in which socialism impoverishes the masses.
   
   One problem that I should mention is that the book is now dated. Oh, it wouldn't be if it were written about any other city, but 1999, in Vegas years, was four decades ago. Many of his observations, such as those about the former mayor, have little application to the present. Much has changed since 2000 and the changes will continue ad infinitum. I do have to say though that the sections on baccarat were educational and very entertaining. It's a game of which most of us small timers know absolutely nothing. Another reason for my mild recommendation is that the role of casino host, such as the one he had at the Luxor, is really fleshed out. We see their tremendous dedication their clients here. The hosts, like the high stakes gaming areas, are another side to Vegas which most of us rarely see.



5. I thoroughly enjoyed this book--I finished it in only a couple days. I don't really agree with a lot of the reviewers about how "it drags" and there was too much filler--I thought it was pretty hard to put down. Since I am probably moving down to Vegas soon (I live in Reno currently) I liked the parts where he wrote about locals and life outside of the Strip--but I also think this would be interesting to anyone in general. I also liked all the different descriptions of the casinos he stayed at--since the book was written before all the new casinos opened (Venetian, Wynn, etc) you read about some of the lesser-known or older ones, which I thought was pretty interesting. The book draws you in quickly--I would become genuinely anxious/excited during his gambling sprees and "nest egg" fluctuations. I will agree with another reviewer that said he should have talked more about actual gambling theory--which I find fascinating-- and the games he was playing. I found myself wondering if he even knew what he was doing most of the time...but overall a very fun read for anyone who likes gambling/casinos/Vegas, etc.

No comments about Las Vegas (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides).

1 comments about Sinning in the City: A Girls Guide to Las Vegas.

1. Sinning in the City is a Las Vegas travel guide that opens up Pandora's Box and shows the sinful pleasures of Sin City. It is wittingly split up into eight sections covering all the seven deadly sins with the final chapter dealing with repentance. The guides are up to date with all the latest and greatest "sin's" Las Vegas has to offer; lust can be found in the hottest dance clubs in the nation, and gluttony is appeased in the assortment of restaurants and buffets on and off the strip. It is a perfect gift for those visiting Las Vegas and for those who call Sin City home.

No comments about Everything Family Travel Guide To Las Vegas: Hotels, Casinos, Restaurants, Major Family Attractions - And More! (Everything: Travel and History).

3 comments about Econoguide Las Vegas 2003: Also includes Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Laughlin.

1. THIS BOOK IS AN EXCELLENT TRAVEL COMPANION. WE USED THE MAPS INSIDE FOR DRIVING DIRECTIONS. THEY ARE ALL VERY EASY TO READ AND FOLLOW. IT ALSO HAS A GOOD LISTING OF SIGHTS TO SEE AND THINGS TO DO. I REALLY LIKE IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT BORING TO JUST SIT AND READ. IT GIVES YOU BRIEF HISTORY ON AREAS AND UPDATES ANY CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURED IN THE LAST YEAR. I LOOK FORWARD TO MY NEXT VACATION AND JUST HOPE THAT WHEREVER I PLAN TO GO THERE IS AND ECONOGUIDE FOR IT.



2. The descriptions of various Vegas locations in this book are detailed and accurate, and easy to read. The book includes tips on getting the best airfare, hotel, and ticket rates, as well as attention-grabbing descriptions of what you can find and where. Ratings from one to six stars are included for every hotel, casino, and restaurant, as well as periodic "blurb boxes" of worthy and humorous side notes about Las Vegas. This book makes an excellent start for the first time Sin City visitor, or for those who have been before but might have missed something and want to know where to find it. The maps are also easy to follow and quite helpful.

   So why do I give this book only 4 out of 5 stars? Because there are pieces of it that mislead the buyer. The book is NOT "filled with hundreds of dollars of money-saving coupons" as the photo says. There are a FEW coupons in the back of the book, but they make absolutely no sense for this guide. For instance, there are coupons for Universal Studios and for Knotts Berry Farm, both of which are located in Los Angeles. Now why the heck anyone would put L.A. coupons in a Las Vegas/Reno/Tahoe guide, I have yet to figure out. The single ACTUAL Las Vegas coupon in this book is for a Mini Grand Prix fun center that is located nowhere near either the Strip or the Downtown area...most visitors will not even see the place, and I've not seen this Grand Prix advertised anywhere else but this book. And there are NO Reno, Laughlin, or Tahoe coupons in the book.

   And even if you DID manage to use the all of six or seven coupons included in the book, you wouldn't even save $200.

   What else misleads the reader? Well, be careful...there is a great (and perhaps valid) point the author makes about always asking hotels for their BEST rate. He then tells how he called a hotel and got a quote of $149 for the room. After an initial "Ouch" response, the agent lowered the price to $109 due to a promotion. He then asked for the BEST rate...$79. But then he's a member of AAA...ok now he only has to pay $72. Great story...the catch? It didn't happen at a Vegas hotel...the hotel in question was in Chicago. Now, I'd think that if you're going to buy a Vegas guide, you want VEGAS stories, not Chicago ones. But so much of the book is about Vegas, that you tend to ignore little details like that if you don't read the stories carefully. And that is not the only story in the book where you will find little fallacies like that.

   So be SURE when you read the tips and tricks, that you take them with a grain of salt. But if you're already IN vegas or know where you will stay and just want to choose activities or eateries, you probably won't find any guide much better.




3. Helpful guide to Las Vegas. I used while I was there several weeks ago. I especially like the way the chapters are designed: The Best of the Strip, The Rest of the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas. I used it to choose what sights we wanted to see. I also liked the chapter on Eating your way across Las Vegas. It gives an honest and thorough critique!

1 comments about Las Vegas: The Best of Glitter City: The Ten Best Casino Resorts and Gaming Areas, "Big Room" and Cabaret Shows, Restaurants, Cafes and Buffets, Cocktail ... and Much More ("Best of . . ." City Series).

1. First of all, never trust a guide book to Vegas which states "we don't gamble" (p. 31) and then tries to tell you which casinos are the best. This book is full of opinionated "top ten" lists which only appeal to a certain demographic. (Namely, the demographic which would drive all over town to find the number one 99-cent shrimp cocktail, and then would look for the number one spot to park the RV. Lucky for them, both lists are provided.)

   Every traveler to Vegas should see Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas, which would appeal to a wide variety of tourists. The younger crowd needs to check out Frommer's Irreverant Guide to Las Vegas.

1 comments about On the Boulevard--The Best of John L. Smith.

1. ON THE BOULEVARD is a wonderful compilation of Smith's best daily columns. It's a fun and easy read that gives the reader insight into every-day life in Las Vegas -- from a fourth-generation Nevadan. Smith is the most-read columnist in Nevada because his stories cover the human side of Vegas, the side most tourists never see. I highly recommend!

5 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs: Las Vegas & Beyond (Best Hikes With Dogs).

1. I love, love, love this book! It is easy to read and all the hikes I've done (with my two dogs in tow) have been great. I would recommend this book to anyone (even if you don't hike with dogs). It is so hard to find a quality hiking book for this area. This is the BEST!



2. Thanks to "Best hikes with dogs Las Vegas and Beyond," I am much more adventurous and take my dog to new trails often. Directions to trails and details of terrain have helped me choose which hikes are best suited for my dog and I. The book takes "guessing" out of the equation. A must have for anyone hiking with or without a dog.



3. Chewbacca (25 lb pup) and I really enjoyed using the book on the trails! It was nice to know what hiking-obstacles we could expect. The first-aid section for dogs was really great too. If you've got a dog you blaze the trail with... then check this guide out.



4. This book is great, it's so hard to find out about trails in the Las Vegas area (outside of the heavily populated areas). As a bonus, the authors are local and lead hikes every now and then around the valley. The web-site address for the guided hikes is printed in the back of the book.



5. Good selection of places in and near Las Vegas to go hiking with your dog and rates them for how difficult they are (great for me since I'm a fairly new hiker). Also has sections on what to include in the first aid kit for your dog and hiking tips (preparing for your hike, etc.), and tons of maps. It divides the hikes into different areas around Las Vegas and within each area goes into detail about each hike. I definitely recommend this book!

1 comments about Las Vegas: A Photographic Tour.

1. This is a really neat book. It has a little history and old photos in the beginning which is really great to see how the older casinos looked. The current photographs are really stunning and gives the feel of what the strip, downtown and surrounding areas really look like. A great book and a really good value for anyone who would like to know anything about Las Vegas - both in history and current pictures.