Travel Issue

Start early for Vegas voyage

By Phil Witte
Daily Forty-Niner

Students wanting to avoid long lines on the slope this winter break can head east to Las Vegas, the city that sleeps even less than New York.

Given the popularity of Sin City as a year-round destination, reservations should be made early as rooms are already disappearing for winter break.

Hotel rooms on the strip are available for all price ranges, from the inexpensive, Circus Circus at $45 (midweek), or Sahara $49; to the reasonable, Bally's $75 or Luxor $79; to the luxurious, Rio $179; to the outrageous, Mirage $215 or Venetian $249. Some hotels, including Caesar's Palace and Excalibur are already booked for many of the days during winter break.

With a new hotel-casino sprouting out of the desert every few months, there always seems to be something new in Las Vegas on every visit. Recent additions include the Paris, Mandalay Bay and the Orleans.

Downtown Las Vegas offers a less expensive and more subdued atmosphere than the strip with rooms under $50. Typical is the Union Plaza at $35, and the Golden Nugget at $39.

Room rates everywhere skyrocket on the weekends and expect to be extorted if you plan on going for New Year's Eve.

For those wanting to avoid the inevitable traffic jam on Interstate 15, daily flights are available from Long Beach, Los Angeles and Orange County airports. Round trip flights from Los Angeles are the cheapest, usually around $90. Long Beach is next on the list at around $100, but given the limited number of airlines operating there, flights are usually not direct. Flights from Orange County are the most expensive at around $110.

The drawback to flying is the choice of an added expense of a rental car or putting one's life in danger by relying on Las Vegas cab drivers.

Various travel Web sites, including www.Irvs.com and www.travelworm.com offer package deals with flights and hotel costs included.

Every hotel offers entertaining shows, and every possible type of show can be found in Vegas. From magic and showgirls to comedy and drag queens, somewhere in Vegas a show is going on to fit all desires. Featured concerts and events also grace the stages of Sin City, but schedules were unavailable at press time.

Las Vegas also features fine shopping, dining, and many golf courses. Amusement parks are also available for younger crowds.