Airport TransitMcCarran
International Airport, approximately one mile west of the Las Vegas
Strip and five miles from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $12-$18 to
the Strip, $17-$27 to downtown; by shuttle, $6-$9 to Strip hotels,
$8-$12 to downtown properties
TaxesOn
the Las Vegas Strip: room tax, 12%; sales tax, 8.1%; total tax on hotel
rooms, 12%. Downtown: room tax, 13%; sales tax, 8.1%; total tax on
hotel rooms, 13%. Sales tax is not applied to guest rooms, but it is
applied to other hotel charges.
Group VenuesA new venue in the Luxor, Score!
is an interactive sports exhibit that has collaborated with the Pro
Football Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,
the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Boxing Hall of Fame and the U.S. Soccer
Federation, among other institutions, to display one-of-a-kind
memorabilia from each. The 10,000-square-foot exhibit has more than 300
pieces on display, as well as a broadcast studio and various interactive
sports challenges. Events can be hosted here for groups of 30 to 300
people, and can include use of the studio, celebrity-athlete appearances
and sports-themed activities, among other options. Team-building
efforts can be tested with a NASCAR pit-stop challenge, and questions as
to who has the fastest fastball or highest vertical leap can finally be
put to rest. (702) 262-4200; scorelv.com
Attendees
staying on the Strip often see the regional topography only on the
short ride in from the airport and, if they're lucky, through their
hotel room windows. Death Vally Tours provide a sensory break
from the casino stimulation, transporting participants through a ghost
town and to major vistas in the desert. The daytrip runs from 7 a.m.
until 5:30 p.m. and includes lunch, snacks, and a guide well-versed in
the history and topography of the region. Tours are scheduled for Monday
and Wednesday, or can be booked any day for groups of four or more.
(702) 664-2599; bit.ly/VaKmin
Dining OutAndrea's
opened in late December at Encore, the first Wynn Las Vegas restaurant
to be fully integrated into a nightclub. The "vibe dining" concept, as
Wynn has dubbed it, places this upscale Asian-fusion eatery in the
Surrender club. It's a unique way to straddle both restaurant and
nightclub atmospheres for an event; the 6,194-square-foot restaurant has
hexagon-shaped tables for larger group dining, as well as private
dining spaces and a 2,100-square-foot terrace. bit.ly/12Jp3Zs
Meanwhile, short-tempered celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was busy this past December opening both the Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill (bit.ly/OFa3qJ) at Caesars Palace and Gordon Ramsay BurGR (bit.ly/W6MIym)
at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The 290-seat Pub &
Grill serves both lunch and dinner, and offers two different menus and
atmospheres, depending on whether one wants an English pub (Yorkshire
ale battered fish and chips, 36 beers on tap, televised sports) or a
casual grill (pan roasted snapper, Cornish chicken, friendly
conversation). Executive chef Jeremy Berlin comes by way of Church and
State in Los Angeles. The 200-seat BurGR elevates the
burger/fries/milkshake combo to gourmet heights, with choice cuts of
beef, freshly made brioche buns, sweet potato fries and pudding-infused
shakes, among other Ramsay fluorishes.
GolfThe
Las Vegas area is a haven for golfers. Tee up at the following: Aliante
Golf Club (702-399-4888, 877-399-4888), Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock
(702-258-2300, 866-934-4653), Badlands Golf Club (702-363-0754), Bear's
Best Las Vegas (702-804-8500), Desert Pines Golf Club (888-427-6678),
Durango Hills Golf Club (702-229-4653), Eagle Crest Golf Club
(877-669-4653), Las Vegas Golf Club (702-646-3003), Las Vegas National
Golf Club (702-734-1280), Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (702-658-1400,
800-711-2833), Painted Desert Golf Club (702-645-2570, ext. 2), Royal
Links Golf Club (702-450-8123, 888-427-6678), Silverstone Golf Club
(702-562-3770, 877-888-2127), TPC Las Vegas (702-256-2500), and Wynn
Golf and Country Club (702-770-7100, 888-320-7122).
ContactLas Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, (702) 892-0711 or (877) 847-4858; fax: (702) 386-7818
Henderson Convention Center & Visitors Bureau, (702) 267-2171 or (877) 775-5252
Laughlin Visitor Information Center, (702) 298-3321 or (800) 452-8445