Business Wire: Las Vegas Deals 'Sure Things' for Summer Getaways

Business Editors/Travel Writers

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 2004

Summer vacations are considered an inalienable American right. Unlike destinations that depend upon one-note distractions, Sin City's zesty, tanned, well-lubricated indulgence machine makes every minute count. LasVegas.com shares its first Seven Sure Things About Summer in Las Vegas for trip planning:

1. Hotels Play Close to the Vest -- Room rates vary per night. As

demand changes, rates go up or down; standard rooms may no

longer be available. Entertainment and special events are

often announced within 30 days of the date, which means that

room rates fluctuate with the announcement. For both long term

and next night availability, LasVegas.com offers the greatest

range of hotels, room types and rates. New to the site are

Star Ratings to differentiate with confidence among icon

hotels. http://www.lasvegas.com/deals

2. Wet is Wild -- Las Vegas casino resort pools are fantasy

playgrounds by day and night. Underground speakers, swim-up

blackjack, flamingos, coconut palms, bars, cabanas for

waterfront ogling or massages, appear in descriptions like a

la carte menu choices. Decide on the scene quotient --

beautiful bodies, family hijinks or budget sunbathing --

around pools that range from South Pacific to ancient Rome,

and stay put. Pool hopping is unlikely; daytime admission is

closely regulated. LasVegas.com pool photos -- found in hotel

photo galleries -- help with room reservation decisions. At

night, concerts and theme parties mix attitudes, guest keys

and music. Check the site for pool party updates.

http://www.lasvegas.com/pools

3. Food Fight -- The celebrity chefs earn their toques in New

York, Paris, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco or Los Angeles, but

write their own ticket at Strip hotels. Their concepts and

menus reflect Las Vegas scale and presentation. Signature

pizzas to lobster pot pie, comfort food never looked so luxe.

Buffets, once a way to get people to stay close to a hotel

casino, are now lavish destinations. Using LasVegas.com, make

advance dining plans by checking out the newest -- MGM debuts

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Thomas Keller's French bistro in

the new Venetian tower, or Mandalay Place's The Burger Bar,

among others -- or by cuisine, theme, chef, wine list, art, or

views of the Strip.

4. Take the high road or whirlybird -- Getting out of a town

surrounded by desert, Las Vegas style, means a high-octane

air-conditioned jaunt that returns to hotels before the neon

burns. Hummers rumble to nearby Red Rocks, a gold mine, or

rugged tracks amid the Mojave Desert's Joshua trees.

Helicopters zip to the Grand Canyon or other desert

attractions for a contrasting view of Southwest life forms.

There are 86 different tours to book on LasVegas.com. Hummer

tours start at $210; helicopter flights over Hoover Dam and

the Grand Canyon with Colorado River rafting start at $195.

http://www.lasvegas.com/tours

5. Shows, Headliners, "Reinvention" -- No where on Earth do such

entertainment spectacles exist for the price of a ticket.

Madonna's Reinvention Tour kicks off summer over Memorial Day

weekend in a 16,000 seat arena. Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity

pushes the envelope of human sexuality; it was the first to

place loveseats, sofas and cabaret seating with theater

seats. Celine Dion and Elton John alternate at Caesars

Colosseum; Jerry Seinfeld performs June 11 and 12 during their

break. These legends and acrobats, singers, magicians,

comedians, impressionists, showgirls, actors, and shiny blue

men are among the headline acts and performances featured in

LasVegas.com's Shows roster. For example, two- and three-night

packages for hot Elton John dates are available at Caesars,

Paris, Bally's and Flamingo from $690 to $1,508.

http://www.lasvegas.com/elton

6. Bright Night, Frostbite -- With Las Vegas' preference for

extravaganza, the nightclub scene, under glittering marquees,

runs a gamut. Soaring summer temperatures are tamed by

sophisticated cocktails, bars made of ice, or a cloud of iced

air pumped to cool down 2,000 sweaty dancers. LasVegas.com

offers insider advice on where to go and when to be seen.

"Devlin" writes recommendations on intimate bars, ultra

lounges, and pulsating club life for the site. He cracks the

code on getting in, from what to wear, how to move to the

front of the line, cover charges, and how to navigate table

reservations and bottle service. VIP passes for escorted,

behind-the-velvet-ropes passage can be purchased online to

ensure admission to the most sought-after party places, such

as ghostbar, Rain, and rumjungle.

http://www.lasvegas.com/nightlife

7. There's Always a Minister Handy -- Las Vegas inspires about

110,000 weddings a year. Many marry in hotel chapels with all

the pomp and video evidence. But for those who can't wait

another minute to marry, there's always a Strip chapel with

its lights on, or drive-through window open. There's no reason

to fret about anything: rings, champagne, bride's bouquet,

wedding dress, tux, or costumes can be charged with the

ceremony. Click on

http://www.lasvegas.com/vivalasvegasweddingchapel or

LasVegas.com to make sure Elvis is in the building for real

Vegas aisle style.

LasVegas.com lives up to its name. It represents the whole destination: more than 130 hotels on or near the Strip and downtown, 240 bookable live shows, 300+ dining facilities, 30 top spas, over 40 hotel and freestanding wedding chapels, a variety of signature tours and six golf courses, including the only course on the Strip. For toll-free reservations, call 800-642-8158.