Las Vegas Hilton

As a 30th birthday present to myself, the wife and I decided to go to Vegas breaking ourselves into the American way gently, NOT
After 12 hours of mind numbing flights and no ciggys (connections at Heathrow & LA) we arrived at McCarran midday to scorching 90 degree weather which in mid march was great.
Our package didn’t include hotel transfers but right outside the airport door there is a booth that sells return transfers to any hotel for only $10.
Arriving at our hotel which is just offstrip (paradise road) check-in was quick and easy everyone was so helpful. Our room was on 30th floor just below Barry Manilows floor size suite, although we never saw him.
Our room had everything you could want including two large double beds, satellite including hotel info channel, bathroom could have been better though shower over bath in very small cubicle but served its purpose.
Do not drink bottled water in rooms though after doing so myself I found out it cost $8 a bottle and don’t ring home from room phones it cost around $40 for about 5 minutes use payphones up the road. View from room wasn’t the best but only used it for sleeping and washing, too much to see and do.
Hotel itself very nice, some pretty swish restaurants, very nice B.L.T in 24hr cafe at 4.30 in morning. Breakfast very good in restaurant beside sports betting area eat all u want$9.99.
Photo ID required in bars everywhere, no matter what age, which I found annoying as I only brought my passport which I'd left in hotel safe, quite embarrassing standing there being asked for I’d and being refused a drink, felt like an underage schoolboy trying to blag his way.
Getting to the strip was very easy as the Hilton is one of the stops on the monorails circuit, station is just out the back past the star trek experience and tickets are only 2 or 3 dollars for a trip to any hotel on the strip.
Best value is the 10 ride ticket at only $20 which you will need because walking to the likes of the MGM would take about an hour. As for walking to the strip it takes 5 minutes to get to circus circus if you want to start from there.
On the strip I would recommend the fountains at Bellagio, Elvis playing in the background it sunk in that I was actually in Vegas. Lot of walking involved in and out of hotels which are like cities within hotels, very easy to get lost in them.
MGM is THE hotel, absolutely huge; lion enclosure is worth a look if you can find it. Go to mirage at night to see the volcano outside erupting its impressive.
As for eating out take your pick, stardust does a very good buffet at $9.99, riviera is good for meals in early hours peaceful away from everything. Excalibur is also good for lunch and is cheap.
At night try tangerine nightclub or coyote ugly in New York New York is worth a look but remember ID. STUDIO 54 is also a must where if you’re lucky you’ll bump into a celeb or two.
Purchasing an excursion as we did got us free entry into a lot of clubs and a few shows as well as half price meals at certain hotels which saved a few quid.
Do not go home without doing a Grand Canyon tour which can be booked at street booths all up the strip or directly with the tour firm.
We took the helicopter ride with HELI USA which flew us over lake mead which is breathtaking over Hoover dam and down into a working ranch, where we had lunch cooked for us cowboy style.
We also took in horse riding which made us feel as if we were in a western before flying back over the strip at night seeing everything lit up was a sight to remember and all for only £300 for two, it was the highlight of the trip.
Amusement ways the rides at top of stratosphere are a must although the elevator ride up to them is a bit hairy, also try out the coaster at NEW YORK NEW YORK and the NASCAR cafes coaster they are excellent.
DOWN POINTS:
Very little to comment on except for street p*rn peddlers, who shove leaflets down your throat every few hundred yards, also beggars, they are not like home where they sit in one spot, a few followed us about which scared the missus a bit but if you tell them where to go they soon get the message.
Also keep your wallet in your front pocket always, as places can get very crowded and there’s plenty of pickpockets about as I found out firsthand.
If you decide to explore off strip as we did stay to main roads if possible, we found ourselves in a Mexican neighbourhood which wasn’t very pleasant - being milky tourists we stood out like sore thumbs.
Lets just say our afternoon leisurely stroll turned into an Olympic 100m qualifier haha.
Road crossings are also a nightmare, green hand doesn’t stay for long and drivers are mad to get going no matter if your in the middle of the road or not.
All in all it’s an amazing place, I could be here forever talking about it but I'd recommend it to anybody, it’s a must see place and ill be returning as soon as possible.