Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada is a vibrant pulsating city and the largest adult playground in the world. It is a community that was created from the wastelands of the Mojave Desert in Nevada specifically to provide a gambling and entertainment oasis for the titillation seeking residents of post-war Los Angeles. Everything in Las Vegas has been done (or overdone) on a grand and spectacular scale. Along the Las Vegas strip, a black glass pyramid rises over a hundred meters above the desert with a larger than full sized replica of the Sphinx at its entry. Next to it, sits a larger than life castle with garishly colored turrets. Across the street, is a scaled-down skyline of New York City complete with a Brooklyn Bridge and a Statue of Liberty. Beyond that, you can see a half-sized replica of the Eifel Tower, a near full sized replica of the Piazza San Marco from Venice and a large volcano that erupts flames every thirty minutes. In Las Vegas, you often ask yourself, "Is this really a city, or am I visiting some futuristic amusement park on another planet?"

On any given evening in Las Vegas, you will find hundreds of entertainment events such as the renown Las Vegas stage shows, world class sporting events, performances by world famous entertainers plus music, dance and comedy at large and small venues throughout the city. This city never seems to sleep. The frivolity continues long into the night and the serious gamblers continue their pursuit of riches until well after the morning sun has risen on a new day.

The city was created by a reputed gangster

In 1931 gambling was legalized in the barren desert state of Nevada while it remained illegal in the more populous neighboring state of California. As early as 1940, the first hotel casino named El Rancho Vegas was constructed on the outskirts of a sleepy desert community in the Mojave Desert of southern Nevada known as Las Vegas. A second hotel casino named the Last Frontier was opened a year later. Both profited from their proximity to the large gambling population living in Los Angeles and other southern California communities. In December of 1946, Bugsy Siegal a reputed New York gangster, then living in Beverly Hills California, and managing various illegal gambling operations on the West Coast, built a lavish new hotel casino named the Flamingo. He dreamed of creating a whole new resort city in the desert dedicated to gambling and entertainment. Unfortunately, Bugsy was shot to death in his Beverly Hills home in 1947; so he never got to see his dream fulfilled; but the legacy of lavish hotel casinos controlled by gangsters persisted in Las Vegas for many decades to come.

Today, this desert gambling oasis is a thriving city with more than one million inhabitants and over 38 million visitors a year. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the USA, with up to 5,000 new residents settling there every month. It has fourteen of the fifteen largest hotels in the USA and over 130,000 rooms available to visitors. Gambling and entertainment are still its biggest attractions and its largest industries. Supposedly, all the mafia gangsters have been removed from the Las Vegas gambling scene, only to be replaced by large corporate owners. (Is that an improvement?) In 1999, Oscar Goodman, the flamboyant lawyer whose spirited defense of many reputed gangsters and criminals earned him the unofficial title of "mouthpiece for the mob", was elected mayor of Las Vegas. He seems to be a most appropriate character to lead the government of "Sin City" USA.

Las Vegas Boulevard is "the Strip"

Las Vegas is located in the southwestern corner of Nevada near the borders of California and Arizona. It is 275 miles (450 km) from Los Angeles and less than a four-hours drive on excellent interstate highway. The city is situated in a broad flat desert valley surrounded by barren arid mountains. It receives only about 2 inches (5 cm) of rain per year; yet the city is an oasis of green grass, flowers and palm trees all subsisting on imported water. A vast checkerboard of low suburban homes sprawls across the valley floor for dozens of miles in every direction with new tracts of houses eternally sprouting like fields of cactus in the surrounding desert.All the action is centered on one broad avenue that stretches from the southern fringe of the city northward for a dozen miles until it reaches the heart of old downtown.

This is Las Vegas Boulevard, commonly known as "the Strip". McCarran International Airport is located adjacent to the southern end of the Strip, and nearly all of the major casinos are lined up along its sides. A drive down Las Vegas Boulevard takes you past the pyramid of Luxor casino, the skyline of New York casino, the Eifel Tower of Paris casino, the great tent of the Circus casino and the lofty tower of the Stratosphere casino. Eventually, it takes you to downtown Vegas and Fremont Street, home of the historic old gambling parlors like Binyons and the Golden Nugget. Just driving down the strip past all these spectacular casino resorts is a fantastic experience. At night, "the strip" comes alive with miles of colored neon and millions of dancing, pulsating lights.

[usatourist]

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Hair in the wind, this is adventure American style. Solo or in a group, find how to organize your trip across the USA driving a Harley-Davidson.

Seasons and Itineraries

May to September is the biker's blessed time of the year. From mid-November to end-April, move to Florida and enjoy its sub-tropical climate.

Your motorcycle rental operator will suggest numerous itineraries. The most popular circuits are in California, NevadaLas Vegas), Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.

Harley-Davidson - Solo Trip
Choosing your Rental Operator

Choose your rental agency keeping in mind your city of departure, the quality of the engine, road service assistance and competitive prices. To verify just how s erious this dealer is, nothing is better that going to "chats bikers" on the Internet. If you rent a Harley-Davidson, make sure that the leaser is accredited by the brand, it is safer.

The Motorcycle Rental Site Harley-Davidson gives information about their accredited rental shops.

The Motorcycle and its' Equipment

The motorcycle must be in A-1 technical condition and clean.

Here is a list of equipment that you should have if you are leaving for a trip of several days :

• Luggage bag
• One or two locks
• Cellular telephone in case of emergency
• Road Assistance Contract 24h/24
• A road atlas or "Road Book" of the area including maps, recommended detailed itineraries, hotel and motel addresses, friendly restaurants and bars, gas stations, family and friends phone numbers, recommended outfits, etc.
• An authorized helmet. In certain States, you are not obliged to wear one, but good sense is better than dangerous stylishness.
• Waterproof equipment

Rental Conditions

• You must be 21 or older.
  
• Have a valid heavyweight motorcycle operator's license.
  
• Possess the skills, knowledge and ability to operate a heavyweight motorcycle.
  
• Have a major credit card to guarantee your rental.
  

Ask for the canceling policy before making arrangements.

Rental Agreement

In your rental agreement, make sure these features are included in the price:

• Unlimited mileage
• Local taxes
• All risk insurance policy coverage including theft
• Road repair Insurance 24/24h

Bike and Motorcycle Events

---Bike Week - Daytona Beach---

(First week of March, Daytona Beach - Florida)

Founded in 1937, the Bike Week is a 10 day festival where hundreds of thousand of motorcyclists, from everywhere in the world get together. Musical groups, extreme motorcycles shows, tattooing and other activities makes the Bike Week one of the most renowned events.

---Sturgis Motorcycle Rally---

(Beginning of August, Sturgis - South Dakota)

At least 600,000 people visit Sturgis during the rally. It is an exceptional event, including activities such as motorcycle races, dragsters and motocross.

Of course, the main attraction is strolling along the main street of the city, open only for the flow of bikes and bikers during this event.

The area offers some magnificent outings such as Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Grand Rapids, Needle highway etc.

---Biketoberfest®---

(mid-October, Daytona Beach - Florida)

This demonstration is somewhat a copy of the Bike Week but less known and less expensive. The have not upped their prices and the airline companies give off season airfare rates.

---Arizona Bike Week---

(End of March, Scottsdale - Arizona)

10 days of events, entertainment, and riding. Great idea to combine it to a tour of Arizona (Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park, etc.).

[travelmagazineusa.com]

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New York on a Budget

One of the most vibrant cities in the world, New York has world-class museums, unbeatable nightlife and a cultural vibe all of its own. But traveling around such a big, popular city can end up being expensive. So here are a few money-saving strategies that can help travellers of every budget enjoy this amazing city.


Transport

The cost of long-haul flights has (unfortunately for budget travelers) risen in recent months, yet it’s still possible to find a great deal with a certain degree of flexibility on when and at what time of day you travel.

Once in New York itself, all the main sights are easily accessible from across the city thanks to the excellent subway network. It’s one of the most extensive public transport systems in the world and handily runs for 24 hours a day, every day. It’s also much cheaper than other inner-city transport services such as Paris and London, costing just $2 for a single fare.

Budget Accommodation

Although hotels can be pricey, PriceLine offer a great budget alternative for both solo and group accommodation. Across the city from lively Brooklyn to trendy downtown, hostels provide cheap rooms with shared facilities that help keep costs down, as well as creating a sociable atmosphere that reflects the reputation of the ‘city that never sleeps’.

Cheap Eats

In New York, many local specialties are actually easy to sample on a budget. Cheesecake, club sandwiches and salt-beef bagels can be found at the delis around the Lower East and Upper West Sides whilst street vendors around the city sell cheap (and authentic) hot dogs, burgers and pizza slices.

Dining out can also be quite affordable in New York once you get beyond the heart of Manhattan with Little Italy, Chinatown and the East Village all home to reasonably priced eateries. And even cocktail hour in Manhattan can be within budget travelers’ funds because happy-hours around 4pm till 7pm mean even glamorous downtown bars won’t break the bank.

Three Thrifty Things to Do:

1. Visit the Chelsea art galleries. The 200 or so small galleries scattered around hip, arty Chelsea exhibit a combination of renowned artists and emerging talent – and are free to explore. As well as a chance to see some unusual pieces, they provide a fascinating glimpse of the city’s commercial art scene.

2. Union Square’s Greenmarket. Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, an open-air farmers’ market is held at Union Square. It’s a great place to pick up some cheap, fresh ingredients but also just to soak up the atmosphere of the city. In the month leading up to Christmas there’s an additional holiday market with a range of great gift ideas.

3. Free Jazz at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Brooklyn is a great neighbourhood for a night out in New York City, and on Friday and Saturday nights the Academy hosts live jazz and experimental artists in the BAM Café who perform to the gathered crowds for free.

[synergise.com]

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Where to Stay in New York City?

Get ready for sticker shock. With the highest room rates in the country, choosing a hotel in New York City boils down to how much you want to spend. There are some relative bargains to be found, but don't expect room service or sunny views. Here are a few of the newest and brightest.

Old World grandeur meets postmodern chic at the Gramercy Park Hotel, the latest from Ian Schrager, the boldface hotelier. Designed with the help of Julian Schnabel, the artist and filmmaker, the hotel opened in August 2006 with dripping chandeliers, original Warhols and other indulgences missing from your everyday W Hotel.

What was once the Rihga Royal Hotel between Times Square and Central Park reopened in November 2006 with a new look, new owners and new name: the London NYC. Sporting a minimal Regency style, the 54-story hotel features spacious rooms, bathrooms by Waterworks and in-room dining by the British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

If you're planning to explore the Lower East Side, there's the Hotel on Rivington, a glass tower surrounded by grimy apartment buildings.

For something far cheaper — other than a friend's couch — check out the Hotel QT in Times Square, a high-concept motel by André Balazs that offers spartan rooms and a sexy swimming pool in the lobby.

By DENNY LEE

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