One-armed bandits, beautiful desert, free drinks and unlimited glitz.

Las Vegas is all about glamour for its own sake, over-the-top hustle and flash as means and end. It's crowds of people in polyester pantsuits, big hair and gold chains, staring at neon signs and spinning lemons like deer hypnotised by headlights.

Not that Vegas doesn't have a serious side - billions are at stake on the tables and in the theme parks. But you're given enough distractions to ignore it, until you lose. If you tire of tugging on the slot machines, the surrounding area has some of the region's most beautiful scenery.

Orientation

Las Vegas is in the southern part of the state of Nevada, about 80km (50mi) east of the California border and 50km (30mi) west of the Arizona border. The city is divided into two main parts: a compact downtown called Glitter Gulch, centred on the intersection of Highway 95 and Interstate 15; and The Strip, a corridor of hotels and casinos lining Interstate 15 a few kilometres south of downtown. The casinos are divided between downtown's Glitter Gulch and the Strip; most hotels are on or near The Strip. McCarran International Airport is located at the southern end of The Strip, about 8km (5mi) south of downtown. The Greyhound bus and Amtrak railway stations are downtown, and the railway station is located inside Jackie Gaughan's Plaza Hotel and Casino.

Timezone

• GMT -8 hours

Money

• hotel double room: $70.00-100.00
• printing a roll of film: $5.00
• New York hot dog: $1.50
• small bottle of beer: $0.95
• souvenir t-shirt: $10.00
• litre bottled water: $0.95
• liter of gas: $0.40
• 1lb ground beef: $1.85
• restaurant meal: $25.00-40.00
• loaf of whole wheat bread: $1.45

Environment

• Latitude: 36°10'N
• Longditude: 115°09'W
• Area (sq km) : 293
• Population: 478400