TPC Las Vegas - Play Where the Pro's Play

TPC Las Vegas is perhaps one of my favorite golf courses in Las Vegas, if you haven't had the chance to play this course - you're missing out on some of the most amazing golf you'll ever get to play. You first have the guarantee by TPC - that this golf course TPC Las Vegas will always be in it's best condition - in addition, you're teeing off on the very same grounds walked by some of the biggest names in Golf like Tiger Woods to name one.

TPC Las Vegas is recognized as one of Las Vegas' top golf courses, it's almost synonymous with anything associated to golf in Las Vegas. Major fund raising events such as those put on by Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods are held at this golf course, and there's no reason not to - the course is simply amazing, take the island tee for hole #2 as an example - this is perhaps one of the more challenging holes on the course, at first glance one might feel intimidated however this is quickly washed over with pride that you are taking on a golf course played by many of America's favorites.

Overall, if you're planning to golf in Las Vegas - I encourage you to not bypass TPC Las Vegas, this course has earned it's very right to be one of Las Vegas' must play courses for any golfer amateur to professional - TPC Las Vegas delivers a game that's satisfying and worth every penny.

Anthem Country Club

If you're looking for a great place to golf in Vegas and crave that Country Club feel, you'll definitely enjoy the Anthem Country Club in Henderson, NV. The course is nestled in one of Nevada's most esteemed communities - behind guarded gates players will find the Anthem Country Club friendly to all levels of golfers and extremely breathtaking.

Golfers are welcome to play this Private Golf Club through Las Vegas Golf Adventures, rounds are not often cheap at Anthem Country Club, but it's definitely worth the play. The practice facility is top notch, with an all-grass driving range and multiple pins with accurately pointed distances to aim at. Your practice shot is hit directly toward the "Strip" offering one of the best views of the city of Las Vegas - I highly recommend putting in some time at the practice facility before taking on the course and Good Luck!

Saving Money in Las Vegas while on a Convention

1. See a Las Vegas Show - From the Jersey Boys to Cirque du Soleil's "O", Las Vegas offers a plethora of entertainment to fill up a night while you're here on convention. I highly suggest waiting on purchasing your tickets until you have checked into your hotel room. Las Vegas Casinos are often generous with Complimentary Tickets for gamers, you can also find 1/2 off Ticket shops throughout the Las Vegas Strip.
2. If you're a golfer, book your Las Vegas Golf Packages early -   I can't stress enough, how often people make the mistake of waiting until they get here to book their golf rounds. If you're a high-roller, and want to put in some rounds, check with your Casino Host in advance! Golf courses in Las Vegas are quite popular during the Fall and Spring, failing to notify them in advance can end up in bad tee-times. I also recommend using a service such as Las Vegas Golf Adventures, These guys are very well known in their industry, and have always provided the best golf packages to Las Vegas - check out their golf packages page if you don't believe me! Some of these are too incredible to believe!
3. The Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio - If FREE is a word you love, then a visit to the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio is a fantastic idea. 
4. Join the Club! - If there is anything you need to do, it's joining the Casino Card Club, these clubs offers a way for you to be rated, and determines your comp level - if you play enough, you can earn, free meals, movies, shows, rooms etc... The best card club in Las Vegas is the Club Card at Green Valley Ranch, here you can turn your points into gaming money and depending on your rating, you can earn some incredible complimentary meals. 
5. Stay off-Strip - The Hotel and Casino's off the Strip offer incredible savings. Look into, Green Valley Ranch Resort, South Point and the Rio!
6. Book early if you have a large group! Although room rates have dropped, occupancy levels are still high! So make sure you contact your choice of hotel early for large groups (4 or more rooms)! This will ensure you have your rooms at the great low price advertised!

Las Vegas Going Green

Plans are underway to build more than 100 million square feet of new construction to the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program. 

These projects include:

Fontainebleau Resort with the first paperless hotel room. The room will feature an Apple iMac complete with all information normally found in in-room brochures. 

Boyd Gaming's Echelon, recycles building waste by using materials left over from the Stardust resort which was imploded to make way for the Echelon. Some of the waste to be used include concrete and fountains. 

The Palazzo pools and water in the guest rooms are heated through Solar Power.

The CityCenter by MGM Mirage has built it's own energy generator to provide 1/5th of the power to the new building. The generator will be used to warm the water in the planned 7,400 hotel rooms and condo units, along with shops, restaurants and other amenities planned for the CityCenter. 

For a city with a rep as a huge waste of energy, it's wonderful to see some of the top names in the Hotel and Casino industry taking the leap to go green. 

Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth

Growing up in an abusive environment, left many scars that I still struggle through today. Looking back, I can't recall what exactly I had done, or what had influenced me to move past the emotional setbacks that was sure to dictate my life. What I do recall is the hatred I had harbored, the fear and the distaste for authority, but at some point, I put that all behind me and grew into a confident and independent woman living in one of the most popular cities in the world. 

For years, I have contemplated leaving behind a legacy, one that will make an impact in the world and it was always centered around our youth. I have not given up on this goal, and will do everything I can to build my legacy - a home for youth on the run. This morning, while watching the news, I was excited to learn of a such a program right here in Las Vegas. 

The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth offers a safe haven for children under the age of 18, complete with a library, sleeping accommodations, food and computer center. I have decided that any and all efforts I make from this point forward will go toward my legacy as well as supporting the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. 

Join me in making an online donation to the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. 

Las Vegas Hotel Rates Drop as Low as $19.99

Are you still looking for a room in Las Vegas? According to the Las Vegas Advisor, room rates have dropped as low as they were 5 years ago. Based on a survey they conducted, by contacting local hotel room providers, Las Vegas Advisor reports that half of the 84 casinos surveyed offer July rates of $49 or less per night. This is great news for those of you planning a trip to our famed city, but not so great news for the hotel industry.

For the past few years, room rates in Las Vegas have increased annually, but due to the rising costs of gas and the current slump in the housing industry in Las Vegas, the hotels are now swallowing their pride and breaking out some incredible deals. All you have to do is be savvy in your search to find deals in Las Vegas.

The survey shows the following best rates in Las Vegas for July:

• Palace Station $19.99
• Monte Carlo Hotel $60
• Hard Rock Hotel and Casino $69
• Treasure Island $76
• The Mirage $81
• The Rio All Suites $99
• Loews Lake Las Vegas $103
• Caesars Palace $110
• The Bellagio $159
• Palazzo $159
• Trump $196
• Venetian $199
• The Wynn $199
• Four Seasons $275

Best Ways to Save Money On a Trip to Las Vegas

Shop those Hotel Rooms Online

The rising costs of gas doesn't mean you need to bow out of a visit to Las Vegas. In fact, it's perhaps your best opportunity to visit the famed city. Right now, the prices on hotel rooms have dropped significantly - with that in mind, you have many options to make up for the costs of gas. Take the MGM Grand for example, this hotel is normally reserved from the mid 100's to 400's depending on your choice of room, right now - savvy shoppers are able to find rooms at the MGM, Hard Rock, The Mirage, Planet Hollywood and even more Las Vegas hotels for under $100 a night - some might even score bigger savings such as the Palace Stations offering rooms at $19.99. I advise that you shop online for any and all rates before booking your hotel, it's your dollar, and every hotel in Las Vegas recognizes the value of your visit a lot more than they have in the past - so shake it up and do some shopping before you book.

One particular website to utilize when shopping online is TripAdvisor.com, utilize their forums, check out how others have found incredible deals. Call the hotels direct for any specials you might have missed, look into hotels.com and by all means get them to make you a deal.

Gamblers Should Never Be Charged for a Meal

If you are like most visitors to Las Vegas, you are looking for some fast gaming action with hope that you can turn that extra cash into some fast money. Here's a tip for you, if you are gambling at any casino in Las Vegas, make sure that you check the Pitt for any comps you might have earned during your gaming time. Most casinos offer a buffet, with price ranges from $5.95 to $31 a head! With the average table game at $15 a hand in Las Vegas, you're sure to be surprised at how quickly the staff is willing to host you at the house buffet. You'll never know until you ask!

Of course, you shouldn't expect everything comp'd unless you're in there betting big - for me, I never pay a dime for a meal at a casino I play at. Mostly because I play at $50-$200 a hand, earning me a rating where all my meals and rooms are complimentary.

Join The Club

No matter what hotel or casino you choose to play at, make sure that you apply to be a member of the house club. The clubs usually offer a card with free play attached to it, this ranges anywhere from $3 to $500 and even more, depending on the Casino. There's no fee to enter, but what this does, is allows the hotel to record your play throughout your stay, at the end of your stay, depending on your play average, you may qualify for additional comps such as your room stay at no charge, future invitations that include free rooms and many other offers.

Stay away from Taxis

Taxi rates are increasing due to the cost of gas, so if you can avoid them, do so. If you are staying on the strip, there is absolutely no reason to utilize taxi services if you can help it. The Mono-Rail is a much cheaper option, and the Deuce is as well. Most casino's offer shuttle services to sister properties - take advantage of this! If you plan to stay at the Rio or the Palms, both these casinos are off-strip, but both do offer a free Shuttle service to the Strip - use them!

Take Advantage of Package Offers

I enjoy golfing, and there are many great golf courses in Las Vegas to choose from. Price shop and you'll be surprised at what you might find. I ran a search this morning, and found a great deal for this winter, the top 3 golf courses in Las Vegas for just $599 with my hotel rooms free - the offer comes out of Las Vegas Golf Adventures! Now I know those rates are just amazing, especially for the dates the package is good for, you're talking about 3 Amazing golf courses which usually rate at $200-$400 a round at an incredible deal, plus I can stay at Harrah's which is right on the strip FOR FREE! They did all the work for me! Fantastic!

There are many ways to save on your trip to Las Vegas, my advice is to shop online before you make your final decision. After all, it's your money, and the hotels in Las Vegas are very aware of the value of your dollar, everyone's willing to take that extra step to insure you have an enjoyable visit to Las Vegas.

Where Barack Obama Should Be Golfing to Win Swing States

This is a fun article on where Barack Obama needs to golf to bring in those Swing States and hopefully practice that Golf Swing while on the Campaign Trail.

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Barry Manilow Live in Concert at the Las Vegas Hilton

When a friend asked me to secure tickets to see Barry Manilow, I was a bit skeptical, after all my taste in music has changed through the years, I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. Perhaps, when I was younger, Barry Manilow was the king of love songs, but the thought of high school crush memories flooding my mind, was something I wasn't sure I wanted to relive.

From the moment Barry Manilow appears out of a smoky room at the back of the stage, he grabs your attention, with his smooth voice that fills up the entire Theater at the Las Vegas Hilton. I was shocked at how youthful his voice sounded, and wondered if perhaps he was lip syncing, but as time went on, I was convinced that such was not possible.

Barry Manilow's popularity throughout the years, is defined by his music, with hits like I Write The Songs, Mandy, Looks Like We Made It, Copacobana and many others, his music has touched the hearts of many. Manilow performs all these hits including tributes to other artists such as Barbara Streisand, Frankie Valli, the Bee Gees, Christopher Cross and more. The performance was well put together, and there's no doubt in my mind that Barry Manilow has made an impact to the music industry past and present.

The highlight of the entire concert was his performance of the mega-hit "Mandy", here Manilow begins the song with a video from the Tonight Show, where his younger self is performing to a live TV audience. Manilow joins in - and performs a duet with his younger self, a very powerful performance, and well worth the entire ticket price. He ends the concert with the popular dance hit "Copacobana" - a very colorful performance that left the audience in awe.

If you only recall the song "Mandy" from Barry Manilow's plethora of number 1 hits, the concert is well worth your time. You'll be quite surprised, as I was, to how much this entertainer has done throughout his life, and how he still captures your heart just as he had done for over 30 years. I give this concert a thumbs up!

Tickets and information on Barry Manilow's Music and Passion at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Apple megastore in Las Vegas CityCenter in 2009

CityCenter is a massive new multi-use building project designed by architectural rock star Daniel Libeskind. It is currently under construction in Las Vegas, and -- according to AppleInsider -- the jewel in this glittering crown will be a supermassive Apple Store, located directly in the front of the complex right along Las Vegas Boulevard.

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Levitating Train to host travelers from Las Vegas to Disneyland, Los Angeles

A bill to build the first levitating train in the US, which will allow passengers to travel between Las Vegas and Disneyland, Los Angeles has been signed by President Bush today. The "MagLev" will travel to and from Disneyland and Las Vegas in well under two hours traveling at speeds of up to 300 mph. 

The train will help to ease the traffic on the I15, the main route driven by millions of Southern Californians to Las Vegas each year. Currently drive time to Las Vegas takes an average of 3-4 hours with no traffic, on a Friday evening, this can increase to well into 8 or 9 hours. 

Associated Press 

Tips on Going Green

Going Green is perhaps one of the most positive changes I have made in my life this year, and what has come as a shock to me, is the lack of knowledge people around me have about the whole movement. Lack of knowledge is perhaps the wrong diagnose for the situation, since everyone should have some basic knowledge of what "Green" really is. I'm speaking more about the knowledge on the ease of transition into our daily lives. 

I bring up my new eco-friendly lifestyle to many of my friends here in Las Vegas, it amazes me how they equate my lifestyle change to expensive, trendy, healthy or vegetarian. Not any of these terms are in any way associated to the changes I've made, well not completely, since grocery has become more expensive these days, eating organic vegetables and fruit mean less chemicals in my body which can be related to healthy, but vegetarian I am not! 

Here are my tips on going Green without changing what you eat and how you live. Any of these tips included in your daily living can make a tremendous change to the future of our environment. 

Green Tip #1 Grocery Shopping

One of the first things I've done was change my grocery shopping habits. Instead of regular grocery at Vons, Albertsons or Smiths, I opted for more eco-friendly grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. 

Whole Foods was where I first began. I started by buying organic milk, vegetables and fruits, then gradually moved into free-range poultry and meats if they were available. Almost everything I would need or want from a regular grocery chain, I have been able to replace with an equally appealing organic version, and the best thing is, taste was not compromised. I appreciated that Whole Foods offered a variety of choices to fill my grocery requirements, unfortunately, Whole Foods is not necessarily friendly to the pocket or wallet. 

Within a few months Trader Joe's opened up near-by, this gave me more options for grocery needs. I started purchasing my household and grocery items from Trader Joe's and the prices were much more reasonable than that of Whole Foods. I eventually moved into adding in additional items such as chips and snacks from Trader Joe's as well. 

Both grocery stores offer paper bag service, and incentives on reusing them as well. I've opted to purchasing their reusable bags instead of the paper and usually bring them back to either store for bagging my next purchases. 

Green Tip #2 Magazine and Catalog Subscriptions

I'm big on online shopping, so email newsletters from places I shop are welcome! What was most annoying was the constant duplication of catalog subscriptions - such as Victoria Secret or West Elm and Pottery Barn. In order to cut down on waste - and to gain my sanity. I contacted each of these catalogs and requested they remove me from their mailing list but keep me subscribed via email.  

I also contacted several magazines and asked if they had online versions which I could replace my magazine subscriptions with as opposed to the paper options. 

My life is not completely Green, and I'm sure as time goes by, I will realize more ways to improve my living arrangements with eco-friendly lifestyle. If you have tips you can share with me on my quest please feel free to leave me a comment. 

Great Deals on Trips to Las Vegas

These just hit my RSS feed - sounds like some incredible deals for those traveling to Las Vegas.

#1. Las Vegas Golf Adventures
These guys are offering 2 nights and 2 rounds of golf at just $199 per golfer this summer. They just released a great winter golf package to Las Vegas that offers TPC Las Vegas, Bear's Best Golf Course and Badlands with 3-FREE NIGHTS at just $599.

#2. West Jet Non-Stop-Flights (Vancouver, Canada to Las Vegas)
Non-stop trips to Las Vegas from Vancouver starting at $129 one-way. Great deal for Canadians!

Michael's a Great Addition to Restaurant Offerings at South Point Casino

I'm always a skeptic when it comes to eating out at  steak houses in Las Vegas, especially when it's one away from the main Las Vegas Strip. After my visit to the Silverado Steakhouse at South Point, I was somewhat reluctant to give Michael's a shot - but after several months, I broke down and made reservations for the evening. 

Like many Steakhouses in Las Vegas, Michael's boasts a dark and dated decor in deep reds, high back chairs offered comfort and privacy - which is a great thing, as the tables and booths are intimately close to each other. Although the hotel recommends a casual dress code for Michael's, my guests and I felt quite uncomfortable in denim and tunics, I highly recommend a more business casual dress for the restaurant. 

The menu at Michael's ranged from the low $30's to near $200 for the Chateaubriand, we selected the Petite Filets which were $64 each, and opted for asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes as our sides. We were grateful for not over ordering, as immediately after our dinner order was taken, we were presented with a complimentary platter or assorted vegetables, fruit and cheese along with a very pleasant toasted pumpernickel and lavosh bread selection. If you are small eaters as were my guests and I, there is no need to order a salad or additional appetizers, this platter has enough variety for your entire party. 

Dinner was exceptional, the steaks were done very well and not a member of my party of 3 made any complaints as to the doneness of their filets. As we requested our check, our server explained that we should stay and enjoy some dessert, we explained that time was short, and he explained that as part of our dinner, chocolate covered fruit was to be served, within seconds, we were given a large bowl of fresh fruit and a platter of chocolate dipped fruit. We all decided, a few more minutes would be fine, as we each grabbed our favorites off the dessert platter. 

Our check finally arrived at $289 for 3 people, I was very happy to cover the costs and left a tip of $100 for an unforgettable evening.  We were all very impressed with Michael's and will soon return.

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Las Vegas Golf Packages on a Budget

If you're a golfer, and want to golf in Las Vegas. Check out these guys, they offer a ton of hotel and golf packages at great rates. I love how you can select your own golf courses and hotels and they pull together the best deal for me.

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Elton John and the Red Piano

Here's some fun photos we took at the Elton John Concert! Caesars Palace - the Colosseum was amazing, the sound quality was outstanding and combined with Elton John, it was an unbelievable concert. I highly recommend Dinner at Spagos prior to the Concert!

A Mediterranean Palace in Las Vegas

In Las Vegas where restaurants are abundant, it's a difficult choice to make when wanting to dine out, today was no different. We decided to give The Kabob Palace a try, it was recommended to me awhile ago, but things happen and I just never got around to it.

When we entered the restaurant, I wasn't overwhelmed nor excited, in-fact I was a bit skeptical, after-all I've been to some the greatest Mediterranean Restaurants in town - how could this be any different? The restaurant decor was nothing outrageous or exotic, which was disappointing, it was more like a modern kitchen, a counter decorated in southwestern tile separated the grill from the main seating area, which offered just a few tables with more seating outside. We were greeted by a beautiful young Mediterranean girl who showed us to our table and took our drink orders. We then sat to look at the menu.

Getting through the menu at The Kabob Palace was an experience in itself. Everything sounded incredible, we could've ordered the fair, but we were only two people and we thought that might not be a great idea, so we settled and started with Grape Leaves, a Mediterranean Eggroll called the Cigar, and for main courses the Vegetable Kabobs and Boulgarian Kabobs.

We were first served the Grape Leaves and Cigar. The grape leaves, were authentic and a definite must addition to your order, full of flavor and perhaps the best I've had outside of a true Mediterranean Kitchen. The cigar was amazing as well - and the dipping sauce which had a hint of indian spices, was an excellent pairing for them. We were then served the traditional Grilled Pita Bread, this came alongside a cilantro and lime yogurt dip which again - was truly amazing.

The Vegetable Kabob came perfectly grilled, the Boulgarian Kabob overcooked, both had excellent flavor however and a welcome end to our lunch.

Overall, I give this restaurant a 4 star rating, and a return visit is definitely in the works.

The Kabob Palace
Las Vegas Restaurant
Mediterranean Cuisine

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What is a Casino Host

A Casino Host is your personal Concierge to Las Vegas, they are specific to the Casino they work with, not all Casinos in Las Vegas offer the host program. If you are a notable guest, (you gamble at higher stakes than the average person) a Casino Hosts duty is to make sure that you are welcomed back to Las Vegas and their Casino with certain complimentary benefits which may include hotel rooms or upgrades, airfare, show tickets and meals at notable restaurants.

Table Game: This is defined as any casino game on a table that has at least one human dealer.

Table Ratings: Your average bet multiplied by the hours you spent playing at a table game.

Casino Credit: A form of loan issued by a Casino. This is based on your credit rating as well as bank account validations and other factors. Casino Credit can be purchased, dollar for dollar at the main cage at most casinos in Las Vegas. I highly recommend a purchased credit at amounts more than $5000, it's safe and your remaining funds are returnable before you depart.

High Rollers: Players whose table rating is way above the average player. High Rollers usually gamble in the thousands.

The higher your table rating, the more accommodating a Casino Host will be. A Casino Host's duty is to accommodate you for your current or next visit. When you leave Las Vegas, you might have received an invitation from a Casino, offering you complimentary stay at their hotel. These invitations are sent to specific guests who has met the table rating cap on the offer. These invitations are usually sent via the Host of the Casino.

If you have been assigned a Host - he or she approached you at the Casino to personally introduce themselves - this usually means, you have reached above average table ratings and a host is assigned to ensure the rest of your stay is comfortable.

All high rollers are assigned a host, in most cases, the rooms are complimentary as well as meals and any form of entertainment that is within the hosts capability.

A host is also responsible for assisting with transfers of large sums of money owed to the casino, or pre-paid credit prior to the visit.

Every casino in Las Vegas, offers a different host program. It's highly recommended that you contact your Casino Host prior to your visit to Las Vegas, and have him/her assist with any options that might be offered to you in advance.

Book hotels for the NBA All Star Weekend

I'm getting emails and calls from people looking for rooms the weekend of the NBA All Star game. There are still some premium hotel rooms available at the MGM Grand, The Aladdin and the Orleans, but you need to book them fast, rooms are limited.

check out this link for Hotel Rooms in Las Vegas NBA All Star Weekend

NBA All Stars Weekend puts strain on Las Vegas Hotel Rates

The 2007 NBA All Star weekend is set to play the court at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas. This marks the first NBA All Star game to be played in a city that does not host it's own NBA team. Throughout Las Vegas, hotels are selling and room rates are rising. The All Star Weekend begins officially on Friday, February 16th with events leading up to the "All Star Game" on Sunday, February 18th. The event dates combined with President's Day and Chinese New Years is expected to sell out the city's hotels.

You can still book rooms at premium hotels through the guys at http://www.nbaallstarsweekend.com/ . I called the hotels direct and premium hotels such as the Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, the Aladdin and the Orleans are seeing sold out dates on Saturday and Sunday, I found these guys and was able to book rooms for the entire weekend including Thursday. The website only features Friday through Sunday dates, but give them a call at 1-800-NBA-WEEK, they have limited room availability for Thursday as well.

Click here to read up on the complete Press Release for the NBA All Star Weekend