Las Vegas! Sin City! The self-proclaimed Entertainment Capital of the World! Size-friendly? Why yes, it can be if you do a bit of advance planning. Shameless plug: Abundant Travel is certified as a Las Vegas Destination Specialist by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Of course when most people think of Las Vegas, they think of the multitude of casinos that line Las Vegas Boulevard aka The Strip. As most of these structures are indeed rather substantial, it helps to be aware of one’s endurance level. Having access to a car is helpful – assuming there is a designated driver in your party – and most Strip hotels offer free valet parking. (A $2-5 tip upon departure is always appreciated.) Many plus-size visitors find it beneficial to rent an electric scooter. All of the hotels on the Strip meet accessibility guidelines with their rooms, restaurants, shows and other attractions. At several crosswalk points, elevator access is provided. For transportation from the airport and between hotels, one can also ask a porter to arrange for an accessible taxi van featuring a ramp to roll up into the back of the vehicle.
The creation of grand hotel entrances set back far from the street can make for a considerable journey by all pedestrians, particularly guests who might want to leave their temporary home. Some exceptions whose properties open up directly on the street include the Paris, the Flamingo, and the Cosmopolitan.
It may be tempting to try to visit all of the casinos; however, for general sightseeing purposes, some may be more interesting than others. If one wanted a sample of the “best” that Vegas had to offer, I would suggest the aforementioned Paris as well as the Bellagio and Caesars Palace. As it turns out, all three of these hotels are on or near the same intersection of Flamingo Road and the Strip. I might visit these hotels in the order listed, especially if walking, in order to help gauge one’s endurance. Paris is the smallest of the three hotels. For day two, I would consider visiting both the Venetian and again the Cosmopolitan. Certainly this isn’t an exhaustive list as each Strip casino hotel has its own unique draw. But for purposes of popping in and out of properties, it may be worth it to make sure that there are specific attractions that you want to see at a particular hotel.
Of course, while touring the properties is a lot of fun, many people find that their host hotel provides more than enough amenities for them to stay put. Some examples would include Mandalay Bay, the Venetian and the Wynn.
A considerable contrast to the Strip can be found a few miles north in the Fremont Street area of downtown Las Vegas. With casinos that are smaller and packed closer together, it’s easier to randomly visit any and all of them. Most of the hotels there fit are located under the overhead canopy where the famous Fremont Street Experience light show takes place nightly. In general, one’s dollars will go further up here. That said, there are two potential drawbacks for some visitors. For one, non-smokers may be concerned with the relative lack of investment in air filtration systems by downtown casinos. Also, the headliners and extravagant productions found further south on the Strip are mostly replaced by cover band entertainment under the canopy as well as a burgeoning nightlife on East Fremont Street that is mildly trendy yet laid-back and inclusive. The Golden Nugget as well as the Cabana Suites at the El Cortez are two hotels where indulging in luxury is possible.
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