Spring Break in Vegas: Las Vegas Strip

By Jane Beathard.

Before you book a flight/hotel for your spring break, you need to know the Las Vegas geography. Location information is discovered by investing in the Lonely Planet Las Vegas Encounter guidebook.

Know the city's lingo

Most people think of The Strip when they think of Las Vegas. Actually, there are two "strips." The old strip (Fremont St.) is what locals call Downtown - in the older portion of the city. Hotel/casinos there are older, cheaper and mostly a little seedier. With the exception of The Golden Nugget, most college students on spring break won't want to stay in Fremont St. hotels.

Of course, if you are a dedicated Texas Hold 'em player you may want to make a pilgrimage Downtown to Binion's Horseshoe, home of the world's most famous poker room - a shrine to the game. Teddy Binion may be in his grave thanks to girlfriend Sandy Murphy, but poker at the Horseshoe goes on forever.

The new strip (Las Vegas Blvd.) is where the action is. It is also the home to the city's biggest and most luxurious hotels. MGM Grand, New York-NewYork, Bellagio, Planet Hollywood, Caesar's Palace, The Venetian, Paris, Luxor, Excalibur and a dozen more are all here.