Las Vegas Casino
And how about Las Vegas? Well, obviously I rate the place as it is a casino mecca, but for me there is not much to do there other than play on the casinos (in terms of culture I mean). Having said that, the shows are great, the desert around the place is stunning and the place has so many different casinos and hotels that are completely over the top (only in the US could you find somewhere like this!), that you have to see it at least one time in your life.
Once you have got the Vegas casino gambling system out of your system, you can always head into the desert or to Lake Mead, where you can rent a lakeside holiday hut for less then $100 a night. Once you are there, rent out a speed boat for the day and zip up to the Hoover Dam with an ice box full of cold drinks and some lunch, drop the anchor and eat your food listening to the lake lapping against the side of the boat. It will feel a million miles from Las Vegas!
So where to go in Vegas? Well if I was to do a whirlwind tour, I would just go for the Venetian (great Chinese food here for the punters from Asia), watch the fountain show outside the Bellagio and spend a couple fo hours on the tables at The Mandalay Bay. But then that´s because I am not so found of the cheesier properties (Egyptian theme anyone?). But if that is your thing, you will find a mountain of choice, and who am I to say that that´s a bad thing?
Macau Casino
Macua is a former Portuguese Territory, cloce to Hong Kong, that is located on the Pearl River Delta in the South of China. Famous for its colonial past, and new future within a booming China, Macau has been famous for its nightlife since trade between East and West began. Due to its proximity to Hong Kong (where casinos are banned), it has built up a reputation ove the years as a gambling mecca, where Hong Kong bankers, Chinese Tycoons and the new Russian rich sit side by side and try and get rich quick. There is a real buzz about the place, and I have found it a great place for a holiday if you want to mix culture, sun, restaurants alongside a flutter or two in the casinos. Because it is so close to Hong Kong, you can do the two together (it´s a short trip by high speed jet foil across the river delta).
The best casinos I visited in Macau were:
Lisboa Casino Avenida de Lisboa, No. 2-4, Hotel Lisboa, Macau
The Lisboa has been a Macau landmark for decades. if you are after history, this is the place to be.
Mandarin Oriental Casino Avenida de Amizade, No. 956-1110, Mandarin Oriental Macau, Macau
This casino is very classy. The Mandarin Hotel Group owns one of the top hotels in Hong Kong. If you are after glamour, this won´t disappoint.
Pharaoh's Palace Casino Avenida de Amizade, No. 555, 3 andar, The Landmark, Macau
This is more like a Las Vegas style casino
Sands Macau Avenida de Amizade, Macau
Another las vegas style casino from the world famous Sands group.
Casino Holiday
I have been travelling around the globe, soaking up the sun by day, and hitting the casino tables at night in some of the weirdest and most wonderful places you can imagine. Here´s a snapshot of my travels so far:
