Shimmering from the desert haze of Nevada like a latter-day El Dorado, Las Vegas is the most dynamic, spectacular city on earth. At the start of the twentieth century, it didn't even exist; a hundred years on, it's home to well over one million people, and still growing fast. Las Vegas is not like other popular destinations. The tourists haven't spoiled the "real" city; there is no real city. With no sense of history or fascinating neighbourhoods to explore, the whole place is completely self-referential; the reason Las Vegas boasts the vast majority of the world's largest hotels is that thirty-seven million tourists each year come just to see the hotels themselves.

Las Vegas DIRECTIONS has all you need to get the most out of your stay: the best places to stay, eat, drink, party - and gamble, whatever your budget ... in short, the best the city has to offer.

Browse the full-colour ideas section for a wide range of things to do, 24 hours a day. Then flip to the places section to explore Las Vegas, with every casino, restaurant, bar and club - and all those mega resort-hotels - located on the easy-to-use maps.

With sage gambling advice and desert day trip suggestions too, it's just like having a local friend plan your trip.