The Las Vegas Night Club Scene. What You Need to Know.

Chapter 6: Entertainment & Shows

6.1: Getting married in Las Vegas
6.2: After the sun goes down
6.3: Best long running shows
6.4: Getting the best deals
6.5: What or who is playing now
6.6: The hot Vegas night c lubs
6.7: Bars, lounges & comedy clubs
6.8: Seamy side of Sin City

6.6 The hot Las Vegas night clubs

Many vacationers go to Vegas to gamble ...some to see shows and sample fine dining. But for the 20 and 30 year old set, its dancing the night away! Las Vegas is the undisputed hot dance club capital of the world! The emergence of the sensual ultra-hip nightclub is a relatively new Vegas trend that started in 1999. And they are unbelievably popular (...and profitable!) Most dance clubs have superb “special effects” ...ultra-modern interior design, unique decor and state-of-the-art sound systems with video and varied lighting.

Dancing the night away

Once the sun goes down, the party begins and lasts all night. The turnover/ratio/"friendliness" of girls/guys going to these clubs can be different from one day to the next! Remember, the average stay in Las Vegas is just three or four days. So you can expect a different set of party people every time you go. The following is what you need to know to go “clubbing.”

The wait at the popular clubs can be excessive ...especially on Friday and Saturday night. Take note that most of the “hot clubs” are only open on the weekend ...from Thursday to Sunday. A few are open every evening. The action starts at about 10:00 p.m. and goes to dawn ...the real action starts after midnight.

You might want to make the rounds of the less than hottest clubs and see what is happening at each one. The top clubs charge a $20 (or more) cover charge ...double that for VIP (immediate) entrance. Drinks at the clubs range from $5 to $10 each.

Included here is a list of the top clubs in LV. Which one is the best is a matter of opinion. It is the caliber of the party-going public at the club (and not the club itself) that is important. But club "reputation" does "entice" and The Palms and Hard Rock are well known as being the hottest of the hot spots. (And both are located slightly off the Strip.)

There is a three tier pricing system to get into the hot dance clubs ...somewhat common in large cities like New York, LA and Miami but hardly anywhere else. You need to know the system.

Pricing policy at Las Vegas night clubs

(1.) The cover charge ($20 to get into the hot clubs) only gets you in PROVIDING there is room ...otherwise you wait in line ...sometimes two to four hours! A line pass you get over the Internet or buy through eBay doesn’t make you a VIP. It just moves you from the General Admission line into the slightly shorter line. Get there early if you only want to pay the lowest cover charge.

(2.) The real VIP "ticket" (no waiting, immediate "front of the line" entry) usually costs double ...sometimes more ($40 to $50) It just gets you in quicker. Without it, you'll be waiting in the long lines with thousands of other frustrated would-be partiers. But even then, once you get in, you will probably have to stand up and just wander around. Not bad if Brittany Spear, Paris Hilton ...or other celebrities are there too. And sometimes they are! Available public tables are snapped up fast.

(3.) The third pricing tier is the "bottle or table service" ...at the nightclubs and "ultra-lounges" ...as in ultra-sophisticated lounge. In Vegas, you pay a lot of bucks to sit down. Table/bottle service gets you admission to a velvet roped-off area within a club when you purchase a bottle of liquor for $200 or $300 ... along with immediate entry for four people, a table and free mixers. There are different bottle service plans. But basically they all work the same way. Club goers pour their own drinks and they can invite friends over to the table. Suggested reading "The Art of Bottle Service."

For example, the "Tangerine" at Treasure Island (now called “TI”) has a "package deal" costing $500 for a table, admission for four guests, and one bottle of Absolut Vodka. On average, each additional bottle will run you $200 or more.

Getting VIP Treatment

A big mistake people make when visiting Las Vegas is not planning ahead. Ideally you should nail down an itinerary for every day of your trip. Don’t wait until you get to Vegas to line up your shows, major meals and the attractions you want to see.

Getting into a hot night club can be difficult or impossible ...especially as it gets closer to midnight. By then, the good ones are packed wall-to-wall. No one wants to waste away half the night standing in line. A way around this is to use the services of a VIP host.

VIP hosted entry to hot clubs and hosted entry plus transportation is big business in Las Vegas. And it is getting bigger all the time, so big that it is hard to keep up with who is offering what. “Hosted Entry” is where, for a fee, a provider with the right contacts will get you fast entry into night clubs. Many will transport you there in a limousine. Some offer bachelor and bachelorette parties. You name it, someone provides it in Sin City!

Here are some online addresses of companies that offer hosted entry. Be aware that it is not cheap ...it can run $50 and more. And even when you pay the fee, it is still customary to tip the club doorman. ($10 is about right, more for special favors.) Click on any of these websites and decide if paying for guaranteed entry is worth the price. (Most have toll-free phone numbers. Call them and see what they can do for you.)

	http://www.vegasclubncruz.com/index.html
	http://www.bachelorvegas.com/
	http://vegasvipconnections.com/
	http://www.vegashotspots.com/
	http://www.sincitylasvegas.com/nightclubs.htm
	http://vegas.bachelorblowout.com/
	http://www.accessvegas.com/vip/
	http://www.amazinglasvegas.com/lasvegas-night-life/
	http://las-vegas.travelnice.com/las-vegas-nightclub-packages.html
	http://www.vipnite.com/
	http://www.vegascasinos.com/Las-Vegas-Vip-Passes.html
	http://nightlife.wedoitallvegas.com/

What should I wear?

It makes a difference what sex you are when it comes to Las Vegas clubbing. Women get all the advantages! In order to improve the female/male ratio, girls are given a price break or other benefits ...such as ladies night, free to local fems, reduced cover charge, etc.

Unlike most everywhere else in Las Vegas, most dance clubs have dress codes. For women, the dress code is listed as: “Stylish nightlife attire” (which in everyday language means “sexy.”) Most gals at the hot clubs dress to impress; they show a lot of skin and wear ultra-chic, fashionable dresses. The clubs want to be full of very hot girls, high rollers and celebrities, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. The host with the clipboard at the door controls entry ...and he is fussy.

So gals, look the part. Bring a black cocktail dress if you want to go clubbing at the hot lounges. (It can double as a fancy dress for one of those high dollar celebrity chef restaurants.) If you don’t have one, make a trip to Victoria’s Secret before you come to Vegas and get one. (They have many sexy dresses at very reasonable prices: $50-$150. Click on the link)

And Guys: Bring a lot of money if you want to get in quickly ...and for that certain to be hefty bar tab. Tip: Men should go alone or with a gal! Three or more men usually end up outside looking in ...and never get inside! Male dress code is “business casual.” You don’t have to wear a tie, but dress like you are applying for a management position. (That means: no hats, tennis shoes/sandals/work boots, shorts, T-shirts, jerseys, athletic attire, denim jeans, baggy pants, etc.) A collared button-down shirt and nice slacks is ideal.

Since all clubs are open on Friday and Saturday, here are my choices for:

Hot night clubs: Open Sunday through Thursday

Sunday: Tangerine/TI, Body English/Hard Rock, Light/Bellagio, Ghost Bar/Palms, Risqué/Paris, The Beach
Monday: Rumjungle/Mandalay Bay, Tangerine/TI, Pure/Caesars Palace, Jet/Mirage
Tuesday: Pure/Caesars Palace, Studio 54/MGM, Tabú/MGM, Ghost Bar/Palms
Wednesday: Vivid/Venetian,Tangerine/TI, Studio 54/MGM, Tabú/MGM, Ghost Bar/Palms, Ra/Luxor, Club Rio/Rio, Drai’s/Barbary Coast, BiKiNiS /Rio
Thursday: Rain/Palms, Studio 54/MGM, Tabú/MGM, Vivid/Venetian, Tangerine/TI, Ghost Bar/Palms, Ra/Luxor, Light/Bellagio, Drai’s/Barbary Coast, Club Rio/Rio, Risqué/Paris, BiKiNiS/Rio, Tryst/Wynn

My list of all Las Vegas dance clubs

In alphabetical order. (The phone numbers are NOT the hotel, but the club itself.)

The Beach - 365 Convention Center Drive (East of Wynn Las Vegas, across from Convention Center) - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 731-1925 - Hours: Daily 10 p.m. to dawn - Cover: Sun-Thurs $10, Fri-Sat $15.; VIP: Fri-Sat $20 includes 2 drinks - (Casual clothing OK here!) Sign up here and get free admission before midnight.

BiKiNiS Beach & Dance Club - Rio Suite Hotel/Casino - 3700 W. Flamingo Road - Las Vegas, NV 89103 - Telephone: (702) 992-7970 - Hours: Wed-Sunday - 10 p.m.-4 a.m. - Cover: $20, VIP: $30. - Wildest beach party in town.

Body English - Hard Rock Hotel/Casino - 4455 Paradise Road - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 693-5555 - Hours: Fri-Sun 10:30 a.m.-4:a.m. - Cover: Men $30, Women $20, Local ladies: Free.

Club Rio - Rio All Suite Hotel/Casino - 3700 W. Flamingo Road - Las Vegas, NV 89103 - Telephone: (702) 777-7777 - Hours: Wed-Sat 11p.m.-4 a.m. - Cover: Local ladies get in free. $5 for out-of-state women. $10 for men.

Club Vivid - Venetian Hotel/Casino - 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - Hours: Wed-Sat 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m. - Cover: $20, VIP: $40, Cover: Locals free on Thursdays, $10 for local men/hotel guests, $20 for out-of-town visitors, local ladies get in free. - Telephone: (702) 414-4870.

Coyote Ugly - New York New York Hotel/Casino - 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 740-6969 - Hours: Daily, 6 p.m.-4 a.m. (Dancing starts at 9 p.m.) - Cover: $10 after 8:30 p.m. VIP: $20 -- (Opinion: Small and not that great.)

Curve Ultra-Lounge - Aladdin Hotel/Casino - 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 785-5525 - Hours: Fri-Sat 10:30 p.m.-5:00 a.m. - Cover: $20.

Red Dragon Lounge - Mandalay Bay - 3930 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89119 - Telephone: (702) 632-7404 - On Wednesdays, the China Grill turns into a hip nightclub - Hours: 11 p.m. to 4: a.m. - (Check out the translucent unisex bathrooms.)

Drai’s After Hours - Barbary Coast - 3595 Las Vegas Blvd S. - Las Vegas,NV 89109 - Telephone: (702) 650-0507 - Cover price: $20 ($10 locals) - Hours: Midnight to dawn, Wed.-Sun.

Forty Deuce - Mandalay Bay Hotel - 3930 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89119 - Telephone: (702) 632-9442 - Hours: Thur-Sat 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Sun & Wed 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Burlesque show times are 11:30 p.m., 1 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. with an extra performance at 4:30 a.m. Thur-Sat. - Cover: Thur-Sat $25; Sun-Wed $20. - VIP is bottle service $150 per person minimum.

Ghost Bar - The Palms Casino Resort - 4321 W Flamingo Rd - Las Vegas, 89103 - Telephone: (702) 938 2666 - Cover: Varies, usually $10 and up - Hours: Daily, 8 p.m.-4 a.m.

ICE Las Vegas - 200 E. Harmon Ave. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - Telephone: (702) 699-9888 - Hours: Fri-Sat - 10:30 p.m. to dawn - Cover: $20 (VIP: $40.)

Jet Nightclub - Mirage Hotel-Casino - (3400 South Las Vegas Blvd .) - Tel. (702) 792-7900 - Hours: Fri-Sat & Monday 10:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. - Features rock, hip-hop and popular dance - Three dance floors. (Opened: Dec. 2005)

Light - Bellagio Hotel - 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 - Telephone: (702) 693 8300 - Thursday - Sunday 10:30 p.m. - 4 a.m. - Cover: $30 - Free for local women.

Lure Ultra-lounge - Wynn Las Vegas -(NEW) - 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, 89109 - (702) 770-7800

Moorea Ultra Beach Lounge - Mandalay Bay Resort/Casino - 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89119 - Telephone: (702) 632-7777 - Cover: Men $20, Women: $10, Local ladies Free - Hours: Fri-Sat 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. - European style (topless) pool area during the day becomes a hot night spot in the evening.

OPM - Caesars Palace in The Forum Shops - 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 992-7970 - Hours: Thurs-Sun, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. - Cover: Wed-Thurs $10 (VIP entry $20), Fri-Sat $20. (VIP $40.)

Pure - Caesars Palace Hotel/Casino - 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 731-7873 - Hours: 10:00 p.m. to dawn - Cover: $20 - Hours: Friday-Tuesday, 10 p.m. - 4 a.m.

Ra - Luxor Hotel/Casino - 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89119 - Telephone: (702) 992-7970 - Hours: 10 p.m.-4:30 a.m., Wed-Sat - Cover: $20 men, $10 women. (VIP: Fri-Sat Men $30, Women $20.)

Rain In The Desert - The Palms Casino Resort - 4321 W. Flamingo Rd. - Las Vegas, NV 89103 - Telephone: (702) 942-6832 - Cover: Thurs $10, Fri & Sat $25, Local ladies free (VIP Thurs $20, Fri-Sat $50.) - Hours: Thurs, 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Fri & Sat, 10 p.m.-5 a.m.

Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel (4455 Paradise Road) is NOT a club. It is an overcrowded Pool Party (begins in May ...every Sunday at noon to 9 p.m.) complete with music, food, DJ's and dancing gals ...much like a college spring break. Hard Rock's guest clientele is mainly 20 and 30 something men. Since hotel guests get in free, the male/female ratio can be way out of balance. But the gals love it! If you are not staying at the Hard Rock, expect a VERY long line to get in. (Cover charge: men $30; women $20; local ladies $10.) - Telephone: (702) 693-5000. Skimpy thongs and string bikinis are the rage here.

Risqué - Paris Las Vegas - 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 992-7970 - Hours: Thur-Sun 10 p.m.-4 a.m. - Cover: Cover is $20 for men, $10 for women, $10 for local men and local ladies. VIP admission: $30. (Bottle service: VIP Package includes: Front of the Line admission for 6, one table, one bottle of alcohol and gratuity $350.00.)

Rubber, The Club at Seven - (North of Monte Carlo on Strip) - 3724 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - Telephone: (702) 739-7744 - Hours: Thu-Sat, 11 p.m.-5 a.m.; Mon-Wed, 11 p.m.-2 a.m. - Cover: $20 (Locals $10), VIP $30.

Rum Jungle - Mandalay Bay Hotel - 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89119 - Telephone: (702) 636 7404 - Cover: Local ladies free, men $20 ($25 Fri-Sat) - Hours: Fri, Sat, Mon, 11 pm-4 am; other nights, 11 p.m.-2 a.m.

Skin (Pool Section) - Palms Casino Resort - 4321 W. Flamingo Rd. - Las Vegas, NV 89103 - (702) 992-7970 - Cover Charge: $20 - Hours: Tues, 9 p.m.-3 a.m. - (Swimming is allowed.)

Studio 54 - MGM Grand Hotel/Casino - 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard S - Las Vegas, 85109 - Telephone: (702) 891-7254 -Cover: Men $10 Tue-Thu; $20, Fri-Sat. Ladies are free (VIP Wed-Thurs $30, Tue-Fri $ Sat $40.) - Hours: 10 p.m.-dawn.

Tabú - MGM Grand Hotel/Casino - 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S. - Las Vegas, NV 89109 - Telephone: (702) 891-7183 - Hours: 10 pm until dawn -Tues-Sun. - Cover: $20.

Tangerine Nightclub - Treasure Island (TI) Hotel/Casino, 3300 Las Vegas Boulevard S., Las Vegas, NV - Telephone: (702) 212-8140 - Cover: $20, local ladies free - Hours: Tues-Sat 5:30 p.m.-4 a.m.; Sun & Mon, 5:30 p.m. till midnight.

Tryst - Wynn Las Vegas Hotel-Casino - (3131 Las Vegas Blvd S.) - Tel. Toll-Free: 888-320-WYNN (Local: 702-770-7100) - Open Thurs.-Sat. 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. - Managed by world reknown Victor Drai of Drai's afterhours club. Opened: New Years eve. (Formerly known as La Bete.)

VooDoo Lounge - Rio Hotel Casino - 3700 W Flamingo Road - Las Vegas, 89109 - Telephone: (702) 252 7777 - Hours: Open nightly from 5 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Dancing begins at 9 p.m. nightly.