On December 12 we arrived at around 7pm at McCarran Airport, after a total travel time of 17 hours. We used Bally's airport desk to get our room keys, then got our luggage and off we went with the hotel's own shuttle. The next 4 nights we stayed in excellent rooms in the Bally's north tower. We got great deals on room rates. The first and the last night were for only US$ 49.00, for the other two nights they charged the weekend rate of US$ 79.00 per night. The hotel has a great location situated right in the middle of the Strip.

The next few days we did what we always do in Las Vegas. Having extensive breakfast at the many buffets, strolling from casino to casino, sightseeing and of course playing the slots. For dinner we either went to restaurants or ate at buffets.

Speaking of buffets, we went to the Paris twice for breakfast. In our opinion the buffet at the Paris is one of the best when it comes to food selection and atmosphere. There is a shopping passage connecting Bally's and Paris so it was only a few minute's walk from our hotel rooms to excellent food.

Of course we also went to the Bally's buffet for breakfast and their food selection too is a big one, but when it comes to ambience the Paris is much more sophisticated. The buffet at the Flamingo just across the road on the other hand, is not one place we would go to again. Their breakfast selection is not appealing at all (very greasy foods).

Twice we went to the Cheesecake Factory in Caesars Palace for dinner. Why twice? Well, the first evening we made the "mistake" of eating starters and entrées and then had no room for their excellent cheesecakes. So the next day we just split the entrées, like most of the other guests did, and finally got the chance to try their delicious desserts.

Because having to take care of Vegas-virgins, and especially ones that barely speak English, was sometimes a heavy task, we had already arranged, a couple of weeks before, for them to take a plane and bus tour to the Grand Canyon.

On December 15, the day of the parent's Grand Canyon tour, we picked up our Chrysler Concorde at Dollar Rent-a-Car's airport location. Our travel agency was not able to pre-book cars at the hotels, they only have access to airport locations. But the people of Dollar are really customer oriented. They offered us a free shuttle ride from Bally's, and they even let us look inside the different cars they had available for us.

The next day we drove to Hoover Dam, and then through the Valley of Fire State Park, which was pretty impressive. If you are in Las Vegas and have a rental car, the Valley of Fire is an absolute must-see. Late in the evening we checked in at the Luxor Las Vegas, where we stayed for the following three nights at a room rate of US$ 59.00. Last year we stayed in a tower room, so we decided to try the pyramid instead, as a pyramid room was also on the mind of our Vegas-virgins.

At check-in we were immediately recognized by the registration agent and he gave us the choice of several rooms. We opted for the ones facing the Sphinx. The pyramid rooms we stayed in were not nearly as nice as the tower rooms. The wallpaper and the carpets are worn-down and our shower door could only be opened with special techniques. But the view was good.

The breakfast buffet at the Luxor was a disappointment. Either their quality declined or our expectations were higher this time. Because we now had a car we twice drove over to the Rio to have dinner at the Carnival World Buffet. We have never seen such a huge selection of food before. It is not as cheap as other buffets, but worth the price. Afterwards we also had good luck at their slots, especially at "Frog Prince".

There's more to see.

You don't really need a car in Las Vegas, but if you have one, then you should definitely drive downtown to see one or maybe several performances of the Fremont Street Experience. As it was Christmastime we expected a christmassy lightshow, but our wishes were not met. But it was, like always, a great experience.

We also drove to Red Rock Canyon, but having already been to the Valley of Fire, it was not as breathtaking as many people tell. On local TV we also learned about the Magical Forest in Opportunity Village which was set up to raise money for people with intellectual disabilities, so of course we checked that out too, and mingled with the locals.

There was also a musical event taking place in Las Vegas which we didn't want to miss. Brad Paisley and Darryl Worley played at the Hilton. We luckily got tickets the day before and enjoyed the both of them performing all of their hits and future singles.

On December 19 we packed our stuff and had to leave Las Vegas for Joshua Tree National Park. Three days later we left for Canada, and the parents flew home to Europe. Now each time we meet with them they talk about how much they enjoyed the trip and how much fun they had.

Well, Las Vegas is not a "one trip city". Once you've been there, you get some kind of bug telling you to come back over and over again.