NAB: Good Vegas info links

[Steve Gibby]

My business was based in Las Vegas from 2002 to 2004. Having lived there, and also attended about 20 NAB conventions there over the years, here’s some useful info links to help you plan your NAB trip. See you at NAB and the RED booths!!

NAB Web Site
http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

Some Las Vegas Hotel and Tourism Links
http://www.lasvegas.com/ (Specials and good search tool for all types of Las Vegas hotels, rental cars, etc.)
http://www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/s...tels/index.jsp (good search tool for all types of Las Vegas hotels)

A Few Affordable Hotels
(Note: Check REDUser first to see if Jarred has arranged group rates for REDUser members at hotels. If so, I’d definitely stay where the RED Heads are!)
http://www.orleanscasino.com/ (3 blocks off Strip. Good prices &b large rooms. Drive or take shuttle to convention center)
http://www.barbarycoastcasino.com/ (affordable and on the Strip)
http://www.thecal.com/ (affordable downtown hotel. Take shuttle or car to convention center)
http://www.samstownlv.com/main.cfm (About 6 miles from convention center. Good prices and clean rooms. Take shuttle or car to convention center)
http://www.mainstreetcasino.com/display.cfm?id=1053 (downtown & affordable. Take shuttle or car to convention center)
http://www.vegas.com/resorts/sahara/index.html (Sahara Hotel & Casino. Affordable and close to Convention Center)
http://www.vegas.com/resorts/riviera/index.html (Riviera Hotel & Casino. Affordable and walking distance to Convention Center)

A few Higher Budget Hotels
http://www.venetian.com/ (Gondolas, restaurants, Sands Convention Center, on Strip)
http://www.bellagio.com/ (Spa, fountains, restaurants, on Strip)
http://www.mandalaybay.com/ (Great pool, restaurants, on Strip)

Web Search Portals for Hotels and Airfares
www.hotels.com
www.expedia.com
www.travelocity.com
www.travelzoo.com (Last minute airfares and hotel specials)
http://www.cheaptickets.com/ (Last minute airfare and hotel specials)

Interactive Las Vegas maps and standard maps
http://www.lvcva.com/vegas-maps.jsp

Las Vegas Monorail
http://www.lvmonorail.com/ (Transportation from most hotels on the Strip to the Convention Center)

Food
Food is everywhere in Las Vegas. There are affordable buffets at each hotel/casino. There are higher-end steak houses and international food all over the Strip. Food at the Convention Center is expensive. If you’re on a budget, I’d suggest that you go to one of the small markets off the Strip and simply buy snacks to put in your backpack or briefcase before going to the Convention Center. Food lines are usually long at the Convention Center food outlets.

Weather
April is usually a mild weather month in Las Vegas, with days around 75 degrees, and nights around 55 degrees. It can be windy. Layers of clothes work best, windbreakers at night, short sleeves during the day.

Parking
If you have a rental car and drive to the Convention Center, come early because the parking lot across from the Convention Center, on Paradise Road, fills up rapidly in the morning. Las Vegas police will ticket and tow you quickly. Park where it’s legal, or pay the price.

Driving
Having lived in Las Vegas, it’s my opinion that the world’s worst drivers live there! They speed, weave, are agro, etc. – it’s a full-on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride every time you drive! The taxis and shuttles are the worst drivers, so watch them closely when you’re driving. Don’t jaywalk in Las Vegas. Tons of pedestrians get killed each year. Don’t assume that anyone is going to stop for you!

Passes
Unless you specifically want to go to seminars, register for the free NAB VIP pass, which will get you into all exhibit floors. Most tech manufacturers will supply you with a VIP pass code to register on the NAB site with.

Have fun…see you there!

[Andrew Benz]

Gibby, once again, you are a great resource! Thank you for putting this together. As you know, I have not been before, so this really helps out a guy like me.

[Steve Gibby]

Glad to help Andrew! After one trip to NAB you'll have it wired and be a veteran from then on...

[Emanuel & Co]

Much appreciate.

[Steve Gibby]

I'll be glad to provide additional info on Las Vegas and the NAB experience to anyone who has questions that weren't answered in my original post. Just send me a private message and I'll get back to you when I can

Cheers!

[Joe Carney]

Here is another one, at night if you're not taking a taxi or the metro...walk/travel in groups, even on the well lit strip.
Last year watched on the local news, a guy getting beat up in one of the parking lots of the Sands.

Here's a cool tidbit, you can walk around with an open can of beer in public.

[Steve Gibby]

Las Vegas is relatively safe, but the good sense to know what's going on around you goes a long way in any city, including Vegas. In any tourist city there will be predators looking for visitors who leave themselves vulnerable and/or their property unguarded. I realize that "common sense" isn't that common, and should be re-labeled "uncommon sense", but just use the same caution you'd use in any large city or resort and you shouldn't have any problems.

[GlennChan]

BRING COMFORTABLE SHOES! And add insoles to your shoes too. :)

[Steve Gibby]

Great point Glenn. Each day there involves tons of walking around. The guys in sneakers walk around smiling, while those in dress shoes have that "These flippin shoes are killin' me" grimace. I dress really casual for NAB. I'm not there to impress anyone - just there to drool over the eye candy.

[CVB]

One other thing I learned.... get the free magazines early. You may think to yourself "Self, I think I'm going to wait until the end of the day to get those cool magazines" wrong.... they disappear fast, I missed out on $30 worth of free magazines.