They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and I’m sure that’s true in more ways than I’d ever dare to imagine. But with the Strip’s increasingly luxurious resort hotels, intoxicating nightlife, and fanfare-worthy entertainment, Las Vegas is becoming the vacation destination that you can’t help but tell everyone about. Why have the time of your life in one of the most daydreamed-about places on earth, and not boast about it to your buddies?

Case in point: Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of staying at The Palazzo, a brand-new, all-suite resort hotel and casino nestled between The Venetian and Wynn Las Vegas. Now, I’m not the most ardent Vegas vacationer out there--I generally just tag along for the odd bridal shower or birthday. But I soaked up every second of this trip, and left yearning to return as soon as possible.

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Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Entertainment, Green Travel, Hotel Travel, Las Vegas, Shopping, Spas
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If you're still looking for Mr. Right or Ms. Walks-on-Air this February 14th, you might wonder if your chances would be improved by a visit to Valentine, Texas or Valentine, Nebraska. Recently a single friend suggested I write a travel blog called: You Don't Have to Go to Alaska to Meet the Man of Your Dreams. She wanted me to figure out where the most single men live so that she could vacation accordingly.

The travel matchmaker is in. After quite a bit of research, I have some basic findings to report. If you're looking to meet a single guy, go west. If you're looking to meet a single girl, it's time to visit the East. As this helpful map from National Geographic shows, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans, and Miami are chockfull of single women.

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Posted in Austin, Bars & Nightlife, California, Dallas/Fort Worth, Las Vegas, New York City, Offbeat, San Francisco, Texas
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Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Vegas veteran, there’s never been a better time to visit. As the new year begins, Vegas offers an incredible array of new resorts, renovations, nightclubs, and more. The city has never been the center of so much excitement.

Among the most captivating of these new additions is the Palazzo, which opened earlier this month and is the newest and largest resort in the city. The sister property of the Venetian, it is connected to its neighbor by walks and waterways, and its elegant architecture evokes a similar Mediterranean charm. Its luxurious sports bar and lounge, the 40/40, was created by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. And with a spacious pool deck overlooking the Strip, suites with sunken living rooms, plenty of premium restaurants, and 50-plus international boutiques, it’s poised to be the premier new hotspot in Las Vegas.

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Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Casinos & Gambling, Culinary Travel, Entertainment, Las Vegas, Spas
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Welcome to the Window Seat Podcast!
In this episode host Amy Ziff takes you to Las Vegas. You'll find out what makes Sin City one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world.

Listen to the whole show: [23:47]

Download Episode #1: Las Vegas (mp3)
(right click and select 'save as')

Subscribe to The Window Seat podcast in iTunes

Or listen a la carte:

Classic Vegas [7:53]
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Even though Las Vegas is constantly reinventing itself, vintage Vegas -- the "showgirls and lounge singers" Vegas -- does exist. You just have to know where to go. You'll get the scoop on the Rat Pack's hangout, learn what the city is doing to preserve its neon signs, and find out where to get the best old-school steak in town.

Inspiration Point [5:45]
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Every year more than a hundred thousand couples tie the knot in Las Vegas. What makes Sin City so romantic? Some say it's the view. From fifty-five stories above the Strip to flying over its skyline at night to moseying horseback at sunset, you'll hear about the city's best scenes for getting in the mood.

Relax, Vegas-Style [5:57]
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Believe it or not, you can get away from the bright lights and big crowds -- even here. Find out where a Las Vegas Showgirl goes to unwind and hear about the city's best spas.

Dare You [5:36]
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Vegas has another side -- one that's more extreme. In this piece, you'll experience rollercoasters, rock climbing, skydiving and speed racing -- if you dare!

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Posted in Entertainment, Hotel Travel, Las Vegas, Podcasts
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I’ve often wondered why so many Americans are obese when places like Wal-Mart and Target are so enormous that surely just walking from Electrical to Greeting Cards must burn off a few hundred calories.

And so I wasn’t particularly surprised when I read that some Las Vegas tourists--exhausted, evidently, by strolling from casino to buffet and back to casino again--are hiring motorized bikes to navigate the Strip.

Called “mobility scooters,” these controversial forms of transportation were originally intended for the elderly, infirm, or disabled--all people who should, without question, be able to use them to make their vacation a little easier. But for $40 a pop, perfectly able-bodied patrons are hiring their own mobility scooters to make that afternoon walk from the Luxor to the Bellagio, well, a drive.

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Posted in Health & Wellness, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Travel News
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I’ve been to Las Vegas several times and for several different reasons: to celebrate my 21st birthday; to (unintentionally) gamble my life savings away; to sit in a conference room listening to various speakers talk tourism; and, of course, to experience the rockin’ Las Vegas shows and nightlife. It never occurred to me, however, to visit Sin City for its food.

Chef Wolfgang Puck started the trend (so they say), when he brought his famous food to the city, and big names have been following his lead ever since. During my most recent visit, I checked out a few places on the must-try Vegas foodie list. L'Atelier and Café Martorano were among my personal favorites, but as more and more celebrity chefs open kitchens, I may just have to make another trip to get more of this delicious destination!

Photo: La Ventreche (Lightly seared tuna belly with crispy onion rings) at L'Atelier.

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Posted in Culinary Travel, Las Vegas
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Those who know that I once went bungee jumping off the summit of some sort of manmade pier in Mexico may not believe me when I say that heights give me the chills. (That adventure, btw, was definitely a one time thing!) Needless to say, the idea of walking across a glass bridge towering 4,000 feet above the earth doesn’t appeal to this aversion of mine, but people lined up today to be one of the first to experience the Grand Canyon Skywalk. At a whopping $75 per person, that’s one pricey stroll, but the attraction is expected to lure travelers who visit the Las Vegas area for its unparalleled view of the Canyon.

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Posted in Las Vegas, Nature & Outdoors, Travel News
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I’m back from Las Vegas and am proud to say that I only lost $5. My Vegas experiences have varied widely, from the time my friends won big at the craps table and sprung for a hot tub suite, to the time I went with my parents to see Siegfried and Roy, to the time I was attending all-day work meetings. Through all these visits, though, one thing remains constant: this is a city that always outdoes itself, over and over again.

*Photo courtesy of Byron Lobos.

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Posted in Casinos & Gambling, Entertainment, Hotel Travel, Las Vegas
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This weekend, I’m heading to Vegas. Sin City, baby. Neon lights and desert sights. It’s been a few years since I went last and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s changed. One thing that I know is different is that the Stardust Hotel is no longer. One of the Vegas originals, it was imploded earlier this week, leaving only Stardust memories.

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Posted in Casinos & Gambling, Las Vegas
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