Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On Credit Cards
The vast majority of dance clubs, bars, and other nightlife hot spots will accept
credit cards. When that's not the case, I've noted it in the text. Otherwise, you
can assume that your plastic is good.
CLUBS & “ULTRALOUNGES”
The more than 30 clubs in town range from gimmicky to bare-bones to down-
right elegant. Many strive to differentiate themselves through some sort of whiz
bang feature, whether it's a video grid ceiling at JET, or a 20-foot Buddha at Tao,
or giant waterfalls at Tryst. The unreachable goal: To prove they're more sleek,
sexy or sophisticated than the next.
And huge lines outside are a point of pride for these places, so if you're into danc-
ing, get ready to spend a good chunk of the night single file, double file, or in an
enormous unwieldy cluster out front—particularly on Friday and Saturday. You
might want to save your club-hopping plans for another city, or at least away from
weekend nights if you plan on actually spending time within the club, and not just
waiting to be allowed in. I'm not kidding: Lines can be hours long, and once you
get to the front, you'll find that there's no actual order: You're at the mercy of a
power-wielding, eye-contact avoiding “executive doorman”—bouncer—who gives
attractive women priority. The rest will eventually get in as long as they stick to the
dress code, but there's no first-come first-served about it. My advice on clothing:
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For women: Antediluvian but true—showing more cleavage is a line-skip-
ping tactic. If that's not an option stick with a little black dress or nice jeans
and a sexy or club-wear style top.
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For men: Look good. Avoid baggy jeans, shorts, tennis shoes, or work boots.
Nice jeans or pants and a collared shirt work well. If you can, attaching your-
selves to women waiting in line is all the better. Groups of men are low on
the club's priority list.
Patience is a virtue, too, when it comes to Vegas clubbing. While the doorman
will pick and choose who he lets in during rush hour, once it hits 2 or 3 in the
morning and the club is beginning to empty out, he'll start letting just about any-
one in. To speed up the process you can always slip the doorman a $20—it's com-
mon practice and tipping is a particularly good idea if you're with a group of men.
Because their primary clientele is tourists rather than a dependable slew of like-
minded locals, the demographics in the clubs vary according to who's in town.
When the Consumer Electronics Show is here, there's a swing towards the com-
puter nerds. With AdultDex? Porn stars.
The exception is “Industry Night,” which many of the spots offer, and gives
locals in the nightlife business complimentary or discounted entry. On these
nights, the clubs fill with dancers, cocktail servers, bartenders, and others who are
part of the frontline of what Las Vegas considers to be attractive. Regardless of
what night you go, the clubs are filled with waves of people who want to see and
be seen—this is not the place for a quiet conversation, or for wallflowers.
