A couple of good places to view the fireworks - without being engulfed in
crowds:
Rio parking lot - facing strip. Excellent view of most of the whole strip -
good way to exit too via Twain Ave. (less traffic) This would be my #1
choice.
vacinity of Hilton hotel - possibly in their parking lot - or from their
parking garage (take a room card or players card so you can park). Not as good
as the Rio, but if you are on that side of town it can work for you.
On the strip -- to avoid crowds, try standing in the area on Flamingo beside
the Barbary Coast or beside the Bellagio, but not actually on Las Vegas
Blvd. itself.
From a hotel window - some Bally's rooms have a great view. Also some
hotels like Ballys have windows on each floor from which you may be able to look
out, rather than from a private room - assuming you can get to them without a
room key.
From parking garages such as Palms, Gold Coast, Orleans, etc - a bit off the
strip, but still have a good view.
On Las Vegas Blvd. recommendations:
It is EXTREMELY CROWDED - we did it 2 years and the crowding could be
dangerous. Get into position to watch at least 1 hour prior to midnight. Wait
until crowd thins to go back to your hotel. Best places to try to stand are
those that are a bit wider - such as in front of Mirage, or places with no hotel
on one side such as in front of Fashion Show Mall or Stardust (which is now
closed).
Do not take small children to strip! Crowds are dangerously tight like
squished sardines.
If you go to the strip, make sure you have protected yourself from
pickpockets. You will probably need a room card to get into any strip hotel - so if
you don't have a room, procure a room card, or possibly a player's card (such
as Harrah's Diamond) so you can enter the hotel of your choosing for bathroom
facilities!
Las Vegas Blvd. will be closed from about 8pm til well after midnight- so
your best bet for getting in or out via car or taxi is from a back access street
such as Koval or Industrial/Frank Sinatra drive....if you don't have a hotel
room.
Monorail may be a good choice for exiting/entering strip area -- it will
close around midnight, but should be open soon before and afterwards.
We stood in front of Paris one year - I don't recommend it - really packed.
One year we were in front of the Mirage, much better.
Be prepared for loud yelling, beer drinkers, revelers, funny hats. It is
fun to be in the crowd, but the streets are horribly packed, so I suggest
trying to get a bit further away from the area from the Aladdin to Treasure Island
which is the heaviest packing.
We've decided to go to a friend's party this year and watch on TV to avoid
the crowds. Vegas is more popular than ever and the crowds really were a bit
scary for us last time in front of Paris.
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