Primer to Las Vegas By Michael J.W. Thomas, CPhT, Event & Editorial Assistant, NPPA   So you’re planning to attend the 15th Annual NPPA Conference at the Newly-renovated Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, hosted by Summerdale Enterprises, Inc., Publisher of Pharmacy Purchasing Outlook and the Founder of NPPA.  You’ve heard good things about the Conference, and you want the opportunity to network with your fellow Pharmacy Purchasing Professionals.  And let’s not forget about the possibility of fulfilling all of your CE requirements for the year at one meeting (an estimated 8-10 at least is expected).  You want to bring the family, catch a show, maybe try your hand at the blackjack table. But it’s so far away, it’s in the middle of nowhere and you really know nothing about Las Vegas.  This writer has been to the Atlantic City casino hotels, as well as the Indian casinos.  At least Atlantic City has the beach to keep my family happy, but the reservation casinos, well, if you don’t gamble, there’s not much else to do.  But is what they say about Vegas true?  Can I bring my family and be assured that they will not be in danger from The Mob AND have enough activities to keep them entertained?  Will they (or myself, for that matter) be tempted by the many lurid distractions in this so-called Sin City?  Are there really slot machines in the bathrooms?   Fortunately, the hype surrounding Las Vegas is in this day and age Urban Legend.  The only time you may encounter The Mob would be at the Tropicana's newest attraction the Las Vegas Mob Experience and half-naked showgirls in feathers and sequins are now only available for photo-ops outside the hotel.  These things are tales of the Old Las Vegas, and if it is still around, it is not that obvious, or it's  promotion of some type.  And, sorry, in the twelve years of going to the Conference, this writer has yet to see a spectacular CSI crime scene, though many episodes were shot in our former Conference location.  You will, however, find a delightful and dazzling array of sights and distractions that has earned Las Vegas the description ‘Fabulous’.  What this writer will attempt to accomplish will be to give a brief primer on what to expect to see, what you can do as a family, or a group after the daily Conference sessions, and what your family can do to keep them busy and entertained during the day while you’re at the Conference. TRANSPORTATION: GETTING TO LAS VEGAS  For those in the East, the only method to get to Las Vegas is by air.  All modes of ground transportation will take far too long unless you have all the time in the world.  For attendees in the Mid-West and the Coast, there are the options of land, rail or air travel, depending on your distance from Las Vegas.  This writer has done the drive to Las Vegas from San Diego.  It’s a five-to-six hour drive, depending on your driving style, and it is for the most part eventless.  Once you leave the Los Angeles area, be prepared to drive virtually non-stop to ‘Vegas, barring food, gas and rest stops.  Also, for those driving, turn off your air conditioning and open the windows when driving through the desert.  Though at the speed you’re driving, it is not the most optimal way to drive in terms of gas consumption, it puts less of a strain on your electrical system in the merciless heat.  And getting stuck on I-15 with a dead battery and being literally a hundred miles from nowhere in the middle of the Mojave Desert, that’s no way to start a vacation.   For those who never or rarely travel by plane, here are a few general tips to make your travel less traumatic: - For the best airfares, book your flight as far in advance as possible.  The further you book your flight from your actual departure date, the cheaper your flight will likely be.  Booking your flight early also eases your expense load as you’re spreading out your expenses over a longer period of time.  If you are really brave, you can try to book a flight on standby status.  Standby status means you book your flight with the understanding that if the plane is not full, you get a seat.  If the flight is full, you have to wait for the next flight.  Or the next.  Or the next.  It’s the cheapest mode of air travel, but it is the most risky in terms of actually getting a flight and in today’s economy, it may not be worth the aggravation.  You may not want to try this if you are traveling with your family. - You can make all the travel arrangements yourself.  By making all the arrangements yourself, you have the most control over your options (flight, times, etc.), but if you have little or no experience in doing so, you may not get the best price or arrangements.  If you do opt to make your own flight arrangements, try to book a flight on an airline that has a hub in your city.  An airline with a hub in your city means that airline has one of their main offices in your home city.  Delta Airlines has a hub in Atlanta, GA, while US Airways has a hub in Philadelphia, PA, for example.  Hub city airlines usually have the most flights from your city and usually have better rates. - You can also check the Internet for booking flights.  There are many sites that offer everything from airfares to car rentals, often offering rates on hotels and tours.  Most airlines have their own web sites also, where you can shop flights and prices.  One of the more popular general travel sites is travelocity.com, but there are others, such as cheapairfares.com and cheapair.com.  A word of caution: make sure you are comfortable with any site you use as you will be submitting your credit card and other sensitive information online.  Another hint is to check the rates on the travel Internet sites, find the cheapest airline, then go to that airline’s web site. Another option is to use priceline.com or hotwire.com for airfares.  Their claim to name your own price is true, however you are subject to whatever airline, airport, flight time and even the date they decide you fly, which is risky since you must pay in advance and then you’re told how you get there.  I am not sure of their refund policy, either.  As with standby, if you are not picky how, when and where you land in Las Vegas, this is the best bet. In the past few years, the airlines themselves, tired of losing a piece of their action to the online services, have initiated their own “Best Price” policies.  This can work in your favor, because once you get a good price for your flight from one of the online travel services, go to the airline itself that had the best prices and put them head-to-head.  If the airline’s price is better, and it sometimes is, you book with the airline.  If their price is not the best, you can negotiate with the airline to lower their price.  By booking with the airline instead of the online travel service, you sometimes save a bit on the administrative fees charged by the online travel service. For the best and least route of resistance, try a travel agent.  They traditionally charge no more than if you were to do it yourself, and they can find the best deals for your requirements as they do this for a living.   Something new for 2010 is that the airlines are becoming stricter regarding the baggage they handle.  Most airlines now CHARGE for handling your baggage, sometimes even your first bag.  Charges for baggage checked start at $20 and can go as high as $50!  Also, overweight baggage is now being more strictly monitored.  Don't think you can get away by just stuffing your belongings into a few bags.  Overweight baggage carries a hefty charge.  Lastly, carry-ons are being weighed and measured.  If they do not fit the airlines' criteria for carry-on baggage, it will be checked - and charged - according to their baggage handling policy.  So a word to the wise is pack lightly and be prepared for unexpected baggage charges.  Again, CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE and find out their latest rules for baggage handling aboard their planes.   Last bit of advice for travel.  Since its inception, the Transportation Service Administration (TSA) has frequently changed their criteria regarding what can and cannot be permitted to be brought on air crafts.  It would be a good idea to check their website to find out the latest do's and don'ts.  Also, TSA requires that they have complete access to your luggage for random inspection.  That means if you lock your luggage, THEY WILL BREAK YOUR LOCK.  Department stores now sell TSA-approved locks and belts that can be accessible by the TSA but still ensure some personal security.  Caution should be exercised with the luggage belts, because if they are too complicated or too difficult to re-close, they will just tie it to your luggage, leaving your personal belongings completely unprotected.  So the lesson here is not to have any contraband, of course, but also not to over pack, or pack anything you may not want others to see, or have to explain to others.   WEATHER  The average temperature in Las Vegas usually hovers around the 100 degree mark.  Although many claim it is a dry heat, it is still VERY HOT with very little relief, even at night (check the current weather for Las Vegas at the bottom of this page).  You are, after all, in the middle of a desert.  Do not venture outside for any lengthy periods of time if you are susceptible to the heat.  The weather fools you at night, however.  At times it can become very windy, and therefore feel chilly.  You should dress accordingly. Inside the hotels is a different story.  The hotels, the casinos, and even hotel exteriors are usually wonderfully air-conditioned.  Some of the fancier hotels have misting sprays lining their exteriors.  You should prepare yourself for the drastic weather changes as you go from unrelenting heat to air-conditioned comfort and vice-versa.   TRANSPORTATION - LAND Once you get there, you’ll want to get around.  If you drove yourself, the option is obvious; use your own car.  Parking is usually free in most casinos, but read the cautions regarding driving in Las Vegas a little further down in this article.  Depending on your budget and your needs, there are three options: CAR RENTAL Car rental is the most expensive, but the most versatile mode of travel.  Las Vegas is a huge, sprawling city in regards to land mass, and if you are staying for any time longer than the Conference, you may want to see the other sites Las Vegas has to offer.  A second word of caution: driving on the Strip may be intimidating to one who is not experienced in driving in a city that is literally on a 24/7 rush hour.  Traffic is fast, furious and congested, and the later in the day you drive, the more intense the traffic gets. TAXI Taxis offer almost as much versatility but without the financial commitment of a car rental or the nerve-shattering intensity of actually driving.  The cabs are usually clean and well-maintained, and the drivers will be glad to give you tips on what to see and do while in the city, while also telling you their own life story.  Cab fares can get pricey, so choose carefully your itinerary if you are sightseeing by taxi cab.  One other caution:  If a driver solicits you to skip the regular lines and use their cab DON’T DO IT!!  These “gypsy” cab drivers usually pay off their partner at the hotel, then literally take you for a ride.  They say they will charge you less than a regular cab, but the fares usually comes out to more than a regular, licensed cab.  As a second note, not all gypsies are unscrupulous, and every doorman is not in cahoots with them, but it’s just safer to use a licensed cab and driver. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Las Vegas boasts a very efficient and reliable public transportation service that runs the length of the Strip and beyond.  The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) launched its new Double Decker bus service on the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday, Oct. 27 2005. The Deuce provides another exclusive transportation option for residents and visitors alike along the busy Las Vegas Strip. The double decker accommodates 97 people and provides both an economical and environmentally sound transit option. Day Passes can be purchased that will allow one passenger each to get off and on the bus all day long, and it will take you from near the airport to the Fremont area of Las Vegas, the Original Las Vegas Strip.  The city recently updated their buses so that most of them are now double-decker buses, alleviating the congestion of the older buses and allowing tourists to view the city from a better vantage point.  In addition, the Las Vegas Strip now has a monorail system that covers most of the major casinos on the Strip, and the monorail begins at the MGM Grand.  All the usual precautions for public transportation travel should be observed (watch your purse, wallet, etc.). FREE TRANSPORTATION There is another option to taxis and buses.  There are several modes of free transportation that are offered by the casinos themselves: -Shuttles - All the chain casinos offer their own free shuttle service to their other locations in Las Vegas.  Several casino chains offer free shuttles.  They all have stops on the Strip.  It is the cheapest and easiest method to visit the casinos off the Strip.  It’s just a matter of where you want to go. - Monorails - Another mode of free transportation are the inter-casino monorails, not to be confused with the Las Vegas Monorail.  These are featured in the newer casinos, such as the Mirage or Mandalay Bay.  Again, they connect to their own casinos so you don’t have to walk, and there are several of these monorails accessible on the Strip.   There is a fourth option - walking.  This is not advisable unless you intend to cover the only the centermost and most densely packed section of the city.  With Caesars Palace alone covering the equivalent of nearly two and one-half city blocks, it is a formidable task to visit to many casinos in one evening, as many casinos are further away than they look.  Even with walking, you still need a way to get to that section of town, and that is usually by monorail, since, although we will be practically in the center of town, it is still enough of a distance between groups of casinos to make it daunting.  A monorail Day Pass or even a Day Pass for their Strip Bus system is a surefire solution to tired feet.   CONFERENCE HOTEL - TROPICANA The hotel we’ve chosen to hold the Conference and use for our lodging this year is the Tropicana Hotel & Conference Center.  With a low room rate of $74.50/night+tax (expires July 14), it is the only sure bet in Las Vegas.  In addition to your low room rate, our guests who have reserved hotel rooms under our group block, will NOT be charged Tropican’s new Resort Fee ($10+tax/day), but WILL STILL GET THESE SERVICES that come with it.  NPPA’s group reservations at the Tropicana will get these Resort Fee amenities at no cost: · $15 beverage credit per stay available at any MGM Grand-owned bar; · Complimentary wireless Internet; · Daily USA Today newspaper; · Local and toll free numbered calls; · Limited Business Center Services (such as sending outgoing faxes, making copies, notary services, and printing of airline boarding passes).  To sweeten the pot even more, each NPPA registered attendee staying at the Tropicana, will get a “Value Card,” which entitles you to: · 15% Off Grand Spa Service (Not valid on Saturday; does not apply to gym pass).  The Tropicana is flanked by other hotels on all sides, and serviced by both the Las Vegas monorail and the new double-decker public Strip bus system.  It will truly look like all that Las Vegas has to offer has been prepared exclusively for you.   ATTIRE  Attire at the Conference is Business Casual.  Women should wear skirts or slacks with blouses, or dresses; whatever you would feel most comfortable wearing in a business/social environment.  Men should be in slacks and shirts; jackets are optional, polo shirts are acceptable.  You should stay away from tank tops, undershirts, short-shorts, and ripped jeans; scrubs are a bad idea also.  Shorts and sandals are acceptable if still professional enough; the general Rule of Thumb would be to dress as though you were going to dinner or a casual social event.  One important note:  bring layers to wear while in the meeting rooms.  All of the hotels & meeting room space in Vegas are kept  VERY COLD in contrast to the oppressive heat outside the hotel!  It’s not something we have a lot of control over, so it’s best to be prepared.  So, the layering…you will be happy you’ve brought a sweater or jacket, despite the sweltering heat outside, when sitting in the lecture room for hours in the air conditioning. FOOD Speaking of such, the second industry in Las Vegas is food.  Food is everywhere.  And there is food for every taste, every lifestyle and every budget.  At The Tropicana, as in every other casino, there is everything from a fast food court to casual cafes, delis, and restaurants, to high-end and well-known restaurants to impress even the most jaded diner (such as Emeril’s, Wolfgang Puck’s, and famous “Top Chef” judge, Tom Colicchio’s place, Craftsteak).  Unfortunately, because the Tropicana is following suit with the other newer hotels on the Strip, the all-you-can-eat buffet has been eliminated.  This is a growing practice in Vegas; last year, New York New York closed their buffet, and is looks like this is a trend that will continue. In addition, the Conference usually provides Breakfast on 2 or 3 days, with coffee/tea available everyday.  The GPO and Wholesaler Breakout sessions usually provide some type of refreshments or snacks as well.  And in the Exhibit Hall, there is a full bar as well as snacks provided.  Combine that with an Opening Reception on the first day of the Conference (Monday 5:30pm), and hosted Hospitality events on the other nights of the Conference (currently one on Tuesday evening) you will spend very little money on food, unless it is your choice. ENTERTAINMENT Las Vegas is truly the Entertainment Capital of the World.  Entertainers who are world-renown live and perform in ‘Vegas year round.  Tourists flock to ‘Vegas to see some of the most famous people in the world perform.  And like everything else in Vegas, there are entertainment choices for every taste and budget: - Let’s start with the free shows.  That’s right FREE shows.  Throughout every casino there are lounge acts that range from relaxing to easy Jazz to tearing it up at a full-blown House Party.  And it’s available to you for the price of a drink.  If lounge acts aren’t your style, try wandering through the Strip at night.  This is when Las Vegas really becomes alive.  The lights of the city and the gigantic video screens would be enough distraction for a normal night.  But there is more, much more.  Wandering down the Strip, you can watch the spectacular Dancing Water Fountains Show at Bellagio, or even get a little flame-burned from the Volcano Show at the Mirage.  Or catch real, live circus acts at Circus-Circus.  Need some more?  How about a five city-block-long light and music show up in the Fremont section of Las Vegas.  Words can’t describe it.  You just have to see it.  And it’s all free. . - In respect to shows and entertainment, the MGM has the Hollywood Theatre and the Grand Garden Arena.  The Brad Garret Comedy Club features top comics from across the country.  Aside for the aforementioned Mob Experience, the Tropicana is in the process of attracting more mainstream entertainment as they continue their renovations    And of course, there’s always the trademark Vegas acts, such as the Cirque du Soliel productions, or the plays/musicals, such as “Phantom - the Las Vegas Spectacular.”  These shows will normally set you back anywhere from $69-150 per person, if you can get a ticket, as they are very popular.  Another tip:  check the website pages of the hotel’s show you’re interested in to see if they are offering discounts to select dates.  Remember, the top shows like “Menopause - the Musical” or the Blue Man Group are usually booked solid, so if you plan to see these top shows, make your arrangements early. You may want to network with the various Vendors displaying at the Conference.  Drug Reps are also a good source for entertainment during conventions.  At a conference such as the PPO Networking Conference, chances are there will be a vendor there that either you are familiar, or who wishes to speak to you more at length than during the display times.  This is an excellent opportunity for both vendors and buyers to get together in a business/social environment.  The Conference vendors get your undivided attention for a couple of hours and you get a great meal and/or show.  Physicians and Pharmacists have been wined and dined for years in this manner.  Isn’t it about time for the person who actually makes the purchases to get this kind of treatment?  It is truly a winning deal for all. For those planning extended stays in the Clark County area, you may want to take in a tour of Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon.  There are many options to tour these areas, including aerial and helicopter tours.  These tours need to be planned at least a day in advance so that the tour companies can make accommodations for you or your group.  The Hoover Dam is a nice half-day excursion, while the Grand Canyon takes a full day, because of the extensive traveling that is involved (across two states).  Also, it’s better to visit the Grand Canyon in a tour group as the drive is long and generally non-eventful, and the tour guides know of the better places for the sights and picture taking.  The MGM Grand concierge staff will be happy to help you with these arrangements. Then there’s the gambling, although the Politically Correct crowd now call it Gaming.  Many people find entertainment in the various gaming activities.  In addition, the hotel offers free classes in Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, etc.  Just approach any employee and they can direct you to where the classes are.  One more feature about the gaming area.  As long as you are gaming, cocktail waitresses will offer you free drinks.  One of the attendees told this writer that she was getting $8 mojitos just for sitting at a slot machine and spent only $5 on a slot machine.  As long as she sat there gaming, the drinks kept coming.  Of course it is customary to tip the waitress, but getting drinks for a buck is still a very good deal. Las Vegas, while it tried to make itself more family-oriented, is not exactly Disneyland either.  Its seedier underbelly rears its head at night, as hawkers on the streets slap pamphlets and leaflets in your face, trying to attract your attention, men, women, couples, even children, advertising escort services and every other type of mature distraction.  Although considered conventionally rude, it’s best to ignore these people completely, as walking through 8-10 of them at a clip can be a little unnerving, and there is virtually no way to walk around them.  The latest sidewalk scam is the offer of free tickets to shows and attractions by street hawkers.  While their offer may be legitimate, and some are, the “price” of the free offer is that you sit through a “short” timeshare presentation that can waste as little as 45 minutes or as long as several hours of your time.  If a person approaches you and asks how long you are in town, it is a timeshare scheme.  It is advisable to use whatever method that is comfortable for you to firmly tell the person, “No.”  Prostitution is legal in Nevada, but not in Clark County, where the Las Vegas strip resides, but it doesn’t stop a ‘working girl’ from plying her (or his) trade on the Strip.  There are also adult revues and of course the showgirl revues where g-strings are optional.  Most of these avenues of entertainment usually have to be actively sought after, so it should not present a problem to attendees bringing their families to Vegas.   SHOPPING There are other ways to lose money in Las Vegas besides the Roulette Wheel.  Most of the casinos have exclusive shops and boutiques.  If you’ve ever imagined walking down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, this is the closest thing to that.  Most of these stores are fairly pricey, with names like Gucci and Pierre Cardin, and it is kind of fun to go into these boutiques and just see how the other half shops.  There are also very specialized shops for very unique tastes.  If this is not exactly to your liking or your budget, every casino has shops where you can purchase souvenirs and other sundry items as well as specialty shops with more reasonably priced items.  This writer, on one of his excursions to ‘Vegas collected a souvenir beer mug from every casino he visited.  I wouldn’t recommend that to everyone, as shipping them back home cost over a hundred dollars, but sometimes it’s fun to have a goal like that.  Also for those attendees planning an extended stay in ‘Vegas, and you venture off the Strip, you’ll also find that Las Vegas is a real, regular city, with supermarkets and regular retail stores.  But keep in mind that these stores are in the residential areas far from the Strip.  You may be identified as a tourist invading their private sector if you act like one.  Still, it is a unique experience to mingle among the locals.  But use caution, as traveling off the Strip unescorted and into unfamiliar areas is never a good idea, as the city has all the perils and dangers of any other urban jungle.   TIME PLANNING PLAN TO STAY THE ENTIRE FOUR DAYS!  Gone are the days of the fourth & final Conference day was mostly "fluff.".  The last few Conferences have been chock full of information, up to the very last session.  Too many times have we heard that attendees couldn’t stay for the final sessions because they’ve already booked their flight.  So a word to the wise:  Stay for the entire Conference, assuring your staff that you're just a phone call or a text message away.  If they are so concerned that your direct intervention is necessary, let them assign you a laptop.   So stay the whole four days, and bring your spouse & the kids.  Put the kids on the Roller Coaster atop New York, New York, or watch a Live Jousting Match while you feast on medieval foods (using your hands - no utensils) at the Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur.  Send the family just up the street from the MGM Grand to catch the new Will Ferrell comedy “30 minutes or Less” opening August, 2011 at the UA Showcase 8 Movie Theater.  And, who knows, maybe you can win tickets to see Cirque du Soliel’s “KÀ,” or end up dancing with a celebrity at Studio 54, both at the MGM Grand. INFORMATION RESOURCES & CONCLUSION  This article by no means encompasses Las Vegas in its entirety.  Entire sections of book stores have been devoted to Vegas, with new volumes coming out every year as Vegas is a dynamic, ever morphing entity.  Something is always being torn down and/or rebuilt so it is never the same city anytime you visit.  When we return to Vegas in 2010, it will be a different city as old hotels are torn down and new ones are being built.  Other information resources are listed below.  It is an incomplete list at best, as there are dozens of Internet sites devoted to Las Vegas or one of its attractions.  Free information pamphlets are just a letter or a phone call away for those who do not have Internet access, and it, too, is abundant. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau 3150 Paradise Rd Las Vegas, NV 89209-9096   See you there!