Las VegasUnited States of America

Unrecognisable from its dusty origins in 1905 when it was a mere desert town, today, Las Vegas is a world-renowned entertainment capital full of glitzy hotels, bright lights and larger-than-life characters.

The city’s legendary themed hotels offer entertainment on a grand scale. Volcanoes erupt at the Mirage, there’s a taste of Ancient Rome at Caesars Palace, or feel as if you’ve been magically transported across the world as you head up the Eiffel Tower for a cocktail at the Paris Hotel, or view the Big Apple’s skyline at New York New York.

Each hotel is a whole world of entertainment in its own right, with the largest of them offering a huge choice of restaurants, in-house casinos and plenty of opportunities for a spot of retail therapy. When you need a break from all the excitement, make sure you schedule in time for some much-needed pool-side relaxation and spa pampering.

There’s a lot more going on right on your doorstep, with an action-packed programme of events. Despite being known to many as Sin City, there is more to Las Vegas than gambling and adult entertainment. For an adrenaline rush, head to Stratosphere Tower for a record-breaking free fall, or visit Mandalay Bay to marvel at the exotic sea life in the Shark Reef Aquarium. You can learn all about the city’s notorious gangster past at the Mob Museum, a fascinating interactive exhibition housed in a former federal courthouse.

Further afield, take a day out to visit the breath taking Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, only a few hours’ drive from the city.

Las Vegas also caters for all gourmet tastes, with a huge variety of high-end restaurants as well as the usual fast food joints. With all this, and shopping to rival New York and Los Angeles, you can be sure to have the holiday of a lifetime.