Nevada - Las Vegas

The Mirage

Another MGM mega-casino, the showpiece at the Mirage is a Volcano that shoots flames 100ft (30m) into the night sky every 15 minutes (7pm to midnight), spewing smoke and transforming a tranquil waterfall into spectacular streams of molten lava. As you’d expect of Las Vegas, it’s all quite naff, but great entertainment. Siegfried & Roy's White Tigers are the other signature attraction at the Mirage. Unlike conventional tigers, which have black and gold markings, the white tiger is white with black stripes, pink paws and ice-blue eyes. There are only a few dozen white tigers in the world, which makes them more rare than the panda bear. The open-air Tiger Habitat features a swimming pool with fountains and simulated mountain terrain for the tigers' enjoyment and the public's entertainment. Another popular attraction is the aquarium located behind the Front Desk. This 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium is home to angelfish, puffer fish, tangs, sharks and other exotic sea creatures.

Address: 2400 Las Vegas Boulevard South; Telephone: (702) 791 7111; Website: www.mirage.com; Opening time: Daily 24 hours; Admission: Free

The Luxor

The Luxor is themed on ancient Egypt and is one of the most prominent sights on the Strip. It is a massive black-glass pyramid containing 36 floors of hotel rooms, and shining through it up into the night sky is the world’s most powerful light beam, which they claim can be seen by planes circling Los Angeles. The ground floor of the hotel is given over to a massive casino, which stands beneath a recreation of Tutankhamun's Tomb. Other than gambling, entertainment at the hotel includes an IMAX theatre, gyms, swimming pools and shows by the spectacular Blue Man Group.

Address: 3900 Las Vegas Boulevard South; Telephone: (702) 262 4000; Website: www.luxor.com; Opening time: Daily 24 hours; Admission: Free