A short trip to Las Vegas - or just plain Vegas - for a short break or weekend isn't just about casinos and gambling. There's so much more to see and do in Las Vegas than that. Here's what you need to know about Las Vegas hotels and Las Vegas shows - what to see, what to do and where to stay.

What is Las Vegas?

Quite simply, Vegas is one of the biggest shows on earth. Where time doesn't matter, where it's practically as lit up in the evenings as it is during the days, where luxury, indulgence and a good time all go hand-in-hand. But if you think you already know all there is to know about Vegas, you'd be wrong. Trust me, I've been.

Sure, it's in the middle of the Nevada desert, is kept artificially green by piped water and kept cool enough to live in by air-conditioning. And yes, it's a star of the silver-screen and many a novel and the absolute biggest and best at superlatives (see what I've done there?).

Vegas is also a legendary stag-do venue (there's alot of wedding-related stuff in my life right now - read about welcoming new family and wedding speeches in my blogs).

So what else is there to know? Well, did you know:

1. Getting to Vegas is almost as fun as being there - the road trip there from Los Angeles is legendary.
2. Las Vegas is host to the world's tallest chocolate fountain at the Jean Philippe restaurant in the Bellagio hotel.
3. Eight of the ten biggest hotels in the world are in Las Vegas

How to survive Las Vegas - tips and advice

Don't forget the details - you'll need your own watch to tell the time, avoid picking up supplies within the hotels, don't spend more than you planned and avoid straying too far from 'the Strip' (the main thoroughfare). Other than that, keep on keepin' on.

Las Vegas hotels - where to stay

1. The Mirage - home to some of the best restaurants in Vegas, including Joel Robuchon and Wolfgang Puck.
2. The MGM Grand - a Hollywood-themed behemoth.
3. The Bellagio - midway through a high-spec renovation so expect spruced up rooms at this grand old dame with it's famous fountain feature (1,200 fountains blasting water 200ft up).
4. The Luxor - this pyramid-shaped hotel has slanted windows and lifts that run at an angle.
5. And another one to try, The Cosmopolitan - recently-opened, it's fairly unique in separating shops and restaurants from the gaming floors.

Las Vegas - what to do

• Go for a spa - the Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace is one of the best in the US.
• Go for manly cocktails - try the Air Bar at the Stratosphere Tower, it's the highest bar in Vegas, on level 108. Read up ahead of time on what to order in my manly cocktails blog.
• Visit the Grand Canyon - it's a way away, so this is more of a multiple-day excursion, but a helicopter ride is a great way to see the canyon.
• Eat like a king (or Caesar himself) - Vegas has absolutely every restaurant conceivable, many of them high-end ones by the big names. All are glitzy.
• Get married - why not? Everyone else is. One out of every 20 marriages in America happens in Las Vegas. Try the world famous A Little While Chapel.

So there you have it - all you need to know about Las Vegas. Ring your buddies and get a trip booked up, while you're still young and free.