Vegas + Hoover Dam

Make sure you rent a car in Vegas. Rental car in Vegas is very inexpensive. Try Dollar or Thrifty.

I would spend 2.5 days in Vegas and half day in Hoover Dam. Nothing spectacular about Hoover Dam. But you have never been there, you should go. It is about 45min driving from Vegas.

Make sure you stay in a good hotel on the strip in Vegas. If there is no big convention in town and you are there during week days, good hotels are very cheap. I would try Mandalay Bay (www.mandalaybay.com) first. It has a huge man-made beach with big waves. Only hotel guests can go there. Try book directly online on something like www.hotel.com.

The Vegas China town is not too far either. It is small but has all the restaurants. Just turn on Spring Mountain Road from the strip, pass the freeway, and you will see the Ranch 99 shopping center on you left. Sprint Mountain Road is at the new Wynn Las Vegas and the Strip. Remember it is only opposite side of the Strip from Wynn Las Vegas.

There are a lot to see in Vegas. Each big casino has something unique: Mandalay Bay has the man-made beach, Bellagio has the water show (I think around 9pm), Mirage has white tiger and volcano, Treasure Island has the pirate show (I think 5:30pm and 7:30pm), Caesar's has a big shoppign center with man made sky, Paris Las vegas has Eiffel Tower, etc. Most of them are free also.

Be warned that it is very very hot in Vegas. It is around 120F during the day outside. Everyone wears shorts there unless you are going to a reataurant with dress code.

Security is also extremely tight at airport. Make sure you give youself plenty of time when leaving.