Las Vegas is all about glamour for its own sake: over-the-top hustle and flash as means and end. Its crowds of people in polyester pantsuits, big hair and gold chains, staring at neon signs and spinning cherries like deer hypnotised by headlights.

Not that Vegas doesn't have a serious side - billions are at stake on the tables and at the megaresorts. But you're given enough distractions to ignore it, until you lose. If you tire of the ding-ding-ding of the slot machines, the surrounding area has some of the Southwest's most beautiful scenery.

Summers in Las Vegas are scorching. The daily high averages around 38°C (100°F) from June to August, compared with average winter lows of around 13°C (55°F) from December to February; the rest of the year is temperate. It's pretty dry most of the time, but thunderstorms are most common in the summer (June to August) and can cause dangerous flash floods.

Deciding on when to go to Vegas is a gamble in itself. As a general rule November to February has always been the quietest and thus cheapest time in Vegas. However, a lot of shows take a break during this time and during events such as Thanksgiving, New Year and the Superbowl, surges of people take their parties to Vegas. Add to this the plethora of conventions that are continually held in town and accommodation prices fluctuate at a whim. The spring-fall shoulder months tend to be the busiest times: mid-summer fries the bejesus out of Vegas and winter, while still relatively mild, can throw a chilly night its way.