Dining And Entertaining In Las Vegas
Haven't been to Las Vegas yet? You're in a crowd that's getting smaller all the time. Last year, 800 , 000 Asians made the pilgrimage to the neon Mecca in the Nevada desert. Led by the Japanese, Asian travelers make up Vegas's largest overseas market. JAL now runs five non-stop flights weekly from Tokyo. While there's no direct service from other Asian cities, remember that Vegas is less than an hour's flight from Los Angeles.
What makes Vegas such a draw for people from this part of the world ? Perhaps residents of Asia's sprawling mega-cities1 appreciate its compactness: Vegas lets you combine gambling, flashy culture and theme park in one heck of a holiday. And then there are those otherworldly2 hotels, the buildings that look as if they've been transported to Vegas in a time machine. The latest in this long, gaudy3 line is 760 million in Paris, which includes a 50-story reproduction of the Eiffel Tower, a two-thirds scale replica of the Arc de Trimophe and cobble-stoned streets lined with fancy boutiques. The only things missing from the full Paris experience are surly waiters and overflowing gutters. Another new resort, Mandalay Bay, is built in the shape of upright bars of gold bullion and attempt to conjure up4 a semi-imaginary locale that is part Bali.
Aside from the arresting architecture , what makes these hotels interesting is their afford -ability."High season"here is every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so the best time to get a good price on a posh5 room is mid-week. At the deluxe Four Seasons, the only property in town without a casino, low-tide rates start at a modest 195 for a standard room, and Bellagio can house you for as little as 139 . At peak time, those prices can double.
What can you do in Vegas besides gamble? Plenty. In less than four hours you can be whisked from your hotel to he Grand Canyon via helicopter and enjoy a champagne picnic down on the canyon floor. Then there 's world class shopping: Vegas retailer rival anything offered by their counterparts on ritzy Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive .
练习题：
Ⅰ. Finish the sentences with words and phrases in the notes:
1. The very name of Siberia images of exile and bitter hardship.
2. She a delicious meal out of a few unpromising ingredients.
3. They live in part of the town.
4. Peacock has plumage.
Ⅱ. Questions:
1. According to the passage, why are Asian people so drawn to Vegas?
2. When is the best time to get a good price for a posh room?