Now, having said that, back to your question of "Is the seafood buffet at the Rio really good?" The answer: Yes. Yes, it is. It's very, very good. For serious seafood lovers it's absolutely worth the cost (currently up around $40) and the effort of taking a taxi from the Strip to the Rio. (You can use our Taxi Fare Estimator to get an idea of how much that cab ride will cost.)

The Village Seafood Buffet is a real point of pride, and a major drawing attraction, for the Rio. The spread is huge, as is the variety. They do have plenty of non-seafood sides -- and a really great dessert section -- but the whole experience is really all about seafood. A person who doesn't care much for crab or shrimp or fish would probably do best to dine elsewhere.

A couple of notes about the buffet: Lobster is usually served only at dinner, so visit in the evening if you want to enjoy that dish. Also, the line often gets pretty long (although it moves reasonably quickly), so don't expect to get in and out in a short time.

Of far greater annoyance are the card pushers. You'll walk past long rows of them, all thumping their cards -- usually an ad for an escort service -- and shoving them toward you, trying to get your attention. The best thing to do is to give them no response all. Don't look at them, don't glance at a card and under no circumstances take a card. They won't walk after you to try and force a card onto you, so once you've passed them you're free and clear, but I never fail to get a little riled up when I walk by. They're an annoyance and can even be something of an intimidating factor to new visitors. So just pretend they're not even there.

The card pushers usually line the areas of the Strip where the sidewalks narrow or pedestrians slow down to look at attractions -- I notice them most near the Bellagio and across the street from Caesars Palace -- but you may come across them just about anywhere on the Strip. They're not found as much Downtown, but that's always subject to change.

But about that drive to the Grand Canyon... it can certainly be done in one day, but it makes for a very long day -- figure on about 3 hours each way for the West Rim and closer to 5 for the South Rim -- and the drive isn't particularly pleasant. The roads for the last bit aren't of a very high quality and parking and shuttle fees at the Canyon itself start to add up. I almost never recommend a self-driving day trip there; in fact, I generally advise pretty strongly against it. The best way of getting to the Grand Canyon, if a person doesn't mind splurging a bit, is to go on one of the helicopter tours. That shortens the travel time and will go down into the Canyon itself. The next best option is a bus coach tour. These are noticeably less costly than a helicopter tour, but they will take up pretty much a full day -- anywhere from about 10 to 14 hours, depending upon how long is spent at the Canyon. Many bus tours do include a stop at Hoover Dam on the way.

The West Rim is closer to Vegas and it is where the famed Skywalk -- the glass balcony you mentioned -- is located so most tours go here, but many nature purists prefer the less commercialized South Rim.

The Skywalk is as impressive as it sounds, but some visitors are disappointed to learn they aren't allowed to bring cameras onto the platform with them. Photos are are available for purchase, but they're not cheap.

Discounts and special deals on tours to Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon can be found on the FTLV Bargains page.

If, like most visitors, you stay at a hotel-casino, try this instead: Visit the hotel gift shop and buy your friends decks of cards that have been used in the casino. These are high quality, usually in good shape and cost very little. They'll be marked with the logo of the particular casino and have been used to win or lose money at the very tables you may have played. They'll usually have one or two corners trimmed slightly, or a small hole drilled through the deck, to ensure that a cheater can't sneak them back into a game.

Game-used dice are also available, but I tend to think cards are more likely to be used back home. Of course if your friend is a big Yahtzee fan, maybe a handful of dice would thrill them.

Almost every casino offers cards for sale. If you can't find them in the gift shop, ask a pit boss while you're gambling.

I'm also a fan of bringing home $1 chips. A lot of folks collect casino chips and they can also easily be turned into magnets, paperweights and the like.

The Strat is only a mile or so from the north end of the Strip, but I would not advise walking to and from the Stratosphere. When we call the surrounding area a "bad neighborhood" we mean it's not a place where tourist can feel comfortably save, like they can on the main areas of the Strip and Downtown. It's bad enough during the day -- but probably safe -- but at night it's a flat-out bad idea to try and make the trip on foot.

(Let me stress that the areas occupied by the hotel and hotel parking are perfectly safe. It's well maintained, well monitored and guarded. It's when you leave the Stratosphere property that it turns iffy.)

The Stratosphere makes up for its inconvenient location somewhat by often offering some very good deals on room rates. Use some of those savings to pay for the cab fares back and forth from the Strip.

At table games

Wait until there's a break in the action -- when the dealer has to shuffle cards, for example, or before a brand-new roll at the dice table -- then tell the dealer you're going to run to the restroom and will be back in couple of minutes. Unless you're paranoid you don't have to take your chips with you. The dealer will sometimes place a small marker at your spot to note that it is saved. If you're at the craps table they may hand you a small towel (you can ask for one if they don't). Take this towel and cover your chips with it. This serves the dual purpose of marking your spot as saved and making it more difficult for anyone to snag some of your chips without being noticed.

You don't have to rush back from the bathroom, but it's good manners not to dawdle, either. If you're very, very slow the pit boss may decide to take your chips for safe keeping and open up your spot at the table. You could count on one hand, with fingers left over, the number of times I've seen that happen, though, so unless you take a long site seeing tour on your way back from the restroom it's not anything to worry about.

At slot or video poker machines

This is where it gets tricky. Hardcore slot players are a territorial bunch, and there's a definite etiquette to sitting at a slot machine when there are other players in the area.

To address your question first of all, if you're playing slots or video poker and need to take a quick break, there's no guarantee at all your seat will be saved. There are no "reserved" signs to place on the machine. The best you can do is hand over the machine to a friend or spouse for a few minutes. So if your wife is playing the machine next to you and you need to step away for a minute, she'll be able to save it for you. If the area is very crowded she might need to play a few spins while you're away, but it's almost unheard of that you'd lose your spot. There's usually plenty of room for slot players to spread out and part of that territorial attitude is that most players are pretty respectful of other people's space and won't sit next to someone without asking first (see the section on "unwritten rules" below).

When progressive machines -- the ones with the really huge jackpots -- are thought to be in the imminent payout stage, I've heard stories of EXTREMELY serious players suiting up in adult diapers so they can play a given machine for hours and hours without leaving the spot.

So if the player next to you seems to never take a break, just try and put that little nugget of information out of your head. But maybe you don't want to sit in the chair after they get up.

More slot machine unwritten rules

Sometimes slotheads like to play more than one machine, often using not only the machine in front of them, but also the ones to their left and right. One of the funniest things I've ever seen in a Vegas casino was a seemingly sweet little old lady suddenly turn into a foul-mouthed sailor when an unsuspecting visitor made the mistake of trying to start playing at the slot machine next to her. Watching a conventioneer get called a "pushy son of a bitch" by someone who looks like she should be baking cookies for her grandchildren... now that was entertaining.

So if people are already in the area where you wish to play, the best move is to first ask "Are you using this machine?" before sitting down. Either that or run the risk of grandma cursing at you.

Easiest and best in all cases: Rely on a friend or spouse

So, after reading all that advice, it's pretty clear that no matter the game you're playing, the best way to save your spot is to get help from a friend. Alternate your bathroom breaks and you can keep a close eye on each other's chips. And DO pay careful attention, because sly thieves are not at all above swiping a few chips if they think they can get away with it. If you're the one watching, keep both sets of chips in front of you or, even better, keep a hand placed over them. This is most important at a craps table, where chips are lined up in rails and crowds are often packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

What if need to step outside for a smoke break?

Pfft. Nobody goes outside to smoke. Non-smokers like myself may hate it, but Las Vegas is still a stronghold of the cigarette crowd. If you're gambling and have the urge to scratch your nicotine itch, just ask for an ashtray. And if I'm at the table with you, please be cool and not hold your cancer stick directly under my own personal space.

Buffets

The Wynn and the Bellagio have maybe the highest quality in town. Not surprisingly they're also on the expensive end. Figure around $20 for breakfast and lunch and somewhere in the neighborhood of $35 for dinner. The food they serve is consistently excellent.

Paris, the Mirage, Treasure Island and Planet Hollywood also have very good buffets -- some people claim the Planet Hollywood Spice Market buffet is every bit as good as the ones at the Wynn and Bellagio -- and they're usually $5-$10 less expensive.

If you find yourself off the Strip and in the Downtown area, Main Street Station is far and away the best choice. Its prices are similar to Paris and Planet Hollywood.

If you're a fan of seafood and don't mind making a trip off the Strip, the Rio is worth a visit. It's not cheap, costing up close to $40, but they put out a truly great spread. Plan on the dinner buffet if you want to make sure lobster tail is available.

Bally's Sunday brunch is pretty damned amazing, but the price is up above the $80 mark. If you want to splurge on a great brunch, though, it's money well spent. The Gospel Brunch at the Mandalay Bay House of Blues is also a nice spot for a Sunday meal. They load up the joint with mostly Southern-style fare and have a gospel choir for background music, for about a $50 price. It's best to make reservations to either of those in advance.

High-end restaurants

Toss the names of Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace), Picasso (Bellagio) and Aureole (Mandalay Bay) into a hat and pick one at random. You're guaranteed a winner. They are all home to world-class dining... with exactly the sort of prices you would guess. Wine aficionados will particularly like Aureole and their 40-foot skyscraper of vino, where "wine angels" ascend on bungees to fetch the right bottles.

Top of the World, atop the Stratosphere, is also a great place for a memorable meal, but I like it more for the atmosphere than for the food. That's not to say the dining isn't great, but the tremendous revolving view of the Strip from there steals the show.

Steak

SW Steakhouse (the Wynn) tops my own list, but Prime Steakhouse (Bellagio), Stripsteak (Mandalay Bay), Carnevino and Cut (both at the Palazzo), and Emeril Lagasse's Delmonico (the Venetian) are definitely equals. All these places are a bit on the expensive side.

Inside Bills Gamblin' Hall, a small, older casino next to the Flamingo, there is a great old-school steakhouse called, appropriately, the Steakhouse at Bills. Prices are usually a little less expensive than those listed above, but the quality of the steak is very close and the decor is one that Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack would have been comfortable with. Fans of classic Vegas should make a point to visit at least once.

A little less costly is the Samba Brazilian Steakhouse inside the Mirage. It's a different kind of dining experience, with waiters strolling around to slice as much as you care to eat of many different kinds of meats. One of the best bargains around is the prime rib dinner at a small hotel/casino called Ellis Island just slightly off the Strip (but within fairly easy walking distance of the MGM Grand). That usually around $10, and it's not just good for the price, it's just flat-out good.

Others

I'm a big fan of Canter's Deli inside Treasure Island. The sandwiches they make are HUGE (two people can easily split one and both get full) and New York-style delicious. The $1.99 shrimp cocktail from the Golden Gate snack bar is better than comparable dishes for which I've paid 10 times as much.

Away from the Strip is an Italian place called Casa di Amore I'm very fond of. The food is usually very good (every so often I've heard of folks being less than impressed, though) but it's the old-school Vegas atmosphere that is the best. Call ahead to make reservations, instead of using their website (casadiamore.com), and they'll provide a limo shuttle to and from the joint.

And if you happen to be out and find yourself near an In-and-Out Burger, stop and have one. Order it "Animal Style" and you'll dream about it for years.

Keep your eyes on the FirstTimeLasVegas Bargains page for any special deals and/or uprgrades for buffets and restaurants.

Very basic rules of thumb

Read the article for details, but here's a rough guideline for reference on who to tip and how much:

• Bag handlers, luggage porters and hotel bell staff
  $1 per bag. A bit higher for full bag service at an upscale hotel; use $5 as the minimum in that case.
• Cab drivers, limo drivers
  15 to 20 percent, generally rounded to the next highest $5 mark. For limo service use 20% as your base, unless service is bad.
• Parking valets
  $1 or $2.
• Restaurant wait staff (non-buffet), room service
  15%-20% of the pre-tax total
• Buffet wait staff
  $2-$5 left on the table for drink servers and bus staff.
• Bars and cocktail servers
  Tip by the round or every other round, so that it averages out to about $1 per person per round.
• Pool staff (towel attendants, etc.)
  $1 or $2
• Casino dealers and slot attendants
  A small bet from time to time if the dealer is friendly.
• Hotel housekeeping staff
  $2-$5 per day if service was good

Las Vegas is probably the most tip-centric city you'll ever visit. A general rule of thumb is: Tip everybody you can think of. If it's a situation where the service is ongoing -- such as ordering drinks -- tip the person early and tip them a little more than you think you ought to. More than anywhere else I've ever visited, service in Las Vegas is directly correlated to how much cash you spread around.

Here are a few guidelines of commonly encountered tipping situations:

Tip cab drivers somewhere around 15 to 20 percent. What I do is estimate what a 15-percent tip would be, then round upwards to the nearest $5. If you get unlucky and get one of the rare cab drivers who lie and claim there's a mandatory 15-percent gratuity (there's no such thing), then stiff the guy with a 10-percent tip if you feel like it.

If you have anyone load, unload or store your bags for you -- shuttle drivers or the hotel bag check, for example -- slip them a couple of bucks per bag.

At regular bars or when ordering from cocktail waitresses while gambling, tip them about a buck a drink. Note that once you've established a pattern of tipping, don't feel bad if you miss slipping the waitress a gratuity on one or two of her trips. She knows you'll average things out. Also remember that casino chips are as good as cash when tipping, and often a lot handier than reaching into your wallet for bills.

At super-hip nightclubs, slip the bartender or waitress a 20 with your first order and let them know you'll be ordering more throughout the night. Then tip them a 10 every other order or so.

When gambling, tip a friendly dealer by either placing a bet for them when you hit a hot streak or simply put a few chips on the table -- but not in the betting area -- when leaving the table and let them know it's for them. Don't feel like you have to tip a surly dealer anything. On rare occasion you'll even run into a surly dealer actively trying to get you to tip them. This is called "hustling tokes" and it's pretty much universally hated. Just leave that table.

If you have tickets to a show that does not have assigned seating, but instead has someone to seat you, passing along $10 or so along with a request about where you'd like to be positioned can go a long way to moving you away from the exit and closer to the stage.

Drop a dollar or two to the attendant at the pool whenever you pick up new towels.

At a low- to mid-tier hotel, leave 10 bucks or so for the housekeeping staff when you leave. At a very nice place, bump it to 20 or more.

If you visit a strip club... well, they're going to end up with all your cash, no matter how much or little you start with.

You're going to end up spending quite a bit of money on tips, but it's kind of fun. Spreading cash around can kind of make a person feel like a big shot, and, in the overall picture, it doesn't really add too much to the price of the trip.

You'll have a great time celebrating your 21st in town. If you head directly to a club at 12:01am on your birthday, you won't be the first person to do that. In fact there may be a few people in line ahead of you in the very same boat. Just remember your Vegas trip is something closer to a marathon than a sprint. The worst thing you can do is drink too much on your first day of legality, then spend the next 24 hours stuck miserably in your hotel room trying to calm a head and stomach that want you dead. Vegas hangovers are funny in movies; in real life they suck.

On the other hand, if you just want to see A show and aren't picky about what it is, then same-day tickets sales can be a good option, just be aware that the selection pretty much comes down to luck. Sometimes you can score nice discounts for big-name shows, but often what's available are just passes to mid- to lower-level acts -- think comedy hypnotists and second-rate musical imitators. Even those shows can be a good time, though.

If you decide to try the same-day sales route, look for one of the Tix4Tonight kiosks and try to arrive early. Your best chance is to show up at 10am.

Keep an eye on our Show Calendar and Bargains pages for recommendations and any discounts or upgrades that may be currently available.

As for tours, there won't be any big difference in price whether you book in advance or wait until you're in Vegas. I almost always think it's a good idea to buy in advance, though, because some trip -- Grand Canyon outings, especially -- will take up most of your day. By booking in advance you'll be able to plan accordingly, since you know when you'll be gone.