Travelling and Getting Around Las Vegas and Anchorage

On the vast continent of North America the car is king and car rental is the only way for the visitor to get the best out of their holiday.

Imagine the thrill of flying into Los Angeles International airport, picking up a pink Cadillac and driving through the desert at night until you see the bright lights of Las Vegas.

Nowhere in the world can rival Las Vegas for shear excitement as you cruise the strip and take in the razzle dazzle of 'Sin City' with its neon lights and outrageous architecture. Las Vegas has been built to create a dream-like atmosphere and many tourists hope to win big in its huge casinos and make that dream a reality.

Even if you are not into gambling, Las Vegas markets itself as the entertainment capital of the world.

Among the many exhilarating things to do there are the big night prize fights for top boxing titles.

Meanwhile the hotels in Vegas are a spectacle in themselves, none more so than Mandalay Bay which contains a huge aquarium complete with sharks and sea turtles that swim around you as you walk through a tunnel.

And don't miss the iconic display by the Bellagio Fountains which takes place every 15 minutes in the evenings and at every hour at the weekends.

When driving to Vegas during the day bear in mind that you will be crossing a desert and so should bring plenty of water with you to drink. The route from Los Angeles on the 1-15N can also get very crowded as it is so popular, but be patient.

If you want to break up the journey there are many wonderful sights to see along the way such as the Hoover Dam and the Mojave Desert. Alternatively you can fly into Las Vegas' airport, McCarran International Airport which has a number of connections. Southwest Airlines and US Airways are two of the main airlines to use McCarran International Airport and car hire Las Vegas is possible there too.

At the other end of the scale, and indeed the other end of America, is the Alaskan city of Anchorage.

This isolated outpost could not be further away from the bright lights of Vegas in spirit, and is an incredible place to experience the great outdoors. Car hire Anchorage will allow you to explore a wilderness filled with mountains, lakes, glaciers and woods and indulge in pastimes such as fishing and skiing.

Despite being surrounded by nature parks and the Gulf of Alaska, Anchorage is a very cosmopolitan city. Within Anchorage there are a few places where you can learn more about the history of the indigenous people such as the Alaska Native Heritage Centre in Heritage Centre Drive.

Anchorage can be accessed domestically or from abroad by flying into the Ted Stevens Anchorage international airport where you can pick up your hire car. Depending on the time of year and what you hope to do you may want to consider renting a four by four vehicle and requesting the optional extras of snow tires and / or a ski rack.