Airlines Major airlines using McCarran International Airport include Air Canada tel 1-800/776-3000, ; Aloha Airlines tel 1-800/367-5250, ; America West tel 1-800/235-9292, ; American Airlines tel 1-800/433-7300, ; Continental tel 1-800/525-0280, ; Delta tel 1-800/221-1212, ; Hawaiian Airlines tel 1-800/367-5320, ; National Airlines tel 1-888-757-5387, ; Northwest tel 1-800/225-2525, ; Southwest tel 1-800/435-9792, ; United tel 1-800/241-6522, ; Virgin Atlantic tel 1-800/862-8621, .

Area code The telephone area code for all Las Vegas numbers is 702.

Banks and exchange There's not a single bank on the Strip, but there can be no easier city in which to get cash or change money: the casinos gladly convert almost any currency, day and night, and their walls are festooned with every conceivable ATM machine, though most impose a service charge of around $2.

Conventions During large conventions, which can attract up to 200,000 visitors, room rates in Las Vegas can rise enormously - partly due to the demand, but also because conventioneers tend not to gamble as much as tourists. The biggest annual events are the Consumer Electronic Show, in the second week of Jan; the Men's Apparel Guild (or MAGIC) in early March; and Comdex computer show in mid-Nov.

Disabled travelers While all the major casinos offer designated rooms for the physically challenged - plus, of course, accessible gaming facilities - the buildings themselves are on such a vast scale that visiting Las Vegas can be an exhausting experience. The Convention and Visitors Authority runs an advice line at 892-7525, and carries detailed information on the website; to arrange for a free disabled parking permit, call 229-6431.

Emergencies For police or medical assistance, call 911.

Festivals Las Vegas has far fewer annual festivals than most American cities. Apart from New Year's Eve and the World Series of Poker (held at the Horseshoe in April and May), almost all the highlights of the calendar are sports-related, ranging from rodeo events like Helldorado in mid-June and the National Finals in Dec, to the Las Vegas Invitational golf tournament in Oct. Note also that the year beginning May 15, 2004, will be celebrated as Las Vegas's 100th birthday, with a plethora of special events.

Film processing You're likely to find film processing charges fairly outrageous at the specialty shops in town; most casinos do have places to develop film as well, but check on those prices first, too.

Hospitals 24-hour emergency rooms operate at the University Medical Center, 1800 W Charleston Blvd (tel 383-2000), and Sunrise Hospital, 3186 Maryland Parkway (tel 731-8000).

Internet access   The Internet Café of Las Vegas is located two blocks west of Las Vegas Blvd, between downtown and the Stratosphere , at 320 E Charleston Blvd (tel 897-0142).

Kids We've listed Top Ten attractions on the Strip for kids. Several casinos will look after your children while you gamble or simply explore; these include the MGM Grand , whose Youth Center costs $8 per hour for guests, or $10 for outsiders, and the various members of the Stations chain. Typically, you can leave your kids for a maximum of 3hr 30min in any 24-hour period. For a babysitter, call Around The Clock Child Care (tel 365-1040 or 1-800/798-6768).

Laundromats Laundry facilities are available in all hotels.

Library 1401 E Flamingo Rd (Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm, Fri & Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm; tel 733-7810).

Medical help The independent, 24-hour Nevada Resort Medical Center is located on the eighth floor of the Imperial Palace , 3535 Las Vegas Blvd S (tel 893-6767).

Pharmacies The closest to the Strip are Sav-On, 1360 E Flamingo Rd (24hr; tel 731-5373), and White Cross, north of the Stratosphere at 1700 Las Vegas Blvd S (daily 7am-1am; tel 382-1733), which has a delivery service.

Photography The only casinos in Las Vegas that allow visitors to take photographs of the action on their slot machines and gaming tables are Excalibur on the Strip, and the Four Queens downtown.

Police Las Vegas police can be contacted on 795-3111.

Post office While you should be able to mail postcards, letters, and packages from your hotel, the nearest post office to the Strip is behind the Stardust at 3100 Industrial Rd (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm).

Tax Nevada's sales tax is 7.25 percent. Room tax in Las Vegas is currently set at nine percent on the Strip, and eleven percent downtown; part is set aside to fund Strip monorail services and the Fremont Street Experience respectively.

Time Las Vegas is on Pacific Standard Time, which is three hours behind Eastern Standard Time and seven hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, but moves its clocks forward by one hour to operate daylight saving between the first Sun in April and the last Sun in Oct.

Tipping When in doubt, tip. The usual rate in restaurants or taxis is fifteen to twenty percent. In your hotel, for assistance with luggage, tip $1-2 per bag; for valet parking, $2; for maid service, $1-2 per day at the end of your stay; and for concrete help from a concierge, such as making a reservation, $5. You're supposed to tip dealers at the gaming tables a chip or two each time you win (you can also place bets on behalf of the dealer, if you choose). Bar staff, or cocktail waitresses bringing free drinks, normally expect $1-2 per drink.