The 2004 National NOW Conference may seem a long way away, but it's never too early to plan. Here's some information to help you get started.

Travel

Airlines—Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport receives flights from all of the major airlines as well as some smaller ones, such as Alaska Airlines. Southwest Airlines often has good deals on flights to Las Vegas from around the country, so sign up for Southwest's Click 'n Save email newsletter if you're interested in scouting airfare bargains.

Rental Cars —Nine different rental car companies are located in the airport, but unless you're planning to visit the Hoover Dam or do any off-Strip sight-seeing before or after the conference, you'll be fine with taxis and your own two feet. There is plenty to see and do within a short distance of the hotel!

Taxis and Shuttles—The minimum cab fare in Las Vegas is $2.70 for 1/9 of a mile, with $1.80 added on for every mile after that. So, even just a two-mile trip will cost you $6.30; however, if you're staying in the city, taxis are a much more affordable option than car rentals.

Shuttles run from Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport to just about anywhere on the strip, the city's glitzy collection of monster hotels, casinos and shopping centers. The typical per-person charge for a shuttle from the airport to the strip is about $3.50.

Conference Hotel

The National Conference will take place at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, a three-star hotel located at 2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South. The Riviera, next door to the Las Vegas Hilton, is stocked with so many things to see and do that you may not even feel the need to go outside!

The Riviera Hotel and Casino has 2,079 newly-renovated rooms. The standard rooms are the most affordable, with a special conference rate of $79. When making your reservation, be sure to state your affiliation with NOW and specify your preference for a smoking or non-smoking room. (NOTE: For those who are sensitive to the ever-present cigarette smoke on the casino floors, this hotel is arranged so that you can go from your room to NOW Conference activities without passing through the casino area.) Daily check-in time is 3 p.m.; check-out is 12 noon. The hotel is ADA compliant.

In addition to a pool and two tennis courts, the Riviera Hotel and Casino offers massage therapy, a fitness center, body treatments, tanning beds and a sauna. The huge casino boasts dozens of games such as keno, bingo, roulette, blackjack and poker, as well as the "latest and most innovative" slot machines including "Nickel Town" (for those of us on a budget!). The Riviera has four eateries, a buffet and a food court (see Dining, below).

For more information, visit the hotel web page. ( For a less glitzy version of the hotel site, try LasVegas.com.

Dining

The eateries in the Riviera Hotel and Casino include:

• Hound Doggies—This eatery is a 1950's-themed fast food joint located within the hotel's "Nickel Town" area.

• Kady's Coffee Shop—This coffee shop is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, starting at 5 a.m. daily.

• Kristopher's Steak House—One of the two higher-end restaurants in the hotel, specializing in steaks, seafood and lamb, with most entrees priced at around $25.

• Mardi Gras Food Court—Nine different eateries, including Burger King and La Salsa Mexican Cantina, are available in the Mardi Gras Food Court. Prices vary.

• Ristorante Italiano—The Riviera's Ristorante Italiano boasts an array of Tuscan, Northern Italian and Milanese cooking, with most pasta entrees costing around $13-$20.

• World's Fare Buffet— What's a Las Vegas casino without a buffet? The Riviera's buffet features five stations: Mexican, Italian, Chinese, American and barbecue. The pricing system varies throughout the week; the pricing structure during the NOW Conference is as follows:
     

  Friday Breakfast: $8.50	Friday Lunch: $9.50
  Friday Dinner: $15.99	Saturday Brunch: $12.99
  Saturday Dinner: $15.99	Sunday Brunch: $12.99
  Sunday Dinner: $15.99	Late Night Dining: $8.50

Fun

The Riviera Hotel & Casino is located right on the Strip, so dozens of grandiose hotels and casinos are within walking distance. Within one mile, there's also the Wet'N Wild Water Park; the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum (located in the Venetian Hotel); Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum (also in the Venetian Hotel); and the Fashion Show Mall.

Fortunately for all, there are still a few activities in Las Vegas that don't require cash! If you arrive at the conference early or stay afterward, consider touring the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, or hit the Carnival Midway, or go to the Fremont Street Experience—an hour-long outdoor sound and lights show.

If you'd like more information, LasVegas.com is a helpful site, as well as the Las Vegas Review-Journal's "Best Of Las Vegas" web site.

Compiled by Karin Almjeld - Sept. 2003