Las Vegas has got over-the-top hedonism honed to a science, from the Strip casinos to the Palms Playboy Bunnies to the new Elvis-themed Cirque du Soleil show to the annual conventions like Adult Entertainment Expo (which always happens to overlap with the Consumer Electronics Show).

When Bugsy Siegel was dreaming up the Flamingo Hotel, who knows if he ever also dreamed that one day Caesars Palace would compete with the MGM Grand and the Golden Nugget and Planet Hollywood and the Venetian… every property trying to outdo the rest with nightlife, dining, and VIP perks. Certainly all those Vegas old-timers would be happy to know that at summertime pool parties like Rehab at the Hard Rock, Ditch Fridays at the Palms, and Sunset Sundays at Tao Beach, the West Coast's finest hardbodies run around almost naked (yes, Vegas has embraced the topless trend with enthusiasm). Though challenging economic times may cause lower room rates in Vegas, they don't slow down anything else: The last few years have seen several new openings, including Steve Wynn's classy new Encore property and the massive CityCenter development by MGM/Mandalay Group. In addition, established brands like the Palms, the Golden Nugget, and the Venetian have opened new adjuncts or add-ons larger than most stand-alone hotels in other cities. Gambling still drives the city, with thousands of people coming in for events like the World Series of Poker or March Madness. Mixed martial arts is the city’s new blood sport of choice, and you’re just as likely to find Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell hosting a party at a Strip nightclub as Holly Madison (who's starring in a burlesque show) or Paris Hilton (who might as well be).