How to Enjoy Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, USA

Viva Las Vegas. These were the famous words Elvis Presley crooned in his 1964 musical of the same name. The neon flooded city has long been associated with the decadence and free spirit that a country like America prides itself on. It’s renowned as a freedom inspired, glittering utopia that is teeming with life, in jarring juxtaposition to the barren desert that encompasses it. The world of Vegas has been used many times in lots of different types of media, by a whole range of different creative types, but one person that seemed to really capture the unhinged feel to the place, was Hunter S. Thompson.

His most famous book was 1971’s, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which told of a wild adventure in the city. It got a boost in popularity in 1998 when Johnny Depp starred in director Terry Gilliam’s fantastical cinematic vision of the book. Both the book and movie showcase some excellent locations in Las Vegas and its surrounding areas, so here is a quick location guide for any travelling fans wanting to recreate the crazy pilgrimage.

Ambassador Hotel

Your journey should actually start over in Los Angeles, at the bar based in the Ambassador Hotel, as this was the place where the two main characters received the call telling them to go to Vegas. Unfortunately though, the whole place was demolished in 2006, to make way for several schools.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find one of the many other magnificent watering holes that Los Angeles is home to, to make as a stand in for the starting line of your trip. You can read up about some of the best on offer from our article on group touring a selection of LA bars, here at dontstopliving.net.

Red Rock Canyon

Before you revel in the man-made attractions of Las Vegas, make sure to take in some of the dazzling naturalistic beauty that surrounds the place by heading to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Located just outside the city, in the Mojave Desert, the park is home to some stunning scenes that have the capacity to take your breath away. There’s also a whole plethora of plant life and wild animals on show that will leave you feeling like David Attenborough.

For eagle eyed Fear and Loathing fans, you’ll also recognise the one-way road that winds its way through the scenery as where a lot of the driving scenes in the 1998 movie were filmed. There is a low fee that the park charges to get in, and the prices can be found over at the Red Rock Canyon website. Well worth the price of admission though, especially as the proceeds go back into the upkeep of this wondrous setting.

The Vegas Strip

When you finally arrive at Las Vegas, make sure to head to the Strip, preferably at night, so you can bathe in the light show. Just like Thompson’s writings, being surrounded by so much excess, is a complete treat for the mind. If you want the full Fear and Loathing experience then make sure to try and stay at Circus Circus Las Vegas, which is located at 2880 South Las Vegas Boulevard. The large hotel and casino is, as the name implies, awash with circus themed shenanigans. It actually is home to the largest permanent circus in the world. There are a number of casinos located on site, including a retro feel one called Slots-A-Fun, that will transport you right back to the sixties.

If you want to partake in some casino action, but are unable to fly out to Sin City, head to VegasSlotsOnline to find the top online slots available in the UK. The site features an immense 10,000 virtual slots that are available to play for free, plus they have over 1,200 online casinos that have been reviewed. There’s even easy to follow advice on how to gain the best casino bonuses, free chips and exclusive game offers. No wonder they have over a million visitors a month, enjoying the Vegas experience.

Interestingly, Circus Circus is featured in the novel but not in the movie, as the hotel did not grant the production filming rights, and wanted nothing to do with it. The movie makers worked their Hollywood magic though, and came up with the Bazooko Circus hotel. Which even though it looks, sounds, and feels exactly like Circus Circus, is nothing to do with it, honest.