In the mid-1950s singer Frank Sinatra and his "Rat Pack" made Las Vegas "their kind of town". Their recipe for a fun time in Vegas was simple: gambling, womanising and drinking till dawn. Sinatra was a regular in the casino city for more than four decades, starting in 1951 and ending with a farewell performance in 1994 at the magnificent MGM Resort, a symbol of the "new" Vegas. Such was his impact on the city that, to commemorate his death, the lights on the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed for a night.

Sammy Davis Junior, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Judy Garland and the "King of the Strip", Wayne Newton, were just some of the greats who became associated with the ritzy, glamorous image of the city. The along came Elvis Presley, the hip-grinding King of Rock. His marriage to Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas left a legacy which endures to this day - Elvis wedding chapels. A few events can pull in the crowds like an Elvis look-alike contest. It’s clear that the Vegas faithful still love the King.

Another artist whose shows became synonymous with the city was the flamboyant pianist Liberace. More famous for his outrageous outfits and jewellery than his skills at the keyboard, he became the face of the Vegas showrooms. He once famously said: "I don't give concerts, I put on a show." His concerts were always sell-outs and fans still mourn his death. A museum in Las Vegas, containing some of his lavish outfits and piano-shaped memorabilia, keeps his memory intact.

As Las Vegas began to change its image from that of a sexy, slightly seedy casino city to a wholesome family resort, a native son shed a new light on Las Vegas. In the past, the city had been obsessed with boxing, as epitomised by promoter Don King and boxer Mike Tyson. This had hardly given it a great sporting image.

But Andre Agassi, born and raised in Vegas, sought to change all that. A staunch Christian, he rose to become one of the world's top tennis players, but never forgot his roots in Vegas. He never missed an opportunity to promote his home town, promoting a charity tennis championship and setting up a foundation to aid needy children.

Now a new breed of celebrity is ensuring the city's future. Stars like Elton John, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand still lure the faithful to their shows at the magnificent theme resorts, but the new celebrities are NBA players, rap artists and supermodels. Go to one of the nightclubs and you are bound to run into at least one basketball star, a 'hot' singer like Janet Jackson, Jessica Simpson or Britney Spears, and one of the willowy beauties who are 'famous for being famous' like hotel heiress Paris Hilton.

Las Vegas is different to America's two other major celebrity-spotting cities, New York and Los Angeles, in that you are unlikely to meet the stars walking down the street or popping in and out of stores on the main street. In Vegas, they will spend most of the time in one of the trendy resorts. The longest distance they are likely to walk is from their luxury suite to the spa or swimming pool, and they will be ferried to nightclubs and restaurants in limousines.

So, how can you get close to the celebrities? The answer is simple: stay where they are staying and party in the same clubs they are partying in. The trick is to know where to find them. We asked a panel of Vegas insiders for their tips on where you are most likely to run into a superstar or two.

Let' start with accommodation. As with everybody, the stars are spoilt for choice in Vegas, with some of the most amazing resorts on the globe. Las Vegas is truly a hotel-lover's paradise. A few decades back, Caesar's Palace was about the only place to stay, but today there are dozens of resorts that offer themed suites, skylofts, vast penthouses and villas with private pools. If you want a Tuscan-style villa on a designer golf course or a honeymoon suite with a jacuzzi overlooking the Strip, you can get it.

If you want a fair chance of rubbing shoulders with the elite, try these hotels - the Venetian Resort Hotel, with its romantic gondola rides; the Luxor Hotel, which is shaped like a pyramid; the Mandalay Bay Resort, with 60 acres of tropical paradise; the very glamorous Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Treasure Island, with its 'pirates of the caribbean' theme.

However, there are two hotels that reign supreme in the celebrity-spotting stakes. The first is Caesars Las Vegas, which has remained the classiest joint in town for decades. The ace up its sleeve is its shopping mall known as the Forum Shops at Caesars. No-one, including the rich and famous, can resist heading for the stores there. They include Harry Winston Jewelers, Abercrombie & Fitch, Armani, Diesel, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Lacoste, Jimmy Choo, Dior, Faberge, Fendi and Gucci.

Then there is the Palms Casino Resort, often referred to as the home of the MTV generation. The 12th season of MTV's "The Real World" was shot at the resort and singer Kanye West threw a fabulous party here. Expect wall-to-wall celebrities in its magnificent fantasy suites, with "NBA player size" beds, stripper poles and private outdoor swimming pools. Places to hang out include Ghostbar on the 55th floor; Rain Las Vegas, a three-storey nightclub, and the hotel's own Playboy Club, complete with bunny girls.

The top nightclubs in town – the places where you can run into the likes of Justin Timberlake, Kate Moss or Michael Jordan, include LAX at the Luxor Hotel, Studio 54 Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel (home of the grunge brigade, especially stars from London) and the club for the beautiful, Coyote Ugly at the New York-New York Hotel.

If you only have time to visit one nightspot, head for the VIP section at Pure in Caesars Palace. It has been voted the city’s top celebrity-spotting venue. In the early hours of the morning, as the other clubs are winding down, TAO at the Venetian hots up. Among the famous who hang out here are Bono, Usher, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Kid Rock and Ice-T.