For me, a trip to Las Vegas means extravagant hotels, overpriced buffets, infuriating  video poker machines and Cirque du Soleil.

Cirque and Vegas were made for one another. They’re both about leaving you entertained, overwhelmed and broke.

I’ve seen other great shows in Vegas: Penn & Teller and Blue Man Group.

But it’s the Cirque shows that have become the highlight of our trips.

Here’s a roundup of the Cirque shows in Las Vegas:

“O”

My favorite of all the Cirque shows, “O” takes its aerial dynamics and performance art to water on a stage that at one moment is a pool deep enough for high divers and the next is an ankle-deep African marsh. The visions that will haunt you afterward: legs rising out of still waters, men riding carousel horses through the sky and two clowns trying to live on the roof of a half-submerged house.

At the Bellagio, $109-$180 (rarely discounts at Tickets 4 Tonite booths); cirquedusoleil.com.

“Ka”

Rivaling “O” for sheer spectacle, “Ka” turns the show sideways, with an amazing rotating stage that’s the real star of the show. At one point, warriors appear in the balconies of the theater and seem to shoot arrows that jut out of the vertical stage. Then there’s a chase scene as acrobats use those arrows as ladder rungs to climb up and down. But for a show that’s big at grand gestures, it also hits the right note with small moments, including a remarkably effective shadowboxing bit.

At the MGM Grand, $69-$180, (sometimes discounts at Tickets 4 Tonite booths); cirquedusoleil.com

“Love”

The most successful melding of Cirque du Soleil and pop culture, this tribute to The Beatles is inventive, visionary and a must for fans. It does two things extremely well: It brings The Beatles to life with the use of session audio tapes and silhouettes, and it evokes the period. Rubber goulashes pedal riderless tricycles. Fog breathes out of the bottom of umbrellas. A Volkswagon Beetle deconstructs before your eyes. Weird in a very good way.

At the Mirage, $79-$155, (sometimes discounts at Tickets 4 Tonite booths); cirquedusoleil.com.

“Zumanity”

Promoted as the naughty side of Cirque, “Zumanity” may be the most Vegas-y of the Cirque shows. There’s a scene in which two profoundly beautiful, mostly naked Asian swimmers/contortionists/acrobats swim together in a giant Champagne glass. I think there was other stuff in the show, but I didn’t notice.

At New York New York, $69-$126, (often discounts at Tickets 4 Tonite booths) and online; cirquedusoleil .com

“Mystere”

If you’re looking for the “wow” of acrobats, “Mystere” is your show. This is classic Cirque, with one death-defying feat after another. There’s also a hilarious clown who appears to be a giant baby.

At Treasure Island, $76-$120 (often discounts at Tickets 4 Tonite booths)

NOTREVIEWED:

“Criss Angel: Believe” at Luxor

Every time I see Angel on TV, for some reason I want to hurt him. So I can’t go to this show.

“Viva Elvis” at Aria

It’s getting ready to close. The King of Rock hasn’t been the king of Cirque.

“Michael Jackson: TheImmortal”

It will return to Mandalay Bay as a permanent installation after its world tour.

Visitors look at items for sale in The Broadmoor Hotel’s Christmas house Saturday, December 24, 2011. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE