You can rent at Anglo American in San Diego (handy for your mexican friend) and Henderson Executive is about 3 hours away over Death Valley etc. Refuel and use Henderson as your "base" - be careful lots of restrictions around the area because of McCarren and Helicoptor routes to the Canyon.
The advice about taking an instructor is sound - you'd do well to consider it. Cross Winds at Henderson Executive were 22-25kts when I was there - well outside of my (and the airplanes) performance window. Got a real lesson in x-wind landings that day......
Jeppesen do a terminal area map for the Vegas area - you'll find it very useful for flight planning.