Please see the bottom of the post for a day-by-day itinerary.
Ah! Vegas memories. My friend Anna recently offered to do a post after her trip to Vegas and I thought why not combine her experience with the time my sister and I ventured out to Nevada in December 2012. There is something about Vegas that only those who have been there understand. Before the trip, just like my friend, I wasn't super excited, I didn't know what to expect, it was just a cool trip for me to get away. I think something changed in my and my sister's brains after we came back. It was borderline obsession!
Was it one particular thing? No, I don't think so, I think it was the general feel of the place, the atmosphere. Vegas glows at night! You feel the energy as you walk down the strip! Your trip can be as racy or clean as you want it to be. There is something for everyone! There are the Bellagio fountains that I could stare at for hours. Every time I think of those fountains I think of Ocean's 11, as they all stand together in front of the majestic hotel and one by one turn to go their separate ways. You can explore the hotels, shop and visit amazing clubs. The clubs in Vegas are something else. It's partly the atmosphere, partly your state of mind, and, of course, the incredible DJ's! If you're not into that sort of thing, Vegas is home to many top rated restaurants and shows. Go see a Cirque du Soleil show or one of many comedians and stars performing on stage every day. I wish I had written this post right after I returned. I think I would have been able to convey my experience and excitement a lot better.
If you get the chance, go see the Grand Canyon. There are few places I have seen on my trips that have left me speechless. One of them was in Banff and Jasper, in western Canada, the second was in Maui, Hawaii, then there was the Path of The Gods hike in Amalfi Coast and the fourth (so far...I hope) was the Grand Canyon. Looking back at the list above, I tend to be speechless quite often, but it's not even worth describing because it is something you must see for yourself. The way the canyon glows in the sunrise is magical and the vastness of it shocks you at first view. Unfortunately, it being winter, hiking was not a possibility at the time. I definitely think if I were to go back...no, when I go back, I will spend most of my time exploring the canyon.
Well, it's been fun reminiscing, but here is a more recent account of Sin City.
It's all yours Anna:
Imagine taking all your favourite fruits and mixing them into a big bowl, then, taking a spoonful and having your mouth burst with different flavours and juice. That’s how I would describe Vegas. Except instead of a fruit salad, it’s a mix of some of the coolest cities around the world all on one street. There’s really nothing like it. Where else in the world can you travel from New York, to Paris, to Venice within the span of one hour?
After watching so many Hollywood movies that displayed a bird-eye-view of the strip, seeing the strip from the short cab ride from the airport made me question whether this was real life or just a dream. As the cab pulled up to Paris, I was surprised by the sheer size of our hotel. Looking across the street to the Bellagio, I realized why Vegas is kind of a big deal. It wasn’t just the number of tourists roaming the streets, or the warm weather, or even the fact that you can drink in public, but it was just the contagious feeling of excitement from the group I was with and the electricity in the air that made me feel alive. And this is the feeling that lasted throughout the trip even on the last day when we were exhausted from all the fun.
Having come to Vegas for a bachelorette there were a few things that made the trip memorable. The amazing cuisine is top-notch; no wonder all the top chefs in the world come to Vegas to open a restaurant. The buffet at the Paris hotel will settle all your cravings. If you’re looking for something classy and delicious, Joe’s Seafood, Prime steak & Stone Crab at the Forum shops will provide you with fresh caught fish, oysters, and juicy steak.
The clubs in Vegas are endless and will provide a fun night out with the girls. You can literally club all day and all night by going to a day club (such as the amazing Wet Republic, where Tiesto does his thing), or any night club that plays your favourite music will do. We went to Tryst, which not only had fun music and good drinks but was also decorated very nicely with a tall waterfall and pool area. This also allowed us to check out the beautiful floral arrangements at the Wynn.
Last but certainly not least, any “hot men show”, as I like to call it, will be a must for a bachelorette who’s looking for some fun. The Chippendales show at the Rio was fun and entertaining. Not only were our front row seats great, but we were also able to take pictures and talk with the dancers at the end of the show. Surprisingly, these guys are pretty down-to-earth.
The best part about Vegas is that there’s something for everyone. You can lounge by the hotel pool all day and not move a muscle or you can dance all night, gamble all day, and eat at anytime in between. The only thing you won’t have much time for is sleep, but that’s to be expected because this is a city that never sleeps, always parties, and knows how to have a good time. Now that’s my kind of fruit salad.
________________________________________
Day 1
- Fly in, get settled. We stayed at the MGM, but below is a list of hotels I would suggest.
- Walk around the strip - depending on when flight lands.
- Fountains at Bellagio (7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. show every 15 minutes). The best, free viewing spots are along the elevated terraces leading up to the hotel or in the centre of the fountains along the strip to get the full view.
- Big part of Vegas is of course the clubs. There are several which I would suggest at the bottom of this itinerary. Since this was December, I'm not able to suggest any day-time, pool clubs.
- We happened to go to One Oak on the first evening and even though it is not as fancy as some of the other clubs, there happened to be a Christmas Party that evening and it was the best experience in a club I had in Vegas.
Day 2
- We spent the whole day walking the strip, visiting different hotels. Wear comfortable shoes. Each hotel has its own theme and is decorated differently. It takes time to explore each one. They are absolutely massive.
- Vegas is home to many top brands for all you shopaholics. Many hotels have variety of stores.
- Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain - check times online. Be sure to get to the show a few minutes early to grab a good spot since it tends to fill up fast.
- Volcano Eruption at the Mirage.
- Mirage - Behind the front desk (to the right of the main entrance) there is a 20,000 gallon saltwater aquarium.
- To get the best view of all of Las Vegas, go to top of the Stratosphere!
- Vegas is home to many amazing shows; some of the ones I would recommend are Cirque du Soleil's O or Ka. There was also a show called La Reve. I'm not sure if it is still playing but the commercial looked absolutely amazing.
Tip 3: We watched the Bellagio fountains as often as we could. The show is amazing and there are different variations.
Day 3
- We spent day 3 driving to the Grand Canyon. There are day helicopter tours you can purchase. Driving will take approximately 5 hours from Vegas. Make sure to have plenty of gas in the car as there are few stops along the way as you are literally driving through a desert. As we were there in December, it was COLD, about -20 degrees Celsius. Dress appropriately if you are planning to go there at this time of year!
- Grand Canyon National Park South Rim: Iconic viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station. There are 17 formal viewpoints on the drive between the extreme east and west ends of the Rim Drive and many other places to view the canyon from the Rim Trail. You will get a map when you enter the park, it has all the viewpoints on the map. You can hike along the Bright Angel Trailhead that goes along the rim. A friend also suggested doing a hike or a drive along the Hermit Road. Check the map here.
- Here is a list of all the hikes available at the South Rim.
- We stopped at a restaurant called the Bright Angel Lodge restaurant.
- The park has several lodges with various types of accommodations.
- There are trails for all fitness levels, starting with the Rim Trail as the easiest, then increasing in difficulty with Bright Angel and South Kaibab. Free shuttles operate in the village area all year, and on the West Rim/Hermit's Rest Road February-October. The East Rim Drive is accessible by private vehicles. At the South Rim, entrance to the park is $30 per private vehicle.
- Unfortunately since it was winter and the canyon was covered in snow, we weren't able to do these hikes, but definitely a reason to come back.
- A great point for a sunset view is Lipan Point. You can see Colorado river and the rapids.
Day 4
- If you have made it all the way to the Grand Cnayon, don't miss the sunrise. It was one of the most inspirational and breathtaking views I have seen.
- On the way back from the canyon, you can stop by the Hoover Dam.
- Depending on when you arrive back to Vegas, you can catch another show or go to a club. We went to the TAO nightclub.
- Go get some breakfast after a night of dancing!
Day 5
- We spent the day walking the strip. You can shop, eat, explore different events. There are always promotions for different events going on around the strip.
- Visit the hotels. The historic Flamingo hotel has actual flamingos.
- Make sure to visit Wynn and Encore as well as the Canal Shops at the Venetian. It's not so much the shops that are great but the decorations and the setup.
- A few friends of ours went to the Death Valley – 2.5 hours from Vegas ( they suggest to fill up on gas and water). Some points to see: Badwater Basin, Artist's Drive, Ubehebe Crater and Zabriskie point are all worth visiting.
- You can venture out to the old part of Vegas. We didn't have the energy at this point.
- In the evening, we went to Marquee club. This is probably the biggest club I have seen. Definitely worth going to see.
Tip 5: For ladies, you will be approached by promoters on the strip. The promotions are usually cover free, and drinks free from 10 to midnight.
Shopping
- Not only is there shopping in pretty much every hotel, there is Las Vegas North Premium Outlets and Las Vegas South Premium Outlets. I would recommend the North Premium Outlets! I've never been to the South Premium Outlets, but I've heard many people say the north is better.
- There is a Fashion Show Mall on the strip. It also has a food court.
Hotels and Restaurants
- MGM
- Cosmopolitan
- Aria
- There is an amazing pizza place at the Aria called Five50. It's the best pizza I've had. The prices are also fairly reasonable (for Vegas).
- Another place I would recommend at the Aria is Bardot Brasserie. It is very pricey, but the food is delicious.
- Vdara - I love this hotel, mostly because it doesn't have a casino. As a result, there is no smoke, it's less busy in the lobby and it feels much better to me. I would highly recommend this hotel. It is very close to Aria and connected to the Bellagio.
- Paris
- Venetian and Palazzo
- Bellagio
- Mirage
- Encore/Wynn - probably some of the fanciest hotels I have seen, but a little further away from the center of the strip
Clubs
- Marquee - Cosmopolitan
- The Bank - Bellagio
- Hyde - Bellagio
- TAO - Venetian
- Tryst - Wynn
- XS - Wynn
- One Oak - The Mirage
Shows
- Ka
- "O"
- Michael Jackson: One