Destination…Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of my all time favorite U.S. destinations. Vegas is special for a variety of reasons, in my personal opinion, the decadence and gluttonous attitude is what makes Vegas sinfully unique and totally enjoyable. Since 1995, I have averaged about three trips a year to Las Vegas. I have stayed in just about every hotel, from The Flamingo, The Aladdin (right before they changed to a Starwood Property), The Four Seasons, Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace in the “Rainman Suite”. Aside from luxury properties, Las Vegas has world class shopping, top notch entertainment, dining, art galleries, an aquarium and various other attractions within a close distance.

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On a recent “girls trip” to Las Vegas, we stayed at The Bellagio. Girls trips to Vegas can be filled with debauchery, adultery and mayhem OR, as in my case, they can be very relaxing. My friends and I like to share one room. We wake up early (by Vegas standards) and go down by the pool where we will take our breakfast. I never have a cocktail before a swim, once my laps are in, cocktail time may begin. A few hours in the sun and we head upstairs, get cleaned up a bit and go back down to the Spa. Perhaps a short nap after the spa and we are up and ready to head out to dinner.

Dinner is always an event for my friends and me. One of my most memorable dinners took place at Craftsteak where I was lucky enough to indulge in the Waygu Beef filet that was flown in from Australia. TO THIS DAY, I recall this steak, in fact, I can almost taste the tender cut of meat it as I type these words. At $15 an ounce, with a 6 oz. minimum, it was worth every penny. Another notable dining experience took place at Joel Robuchon in the MGM Grand, a true culinary event. I willingly separated from the group to have dinner alone at the bar where I was treated like a princess. I opted for a few courses that I cherry picked from the menu, versus doing the whole tasting menu. I strongly recommend that you make an evening of the dining experience at Joel Robuchon and savor the full tasting menu.

After dinner, the girls and I will indulge in a little gambling, I prefer a game of craps, followed by a cocktail in one of those obscure, hotel lounges or perhaps the Foundation Room in the House of Blues – located in Mandalay Bay. Though nightclubs can be great fun, they are not for me. Usually, I am in bed by 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. at the latest so I can hit the pool in the a.m.

The shopping, one cannot overlook the shopping in Vegas. The Forum Shops at Caesar’s plays host to some of the most luxurious shops as well as unique brands. On the high end side of things, you can find the usual suspects: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace. The Forum Shops are also home to more obscure shops and brands such as: Agent Provocateur, Chrome Hearts, Taryn Rose, Nanette Lepore – just to name a few! In addition to The Forum Shops, the higher end hotels like The Belagio & The Wynn have boutiques such as Channel, fine jewelry like Cartier, Prada, Moschino, Dior, etc. And of course, don’t forget the Bebes and the BCBGs of the world, they are there too – plentiful in fact!

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One cannot write a review on Las Vegas without mentioning the obvious…The gambling, shows and pools! Gambling really depends on who you are and the type of gambler you are. I love the Sports Book at Caesar’s, followed by my second favorite, the MGM Grand sportsbook. When I am not in the mood to play with a minimum $10 (or much more) bet, I head to Harrah’s on the strip where my luck rarely seems to run out.

It is common knowledge that the shows in Vegas are first class, the best in the world one might argue. Cher, Elton John, Celine Dion are a few of the big name performers who have shows in Vegas. However, everyone associates Cirque du Soleil with Las Vegas and “O” being on the top of every list. It is hard to imagine a trip to Vegas without seeing at least one Cirque du Soleil show. The old school favorites are not to be neglected, I like to see a true Vegas-style, topless revue when I am in town. Additionally, the magician’s magician, Lance Burton, still puts on a great act with showgirls and all. Lance Burton is a thorough entertainer, if you get the chance, check out Lance Burton’s later show which is a little less kid-friendly than the earlier set.

The pools! Did somebody say wave pool? Well if you did, you were talking about Mandalay Bay! There is a sandy beach, a lazy river and a wave pool that has 6 foot waves. Don’t forget scantily clad waitresses bringing you tropical cocktails. The Bellagio has a fantastic pool from a landscape architecture standpoint. The best part about The Bellagio pool is that you don’t have to deal with a vast number of children, this hotel tends to have fewer families staying, therefore fewer children. The Four Season’s pool is worth a mention because it is the most UN-Las Vegas-esque pool. It is a smaller pool, with nearly no hubbub. Overall, The Four Season’s is the best Vegas hotel one can visit when trying to escape the overwhelming Las Vegas experience. Finally, we have to mention The Hard Rock pool, the most Las Vegas-esque pool in terms of augmented breasts, bleached hair and teeny-tiny bikinis. Sundays at The Hard Rock pool is the famous “Rehab” party and if you’re looking for one last hoorah before you head out of town, you’ll find it at Rehab.

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Tagged as: Caesar's Palace, Cirque du Soleil, Craftsteak, Debauchery, Hard Rock, Joel Robuchon, Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, Rehab, Sportsbook, The Forum Shops, The Four Seasons