Having just returned from 5 days, 6 nights in fabulous Las Vegas, I feel the need to write about the things I saw/did/learned in the past almost week.
Las Vegas rules.
Seriously.
It’s a nearly perfect city for what it is – a city based around excess and entertainment.
If you want to see a Cirque du Soliel show, there are 6 of them currently running on the Strip. Treasure Island has “Mystere,” which is apparently the classic, 15 year running, Vegas Cirque show. “O” (aka, the one with the pool) is at the Bellagio. “Zumanity” (ie, the naked/adult one) is at NYNY. “Love” (or, the Beatles one) is at The Mirage. “Ka” is playing somewhere else I can’t remember, and if you care (which no one seems to) Criss Angel’s Believe magic/illusion show is also a Cirque show, as the Cirque was kind enough to donate their mad skills to make Angel’s show as good as it can be, which according to people’s conversations still isn’t that good.
We saw “Mystere” and it was mavelous. We also saw the Vegas production of “Jersey Boys” which was even more marvelous. We debated seeing other shows – The Vegas “Phantom,” “Peepshow” (a new burlesque review starring Mel B from the Spice Girls) “Legends in Concert” (an impersonator show) and some others. [Carrot Top is all the rage, btw.] You can get 1/2 price and discount day of tickets to a multitude of shows at the Tix4Tonight booths, which are located like 7 places around the city.
Madame Tussad’s Wax Museum was among my favorite things we saw. It’s silly, but I had far too much fun there.
If you don’t like sightseeing and casinos and shows, don’t go.
There really isn’t much else for you there (how long can you REALLY spend at Hoover Dam, you know?) If, like me, you like taking pictures of silly things and seeing a show a day and walking around with a fruity drink down the street, then it’s the place for you.
The weather is gorgeous – it was in the 90s each day we were there – and the people are friendly. People are happy there, since they’re largely all on vacation in a party city. If you can step around the hordes of buzzed college kids “woo”ing as they walk down the street, you’re golden.
Sunglasses are a must. You’ll go blind.
Also, shoes you can walk a distance in. You’ll thank me.
SO -
I dislike airports, despite my love for traveling. I’m a good flier, despite my hatred for descending. And yes, I realize what goes up must come down. It still doesn’t stop my stomach from churning when the plane loses altitude. I’m also grateful I was warned about shoe removal (flip flops rule!) and that I didn’t check any bags. I made it out there with 2 backpacks. If I had to do it again, I’d have packed even lighter. I’d have packed 3 light dresses, flip flops, and one shorts/tank top combo for those Red Rock Canyon/Hoover Dam days. I’d have left my ipod at home (I never used it) and probably have left my laptop as well. Lessons learned.
My favorite Vegas Hotels -
1. Paris. It’s so lovely and detailed. The 50 story fake Eiffel tower and the balloon replica are both amazing sights to see from the street, and the inside of the casino/hotel is just as pretty, with amazing chandeliers in the lobby and a decorating job that makes you feel as if you’re walking the streets of Paris at dusk no matter the time of day. I heart Paris.
2. Treasure Island. We stayed at TI, and I enjoyed it immensely. It’s a gorgeous 4-star hotel that doesn’t take itself too seriously – and you know, having Cirque du Soliel IN your hotel doesn’t hurt either. The pool is great. There’s a restaurant called Kahunaville with flair bartenders. It’s a fun place.
3. New York, New York. My lone regret of my vacation is that I didn’t ride the roller coaster at NYNY. Ah well, another visit sometime. It’s a cool, cool place – from the outside and from the inside. If I went back to Vegas, I would like to stay there and play more on the south end of the strip – and see “Zumanity,” which is their resident Cirque show.
4. The Venetian. Just spectacular in it’s prettiness.
5. The Bellagio. The fountains alone are enough to get it on this list, but the awesome lobby and conservatory also make it amazing. So much to see.
The Hotel I don’t like - Caesar’s Palace. It’s too big. And monstrous. And.. bland.. and hard to get around and nearly impossible to find your way out of. I didn’t care for it at all. I feel like the design goal of it was “Let’s make something really big! And let’s put it.. there!” Really and truly not a fan.
It was also super nice to see things like Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Red Rock Canyon. Spectacular views, all of them. I also really loved Boulder City, which is quaint and colorful and the kind of place it would be nice to retire to.
I had a wonderful time – I will likely go back at some point – but probably only for a 3 day weekend or something. (A week is about as long as I had in me for Vegas. It takes about 4-5 days to see everything, and after that you better like gambling. I like gambling – If I lived in Vegas I would SO have a gambling problem, seriously – but sometimes it feels like that’s the official sport of the town.)
Also, there’s way less Elvis than you think there’ll be.
Viva Las Vegas!
It’s good to have good people on your side, and Michelle and Brian were great.
