In this post Tom will describe everything out of his perspective, because it’s was his first time in Las Vegas (in alphabetical order). Duration of the stay: one night at the beginning and five nights at end of the trip through Nevada.

HOTELS (stayed in)

Aria Resort & Casino

The place is so awesome! It is how a modern hotel should be. Our room – like many others – had a special window that enlarges the view. In the 14th floor the view on the surrounding hills was magnificent. To give you relaxation from the buzzing strip the Aria has a fantastic three pool area with shaded palms, some hot tubs and a bar. Entering the area you get two white towels and can go choosing your liege. Quick, attentive but no way pushy waitresses are there in case you want a drink. The pools are approx. 1m deep – like in many hotels. If you are in party mood a club in the basement and an outside party area with pool called Liquid Lounge, will fulfill your needs. No matter on what time of the day and night you want something to eat, you can choose between a variety of really good cafés and restaurants.

The New Tropicana
First night in Vegas at The NEW Tropicana Hotel at the southern part of the Strip. A reasonable priced hotel directly at the junction of the Strip and the Tropicana Avenue (beside MGM Grand, Excalibur and New York New York) only a short taxi ride from the McCarran International Airport Las Vegas. It has a nice outside pool area and of course a casino.
The Casino is all white designed, the rooms try to create a beige/bamboo tropic feeling, light with a friendly atmosphere. The pool area with its beautiful balcony(!) fronted two story building is wonderful Vintage Vegas and the perfect spot to take a break from the busy city and the summer heat. It reminded me of the older hotels from the black and white pictures I know from Las Vegas.

HOTELS (strolled through)

Caesars Palace
Hail Caesar!

The pool with a temple and so many fountains is wonderful. The brunch is at the moment one of the best in town! An Italian style shopping mal, with blue (artificial) skies, huge fountains, sculptures adds to the roman flair.

Golden Nugget (not at the Strip but in Downtown on Fremont Street)
This is a classic Las Vegas experience, but it has a unique attraction to it: you can gamble at the pool. If you like you can lie in the pool and watch at the same time the shark tank. If you dare even more you can slide in the pool via the shark tank – in a tube of course. Inside you can buy Gold To Go from a machine and see the biggest gold nugget that you have probably seen.

The Cosmopolitan
It is a very stylish place. That is has a little Liberace exhibition fits perfectly.

The Cromwell
It is more intimate, the slot machines seemed not as loud as in the other hotels and the bars – e.g. the Interlude – look really classy and have very good music selection.

The Mirage
Outside the Mirage you can see a volcano explode on a regular basis. The flames are so intense that you can feel the heat even on the other side of the street. Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Gardens and Dolphin Habitat is a part of the resort.

The Venetian

You can even make a gondola ride with a singing gondoliere through the canals.
As an elderly woman once said, “I’ve been to Venice, but I like it better here, because in summer it doesn’t stink.”

Paris Las Vegas
It is nice to see, besides the impressive Eifel Tower and Arc de Triumph replica outside that even the signs inside are in French. Everything has a wonderful French touch it.

 

RESTAURANTS & BARS

Bubba Gum, Las Vegas Boulevard
You liked the movie? You like shrimps and seafood? This casual place with many references to the movie is the restaurant for you. We ordered Shrimp Heaven and Jenny’s Catch, very tasty! They even have an outside terrace.

La Comida (near Fremont Street Experience)
We had a bet with our taxi driver if their neon sign is a monkey or a skeleton. This former garage today is a relaxed place with good, freshly cooked Mexican food. The kitchen is open to the guest room, which is always a good sign.
It is a skeleton of a monkey by the way.

Interlude
This bar is inside The Cromwell. I liked this bar a lot, because it is more intimate, the music is good but not to loud so that you can still have a conversation and the waitresses look sexy but with style.

Red 8, The Wynn
It tastes so good, that we immediately said that we have to return to China, because we liked the food there so much.

Yusho, at Monte Carlo
As European you may be misled by the outer appearance of this place, but as a matter of fact this place is one of the surprising new restaurants on the strip. It’s Japanese cuisine not only is fantastic, but is goes new ways. You could even sit outside and have a look on the Brooklyn Bridge. They have a fantastic collection of original sake: kampai!

SHOWS & ATTRACTIONS (visited)

Fremont Street Experience
We visited the FSE at a Sunday. The display that spans the whole street is not one piece but is more like many strings bind together – so you could get wet if it should rain. Even more impressive than that are the “old” casinos, that you have probably seen on one of the pictures out of the 60ties. Outside on the street there were three bands playing live, for every taste something.

KÀ by Cirque du Soleil
Wow, this show is stunning. Although I saw it once on tv … live it got me out of my seat. The stage is a character for itself. It is one of the shows with an ongoing story that doesn’t let you time to breath. If you haven’t seen it, go and do. The MGM Grand has this show since 2004.

Le Rève – The Dream

Esther Williams would have loved this show. Everything blows you away! The theater itself, the stage, the light, the music and of course the artists, dancers and swimmers! This show is not to be missed! The Wynn is home to this superb show.

Shark Reef
Inside the Mandalay Bay Resort the aquarium is really nicely decorated in- and outside the pools as a sort of Asian sunken temple. There is some brief information available, that tells you something about the species. You can walk through some tunnels and experience a diver Iike inside perspective on the animals. The walk takes about 30 minutes.

Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Gardens and Dolphin Habitat
Located at the Mirage Hotel the dolphins have three pools of which one was under construction during our visit. Trainers and animals seem to be a good team. In between shows the dolphins acted playful and seemed to be in good shape. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you travel with kids.
The habitats of the white tigers and the other predators are very well maintained and the outer appearance of the animals seem to reflect that. The fences however seem a little bit outdated – as I am used to bulletproof glas in European zoos. Having said that, this double feature is still worth a visit.

Downtown Container Park (near Fremont Street Experience)

At the entrance a giant fire spitting mantis awaits you. It is a left over from the legendary Burning Man Festival in the desert of Nevada. Inside you find many start ups that are worth visiting, from a all sorts off branches. Fashion, dining, beverage just to name a few. The main construction was build out of containers. It could, if dismantled some day, be used again.

Stratosphere Tower
The probably best view in town and you can sip a drink. If you want your vista with a shot of adrenalin try a free fall with the Sky Jump, or get shot of the edge in the X-Scream, if that is not enough there are the Big Shot above the observation deck and Insanity waiting for you.

The Neon Museum
What was build to create a part of the myth that Las Vegas is today, found a home in this museum. Nostalgia surrounds this place, although you know that Las Vegas is build to reinvent itself regularly. Book in advance! The nightly tours are sold out quickly.

The House of Blues
Look out for the Karaokee Rock Star Night. At first I thought there was a band playing. As a matter of fact it was a drummer, a bass player and a guitarist playing live with changing karaokee singers. It got really awesome as three guys out of the audience not only sang but played the instruments as well. Nearly all singers were really good, not the usual karaokee crowd “I-can’t-sing, but-I-like-it” that I am used to (including myself).

SOUVENIRS

You can buy souvenirs everywhere. The Miracle Miles Shops on Las Vegas Boulevard is a nice down to earth shopping mall. What got in our bag?
For her: Victoria’s Secret – lingere
For him: Lids – Las Vegas 51s t-shirts and caps (or the stadium and at the airport)

GENERAL

All casinos are open to the public. This way you see all kinds of people there. From the dress to impress to the trailer park inhabitants. I could spend hours just watching. So walking the strip, strolling from one casino to the next is definetly the cheapest and one of the best things to do in Vegas.

It’s a 24/7 town. You can get everything any time you like it. In the casinos you can’t really be sure what time of the day it is. You always see people at the slot machines or at the poker tables.

Everywhere is music. Inside alI the casinos, outside all the casinos, along Las Vegas Boulevard and even on top of the Stratosphere Tower.

If you like to gamble but don’t know the rules, some casinos have courses for free. The dealers will answer your questions as well. Personally Crabs interested me the most. We saw often Crabs tables where the players cheered and laughed. The rules and options however are so many + on many tables we saw a minimum of 10$ or 25$ … I didn’t dare to play. I guess I am just no gambler.

If you like to watch a show, best book in advance or go the concierge of your hotel.

In case you are wondering why this post is so tame I like to end with a classic you will see at the departure area of McCarran International Airport:
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas – just a friendly reminder 😉

Wish you tons of fun!!!
Tom