Las Vegas is a favorite quick getaway for me ever since I moved to the U.S. Over the past number of years, I’ve lost count of the times I have visited Las Vegas but think I have hit 8 or 9 trips at this point and am still excited to return in a couple of months. Las Vegas is packed full of amazing hotels, great weather, top DJs & clubs, hundreds of shops and top class dining. What’s not to love! Las Vegas does get a little intense however so keep your trip short and sweet. In this Las Vegas Travel Guide, I tell you the best things to do in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas
Where I stayed in Las Vegas
This past visit to Las Vegas in January, I went with a group of 7 friends and we stayed in beautiful suites in the Venetian hotel. One of the most fabulous hotels in Las Vegas! The Las Vegas hotel is absolutely amazing and the bedrooms are beautiful and spacious. We had a separate area as a sitting room and the world’s biggest bathroom with his and hers sinks (a favorite of mine!). I loved everything about the Venetian hotel from the location, to the restaurants, bars and stores. I would definitely recommend a stay at the Venetian Hotel on your trip to Las Vegas. It was too cold in Las Vegas to venture to the pool on this visit but last April, I spent time at the Venetian pool and it was heavenly. In the past, my favorite other stays while in Las Vegas have been at Caesar’s Palace, the Bellagio, The Cromwell & MGM. I tend not to stray from these 4 hotels when in Las Vegas but the Wynn is next on my list. There are hotels to suit all budgets in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Visit the Venetian Hotel & see the Venetian Gondelas
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Venetian Gondolas at the Venetian
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - The beautiful ceilings at the Venetian
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Slot machines everywhere in Vegas
Where I ate on my trip to Las Vegas
When in Las Vegas, I always love to visit Mon Amie Gabi in the Paris hotel for dinner. The food and wine choice are extensive and I always feel like I’ve been transported to France. For this trip, we really stuck to the French theme and had brunch at Bouchon by Thomas Keller in the Venetian hotel. What a great brunch! If you are looking for a buffet, Bacchanal buffet at Caesar’s Palace or the buffet at Bellagio are my favorite when on a trip in Las Vegas. Scarpetta, an Italian restaurant at the Cosmopolitan was also a treat!
Where I partied when in Las Vegas
My favorite clubs in Las Vegas are Omnia at Caesar’s Palace, Hakkasan at MGM, Marquee at the Cosmopolitan and Surrender and XS at Encore. All are guaranteed an incredibly fun night on your trip to Las Vegas. I’m always well looked after by either Nick (908-625-0517) and Rodney (808-224-1969) when I go to Las Vegas who promote for different nightclubs and allow some VIP treatment. Text them when you arrive in Las Vegas to find out the best places to go out each night and mention that I sent you to get on a guestlist for one of the clubs. Make sure you get on a guest list in Las Vegas as some of the prices to get into the clubs are really expensive especially if there is a big DJ on. Certain clubs are open on certain nights and this changes so best to check whats on in Vegas nearer to the time you get there. Even if you get on the guest list in Las Vegas, there are long lines so go early to avoid standing in a line for far too long.
The Chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan is one of my favorite bars in Las Vegas and has beautiful shimmering strands of 2 million beaded crystals.
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - The Chandelier at the Cosmopolitan
Where I shopped on my trip in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has the most incredible shopping and window shopping. The Forum at Caesar’s Palace and shopping at the Bellagio are quite the adventure & in my opinion some of the best places to shop when in Las Vegas. The stores are filled with beautiful, luxurious high end fashions. For more affordable fashion, the Fashion Show Mall has every high street store possible and will take hours to meander through. Miracle Mile Shops also have a huge selection of shopping. The North and South Outlet malls in Vegas are a short Uber ride away also and have great designer pieces. Las Vegas is an amazing place for shopping with everything so close to each other.
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Omni Club at Ceasar’s Palace
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Window Shopping at Chanel at the Bellagio
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas:
It’s impossible to run out of shows to go to on your trip in Las Vegas. There are hundreds of shows on throughout the day and evening in Las Vegas. Britney, Celine Dion, O by Cirque du Soleil, Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Elton John, the Chainsmokers all play regularly in Las Vegas (at the time of writing) but there are many other visiting shows.
A trip to the Grand Canyon is definitely worthwhile when in Las Vegas. I took a helicopter with some friends and flew over the Canyon. Bus tours also go on a regular basis from the Las Vegas strip but take much longer. I recommend the helicopter tour that allows you to stop for a while, walk around and then fly back. It is more expensive and does take half a day however I have heard from friends that the bus tours can be very long.
Walking down the Las Vegas strip and visiting the stunning Las Vegas hotels is one of my favorite things to do when in Las Vegas. My favorite hotels to visit are Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, the Venetian & the Wynn. They are all within a quick walk of each other and are all huge hotels.
Other fun very touristy things to do in Las Vegas are:
take a gondola ride in the Venetian hotel
take the High Rollar at the Linq hotel for great views
Las Vegas night flight along the Strip
visit the Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck
take a tour of the revamped Fremont Street
go on a roller-coaster in New York New York
dance and splash at a Wet Republic Pool Party
try out one of the many amazing spas in the top hotels
put a few dollars on Red when playing Roulette
most of all have fun & stay hydrated
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Drais pool at The Cromwell Hotel
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Wet Republic Pool Party
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Bellagio Fountains show every 15 mins on the quarter until midnight
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Ceasar’s Palace
Best times to visit Las Vegas:
My trip to Las Vegas in January was the coldest that I have experienced Las Vegas yet. I still had amazing fun but if planning a trip to Las Vegas, I would suggest March to June or Sept to November. I once went to Las Vegas over the summer months and it was very hot for even walking from hotel to hotel.
Hope you enjoyed my Las Vegas travel guide and leave knowing the top things to do in Vegas. There is so much to do and see in Las Vegas and something for everybody. Enjoy your trip to Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - Views leaving Vegas at night
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Las Vegas Travel Guide - Top things to do when in Las Vegas - The Eiffel Tower