So I just spent 3 nights in Sin City and although I’ve been several times before, this time wasn’t a girl’s trip, (bachelorette, wedding, divorce party etc…).
This time was a little more mature Couples/40th birthday celebration and to honour this, I thought I should put together a few do’s and don’ts of Vegas.
DO:
This time was a little more mature Couples/40th birthday celebration and to honour this, I thought I should put together a few do’s and don’ts of Vegas.
DO:
• Go see a show. We saw Love, the Beatles/Cirque compilation. Words really can’t express how much I loved this show. It was absolutely amazing and brought tears to my eyes. You don’t have to be a Beatles fan, but if you are, you will be that much more impressed. It has the full endorsement of the remaining Beatles, Ringo and Paul, along with Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison.
• Buy your show tickets at the Fashion Show Mall’s Tix4Tonight if you haven’t bought them before hand. Tix4Tonight offers same and next day show tickets at discounted prices. (They say half price, but I don’t think so). At 7:30, we walked over to the mall and bought tickets for the 9:30 Love show. They were 3rd row, (amazing seats!) and were $115 each instead of $170.
• Bring comfortable shoes… I brought 2 pairs of sneakers and both of them got uncomfortable after all day walking
• Check out the Dueling Pianos Bar at New York, New York. The night we were there it was about 2/3’s Canadian, and they hounoured us by playing O Canada and the Hockey Song!
• Visit the Freemont Street Experience. It’s not glamorous, so don’t expect to see pretty girls all dolled up in their short skirts and high heels in this area. If you’re going to go to Freemont, wear comfortable shoes and don’t worry about spending a lot of money. Restaurants are generally cheaper here and the casinos have more $5 tables than on the strip. Overhead is the light show… Not sure if it changes, but it was a KISS tribute when we watched… always fun to sing along to.
• Check out the Buffet at the Bellagio. We went 2 nights in a row… all the King Crab legs, sushi, prawns, prime rib, lobster ravioli, and amazing cheesecake you can eat for $35. Worth every penny!
• Gamble... even if it’s not something you know much about. Set aside a limit that you are willing to lose: $20, $50, $100 whatever and stick to it… try the slots or blackjack or roulette… it’s fun, and as long as you don’t keep going when you’re money runs out, it’s all good!
• Gamble... even if it’s not something you know much about. Set aside a limit that you are willing to lose: $20, $50, $100 whatever and stick to it… try the slots or blackjack or roulette… it’s fun, and as long as you don’t keep going when you’re money runs out, it’s all good!
• Also, do some sports betting… I bet on the Canucks, and as usual, they didn’t disappoint!
• Go to the concierge at the Fashion Show Mall and get the coupon book before you start shopping. We were almost done with our shopping when at the last store, the salesperson told us about it. Chad ran to pick one up, and sure enough, we got 20% off at that store. The book is packed full of coupons and it’s free… just ask!
• Go to the concierge at the Fashion Show Mall and get the coupon book before you start shopping. We were almost done with our shopping when at the last store, the salesperson told us about it. Chad ran to pick one up, and sure enough, we got 20% off at that store. The book is packed full of coupons and it’s free… just ask!
• Grab some candies at Mango in the Fashion Show Mall… they’re Coca-Cola flavoured!
• If you go on the Gondola Ride at the Venetian, go earlier in the morning, (10am), to get a private ride. Later on in the day, it’s a lot busier and if you are a couple, you will have to share the boat with another couple. You can always rent a private ride, but it’s $64 and really not worth it. To be honest, I enjoyed the gondola ride, but it was thrown in for free with our package; I don’t know if it would have been worth the $32 cost.
• Ask the Gondolier to take your picture when his boss isn’t around. They are not supposed to because there are “professional” photos you can buy afterwards in the gift shop. Our gondolier was super fun and nice and had no problem taking our picture when we were in private. He was a great singer too! Make sure you tip!
• If you go on the Gondola Ride at the Venetian, go earlier in the morning, (10am), to get a private ride. Later on in the day, it’s a lot busier and if you are a couple, you will have to share the boat with another couple. You can always rent a private ride, but it’s $64 and really not worth it. To be honest, I enjoyed the gondola ride, but it was thrown in for free with our package; I don’t know if it would have been worth the $32 cost.
• Ask the Gondolier to take your picture when his boss isn’t around. They are not supposed to because there are “professional” photos you can buy afterwards in the gift shop. Our gondolier was super fun and nice and had no problem taking our picture when we were in private. He was a great singer too! Make sure you tip!
• Tip everyone. The waiters, cabbies, blackjack dealers, airport attendants… this is the service industry… they rely on these tips. Btw: I only tip the dealers when I get a few good hands in a row
• Visit the Boot Barn if you are in the market for new boots. Chad and I went to pick up a new pair of boots and he walked out of there with new boots, a belt and a new cowboy hat, (don’t judge), for cheaper than 1 pair of boots back home. Tip: it’s fine to take a cab there from your hotel, but don’t expect to get a cab back very easily. We sat in the hot sun for a half hour before we decided to walk over to the outlet mall to (easily) find one there.
• Visit the Boot Barn if you are in the market for new boots. Chad and I went to pick up a new pair of boots and he walked out of there with new boots, a belt and a new cowboy hat, (don’t judge), for cheaper than 1 pair of boots back home. Tip: it’s fine to take a cab there from your hotel, but don’t expect to get a cab back very easily. We sat in the hot sun for a half hour before we decided to walk over to the outlet mall to (easily) find one there.
• Layer… It’s hot outside, but everywhere inside has air conditioning. It’s not usually cold when you’re walking around, but if you’re sitting at a show or dinner, you can definitely get the chills
• If it’s not too hot, check out the rooftop patio at Margaritaville. I think the hot sun would be too intense in the summer, but it was perfect when we were there.
• Do things when you first think of them…. Every day we said we wanted to eat the gelato at the Grand Canal Shoppes in the Venetian, but every day we got sidetracked and never got to it… Now I have a craving!
• If it’s not too hot, check out the rooftop patio at Margaritaville. I think the hot sun would be too intense in the summer, but it was perfect when we were there.
• Do things when you first think of them…. Every day we said we wanted to eat the gelato at the Grand Canal Shoppes in the Venetian, but every day we got sidetracked and never got to it… Now I have a craving!
• Check out the Artwork at the hotels. We stayed at the Venetian and it was gorgeous. The ceilings were all painted to look like famous works of art from Italy. I realize it’s just a copy, and some people may scoff at it. But it’s still art, and really was gorgeous.
DON’T:
• Bring your kids. You’d think this doesn’t need to be said, but I was absolutely shocked at all the kids I saw. From newborns, (seriously) to tweens… they were all there with their parents. Kids do not enjoy Vegas as there is nothing for kids to do there. The Casinos are so smoky, and although kids aren’t allowed to gamble, you have to walk through the casinos all the time to get out of your hotel. Plus remember the name: Sin City…. Seriously. It is! There are vehicles driving around with pictures of half (more like 95%) naked girls, and people all over the streets handing out flyers advertising girls that can be brought directly to you. While they may not hand these flyers to your kids, they are lying all over the sidewalks, and the last thing you need is your 7 year old asking, “Mommy, what does Hot Horny Girls mean?”. If you want to go on vacation with your kids, go to Disneyland. Vegas is for adults.
• Buy shuttle bus tickets while on the plane ($12 each). The flight attendant tried to tell us it could be a 2 hour wait for a cab and the cost could be as high as $30 to our hotel. In fact, we waited maybe 5 minutes for a cab and the cost was closer to $20
• Drink too much. Seriously. Yes it’s Vegas, and yes you should have a good time, but there are limits and some of the drunkenness I saw was just embarrassing. Drinking is fine, (in fact it’s good!), but try to alternate every other drink with a glass of water. Trust me, your head will thank you in the morning.
• Think you can walk from one hotel to another that’s just “4 hotels away” in a quick amount of time. The strip is long and although the hotels look fairly close, it can easily take well over an hour to walk it. With 40 degree (Celsius) sun beating down on you, you will not be speed walking.
• Get too annoyed with all the smoke… it’s Vegas and everyone smokes…. It’s totally gross, but there’s nothing you can do about it. The guy sitting next to me at the blackjack table was a smoker, but at least he asked if I’d mind. I told him I has asthma… it held him off for a bit.
• Think you can just walk out of your hotel at 8pm and jump into a cab… there are queues… and long ones at that. Plus you have no choice but to wait unless you are willing to walk. You can’t just walk out to the street to catch a cab. They only stop at the hotels.
• Put your camera away… there is always a photo op!
• Wash your hair if you have super-frizzy hair like me. The air there is so dry, and my blow-out lasted 3 days with no frizz… Amazing! However… the smoke smell is kinda gross and I was happy to wash it when I got home.
• Overpack. I am famous for this and I did it again. I really thought I would wear everything I brought, but I probably wore 1/3 of it. I could have gotten away with a smaller suitcase and not hurt my back.
• Expect the party at the beach/club below your window to stop just because it’s 3am and you want to sleep…
• Expect “Class”. There are a lot of words to describe Vegas, but Class isn’t one… Just enjoy it for what it is!
• Don’t make too much fun of those girls… the “oh my God, I’m so drunk/hungover/sick/tired… what did I do last night?” girls… I was one before… and will probably be again!
Viva Las Vegas!
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