Las Vegas really is a destination like no other. Everything seems bigger, brighter and bolder, and you’re never more than a few steps away from an attraction that is, let’s be honest, utterly bizarre. All this serves to make the city’s atmosphere unique and, in my mind, that means if you go on holiday here you really should make the effort to throw yourself into the spirit of the place. So, here’s my guide to having the ultimate Las Vegas experience. Enjoy!
Step 1: Stay in a swish suite
Let’s begin with the basics. Las Vegas is all about extravagance and over-the-top glamour, so when it comes to accommodation you should go all-out. And I’m not just talking about booking yourself into somewhere ultra-luxurious like the famous Bellagio – no, I think you should pick out a lavish suite too. Because when in Vegas, why do things by halves?
Staying with the example of the Bellagio, this particular hotel has ten kinds of suite to choose from. The Penthouse Suite, for example, can feature either one or two bedrooms and offer between 1,536 and 2,052 sq ft of space. Expect lavish bathrooms with his and hers baths, a beautiful living and dining area and a wet bar with refrigerator.
Fancy a room with a view? Pick the Grand Lakeview Suite instead. Having a huge 3,001 sq ft of space, this option is particularly opulent and has outstanding views of the Bellagio’s famous fountains. Whatever you like the sound of, you book through tour operators like Hayes and Jarvis.
Step 2: Hit the casino
Once you’ve arrived in Sin City, you should get yourself over to a casino. As they’re open 24 hours a day, it’s not exactly hard to fit a flutter into your schedule, no matter how busy you are! Plus, as there are so many establishments to choose from, you don’t exactly need to do much forward planning as there’ll always be one nearby.
That said, there are some casinos that I think really stand out. The Venetian, for example, gives you a taste of Italy, Las Vegas-style! Spanning 120,000 sq ft, it has lavish touches like a frescoed ceiling in the entrance, as well as blackjack, craps, roulette, poker and 2,500 slot and video poker machines.
Step 3: See a show
While Las Vegas shows might not be quite as famous as those on Broadway, a lot of them really are equal in terms of quality. For instance, you can see a number of Cirque du Soleil productions here, including the fabulous Mystere at Treasure Island Las Vegas.
If you haven’t seen a Cirque du Soleil performance before, this is the one I’d recommend going to, since it features a lot of the troupe’s classic elements. See things like Chinese poles, acrobalance, aerial high bars and bungee all performed in colourful costumes.
Alternatively, head over to the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino to see the latest show by the Blue Man Group. Get there a little early to see the Percussipede that opens each performance – I’ll let you find out what that is for yourself!
Step 4: Dine out in style
The last step in living the Las Vegas highlife is dining out at one of the mind-blowing restaurants. Among the best is Joel Robuchon at the MGM Grand, which is the celebrity chef’s only fine dining restaurant in the whole of the US.
Despite its multi-award-winning status (including an AAA 5 Diamond Award), this eatery manages to achieve an intimate atmosphere. The menu, meanwhile, is made up of spectacular French fare, with the desserts particularly catching my eye – especially La Sphere de Sucre, which is a bubble sugar sphere filled with lemon mascarpone and other treats.
