Viva Las Vegas!

I visited Las Vegas twice in 2024…. February and September, so I had two very different weather versions of Sin City! You may be surprised to know that it’s not all about the gambling and drinking! Virgin fly direct from Manchester and we flew Premium in February which was a great experience with wider seating, more leg room, upgraded food and drinks, priority check in and boarding, and 2 hold bags each weighing 23kg. In September we flew Economy Delight which gives you the priority check in and extra leg room for only a small supplement. Upon arrival at Harry Reid, you can either queue for a taxi (set fares into the city c£25) or order an Uber/Lyft. In September, it was our son’s 21st so I had pre-booked a Limo with champagne to start us off in style! On both occasions, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Desert Club Resort which is a low rise condo style hotel with 1 and 2 bedroom units, catering for larger families. Fully furnished with lounge and kitchens, this is a great alternative to a Strip hotel, being just an 8 minute walk away from the Linq Promenade and literally opposite the Sphere. The resort has 5 pools, BBQ’s, restaurant, gym, FREE Parking and no casino! So, if you prefer a bit of quiet from the madness, this is the resort for you. The first night arrival you will be shattered with the time difference but a tip from me is to try and stay awake until at least 11pm local time before retiring. We actually got an Uber to Walmart and bought all our essentials for the trip as we had our own kitchen facilities. Saved a fortune on breakfast and beer/wine during the week! Up at the crack of dawn day 2 and we had pre-booked a hire car for collection from the Venetian Lobby where they have a Hertz desk. Another great tip being awake so early you can get out of the city early and have a full day exploring. We drove across to the Grand Canyon West Rim (c3 hours). An easy drive once out of the city, straight roads and great landscape! We stopped for Breakfast in Boulder City at the famous Coffee Cup café. Upon arriving at West Rim, we wanted to experience the Grand Canyon Skywalk, but found it very touristy, you weren’t allowed your phone or cameras on the walk as they had their own photographers who sold a package for $50….. We did it for the experience however! Spectacular views and we went further along on the free shuttle to Guano Point which was much quieter. On our return we dropped in at Hoover Dam where you can spend as little or as much time as you want. Parking close is $10 but carry on up the hill for free parking. There is a Visitor Centre and you can book tours. You can also view the Dam from the bridge on the bypass – parking free, follow the signs. The next days out were to Lake Mead (some fabulous views and make a visit to the Marina where they have a great café at the end and you can feed the wild carp and catfish). Valley of Fire (incredible drive, queues on a weekend can be long and you have to pay the National Park Fee) – but such an amazing place in the Mojave desert, a natural wonder known for its striking red sandstone formations and ancient petroglyphs from the Jurassic period. There is a visitor centre with decent facilities but not much else once you get into the drive. Lots of hiking trails (which we did easily ion February but too hot in September c 100 degrees!). Also worth a drop in is Lake Las Vegas which is a 320-acre reservoir where you can kayak, paddleboard, and rent boats and yachts with an upscale community surrounding it. There is a super waterfront with restaurants and cafes and some lovely boutiques. As well as real estate options, there are 2 major hotels being the Westin and the Hilton – a great accommodation option if you want something away from the gambling and lights of Vegas. Only about 20 minutes’ drive away. Back to Vegas – the latest attraction is the Sphere… an incredible spherical building with a futuristic interior which houses an amazing wraparound LED screen, with a 16k resolution, spatial audio system, seat haptics, and an immersive sound experience. I was lucky enough to get tickets to see U2 in the February and then the U2 concert movie in September. Both experiences were surreal, mind blowing and THE best concerts I’ve ever been to! During the day they show ‘Postcards from Earth’ – definitely also worth booking to see. As far as eating and drinking…you can literally get anything you fancy! From Raising Canes fast food to the award winning Prime Steakhouse at the Bellagio (overlooking the fountains) and everything in between! Eating and drinking can be expensive, but here are a few of our favourites: Brewdog Bar – for the vibe and the views over the Strip – great chicken wings. Favourite Bistro – for the live music and delicious, inexpensive food at Linq Promenade. Hard Rock – a staple in whatever major city you are in! In ‘n’ out Burger – US version of MacDonalds Ocean One – in Miracle Mile, cheap bar and grill. Ole Red – Country music bar, live bands, 4 floors, fab rooftop bar over the Strip Stage Door – Dive Bar behind Flamingo - $1 bottle of Bud! Mon Ami Gabi – French Bistro on the Strip Hogs & Heifers – just off Fremont Street, rock dive bar saloon. Think ‘Coyote Ugly’! Pizza Rock – Next to above.. 2 for 1 pizzas happy hour. Good food & cocktails. Waldorf Astoria Sky Bar – elegant lounge bar on the strip, 23rd floor. Panoramic views. $9 bottle of beer! We pre-booked a Helicopter Ride over the Canyon, Shooting Range in the desert, Slotzilla which was a ‘must do’ on Fremont Street… flying like Superman at 40mph on a zip line - 30 seconds of adrenaline rush! Lots of shopping options including the Fashion Mall (Macy’s 501’s 2 for 1) and the North and South Premium outlets. For the best weather, March-June is perfect or later in the year from October onwards. Avoid July-September it is ridiculously hot and also the F1 November dates which does cause disruption locally. Use Uber or Lyft (we found Lyft to be cheaper) or get a pass for the Deuce Bus on the Strip. You can also use the Monorail which runs from MGM to the Sahara and is cost effective. I have access to all the best rates for the major hotels on the Strip and attraction suppliers and can personally tailor your trip according to your budget. You can hit the pool parties and casinos hard, or get away into the desert. Dress casually and comfortably. Please drop me a message for more information!