Are you thinking of visiting Sin City in 2019? I took a trip there for my 30th birthday in November and it was THE best way to celebrate! From ziplining across the strip to taking a day out to travel to the Canyon, we made the most of our trip and here’s how you can too.
Here are my Top Things to do when in Vegas:
1) Visit every hotel and I mean every hotel! Because each one is amazingly unique in its own way. From the rainforest in the mirage to the chocolate waterfall in the Bellagio, there are so many attractions to see inside each one. My faves were:
· Bellagio – Botanical Gardens, chocolate fountain, beautiful casino. This hotel has it all and although I didn’t stay here I know that if I go again I will because it is just simply stunning and exactly how it looks in movies
· Cosmopolitan – we stayed in this hotel and it is classically beautiful with many hidden gems including seats in the shape of high heels and artwork featuring some of the famous faces who have stayed there, not forgetting the 7 million faceted crystal chandelier which is surrounded by seats that you can sit in to enjoy a drink
· Caesars Palace – This hotel makes you feel as if you’re in Greece, with Greek statues and opulent detail. Attached to this hotel is ‘The Forum Shops’ which you MUST visit if you love shopping and fashion as it houses some of the biggest designer names
· The Venetian – Take a trip on a gondola whilst being serenaded as you cruise down the indoor canal past the hotel’s beautiful shops, sample delicious Italian cuisine and marvel at the detailed ceiling which takes inspiration from the Vatican. This is a simply stunning hotel and not one to be missed
2) Do a zipline down Fremont Street as you travel down the strip at lightening speed. There are two ways you can do the zipline, sitting upright or with your arms and legs stretched out which is called the ‘Zoomline.’ My boyfriend Sam and I opted to do the Zoomline which cost us $45. We were more than 10 stories (114 feet) high and whisked 1,750 feet all the way down the Fremont Street Experience and it was AMAZING. I felt like superman flying high above people down below who would all watch and think ‘gosh those people are crazy!’ Afterwards you get to take a look at photos that have been taken of you whilst on the ride and are given the chance to purchase which we did.
3) Visit the Grand Canyon. There are numerous ways you can do this depending on which part of the Canyon you want to see, e.g. South rim, West Rim etc. You can travel there by helicopter, by bus, buggy, transit or coach. There are numerous day trips available so have a look at the best deals.
We paid around £70 each for a 14-hour coach trip to the South Rim that also took us down Route 66 and made numerous stops, including one to the set of Cars in Seligman Arizona. We were also able to visit the Hoover Dam and get photos before we finally made it to the Canyon where we spent 3 hours and walked around 3 miles from the highest point down to a cute row of shops selling souvenirs before getting back on the coach and making the long journey back to our hotel on the strip.
4) Food – there are so many great places to eat in Vegas you will be spoilt for choice but my favourites by far have to be:
· Prime at Bellagio – this was a special treat for my 30th birthday where we ate a beautiful prime rib steak with roasted vegetables, chips (because you just gotta) and peppercorn sauce. We also had the best view of the fountains which put on a beautiful display every 15 minutes. This is a once in a lifetime experience that you won’t forget!
· Margaritaville – I think this is one of the funniest places I’ve ever eaten. Everything was quirky, from the décor to the waiters. The food was delicious and the Margaritas some of the most alcohol-fuelled that I’ve ever tasted! Amazing, 5 stars!
· Pin Up Pizza – This cute takeaway pizza shop sells the BIGGEST slices of pizza I have ever seen. The service is super fast and along with your pizza you can also get a garlic dough ball and a drink all for under $10. Definitely one for when you’re on the go
· Bellagio Patisserie – Yes I know I’ve put the Bellagio on my list twice but the patisserie was just SOOOO GOOD! I ordered the chocolatiest crepe in the world and it was delicious. Calorific but so worth it!
· Cheesecake Factory – I’ve never been to a Cheesecake Factory before so made it my mission to go to this one in The Forum Shops and ordered the tiramisu cheesecake which was so HUGE I actually couldn’t eat it all so I had the rest of it for breakfast the next day…when in Vegas!
5) The High Roller at The LINQ – This is THE best way to see the whole of Vegas from 550-feet high! The Ferris wheel is currently the world’s tallest and takes around 30 minutes to reach the top and another 30 to come down again. We got on the wheel at around 4.50pm which was great because at 5pm the price goes up. I would advise anyone to go around this time because whilst we were up there the sun set and the sky turned so dark that we were able to see the strip both at sunset and all lit up in the dark, the perfect combination.
6) The Vegas sign – This is a MUST if you’re visiting Vegas. The 25-foot tall sign is located at Las Vegas Boulevard South and marks the start of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Sam and I were pleasantly surprised to see that people form an orderly queue for photos here and there’s even someone stood to the side of the sign willing to take your pic, although he does expect a tip so you can just take it yourself if you wish. If you’re a motorbike fan be sure to cross the road and visit the HUGE Harley Davidson motorbike shop which is full to bursting with the latest bikes and accessories – Sam was in his element!
There really are so many more amazing things to see and do in Vegas, e.g. the Hard Rock Café for its HUGE portions, quirky souvenir shops along the strip, the terrifying rollercoaster at New York New York, the beautiful fountains at the Bellagio, real live flamingos at the Flamingo Hotel, the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel, the blue beacon shining from the Luxor Hotel and the volcano outside the Mirage, but these really are my top 6 things to do and things that you simply CANNOT MISS if you go to Vegas!
My one piece of advice would be to plan, plan and plan some more because once you touch down in Vegas, you will not want to sleep as you will want to see EVERYTHING! So make the most of your trip and plan ahead. I actually purchased a handy travel guide from Blue Planet, which we took everywhere with us to make sure we didn’t miss anything.
Last but not least – enjoy yourself! Go to Vegas with an open mind and a lot of cash in your pockets and have fun!
If you have any more questions please just write in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them.
We’ve all done it, comparing ourselves to others on social media. Some users seem to have the most exciting lives, jetting off to exotic destinations, wearing the latest designer clothes, eating at the fanciest restaurants. It can make you feel like your life is really dull in comparison, especially if your Monday – Friday routine is to go to work and then come home, get in your pj’s and watch Netflix (at least that’s my routine!) But remember, people only share their best bits on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They only show you what they want you to see so don’t compare, just enjoy yourself and if you want to post the occasional photo to social media showing people what you’ve been up to then do it, just don’t waste time putting your whole life on there trying to get likes!
