This article is obviously my own point of view of whats hot (44 degrees !) in Vegas. Having just returned a couple of days ago and visited this sumptuous city 20 + times I do however, consider myself a bit of an expert on the place.
WHERE TO STAY
For me it has to be THE VENETIAN every time. I made a point this week of visiting the hot contenders of this Hotel and there were none. THE WYNN too tacky CAESARS too big, BELLAGIO in need of a refurbishment in fact had not changes since I last visited 15 years ago. THE COSMOPOLITAN very sleazy but great if you are in your twenties. These hotels have some great restaurants and shops ( more later) but to stay in….. no it has to be The Venetian. Still holding its glamour and all the rooms are indulgent suites with living room area and fabulous spacious bathrooms with walk in showers and grand bath tubs. The Venezia Tower offers quieter accommodation away from the main hotel and has a quieter lagoon pool with the fabulous BOUCHON on hand for brunch and lunch.
The main pool and bar areas had a complete refurbishment as you can see above seated at the ‘Tiffany blue’ bar awaiting Margaritas. This hotel provides some of the best restaurants in Vegas and the standard is incredible now in Vegas. You really do not need to leave this resort but in the best interests of this article we ventured out into the searing 44 degree heat !!
WHERE TO EAT
Well first of all lets start at THE VENETIAN with two of my favourites. CANONITA right next to the Gondolas and singing gondoliers its very romantic and you could believe you are in Venice ! With happy hours 3-6 and 6-9pm and all well drinks, wine and cocktails $5 whats not to like ?? The food is VERY good I had grilled salmon and quinoa but let myself down on the cocktails ! ( its Vegaaas )
ONCE (on-say) is a restaurant that opened just a year ago . Peruvian cuisine and great Pisco Sours. This is a quiet and moody restaurant located over in the PALAZZO side of the Venetian. Great for getting away from the hustle and bustle of Vegas. This is a particularly good recommendation as there are not very many quiet locations in Vegas. The Palazzo is perfect when you had enough of crowds and the ringing of slot machines.
TAO in the Venetian is an old favourite for Asian Cuisine although this may have now been surpassed by ZUMA located in The Cosmopolitan. Regular readers will know how much I love the Japanese fayre served up by Zuma all over the world well Vegas is no exception. The food is always consistent and the menu is standard throughout the brand. The restaurant is chic located on the third floor my advice would be to rush through the lower floors as rapidly as possible !
One of my other London favourites is now located in the Cosmopolitan and right next door to Zuma…….MILOS. Again the standard menu , gorgeous Greek food and a beautiful setting. So you have a wonderful choice here depending on your foodie feeling that evening. The cosmopolitan is a short taxi ride up the strip ($10).
However my next two discoveries are right next door to our hotel. THE WYNN. ANDREAS, super sleek all white pan Asian restaurant with a fabulous cocktail bar.
SINATRAS quite close to Andreas on the ground floor was quite the opposite. Old school , Hollywood charm was transported back to the rat pack era.
Just a quick mention of two restaurants that looked interesting that we did not have time to visit. HELLS KITCHEN on the centre of the strip just outside CAESARS PALACE based on the tv show with a red and blue side of the kitchen competing. A Gorden Ramsay restaurant , looked like fun. Also located inside CAESARS PALACE ……..VANDERPUMPS COCKTAIL GARDEN. Newly launched but the queues to get in were just too long……I don’t queue ! Wanted to pay homage to Lisa though whom I have met on a number of occasions and adore her.
Wow enough eating places, we need to be in bikinis by day. Which is a neat segway into……..
WHAT TO DO IN VEGAS
There is nothing you CAN’T do in Vegas. ASK CONCIERGE. They can arrange bungee jumpimg, Grand canyon visits by helicopter/light plane/horseback. Cowboy ranches,war games, parachute jumps or for the lazy girls guide…..
SUNBATHING but go in April or October or you will need a cabana in the summer months that can cost £1000+ per day but if there is a lot of you in your party can be a perfect day . I would definitely recommend as you are very well looked after.
SPA these are very good in Vegas and gets you out of the sun for an hour or so. Every hotel has a good one the VENETIAN has the CANYON RANCH SPA close to the main pool.
CASINO of course thats why you came ? don’t be shy if you have not had a flutter before. Book a private gaming lesson all the casinos do them usually for free ! I would definitely recommend CRAPS as your money goes further and the odds of beating the house are greater than roulette or blackjack so much so UK casinos usually don’t have CRAPS tables. The excitement builds and you meet many new people as you are all playing the table together.
SHOWS we saw two shows while we were there. DIANA ROSS who was simply outstanding. It was very emotional. MATT GOSS at 1OAK at THE MIRAGE (directly opposite The Venetian) with a rat pack show which was intimate and great fun. In fact he bought the audience several tequilas. Brilliant. Both in for long runs so catch these shows if you can. Another good show at THE MIRAGE is the CIRQUE DU SOLEIL “LOVE” show (there are many CDS shows in Vegas) but this is the best one. I have seen them all over the years. There are so many shows to book it is up to your personal preference but the big names get booked up so buy before you fly !
As well as the best Theatre Vegas has the BEST SHOPPING. There are fabulous malls in the hotels but take it from me you only have to head to THE FORUM at CAESARS PALACE for all the designer things that you want but don’t need. This Mall is an experience in itself a Rome re-creation that is better than Rome itself !
Wow my 5 days here as left me exhausted at least i get a full 10 hours sleep on the way home as LAS VEGAS you are too busy too sleep ! VIVA LAS VEGAS !! Night Night everyone …until next time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
JOJOS STYLE LIST TIP: PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE BEFORE YOU GO THERE REALLY IS SOOOO MUCH TO DO IN THIS CITY. DONT FORGET TO BUILD IN REST TIME.
JOJO XXXXXXXXXX