LIVING IT UP IN LAS VEGAS


We have been fortunate enough to travel to Las Vegas three times and each time we've been able to soak in "sin city" a little differently.  In this post, we'll share how you can splurge a little and really live it up over your stay.  If you are traveling more on a budget, we've also got some recommendations for you.  Check out our post about Vegas on a Budget here.



These are the "we just landed in Vegas" smiles.  Let the fun begin!


First things first.  If you aren't really concerned about your spending in Vegas, we recommend taking a limo from the airport to your hotel.  Once you've picked up your bags and head out for a ride, you'll quickly notice the intense line of people waiting on a cab.  The limo ride will definitely cost more than a cab - but you arrive to your hotel in style, the ride is much more comfortable and you don't have to wait as long.


No matter how your spending your time in Vegas (splurging or on a budget), we recommend always staying on the strip.  It is by far the most convenient and you are extremely accessible to most things that you'll want to see and do on your trip.  The nice thing about Vegas is that even on the strip, there are plenty of hotel options that range from clean and reasonable to elegant and over the top. 

570 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(866) 227-5938 

On this trip, it was important to us to stay somewhere nicer than we had before.  We picked Caesars Palace and were not disappointed, at all.  This place is stunning and has more of an upscale feel. Caesars is a great location on the strip - right in the middle of things.  For other options on nicer accommodations (although we can't recommend them from personal experience) check out: The Bellagio, Vdara, The Palazzo or Wynn.  All of these hotels offer a great location with beautiful casinos and pool areas.  


Vegas is a great place to live it up in terms of dining during your stay.  Dave has always loved great food, and appreciates experiencing top notch restaurants while traveling.  From brunch to lunch to dinner and everything in between - there are plenty of options in Las Vegas.  For lunch, check out Gordon Ramsay's Burgr, located at Planet Hollywood.  For a party of two with drinks (or a shake) you are going to spend $75, but it is worth it.  Gordon Ramsay's restaurants never disappoint.


We've got three (well, four) recommendations for dinner options while you are living it up on your Vegas vacation.  Although they are all nice dinners, we've listed them from least to most expensive. Our first dinner recommendation is Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in Caesars Palace.  

 
This spot offers a variety of southwestern fare.  We encourage you to finish dinner with the churros selection from the dessert menu, although it all looked fabulous.  We ate here for dinner, but they also offer brunch and lunch.


Second dinner recommendation: Carnevino Italian SteakhouseCarnevino is Mario Batali & Joe Bastianich's swanky kitchen known for dry-aged steaks & fine wines in the Palazzo.  The atmosphere was beautiful and dinner was delicious.


Third dinner recommendation (and our favorite): N9NE Contemporary American Steakhouse located in the Palms.  We ate here for Jessica's 21st birthday (which was certainly a splurge), but it was the best.  We both enjoy a good steak, and these were not just good - they were the best steak we have had, ever.  In addition to the meal, the staff at N9NE made our celebration dinner very special.  Palms isn't located on the strip, so you'll have to grab a cab to dinner but it is so worth it. 

Fourth dinner recommendation: You have got to eat at a buffet for dinner while in Vegas.  We have tried the buffet at all three hotels that we have stayed at - Monte Carlo (for lunch), Treasure Island and Caesars Palace.  Buffets are a big thing in Vegas!  

Typically the nicer the hotel, the better buffet they have.  We had the dinner buffet at Caesar's Palace with friends and it was awesome.  It will cost you between $50-75 a person for dinner, but the experience is fun and Vegas is the place to do it.  The best part if you ask Jess would be all of the dessert options... you can literally have anything that you want.


Living it up in Vegas should always include a Cirque De Soleil show!  We have been to two, but have others on the list that we'd like to see. Our first Cirque show was Zumanity, located in New York New York which includes a seductive twist on reality.  

The second show, an unprecedented epic production, was KA which is located in MGM Grand.  The Cirque De Soleil shows aren't cheap, but are worth it. They have six regular preforming shows in Vegas.  O at the Bellagio is on the top of our list but if we're being honest, we would really like to see them all.


If you're really splurging in Vegas, then grab yourself a cabana by the pool.  They typically come with pool side service and make your day in the sun a little more enjoyable.  We didn't have great weather during the day, so we opted not to spend the extra money on this.  It would however certainly be a splurge with reserved prices ranging from $75 to a whopping $500 daily.


Even if you are living it up in Vegas and not concerned with the amount of money that you're spending, there is one free thing that you've always got to see.  

 

Make time for Fountains of Bellagio whenever you are in Vegas, no matter how you are spending your time.  The shows and music are always changing and for those of you that have seen them, you know that they are simply magical!
 Always ask when you check in to see if any complimentary upgrades are available.  You might be pleasantly surprised.

If you're a light sleeper like Dave, either bring a noisemaker or some earplugs.  The walls in the hotels are super thin and people party hard in Vegas!

Once you've lost at several hands of black jack; find a new table, a new dealer or a new game.

Don't miss your dinner reservation!  Several of the nicer restaurants will charge a fee to your credit card with a short notice cancellation or a no show.

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