When I found out I had won a trip to Las Vegas I could barely contain my excitement. We met our host, Stuart at London Heathrow for our afternoon flight with Virgin Atlantic. Although the flight was long, we were well catered for and the onboard entertainment made the time pass quickly.
After grabbing a cab from the airport, we had our first view of the strip before arriving at our hotel. The bright lights and bustling street only added to my excitement and it was at this moment I knew we were in for a fun trip.
We stayed at Park MGM which was towards the southern end of the Strip. The location was perfect but also had a tram station if you didn’t fancy the walk in the heat. The rooms have been recently renovated to a very high standard and focus heavily on modern artwork and creating a light and bright atmosphere. The casino and eateries were vibrant and inviting and there were several beautiful outdoor pools, some better for relaxing and some with more of a party atmosphere.
Saturday morning we were up bright and early for breakfast at Denny’s which is an American diner style restaurant. The blueberry pancakes were HUGE and the loaded Tatertots were delicious. We then headed next door to the Paradox Museum which was an interactive experience, we laughed from start to finish. The illusions were mindboggling and a lot of fun.
We had some time exploring the strip and visiting the famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. My favourite part of the trip came that evening with a Helicopter ride over the strip. I got to sit in the front seat and seeing all the hotels lit up at night was incredible. A once in a lifetime experience I will never forget. To finish off the evening we had dinner in “Crush” which was situated inside MGM Grand. I opted for Beef short rib gnocchi and a Amoretto sour cocktail which was perfection.
The following morning, we headed to The Wynn for a look around the hotel and brunch at their all you can eat buffet. The choice was endless, from sushi to Mexican, roasted meat joints to Indian curries, there really was something to suit everyone’s taste. The hotel had a very luxurious feel which was accentuated by the high ceilings and marbled floors.
Our next hotel visit was New York-New York which is a real winner if you’re looking for a lively atmosphere. Here you will find rollercoasters and Irish bars and a food court made to look like the streets of New York city. We watched the mad apple cirque du soleil here which was the best show I’ve ever seen.
Day 3 started with a visit to The Bellagio. The famous fountains at the front of the hotel exceeded my expectations with a dazzling show every half an hour. The lobby area was very impressive and featured a beautiful floral display which is changed 5 times a year depending on the season. The rooms here are very special with huge bathrooms and views of the fountains and the strip.
We also visited Aria which was one stop away on the tram or a few minute’s walk. This hotel is 5 star and eco-friendly which I was really impressed by. They focus on world class dining and in room technologies which set it apart from the others. After an amazing lunch in Primrose, we had our final tour of The Mirage. The pool area here was my favourite. Surrounded by palm trees and waterfalls, it felt like a real escape from the Strip. It also had a gorgeous bar called “The Rhumbar” where we stopped to have some cocktails.
We ended the night with a zip wire over The LINQ Promenade which was so fun and a ride on the High roller which gave us amazing views over the whole of Las Vegas including The Sphere which is a revolutionary new entertainment venue where you can enjoy immersive shows and concerts.
Our final morning saw us head to the iconic Caesars Palace. This centre strip resort features luxurious hotel rooms and world-class entertainment with the likes of Adele performing on the weekends. The views from the Strip facing rooms were incredible and the Bacchanal buffet restaurant was a real highlight for me.
Checking out was the only downside to this trip as I could have stayed another week! There is so much to see and do in Las Vegas and I will definitely be going back in the near future.
