I researched our trip ideas on Trip Advisor (to get the #1 Las Vegas Restaurants by category, rated by 37,000 people cant go too wrong!?) and I googled ideas like: "What to do in Vegas"
We have both been to Vegas in the last 10 years, where we toured tue Hoover Dam, and we have also been to the Grand Canyon. We knew we didn't want to do these road trips or helicopter "experiences" in Vegas.
Out Fancy Itinerary and To do list for Las Vegas January 2015 - even impromptu ideas and what we didn't do!!
We don't gamble, nor do we "club" anymore. We wanted a "fancy" high-end experience in Vegas. But to not over spend unnecessarily. Slots we on at ad hoc basis. If we had a dollar in our pocket we'd spend it.
Vegas has a monorail system.
It helps with all the walking! There are 9 or so stope along the way dropping you off "near" your destination. However you still have to navigate thru hotels / to the strip to find you arrival destination. Monorail is $5 one way per person or $12 for a one day pass. a 24-hour pass is also available. Worth the money for the most part!
We traveled
Thursday to Sunday morning for a full weekend, taking advantage of a prescheduled school 3-day weekend and flew back early Sunday for airfare savings.
Selecting a Las Vegas Hotel:
Find what you like in Vegas because there is a lot if variety to choose from. There's ubber expensive and really cheap. We wanted a fair price and a clean well serviced location. A comfy cozy room to sleep, and change in. And a hotel with "quick bites" options so we aren't waiting hours for food.
We planned to "spend a day or a half day" at the Venetian or Bellagio, so we didn't want to drop the cash on a room there. We chose the MGM grand which had amazing comfortable beds, feather / down pillows which were luxurious and huge mirrors in the rooms, which is very sexy and fun! However no matter where you stay the resort are "monster resorts" and you will walk far everywhere you go.
And our vacation really did start right away!! Get off the plane and hit the slots at the airport, or get a drink? Or shop!!
Day 1: Thursday: Arrival
Airport to Hotel Transportation: from the Las Vegas Airport to the Strip (options)
Shuttle are $5 per person one-way or pre purchase return trip for a $1 off ($11 total round trip per person). Shuttle is available near the baggage claim. However they make multiple hotel stops. We wanted to start our trip "right away" and not spend an hour on a bus!
Opposite door from the baggage claim was the door to Taxis / and taxi line (luckily off season it was moving fast). Price will vary to hotel, we took one to save on time. Ask to take the "back roads / off the strip." Saves time sitting in traffic racking up the fare. Taxi to MGM $15 and we tipped $2-3.
Hotel Arrival: let the Vacation Begin
Checkin was fast. We grabbed a drink at the bar up to the room. Now, just because its Las Vegas doesn't mean every bar tender gets your drink right. Unless its a specialty bar, or ubber fancy, or making a signature cocktail, expect mistakes. Therefore I stick to wine.
We had a quick bite at MGM on arrival. I checked out our hotel website a few days before departure to get some food ideas. They list high end restaurants and "quick bites." Know what your hotel offers so your not waiting an HOUR to eat and you know where the snack size options are too.
Hecho at MGM
We wanted to try Tex-Mex since we were in the Southwest. Different from our Chicago style Mexican food. Hecho at MGM - it was good food, good service! Pricey drinks (as is everywhere in Vegas roughly $12 Specials, $9 beer).
We had a lazy afternoon planned and walked outdoors toward Mandalay Bay via the Luxor hotel entrance. It was a 39 minute walk, and I'd soon regret only bring dressy, even tho comfortable shoes. We loved seeing the Egyptian style hotel. Vegas is a one stop city where you can experience the styling and decor or many world class cities within a few miles walk along the hotels on the strip.
As you pass thru the Luxor, it is connected to the mall walk to Mandalay Bay. We walked thru few stores and stumbled on an Irish Pub. We wanted a drink and it hit the spot. How awesome to see an Irish Pub in the mall with live authentic music.
We had another small item in the plan that we didn't do:
Oriental Mandarin Bar on 23rd floor of the Oriental Hotel (#7 on trip advisor). Pricey drinks and a great view of the strip.
We also meant to go salsa dancing ((Vegas isn't big on salsa :-( at NYNY hotel they played salsa music and the club was totally empty.)) We found nearby clubs in case we wanted to go. After looking up options on trip advisor and online, double check the websites, a few of the salsa dancing options had been closed.
Day 2: Friday:: Romantic Day at the Venetian
Bouchon! Amazing
Venitian Breakfast at Bouchon (restaurant and NOT the bakery) and window shopping. We chose Bouchon on Friday because we assed Saturday morning would be too busy. And we were right, Vegas was easily twice as busy on Saturday.
We arrived by 8:30 on a rainy morning. And Vegas "freaks out" when it rains, even turning off outdoor escalators on the strip! We took the monorail thru Bally's. Unfortunately the hotels aren't connected underground all the way thru the strip. And it is a bit of a navigation to find our way thru the hotels. However we found our way through Ballys and eek- Harrahs scary and ubber stereotypical smoke filled low ceilings - and managed to get around.
Eating at Bouchon was completely worth the money!! You can get a full French or American meal for under $25 (eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee juice bread and pastry - OR go French ham and cheese sandwich with egg and fries for $18). I choose a salad with bacon (real bacon not american bacon) and a poached egg with bread - $14. You could also get al a carte yogurts, pastries, sides of fries, mashed or lyionaise potatoes, etc. Review the menu online.
We arrived by 8:30, got a great table, excellent ambiance, great service!
Most bathrooms are located just outside the restaurants.
Avoid the "Time Share / Show Share Sellers"
Ask the "cleaning / helpers / janitors" at the hotels on the main floors for directions to get where your headed to help avoid the resort staff trying to "sell shows and tours at the entrances" which sucks and kills the experience (similar to the time share sellers near Mexico resorts). When entering the hotels is was such a nuisance to have "solicitors" asking "how long are you staying? Have you seen any shows? Interested in a tour?" Good luck saying no. They follow up with more questions to keep you talking. The selling counts on people being polite and keeping you talking. Unfortunately the only way to stop the pestering is to ignore the questions and walk away - feeling like your being rude - and ignore the person talking.
Then we headed downstairs to walk the Grand Canal. Window shopping and the Grand canal shops is a romantic walk. All of Vegas is climate controlled, indoors of course, they still haven't put the strip in an outdoor climate bubble. We didn't take a gondola ride, but we did walk the "river." We visited an expensive jeweler on the walk. Their prices are easily 60+ % higher then "regular" non-Vegas prices. A beautiful pair if ruby earring in a diamond jacket started at $12,000. After a discount for this and that, the price fell to $6,400. And the ladies at the store insisted we make an offer, its the end of the month and the owner would surely take "offers." We left, without the earrings but the price negotiating was something to remember. Tiffany's prices and other brand name stores like Hermés are true to their "standard pricing" said our waiter at the Bellagio lunch.
Cheese & Wine at Otto Pizzeria in the grand room
After window shopping we enjoyed some cheese & wine at Otto Pizzeria in the grand room. The sommelier was knowledgeable and happy to chat. They use a wine storage method with argon gas, and puncture the cork to pour the wine on their high end bottles and leaving no spoils behind. Clever method. The argon gas wine stopper / opener would run $200-300 but worth it if you want to occasionally enjoy expensive special bottles of wine. We were there for nearly 3 hours, nibbling on cheeses, bread (complimentary) and our wines.
The Chianti was spectacular. A Sangiovese blend "torra" monsanto, Mon Granna, and Il Borro were all good. They don't offer a cheese flight but you can have two wines served at 3 ounces each. The cheese flight is a selection of 3 or 5 cheeses, Goat cheese, Pecorino semi hard, and Mozzarella ball served with sides of Apricot mustard, Brandied cherries, and Honey w truffle oil. The Crusty Bread is served with Oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
Grand Wok and Sushi at MGM
An excellent afternoon at the Venetian. Afterwards we returned to the hotel to change and get ready for our comedy show that night. We had a simple meal for dinner since we splurged on lunch wine and cheese. We ate at the Grand Wok and Sushi at MGM, miso soup and vegetarian dumplings we're very good and authentic. Served with a pot of green tea was spot on refreshing.
Burlesque Comedy Show and Pizza
We impromptu attended a "naughty" comedy club and Burlesque show. It was fab. After the comedy club husband HAD to have some pizza. Ranked high on trip advisor was NYNY hotels pizza. It was spot on, firm enough to bend and grab with your hand, soft to eat. They heat the giant $7 slices in the over so they stay warm throughout dining.
What we didn't do::
Visit the history channels "Pawn Stars" store. It would've been a fun excursion, we just ran out of time and replaced this taxi ride with a stand up comedy show instead.
Jewelry stores at the casinos are worth a peek. Don't feel intimidated because the clerks don't know if you just hit it big in the casino or if your celebrating a special occasion like "spoil my wife day." And NEGOTIATE and non-chain stores.
Day 3: Saturday::
Le Village at Paris - Buffet
A Buffet morning. This decision was questionable since I read about Vegas buffets being "good" however low quality food - like shrimp swimming in butter is considered a "seafood buffet." We are getting to a point where we like high quality, great and strong tasting food, NOT volume. After such an amazing breakfast at Bouchon, having a buffet breakfast with Mass Market appeal was not going to top the previous day. Le village at paris was $27 - and not as "romantic" as expected.
The food is good, but walk the buffet line to catch your eye on the full variety. A coffee pot is served at the table and unlimited juice is served. A simple breakfast of yogurt and fruits, cheese and breads are nice. The croissants are dry and crusty. But the danish were okay. Unlimited servings as with any buffet, a variety of potatoes too. But the crepes line was long, too long. As were the omelette stations. But if you walk thru the entire buffet sometimes one line will be shorter then the others.
Walking and Buying Walking Shoes
We walked Paris after the buffet, a small hotel, and we left for an unexpected stop, walking shoes, without a heel. Next door is planet hollywood and the mall. We found our at home mall stores, not everything was overpriced, so we found good walking shoes that'll be good for later in summer.
Bellagio
Our Early Evening plan was to enjoy the Bellagio. See their Fine arts exhibits and the conservatory gardens. Then enjoy the Fountain show from a bar inside. And perhaps a Fine dinner.
After shoe shopping we went to find the "Fontana Bar" at the Bellagio, which turns out is closed. Bellagio security was very helpful to direct us to Olives, a patio view of the fountain and a bar. However all tables are full service, so expect to have drinks and appetizers at least. We had an hour wait for our table so we walked thru to the fine arts exhibit.
There was a cover fee, but next door was a photo gallery. David Furhman uses a "silver paper" made by fuji to print out his photos. Then laminated onto aluminum pieces before framing. The color literally pops on the paper, making it look backlit. Each picture ranged from $3,000-5,000. Displayed among wood chairs from fiji and other art.
We headed back to Olives for a patio lunch. It was excellent. Signature cocktails were $12, wine varied by the glass. Steak servings were matches perfectly to their veggies, potatoes and the sauce / glaze.
We skipped dessert and decided impromptu to enjoy cocktails at the new Chandelier lounge - 3 stories of chandeliers. We stayed downstairs since the upper floors we packed with groups, and we preferred private seating. We made it before the "reserved" table signs went up, requiring bottle purchases. We were able to stay into dinner time (as long as we left before 10: pm).
We went back to the room to change, and pack, since we had an early morning flight. We choose again for dinner the NYNY for pizza. Its a walk across the bridge from our hotel, easy now that we knew how to navigate where we were going.
What we didn't do:
Afternoon :: near ceasears palace
Joes seafood prime steak #14 on tripadvisor. Crab legs soup & chop salad, sides are a waste.
Bellagio:: jean phillippe french dessert #11 on trip advisor, Patisserie from 5:30-10:30pm
Day 4: early departure
We left Sunday morning, at 4:30 am were were in the lobby. We double checked the time because the lobby was as lively as it was the night before at 10:oo pm. There was a line for taxis nearly 20-30 minutes wait just to get thru. Luckily a hotel staffer was quick to point out the airport shuttle heading directly to the airport... $6 per person cash only!
What we didn't do::
I had a gift certificate to a day spa, so we found several nearby locations to the strip. These were all a taxi ride away. However get fresh online reviews via yelp or otherwise, these shops varied year to year based on current staff.
==============
Massage envy -
Rock spring
Rock springs plaza at rock springs n lake mead near panera bread and golden spoon
south rainbow
Not boca park location
