They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. However, once you get there you’ll wish you could stay too! Forget a weekend away, Las Vegas is somewhere you should spend at least a fortnight. Don’t panic, I don’t mean a fortnight of gambling and drinking martinis. Although, it just wouldn’t do to get all the way there and not have at least one blow out! There is more to Vegas than meets the eye however.
Like any popular American holiday destination, Las Vegas can be expensive to reach from Ireland. Nonetheless, once you get there you can have a truly memorable holiday for ‘next to nothing’.
The Attractions
Most of Las Vegas’ best attractions reside on the 3 mile long ‘Strip’. It is the hotels themselves, as opposed to the casino’s, that are worth visiting.
Almost every hotel along the strip holds some sort of attraction to add to the casinos. My advice would be to visit as many as you can. In my opinion, the best hotel attraction is Circus. Circus boasts a full sized big top circus as well as a theme park. Don’t miss out on the lion enclosure in MGM Grand or the Rollercoaster which brings you on a tour through New York, New York either.
There is also plenty to see outdoors along the strip. Along with talented street artists and performers, the stunning fountains at the Bellagio are a must see, as are the volcanic eruptions which take place every fifteen minutes from 7pm, outside of the dazzling fountain.
You can’t leave Vegas without taking in a show. I was lucky when visiting Las Vegas as my older sister works there as a makeup artist, meaning I was able to get discounted tickets for a lot of the shows. If you can only afford one make sure that it is a Cirque de Soleil performance as they are always breathtaking. If you are a Britney Spears fan then make sure to visit her ‘Piece of Me’ concert in Planet Hollywood, where she is a resident at the moment.
Shopping
Although nearly everything you could possibly need is available on the strip, it would be a good idea to rent a car for a few days. That way you can visit the countless shopping centers and bag yourself some bargains. Make sure to visit the Las Vegas premium outlets, where designer labels such as Armani and Guess are heavily discounted.
The Grand Canyon
Do Not, I repeat, Do Not, leave Vegas without taking a road trip to the Grand Canyon. It’s a good four hours away, but don’t let that dissuade you. Leave as early in the morning as you can and relish the scenery on the way. Infact you will encounter many other tourist attractions en route like The Hoover Dam, which has been named as one of the top 10 constuction achievements of the 20th century. Nevada is also home to the infamous area 51 so who knows what you may encounter in the desert.
Make sure to stop for breakfast in one of the many traditional American diners that you will pass. Once there you can take a helicopter tour or horse ride through the Canyon. However, just being at the canyon is awe-inspiring enough.
Flying to the entertainment capital of the world and doing everything there, that you have dreamed of, can work out expensive. Especially if you lose a large chunk of your spending money in the casino. However, a trip to Las Vegas is money well spent. It is well worth saving up and having a blowout for a once in a lifetime experience.
Claudia Gocoul