They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Now I finally understand why. Entering Sin City is like entering a parallel universe- a surreal mirage of flashing lights, obnoxiously large hotels and never-ending buzz, Las Vegas really does need to be seen to be believed. This city mesmerized me in a way I can hardly describe.
Las Vegas was our second stop on my American Dream Topdeck Tour (check out this post to see all the places I’m heading). This desert-bound city is mind-blowing from the moment it pops up on the horizon. Monopolized by ridiculously over-the-top themed hotels and casinos, the magnitude of these buildings can only be marvelled at. If the same structures were placed in any other city, they would be considered monstrosities, but in Vegas, anything seems to go. If you want to see the world on a budget, you might as well save money on an around-the-world ticket and come here instead. You can see the Pyramids, ride a gondola through a Venetian canal, toss a coin into the Trevi fountain, climb to the top of the Eiffel tower and ride a roller coaster in New York- all before its time for lunch at Caesar’s palace. Whilst you might save yourself some cash on those Euro plane tickets, you’ll probably end up spending that money during your visit. Las Vegas is not a cheap place to visit by any stretch of the imagination. If you have money left over after a night at the Casino, you might wind up spending it on a $11 croissant from the Paris hotel or $9 on a glass of water from the club. Maybe flying to the real Paris is a better idea after all….
Unfortunately, Vegas is also an extremely sexist city, and whilst girls will be offered free entry and drinks to almost every bar and club, guys will generally have to pay hefty cover charges to get in to the same places. Having said that, the clubs are amazing. On our first night in Vegas, we got VIP access in to a place called Surrender. Not only was it the most exquisite poolside club I have ever seen, Skrillex also happened to be performing that night! Sin City may be a little overpriced and outrageous, but it is also intensively exciting, and it’s hard to run out of things to do. For those of you who aren’t planning on spending your entire visit to Vegas at the roulette table or drinking cocktails by the pool, here is a list of 12 awesome things to do in Las Vegas:
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1. See a Cirque Du Soleil show– I personally recommend LOVE for any Beatles fans, tickets start at $79
2. Eat at the Ports O’ Call Buffet– all-you-can-eat global cuisine (and a ridiculously good dessert bar) for only $14 from Monday- Thursday
3. Check out the Luxor Hotel and Casino– marvel at the exterior and interior of this pyramid-shaped structure
4. Go on the Big Apple roller coaster– located inside New York, New York, its $14 per ride and totally worth it!
5. Watch the fountain show at the Bellagio Hotel– runs every 15 minutes till midnight
6. Ride a Gondola at the Venetian Hotel– $20 for a ride shared with four people
7. Head up to the top of the Stratosphere– get a great view over the strip or check out some of the serious thrill rides
8. Shop at the Miracle Mile Shops– literally spanning for 1.2 miles, this retail mecca has a selection of over 170 shops
9. Check out the MGM Grand– see the place the famous Mayweather vs. Pacquiao match went down
10. Wander through the aquarium at Mandalay Bay– with over 200 different species of marine life to look at, this is a rather unique aquarium experience
11. Watch the volcano show at the Mirage Hotel– runs every 30 minutes from 8:00pm-11:00pm nightly
12. Stay at Caesar’s Palace for the true Vegas hangover experience– or at least visit this gigantic hotel/ casino complex
All in all, Vegas is probably one of the most exciting, crazy and weird places you’ll ever visit and possibly will never want to visit again.
