Livin’ La Vida Loca in Las Vegas

Moving to Las Vegas, Nevada was a very good decision for a multitude of reasons. We absolutely love desert living (so over snow, unless I’m skiing) and the entertainment and food options here are second to none.

And one thing we love about living in Sin City is that eventually, everyone gets here. Many of our friends and family members come once or twice a year for work events—or just for fun—so we’re seeing old and new friends on a regular basis. And we love that since most of everyone we know lives hundreds, if not thousands of miles away.

My friends Anthony and Marci are coming this week and next (separately, although they’re both from California), and our friend Jacqueline and her girlfriends will be here in a few weeks from Washington, D.C. And others are coming throughout the Spring and Summer.

So, I decided to put together a little list of what I think are ‘Best Vegas Bets’ for them, and you. Obviously, my list of suggestions is based on what I like to do, but I have perfect taste, so you’re bound to dig this stuff, too.

PLACES TO STAY

I’ve overnighted at a good number of the hotel casinos on The Strip and there really isn’t a bad one in the bunch. My standouts are: 

Wynn/Encore – Pricey, yet elegant. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer spectacular views and the over-the-top service is amazing. Nothing is cheap at the Wynn, but it’s one of the best. On the north end of the Strip across from the Venetian. It’s home to Diana Ross and Robbie Williams.

Planet Hollywood – Hip and cool, it’s where the cool kids stay and play. Great shopping and eating options for any budget. Gwen Stefani and the Backstreet Boys are there. Get a room overlooking the Bellagio Fountain.

Flamingo – It’s one of the originals and it’s tired, but their Go Rooms are sleek and modern with TVs mounted behind the bathroom mirror and motorized drapes. Their pool is a non-stop party; get a cabana and enjoy your drinks in the grotto while top DJs spin tunes. Donny & Marie perform here through November. They actually have a flock of flamingos on property.

Mirage – One of the first places I ever stayed, the Mirage has a lot of character and they have a suite with TWO full-size his and her (or his and his, her and her, as the case may be) bathrooms. Dolphins and tigers live here!

MGM Grand – It’s a HUGE property and it can take 15-minutes to get from the casino to your room, but I love all the options at this south-end behemoth. David Copperfield’s custom theater is here.

Delano or the Four Seasons at Mandalay Bay – Again, not cheap, but these two hotels within a hotel are for when money is no object and you want only the best. Plus, you don’t have to go outside to get to all the fun of Mandalay Bay’s casino, endless food options, and attractions, like Michael Jackson’s One and the Shark Reef.

Of course, Luxor, Park MGM, Paris, Bellagio, Aria, and the Cosmopolitan are all good options, too. Just stay away from Circus Circus, Excalibur, Tropicana, Hooters, and most of the Downtown properties where quality isn’t a priority.

PLACE TO EAT

There are over 2,000 restaurants in Las Vegas, but these are some of just a few of my favorites:

House of Blues @ Mandalay Bay – The barbecue brisket is to die for. We usually go for lunch and then don’t need dinner. They have a great Gospel Brunch on Sundays, too, which is very popular.

Jean Georges Steakhouse @ ARIA – It’s not cheap (it was $300 that last time the two of us went for dinner), but it’s sleek, dark, and super-yummy. Amazing service and attention to detail. I had oysters and veal, but it all looks great.

Diablo's Cantina @ Luxor – Brand new, this Mexican restaurant hits the spot! I love the cucumber margarita and the shrimp burrito.

Hell’s Kitchen @ Caesar’s Palace – Chef Gordon Ramsey’s Beef Wellington is the star here, as is the open kitchen. We’ve been three or four times, and the prix fixe lunch for $60 is the ticket. A place to see and be seen.

Pantry @ Mirage – Breakfast around the clock, plus a ton of other stuff. Casual and diner-ish. We absolutely love it. Askf or the bacon extra-crispy.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon @ MGM Grand – Expensive but legendary. Every meal is prepared in front of you in the open kitchen and it’s all prix fixe and the menu is set ahead of time; no ordering. Small bites just keep coming and coming until you are so very full. Creative and innovative.

SHOWS TO SEE

I’ve seen so many I’ve lost count. Besides the residencies—Cher at the Park MGM tops the currently available list, but we’ve seen Celine and Ricky, too—here’s just some of a few that we loved of the permanent shows:

“Opium” @ The Cosmopolitan – Not for the faint of heart or easily offended, Opium is a silly, crazy, small-theater production that is almost indescribable. Every seat is close to the stage.

“KÀ” @ MGM Grand – The best of the Cirque du Solei shows, KÀ is magical and jaw dropping. The stage is like nothing I have ever seen in my life and will WOW anyone. Don’t sit in the first four or five rows; that’s just too close, as a lot happens in the sky.

“Le Rêve” @ Wynn/Encore – One of my all-time favorites—I’m taking my parents to see it in May—Le Reve is a show with dozens of acrobats diving into a huge pool. Sounds weird, but it’s magical. A must see!

“Love” @ Mirage – Even if you don’t love The Beatles, this Cirque show in the round is so very entertaining. You’ll have the music stuck in your head for days.

“David Copperfield” @ MGM Grand – He can be a bit silly, but some of the tricks he does in his special theater will have you believing that he really is magical. There’s one near the end that had me dumbfounded, to say the least.

“Absinthe” @ Caesars Palace – Equally as silly as Opium, it’s sister show, Absinthe is also a small show in a tent where everyone is close to the non-stop death-defying action and crude jokes. It’s offensive, but fun, and decidedly not for conservative types. I would never take my parents to it. 

“O” @ Bellagio – O is another water-themed show with lots of fire, too. Simply one of the best shows I have ever seen. Just go to O!

Also a good time: Criss Angell Mindfreak @ Planet Hollywood; Blue Man Group @ Luxor; Zumanity @ New York New York; and Penn & Teller @ Rio.

Just wandering from casino to casino can be fun, too. Go explore. Get lost. Shop. Snack. Put $20 in a slot machine. Play a few hands of blackjack. Go see the fish at Mandalay Bay. Watch the fountain show at Bellagio. Have a drink at Wynn. Take selfies with celebrities at the wax museum at the Venetian. Ride the monorail between MGM and SLS. Take a spin on the High Roller Ferris Wheel behind The Linq. Get a players club card everywhere you go, too, even if you aren’t a big gambler, because first-timers get freebies like free slot play and hotel rooms.

Do it all! Vegas is for everyone.

PS – I’ll update this as I remember stuff I loved and experience new things I want to pass on.