Renowned for it’s gambling, ‘quickie’ weddings and tacky Elvis tribute shows, this city that never sleeps have much more to offer, and is one of the first tourist meccas to come out of lock down. By Sherry Dixon
There is no other place in the world where you can find glamour and over the top lavishness than the vibrant, pulsating city of Vegas, considered to be the ‘sin city’ of the USA. A place where billions are at stake on the tables and in the theme park but you’re given enough distractions to ignore it, until you lose! If you tire of tugging on the slot machines, the surrounding area has some of the region’s most beautiful scenery. Las Vegas is not all about playing the high roller in a casino and marrying an Elvis impersonator!
Considering that the city was created from the wastelands of the barren desert in Nevada by a notorious gangster in the 1930’s, Las Vegas has become a major world attraction and inhabits more than one million residents. The day I arrived was scorching. The daily high averages around 38ºC. Anybody who knows me will tell you that I like the sun. So for me to run for cover, you know it was bloody hot. You won’t be surprised to hear that I was bursting at the chops to do some shopping, so I headed for the shopping malls, where it was the complete opposite in temperature – freezing!
I was well impressed with the hotel, the Ritz Carlton, which was booked from London. It was certainly one of the grandest hotels that I have stayed in. My suite was the size of my flat in London and overlooked the lakes. Nobody could enter the floor of the suite unless they were staying on that wing. We had our own VIP bar where every drink you could think of was served. You all know I lived on champagne the whole time, don’t you?
I was told that the Ritz Carlton Las Vegas was renowned for indulgent luxury with its sumptuous surroundings and legendary service, and I was not disappointed. I also took the opportunity to visit the spa in the hotel, which is in a separate building, and experienced one of the best facials ever. I am a beautician by trade, so when I tell you it was good, trust me: it certainly was. The therapist deserved a gold star. Every treatment was available to the guests – from body treatments to massage therapies – and the relaxation lounges certainly ensured the ultimate spa experience.
Every girl deserves a bit of pampering before she goes out shopping, and I shopped ’til I dropped. The fashion outlets just beg you to come and buy.
“That’s the thing with Las Vegas, everywhere you turn there is extravagance galore.”
In Vegas, anything goes! Judging by the glass pyramid with a Sphinx replica, a scaled-down New York City skyline complete with Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, a Piazza San Marco from Venice and a large volcano that erupts flames every thirty minutes, it makes you wonder if this is really a city or some futuristic amusement park!
That’s the thing with Las Vegas, everywhere you turn there is extravagance galore. On any given evening, you will find hundreds of hotel entertainment events such as the spectacular stage shows, world class sporting events, performances by world famous entertainers plus music, dance and comedy at large and small venues throughout the city. You can party well into the early hours in exclusive nightclubs on the top floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel or the Palm Hotel. Of course, the dress code is strictly glam darling!
While it is often considered the ‘adult playground’ Las Vegas is bursting with children’s entertainment. As odd as it seems to be justoposed along the almost exclusive adult strip, for kids, it doesn’t begin to compare to somewhere like Orlando. Several casinos have added theme parks or fun rides to fill those odd non-gambling moments. Cirque Du Soleil at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino is a show like no other. Featuring an international cast of acrobats, dancers, musicians and singers, and of course, that clown, the production has been awarded the “Las Vegas Best Production Show’.
If you’ve spent enough time at the blackjack tables, and feel the need for a few lungful’s of fresh air, drive out to the Grand Canyon or Red Rock Canyon, less than an hour from Las Vegas. Red Rock Canyon is a good place for climbing or hiking, and has picnic sites, where you can enjoy the views of wooded canyons and great stretches of the desert.
This holiday was so much more than I could have imagined but, as they say, “what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas”! While many consider it to be a somewhat tacky yet fun holiday destination, it’s certainly a place to experience at least once in a lifetime!
