Las Vegas Trip Feb 25

worldsmyoystertrav
Feb 6
7 min read

Updated: Mar 3

This was my third visit to Las Vegas. I have to say it is my favourite city hence why I keep returning. This trip was a little more exciting as 2 of our friends were getting married whilst we were there.

We flew into Harry Reid International (formerly known as McCarren) around 7pm (LV time) Sunday evening after an around 10 hour flight with British Airways. The time difference with the UK is -8 hours, so although we should have felt like it was 3 am the lights of the strip as your coming into land get you buzzing with excitement.

It was quite quick through passport control and collecting luggage so we were soon through the airport hopping into a taxi. The airport is only a 5/10 minute drive from the strip (traffic dependent) so a taxi is definitely the best way to your hotel. They all have set prices so expect to pay around $29 plus tip.

The last couple of times we have stayed at the Excalibur Hotel which is situated to the far South of the strip but this time chose the Linq which is towards the middle opposite Caesars Palace.

As with most Vegas hotels now they have automatic check in machines which also issue your keys. This (if it works) can save a lot of time as the queues can be very long.

Our room was on the 17th floor and was modern, spacious with 2 double beds, bathroom with shower and all the usual amenities.

Once sorted we we all headed down to the casino. Now if you didn't know nearly all the hotels in Vegas are giant casinos. As soon as you walk through the entrance you are greeted with 100's of flashing machines and as many people playing them. The Linq is no different. There is also a selection of bars, food outlets and a few shops on the ground floor. Beware though, it can be VERY expensive to eat and drink in hotels. Hotel shops can also be VERY expensive with a bottle of water costing around $10.

My advice is to pop to a supermarket and stock up on snacks and drinks to keep in your room and to fill a backpack when you go out. This a much cheaper way.

The Linq is connected to the Linq Promenade which is a lovely place with bars, restaurants, shops and at the bottom is home to the giant High Roller where you can get fabulous views of the strip. Its 550 feet high with 28 spacious cabins (some with bars) and takes around 30 minutes to complete a 360 degree revolution. This costs around $35 after 6pm and I would definitely recommend doing it at night.

The promenade is also where we spent time having a few drinks at the American Bar & Grill where the drinks are reasonably priced (the Swamp Water cocktail is lovely!) and we had breakfast a few times at Maxis Restaurant which I can highly recommend. (Don't forget American portions can be very large so sharing is a good option).

Monday morning we took the Deuce bus up to Freemont Street. The Deuce I would recommend as the best way of getting around. It operates 24 hours a day, serving 28 stops, every 10 to 20 minutes depending on the time of day/night. A 24 hour pass is $8 with a 3 day pass $20. Tickets can be bought online via their app or at the bus stops via the ticket machines.

There is also a monorail which has various stops along the strip. This is a quicker way of getting around but only runs one side of the strip.

Our friends had to pick up their marriage licence from the Clark County Marriage License Bureau which is at the North of the strip near to Freemont Street so we had a bimble around whilst they were doing that. (More on Freemont Street later). The rest of the day/evening was spent looking around some of the amazing hotels the strip has to offer. Although they are all casinos they are all completely different and worth a visit. (We also like to have a little wager in each one).

Tuesday was Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon Day. Although there are many organised trips you can take we hired a car for the day and drove ourselves. Car hire can be relatively cheap but make sure you take out ALL appropriate insurances so you are completely covered for everything.

The Hoover Dam is only around a 40 minute drive from the strip. Its $10 to park there but completely free to walk along and enjoy the fabulous views of the Colorado River. The Dam is built on the border between Nevada and Arizona hence once side is an hour ahead in time to the other which is shown on 2 clocks, one placed in each state. Its definitely worth a visit.

The Grand Canyon West Rim is the closest to Las Vegas and another approximate 2 hour drive on from the Hoover Dam. It is 100% worth the trip.

The Grand Canyon West is a tribal enterprise of the sovereign Indian Nation of the Hualapai Tribe. It is their reservation and you can experience the heritage and traditions of this tribe also known as “The People of the Tall Pines”.

General Admission is around $53 and you can add a ticket to the magnificent glass Skywalk Bridge for around $29.

The views are INCREDIBLE. Definitely a bucket list destination. (It can be quite windy so would recommend you take a hoodie or jacket).

On arriving and going through with your ticket you hop on a bus which takes you to the first stop Eagle Point. This is where the Skywalk is situated and there is also a small village where you can see authentic Native American dwellings and watch performances from members of various tribes. You also get the opportunity to buy handmade crafts and jewellery.

You then hop back on the bus which will take you to the other stop which is Guano Point. There are more incredible views here and you can see the Colorado River winding through the canyon. There is also the remains of the tram which once took miners the eight thousand feet down to the Guano mine. Once you have taken in the breath taking views of this natural wonder the bus will then transfer you back to the start point.

Wednesday we took in some more hotels (there are so many) and finished the day with a Las Vegas Open Top Bus Night Tour. I highly recommend this as not only do you get to see everything lit up to its best but there is also an audio you can listen to giving you lots of information and historical facts. The tour lasts around 2 hours and cost $55.

Thursday was wedding day. The happy couple had booked a wedding package with Graceland Wedding Chapel. A beautiful limo came to pick up the ladies to take us to the venue whilst the men got an uber. The chapel is quaint with a lovely pergola for photo opportunities and a gorgeous pink Cadillac parked out the back for some more lovely pics.

As a post wedding meal we had booked into Gordon Ramseys Pub & Grill based in Caesars Palace. The food was excellent and the groom rated his Wagyu burger the best he has ever had! We were even treated to Gordons famous sticky toffee pudding for dessert, on the house, as it was a celebration.

To continue the celebrations we headed to party central for the evening, better known as Freemont Street. This is where Las Vegas started. IT was established in 1905 as the centre of the city were business and pleasure could come together. As the city grew so did Freemont Street. It was home to the first casino the Golden Gate Hotel in 1906. Today it has the world famous casinos such as The Horseshoe, Four Queens and the infamous Golden Nugget.

Nowadays it offers free nightly light shows on a state of the art screen which covers the roof, free concerts nightly and sights that you have to see to believe! The dancing gorillas, topless nuns and showgirls amongst others. You will also find various street entertainers.

Take in a birds eye view of the street by zipping down the famous Slotzilla zip Line or if you are after a sit down there are plenty of places to get a drink and something to eat (look out for happy hours for both).

Freemont Street is a must-visit and the place I most recommend you go to. The dazzling lights and endless energy make it an unforgettable experience.

Friday was our last day. We had a full day as our flight wasn’t until 9pm and with the airport being so close we didn’t have to leave very early.

Some got up early to visit the famous Las Vegas sign. The deuce bus goes right up to the sign nowadays which is great as its actually a fair way outside of the strip. I found this out on my first visit when we walked it! I do not recommend this.

We spent the morning looking round the new Fontaine Blue hotel, the Wynn and finished off at the venetian. Both the Fontaine and the Wynn are very exclusive beautiful hotels. You will see a higher grade of visitors staying here. The Wynn is especially high class but absolutely fabulous to look round.

The Venetian Hotel is a luxury hotel and casino. The resort is themed after Venice and has replicas of numerous landmarks from the city, including a canal where you can have a gondola ride with a singing gondolier.

My husband and I also made a special visit to the Westgate Hotel. Formerly known as the International Hotel it was where Elvis Presley made entertainment history performing two shows a night, seven days a week. Starting on 31st July 1969 he performed 636 consecutive sold out shows over a seven year run. It’s a definite pilgrimage for Elvis fans. A bronze statue immortalizing the King stands in the reception area and there are personal items belonging to him in a glass case for visitors to view.

Our last afternoon was spent in a fairly new bar called Ole Red. Its situated opposite the Bellagio so if your lucky enough to get a table on the right side on an upper floor you can take in the fountains whilst enjoying a cold one! Owned by Blake Shelton, Ole Red is the full country experience. Situated over 3 floors it offers some fabulous food and drinks whilst enjoying the music of live country bands. I definitely recommend it.