Las Vegas an Insider Point of View: Part 1

I have lived in this area of the country almost longer than anywhere else, (Illinois is still in first place for one more year and Iowa is in third place in case you were wondering), so I decided I wanted to do a series on my insider tips for Las Vegas.  I am going to talk about more than just the Las Vegas strip; I will also talk about great off the strip places to check out and other areas that are just a quick drive away.  I have to say first off that I am not paid to endorse any of these places that I am going to mention, everything I am going to say on here is based on my own opinion and experience.  So get ready to want to plan a vacation in the desert!

Today I am going to talk about the Las Vegas Strip.  I have stayed (or seen family member's rooms) at nearly every hotel on the strip over the last 10 years, and I have to say that I have enjoyed it all.  Whether it be a luxurious suite or the cheapest room my best friend and I could find, I have always had a great Las Vegas experience.  Here are some of my favorite places that I have found that have made it extra enjoyable. 

1) Mon Ami Gabi located at the Paris Hotel on Las Vegas Blvd - I know what you are thinking, you probably have a Mon Ami Gabi in your city, and you want something extra special when going to Las Vegas; trust me there is a reason that I put Mon Ami Gabi on here is the location.  Mon Ami Gabi is located directly across from the famous Bellagio Fountains.  When dining outside you will be able to watch the fountains dance to music while enjoying delicious French Cuisine, plus you do not have to stand in the crowd that forms in front of the fountains.  This is a major Win-Win!  

2) The Four Seasons Hotel - The Las Vegas location of this hotel is located on the top 3 or 4 floors of Mandalay Bay, providing spectacular views of the Las Vegas strip.  Mandalay Bay is located on the very south end of Las Vegas Blvd.  What I like about this hotel is you are connected to Mandalay Bay, which connects to Luxor and Excalibur, yet you are in your own hotel that has no slot machines.  It is a quiet, peaceful escape from the Las Vegas-y atmosphere you get in the other hotels; however you can be in one of those hotels in less than a minute without even leaving the building.  Last time we stayed at the Four Seasons we booked it on a travel website and found it to be one of the cheapest rooms on the strip that night (this is not always the case) but we just couldn't pass it up.  The view from our room was so beautiful we spent the majority of the time sitting on the floor staring out of the window.

This is a photo taken from our hotel room, yet it doesn't do it justice.  At night when the city lights up it was probably one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.  What you can't see from this photo is to the right of you is McCarran Airport and we were able to watch the planes land.

3) Forum Shops at Caesars - This is one of my favorite places to shop on the Las Vegas strip.  The Forum Shops are simply a feast for your eyes, designed in a Greek god like theme with amazing statues, each room is more intricate than the next.  The shops are also great for any budget, from Gap and H&M to Burberry and Louis Vuitton you get to enjoy it all.  The Forum Shops also have some fantastic dining perfect for any budget. 

4) Mandalay Place - I mention this because not everyone knows about it and I feel that they should.  Located in this small area between Mandalay Bay and the Luxor is a fantastic mall with the only Guinness Store outside of Dublin, exciting specialty shops and an Ice Bar!  You heard me right, a bar that is completely made from Ice.  My best friend and I decided to go there one night, and it was a fun experience.  When you first arrive they give you a parka and gloves and you get to order delicious drinks from a bar made of ice, in cups made of ice.  It is very cold and we only stayed there for about a half an hour, but it was worth the experience.

5) The Shops at the Venetian - One word: Gondola!  The Venetian Gondola ride was the first thing I did when I visited Las Vegas back in 2003, and I fell in love with the place.  You ride in a real Gondola and your gondolier sings beautiful opera/love music to you.  The water winds through the shopping center and the ceilings are made to look like the sky.  It is definitely a fun experience.

6) The Mirage - If you are going with a family (which we do most of the time) this hotel is perfect for you.  This hotel hosts Terry Fator, the Beatles' Cirque du Soleil show, and more.  Additionally, they have the Siegfried and Roy secret garden where you can visit the tigers that they used in their shows and see baby tiger cubs.  Another fun family oriented activity that this hotel has is Dolphins.  All day long you can go see them perform, lazing around in the sun with their trainers or if you are really interested you can be a trainer for a day or paint with the dolphins.  This hotel is just a stones throw away from Caesars Palace, the Venetian and TI. 

7) Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay - The first time I went to the Shark Reef I didn't think I would like it, I mean how cool could seeing sharks in Las Vegas be?  Answer: Very Cool!  The Shark Reef is a walk through aquarium and you get to see all sorts of sea creatures, including but not limited to sharks.  The only negative is that it is so popular that it frequently is crowded so I would advise to get there in the early morning.  

8) Coca-Cola World - I want to mention Coca-Cola world because of the fun soda bar that they have on their second floor.  You can go and order a tray that features Coke Products from around the world.  They give you a tray with 8-16 different glasses with the name of the drink and country of origin.  This is a fun thing to do as a family, I advise only getting one around the world tray as very few groups actually finish the drinks.

These are just some of the great places my family and I like to visit when on the Las Vegas strip, I know I am leaving out some but if you are ever interested just send me a message and I will be happy to help you plan your trip.