I recently had the opportunity to get away with the hubs – child-free – to Sin City for five glorious, liver-damaging, calorie-laden nights. Not only would it be our first vacation, just the two of us, since our eldest, Molly, was born, but it was also a pretty special occasion – the nuptials of two of my best friends.
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit it… I never really thought I was the ‘Vegas-holiday’ type. I lose interest, fast, sitting at a slot machine, have no self-control at buffet tables (mmmm crab legs) and do not have the extra coin to throw down on a lot of highbrow restaurants or swanky clubs.
But that was the old me. Las Vegas has now made me its bitch…. it has set my soul on fire.
There are so many magical things Las Vegas offers that you won’t find on any travel brochure, pleasures such as: ‘purse wine’ or ’road beers,’ the energizing high of casino oxygen that pumps through your veins and allows you to stay up – forever, two-for-one shows, cheap prime rib dinners and loads of free entertainment. I get it now. Las Vegas is Disneyland for adults.
With that being said, I thought I’d break the cardinal rule about ‘what happens in Vegas… ‘ to share some do’s and don’ts for anyone planning a trip to this magical city in the near future. Warning: For all you frequent Sin City soldiers, this info may be redundant.
Las Vegas Tips and Tricks
Do – Wear flats
This may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised by how many gals pack their pumps and forgo comfortable evening footwear – that was me on day one. Cough. While I normally hate to wear anything less than a 6″ heel for a night out on the town, flats saved me from a lot of unnecessary pain for the rest of our trip. I’ve never walked so much in my life, touring casinos and running –quite literally – from one bar to the next. For those who do forget to pack sensible shoes, many of the casino gift shops on the strip sell those little cheap flats that come with a matching clutch, but they’ll cost you a pretty penny (approximately four road wines).
Don’t – Buy shooters
You may have snagged a great deal on your flight and hotel, but a round of shooters will empty your wallet – fast. The hubs and I met a lovely couple – also from Vancouver – who were generous enough to purchase us some shots of tequilla at a bar. Of course, we decided to repay the favour and order a second round. Big mistake. Jason’s jaw nearly hit the ground when the bartender handed him the bill. Four shots, before tip, cost a grand total of $70. Damn.
Do – Spring for a room with a kitchenette or mini-fridge
Let’s face it, eating out for every.single.meal can cost you a small fortune – not to mention, your waistline. While you don’t have to eat in your room for all meals – you are on vacation, after all – it’s great to have some snacks and a fridge to store necessities like milk, juice, sandwhich fixin’s and what not. And, by ‘what not’ I mean wine.
Don’t – Pay full price for a show
Check out what shows are running online ahead of time and narrow it down to your top three. Chances are pretty great that tickets for the show you want to see will be available at one of those ‘Cheap Ticket’ kiosks, which can be found all over the strip. Just don’t leave it to the last-minute or lady luck won’t be on your side.
Speaking of shows, I highly recommend checking out Evil Dead: The Musical, directed and produced by Sirc Michaels. While it’s certainly not for the squeamish, this adaptation will tickle your funny bone and – if you are daring enough to sit in the two front rows – will certainly make you feel as though you are part of the doomed cast, quite literally. Having grown up a HUGE fan of the Evil Dead and Army of Darkness cult films, I was really excited to see the mashup of the two onstage. Luckily, the production didn’t let me down. The musical is hilarious, sexy and there’s a guy with a chainsaw for a hand. What else could you want? Note: If you do option for the ”splash zone,” make sure to bring a change of warm clothes for afterwards… and maybe a towel or two.
Do – Purchase party drinks from casino gift shops
I’ve always thought it would be a wonderful idea to have some sort of wine flask, but had no clue there was something out there already… something far better. Since you are literally allowed to walk everywhere in Las Vegas with an alcoholic beverage in hand, there’s no point in paying a high premium at a bar. Instead, stop into one of the many gift shops and head straight to the cooler. There you’ll find a plethora of beers, coolers and wines. For those who just want a glass of wine, there are mini glasses that have a little plastic, resealable lids. Yay! Sure, they don’t really taste all that amazing, but they’re cheap and they fit nicely in your purse. And, that’s good enough for this gal.
Do you have any Sin City tips you’d like to share with readers?
