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My 3 days in Vegas

Just back from my first trip to Las Vegas and I must say it far exceeded my expectations. From the flamboyant hotels to the thrill of the casinos - I revelled in every bit of it. I stayed at Paris Hotel which boasts an Eiffel Tower (half the size of the real one in Paris), an Arc de Triomphe and numerous French restaurants and patisseries. It was a lovely hotel and I’d stay there again, however if you’re in your early twenties and looking for a younger hotel with more pool parties and such then Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Hotel are the best options for you. Couples with more to spend might try The Venetian which is reportedly gorgeous.

There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from in Vegas and far too many to mention but my advice is to use the coupon book you get from your hotel and you can eat out at some top Vegas restaurants for amazing value. Our 2 favourite finds were Mon Ami Gabi in Paris Hotel and Todai Sushi and Seafood Buffet in Planet Hollywood (all you can eat for $20!).

I didn’t go to see any shows as we only had 3 nights and we were far more interested in chancing our luck on Roulette and Blackjack, but if you want to get a show in then head to the Tix4Tonight box office where you can get up to 50% off tickets for any of the big shows. Blue Man, Cirque De Soleil and David Copperfield still seem to be the most popular.

If casinos and theatre aren’t your thing there are plenty of bars and nightclubs to keep you entertained. Coyote Ugly and Nine Fine Irishmen at New York New York Hotel are worth a visit as is the Voodoo Lounge at Rio. Best idea is to pick up a 24/7 magazine and scout the bars for the best live music and happy hours – you won’t be disappointed!

For those of you who don’t want to recover by the pool during the day there are plenty of other options. Obviously the Grand Canyon is the most popular day tour. There is also great shopping available everywhere and each hotel has a day spa if that is the way you like to rejuvenate. We chose to visit a shooting range as we’re both adrenalin junkies and it’s something we had never tried. We went to Guns and Ammo Garage. We booked over the phone and got a free return pick up from out hotel. This was great as a taxi would have been expensive. I bought the “Ladies Package” (handgun and P90) and he bought the Call of Duty Package” (P90, FN Scar Semi, M4 Carbine and M9). I know this wouldn’t be for everyone but we thoroughaly enjoyed it and I will definitely be going back there on my next visit to Vegas.

Overall it was just a fun packed 3 days and I can’t wait to go back. For amazing flight and hotel packages to Las Vegas visit www.touramerica.ie.

By the way does anybody have any other tips for Vegas?

Susan O'Driscoll

Spend New Year's Eve in Las Vegas

Not sure what to do this New Year’s Eve - what about Vegas? Some highlights for 2011:

• For old-school music lovers, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas --- which rocked the rafters last year with Coldplay and Jay-Z -- is offering Stevie Wonder.

 

• Kim Kardashian of 72-day marriage fame is due to head back to one of her favorite haunts: Tao Nightclub at The Venetian. She had her bachelorette party there before she wed basketball player Kris Humphries.

 

• Sis Kourtney Kardashian and her babydaddy, Scott Disick, are set to host at Chateau Nightclub at Paris Las Vegas.

 

• Fergie of the Black-Eyed Peas is the attraction at the grand opening of 1 Oak nightclub at The Mirage. The avant-garde club officially opens in late January.

 

• Fergie's bandmate Will.i.am is to do a DJ stint at Surrender nightclub at Steve Wynn's Encore Las Vegas.

 

• Bruno Mars is at The Bank nightclub at the Bellagio.

 

• Former Hugh Hefner galpal and Peepshow star Holly Madison is due at the Gallery Nightclub at Planet Hollywood.

 

• John Legend hosts a party after his concert at the Palms Casino Resort at its Moon Nightclub. And the Palms' Playboy Club has "Playmate Takeover " night, with star bunnies and playmates mingling with partygoers.


New Vegas Day Club at Palms Casino Resort

The Palms Casino Resort, on the cusp of many a trend in Las Vegas, has launched what it calls a "dayclub."

It's billed as a high-energy, weekly day party 55 floors above the Strip starting at 1 p.m. on Saturdays. GBDC (ghostbar dayclub) features booze and beer bongs, confetti blasts, DJs and more.

The Palms also joined another Vegas trend, so called "party pit" gaming areas. Only the Palms tops others with Playboy Bunnies doing the dealing at the Playboy Party Pit.

Have you been to Palms Casino? What did you think of Vegas for a holiday?

 

New Ferris Wheel for Las Vegas

Las Vegas is set to get a bigger American-style version of one of London's popular tourist attractions, the London Eye.

Next month, Caesars Entertainment plans to start digging to lay the foundation for a 550-foot-tall observation wheel behind the company's Imperial Palace and Flamingo hotels that it expects to open toward the end of 2013.

Taller than the 443-foot-tall London Eye wheel, the High Roller could give the Las Vegas Strip a new attraction and a potential boost as the tourist destination continues to try to recover from the recession and holiday makers increase.

The announcement comes as Las Vegas shows signs that it's coming back. “It's had 16 consecutive months of increases in visitors”, says Rossi Ralenkotter, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

“Gaming revenue for the Strip in June was about 7% higher than in June 2008”, says David Schwatrz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, although hotel occupancy remains down.

The giant Ferris wheel will be the most visible part of a quarter-mile-long, $550 million, open-air entertainment district area called the Linq, which will include shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. 

"It would be the centerpiece of a trip for a lot of people," Caesars CEO Gary Loveman says of the High Roller and the Linq. "They're looking for the next thing to do."

 

 

Elton John returns to Las Vegas

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

He is one of the greatest singers of all time and he’s just announced another round of concerts in Vegas, with tickets going on sale today.

Elton John’s next round of gigs will start in September. He'll be back at Caesars Palace with a new show titled "The Million Dollar Piano." The show's name comes from the custom instrument that Yamaha is building.

"The show will be a gargantuan feast of music and imagery," John said in a statement released by Caesars. His last Vegas run ended in 2009. That show -- "The Red Piano" --- was originally booked for 75 performances over three years, but was extended to five years.

Unlike fellow Caesars star Celine Dion, John performs there only periodically. Caesars says prices range from $55 to $250, plus fees, and there is an eight ticket limit per customer

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Celine Dion's new show is a thundering success

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

The reviews are in on Celine Dion's new show at Caesars Palace and it seems the Canadian songstress is a huge hit.

After a 3 year break from Vegas some thought it could be a disastrous comeback but she is currently being compared to Frank Sinatra as she sings her classics to the accompaniment of a 31-piece orchestra.

Newsweek called the international superstar the 'biggest act since Elvis,' while the addition of a 31-piece orchestra 'brings to mind Vegas's Rat Pack glory days.'

Dany Bouchard of the Journal de Montreal called it 'a resounding success that definitely trumps the sold-out first run.' He said the big-band spectacular ‘combines the energy of a pop show with the refinement of a classical music concert. If Las Vegas was counting on Canada's greatest pop superstar to help drag it out of the recession once and for all, Celine just might deliver.'

Would you go to see Celine Dion on your Las Vegas trip?

 

Woman sues over Vegas stag party antics

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Now we all know what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there, but as one man recently found this isn’t always the case.

The Las Vegas Sun has reported that a Chicago woman filed suit against her ex-fiance last Friday, after she found text messages showing he was intimate with a woman he met during his Sin City stag party.

Lauren Serafin filed suit against Robert Leighton, charging that he was unfaithful and failed to repay the $62,814 she spent on a wedding and honeymoon that never happened.

Both lawyers, the couple planned to marry last August but she says claims while her fiancé was in Las Vegas for his stag party, he met a woman and partied with her in his hotel room.

"Defendant, seemingly believing that 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,' denied that anything happened between himself and Danielle in Las Vegas," the lawsuit says.

Serafin says that after first denying a hookup, her onetime bridegroom told her he would not marry her, the lawsuit says. It adds that Leighton later admitted to the indiscretion, and that "Danielle" apologised to Serafin, "claiming defendant deceived her as well by not advising her that he was in Las Vegas attending his own bachelor party and that he was engaged."

The lawsuit also says Serafin made nonrefundable deposits for the reception, honeymoon and more and "suffered humiliation" when she had to explain to everyone why she would not be walking down the aisle. Leighton declined comment.

Top 10 restaurants in Las Vegas

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

If you’re off to Las Vegas on holiday this year you will be overwhelmed with the host of dining possibilities. Don’t fret however because an opinionated guide book to Sin City eateries has just been published. Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants is collaboration from three of the town's top restaurant critics. There's much disagreement on the pages of the book but here are the top 10 restaurants according to critics John Curtas, Max Jacobson and Al Mancini.

*ALEX at Wynn Las Vegas (now closed)

*BARMASA at ARIA

*Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Encore Hotel & Casino

*CUT at The Palazzo

*Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand

*L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand

*Picasso at the Bellagio

*Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace

*RM Upstairs at Mandalay Bay

*Twist by Pierre Gagnaire at the Mandarin Oriental

As you can see the list is heavy on luxury Strip resorts and if you visit most of these restaurants prepare to drop some serious money. The book does spotlight some lower-cost locals' favorites too though, such as China Mama and Raku in Chinatown, and M&M Soul Food Cafe. Star-watching venues include N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms Casino Resort and the Mon Ami Gabi bistro on Las Vegas Boulevard, part of the Paris resort.

Readers, what's your favorite Vegas restaurant?

 

 

Las Vegas Airline

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Is the world ready for a new "Las Vegas-themed" airline? A Nevada businessman thinks we are, telling the Las Vegas Sun that he hopes to get his planned LV Air charter operation off the ground by August.

LV Air chief Sean Smith says his carrier would offer VIP-oriented service on four daily round-trip flights between Las Vegas and New York JFK.

"The goal is to fill Las Vegas hotel rooms with players, conventioneers and vacationers from the Northeast by drawing a straight line between the customer at his home to the casino floor and back again," Smith tells the Sun.

A big part to Smith's plan is to strike a deal with casino operators in which casino would buy seats on the flights and then give them away to their top customers.

In return, LV Air would pass along its database of potential new customers in the New York area, according to the Sun.

Outside of those top high rollers, LV Air would sell flights and packages to "nine select hotel-casino properties in Las Vegas," KTNV Channel 13 of Las Vegas reports.

KTNV Channel 13 of Las Vegas says the in-flight entertainment would include "inter-seat texting; inter-seat video, wireless iPads, club music, mood lighting and true-to-life holographic safety briefings from Las Vegas celebrities. Deluxe Snack Packs will be offered on board and supplied by Las Vegas restaurants."