I'll be honest, I used to think the whole concept of building copy-paste hotels of other cities was pretty ridiculous, and with not that many attractions, I considered Vegas a bit overrated. But that was all before actually visiting. After going, every single one of my opinions changed.
Overview
First of all, the energy of the city is incredible. Nearly everyone in the tourist zone is there purely to have fun, which makes the vibe electric. I was expecting an Oktoberfest-like scene with everyone drunk, fights breaking out constantly, and general chaos. Instead, compared to other American cities, people were much more cheerful, and the sketchy types and homeless were far fewer. During my entire week there, I didn't encounter a single uncomfortable situation. That's a huge plus.
Despite arriving at our hotel exhausted and delayed, thinking about nothing but checking in and sleeping, our mood flipped the second we walked in. Hotels playing upbeat music 24/7 is incredibly energizing. Even the breakfast spots offering mimosas or Baileys coffee shows you what the vibe is really about. The themed hotels that I used to mock? I grew to love them. Turns out the concept isn't "we copied Paris so you don't have to go." It's about making an already absurdly fun place even more absurd. And it works.
What to See
- The second best thing in the city is definitely the Fremont Street Experience. Try to dedicate an evening to it, ideally a Friday or Saturday night.
- The number one best thing is obviously the Bellagio Fountains. I wasn't expecting such a production-level, meticulously choreographed show. They run different songs every 30 minutes until 8 PM, then every 15 minutes after that. Worth watching both day and night. Best viewing spot is dead center. Make sure you're close enough to hear the music.
- The third best and single scariest thing is The Big Apple Coaster at the New York-New York Hotel. The front view of the hotel is deceiving because the actual launch point is around the back, climbing nearly as high as the mini Empire State, then dropping you all the way down. The first drop is locally known as "The Fall" and absolutely earns the name. Even though it's brief, the experience is absolutely worth it.
Tips & Advice
- Don't come with only thin clothes thinking Vegas is always scorching hot. Especially in summer, the air conditioning culture is intense. You're very likely to freeze inside hotels and casinos.
- Daytime walking isn't ideal, so schedule your casino-hopping and walks for late afternoon and evening.
- Don't leave without seeing the flamingos at the Flamingo Hotel.
- If renting a car, absolutely avoid the Avis desk at the airport. Insane queues, while other companies are empty. We waited 2 hours. If you must use Avis, take an Uber to a city office instead.
- If you're thinking of adding Grand Canyon to the trip, make sure to research which rim to visit carefully.