My First Trip to Las Vegas

Somehow I made it to age 45 without ever visiting Vegas! But that all changed recently when I took my first trip to Las Vegas, and I’m ready to spill the beans on all the fun things we did in Sin City.

I’m excited to no longer be a Vegas virgin!

My husband has been to Las Vegas several times, but it had been 15 years since his last trip.  Things change quickly in this non-stop city, so in many ways, he too felt like he was seeing Vegas for the first time.

Whether you are a Vegas veteran or a Vegas virgin, I hope you will gain some new ideas for exploring Sin City as I take you through our Las Vegas Itinerary. With so much to cover over our 4-day trip, you will have to wait to learn about the amazing food we ate. That deserves its own article!

Time to jet off to Las Vegas!

Night 1 in Las Vegas

The Flight

After several international and domestic flights, I’ve learned I just can’t sleep on airplanes!  Yet I keep trying.

We left Indianapolis around 9 pm on a Friday evening for our nearly 4-hour flight to Vegas. I booked an amazing deal on Spirit Airlines. It was less than $300 for 2 roundtrip, non-stop flights with 1 checked bag.

Spirit is a no-frills airline, but you can’t beat the price! Just be careful about the extras as you will pay more for each carry-on, checked bag, selected seat, and in-flight food and drinks. The seats were no less comfortable than any of the planes I’ve flown on recently, so my inability to sleep was more likely due to my excitement about heading to Vegas!

It is true that the first thing you see when you get off the plane in Vegas is slot machines! But we knew there would be plenty of time for gambling, so we hopped in an Uber and headed to our hotel.

Accommodations

I previously won a 3-night stay at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, so that is how we selected our accommodations. Due to blackout dates for that promotion, we had to add on 2 nights of our own, plus pay the taxes and resort fees. With all that and my AAA discount, our 4-night stay was reasonably affordable at just over $300.  The nightly resort fee comes with just about every hotel in Las Vegas, so consider it the price you pay to enjoy Sin City!

Following a tip I learned online, I casually inquired about a room upgrade at check-in. I have no idea what room we would have been given otherwise, but I was thrilled with the room we got! It was a huge suite on the 28th floor, with a magnificent view of the strip. Complete with a living room and a bar, it was both spacious and comfortable.

We didn’t spend all that much time in our sweet suite because there was a dazzling city to explore.

As it was nearing 2 am Indiana time, we deciding just exploring the Westgate would be enough for the first night. It was time to gamble!

Like all hotels in Las Vegas, the sparkling lights of the casinos are the first thing you see when you enter the property. Unfortunately, I was NOT hot at the slots on night one, but Brent did pretty good at the craps table, and I started to learn the rules of this complicated game.

We needed a little fuel before bed, so we ventured to the back of the hotel where the Westgate boasts the biggest sportsbook in the world. That means they have about a 100 TV screens showing every sporting event imaginable, and you can place a bet on pretty much any matchup.

Done with gambling for the day, we perused the handful of upscale food court options. After gobbling up a plate of tasty chicken nachos, it was time for bed. We desperately needed sleep as we knew there was lots more of Vegas to see tomorrow!

Day 2 in Las Vegas

We woke up to a beautiful view of the mountains and the strip from our suite at the Westgate.

It was time to see what Sin City had to offer!

Hotel Hopping

Our first stop was The Venetian Resort. Having been to the real Venice, fake Venice was a very cool replica with interior canals and bridges, and out front was the facade of Doges Palace and the Rialto Bridge.

The Venetian was both charming and elegant. High-end shops abound amidst restaurants and gelato stands.

We even got to witness the gondoliers march in singing as they set off to begin their workday.

Next we were off to Rome and Caesars Palace. More high-end shops filled this massive resort, set under a ceiling painted to mimic the sky with several impressive fountains throughout. It was often hard to remember if we were inside or outside.

The free Atlantis show starts at the top of the hour and should not be missed! Complete with roaring fires, flowing fountains, and animatronics like you would see in Disney World, this is a display to be enjoyed by all age groups.

Just walking around the enormous hotels in Las Vegas is a treat for all your senses. Of course, out on the strip, there was plenty of eye candy as well. Pairs of Vegas showgirls and hunky men lingered at every turn offering up photo opportunities.

But don’t think you are going to get a picture with the showgirls without providing a significant tip! They are trying to make a living and they will quickly remind you of this if you attempt to snap a freebie photo. Best to pony up some money if you want that classic Vegas photo, otherwise you will do best to divert your eyes and keep on walking!

Next, we spent some time recharging our batteries (literally) and checking out the MGM Grand as well as the MnM Store and Hershey’s Chocolate World. I can’t resist a storefront filled with chocolate, and the smells were free!

It was now time to tour the New York – New York Hotel & Casino. We loved the upbeat vibe both inside and outside of The Big Apple, but we decided not to take a spin on the roller coaster!

Wandering through restaurant row, which mimicked the streets and brownstones of NYC, it reminded us that we are due for a return visit to the city that never sleeps. Instead, we wandered next door to the Excalibur Hotel and Casino to gamble away a bit of our cash.

Our Evening on Fremont Street

After freshening up after our busy day, it was time to check out the nightlife on Fremont Street. Considered Old Vegas, the Fremont Street Experience was something I was excited to check out, and it was hopping!

With the huge light show and zip liners above and unique street performers all around, I didn’t know where to look first.  A special light show takes place at the top of every hour, but there always seemed to be something dazzling going on overhead.

An energetic DJ had the crowd singing and dancing along to an eclectic soundtrack of old and new hits from every musical genre.

The best place to people watch on Fremont Street has to be the revolving bar at Whiskey Licker Up! (More on the establishment’s fabulous food in a later post.) The bar on the 2nd level actually spins, slowly, giving you a great view of the activity going on below.

We spotted Elvis and Hulk Hogan entertaining the crowd, among other sights you only see in Vegas.

A bit more gambling at The Golden Nugget, and it was time for us old-timers to get some shut-eye!

Day 3 in Las Vegas

Getting Lost and More Hotel Hopping

We set out on a walk on day 3 to find the famous Las Vegas sign. We were unsuccessful as partway into our journey we realized we were at the wrong end of the strip! Not as famous, but just as cool, we took photos with the Las Vegas showgirl sign at the NORTH end of the strip.

While we were at that end of the strip we wandered through the Sahara hotel and popped into The Strat. This is the infamous hotel with a giant tower that can be seen in many Vegas Skyline photos.  And no, we didn’t venture to the top or bungee jump off the tower!

Then it was time to head back to the heart of the strip to check out the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. From the outside, you can see a miniature version of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Inside you can stroll down Parisian “streets” past cafes, boutiques, and of course, slot machines.  Not quite Paris, but still very cool!

We then meandered through the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Somehow the inside rainstorm show illuded us, but we really enjoyed the vibe of this shopping oasis and picked up a few Vegas souvenirs.

After enjoying lunch and maybe 1 too many drinks at the flying-themed restaurant, Flights At Miracle Miles, it was time to stroll through the famous Bellagio hotel.

We snapped photos in the colorful Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, purchased some macarons, felt a bit underwhelmed by the supposed world’s largest chocolate fountain, and were then dazzled by the dancing fountain display out front.

Taking in a Show

Cleaned up after a full day of seeing the sights, it was time to see a Las Vegas show. We opted to wait until we were in Vegas to decide on the show and purchase tickets. My husband had heard good things about Mystere, a Cirque du Soleil performance taking place at Treasure Island.

It was a great recommendation as we were spellbound at the acrobatic skill of the performers. WOW!

I left feeling slightly less adequate regarding what my own body is capable of, but we all have our unique gifts. The trapeze is definitely not one of mine! But I loved watching these skilled performers push their bodies beyond what my mind could even comprehend was possible.

After the show, we headed next door to The Mirage Hotel and Casino for a light dinner at The Still before catching The Mirage’s impressive Volcano show out front.

What a day!! And it would soon be our last full day in Vegas!!

Last Full Day in Las Vegas

The Famous Sign and the South End

This time we successfully made our way to the SOUTH end of the strip and found The World Famous Las Vegas Sign!

As we expected there was quite a line to take photos with the sign so we opted for the less photo-worthy position on the side and snapped several shots, complete with photo bombers as other tourists followed suit.

While we were at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard, we stumbled upon the Little Church of the West Wedding Chapel but didn’t take time to renew our vows.

Instead, we checked out Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and roamed through Egypt, or rather the Luxor Hotel and Casino.

We then began revisiting several of our favorite hotels and made a stop in New York – New York Hotel & Casino for lunch. The sun was shining and temps were in the low 60’s (perfect!), so we took a stroll down The LINQ Promenade.

This slightly less chaotic pedestrian street is lined with smaller shops and restaurants and leads up to The Highroller, which is the world’s largest observation wheel. We didn’t take the 30-minute spin around the wheel, but did enjoy gazing at this massive spectacle, especially when it lights up after dark.

Wrapping It Up

With one last hotel we wanted to visit on our last evening in Vegas, we headed to the beautiful Wynn Hotel and Resort.

We were blown away by the Wynn’s colorful elegance!

Brent had some fun and a bit of luck at craps and then we feasted like kings at The Buffet At Wynn.  With full bellies and lots of great Vegas memories, we headed back to the Westgate for a bit more gambling. Then it was time to call it another fabulous day in Las Vegas!

We may have snuck in some gambling the next morning and took one last stroll through fake Venice, but then it was off to the airport, and back to wintery Indiana.

What We Missed

This may have been my first trip to Las Vegas, but it won’t be my last! It was an exhausting yet exhilarating 4 days, and I don’t think I could have kept up that pace much longer. But that’s why so many return to Vegas over and over.

On a future trip, we will likely venture out of the city to explore the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, the desert, and the mountains. After all, there is a lot more to Nevada than the Las Vegas Strip.

I’d also love to take in more of the over-the-top shows Vegas offers each night. While the Cirque du Soliel shows are a must, I would also like to experience a comedy, concert, or even a magic show in true Vegas style.

I was so impressed with the food in Las Vegas that I may return just to eat my way down the strip! And next time I’d love to stay in a hotel directly on the strip. My top picks would be The Venetian, Paris, or New York – New York. Somehow I don’t think it will be hard to convince my husband to head back to Las Vegas in the near future!

Have you been to Las Vegas recently? What are your favorite things to do in Sin City? Comment below.

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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