Las Vegas - Enjoying the Luxuries of Travelling Alone

Living in Canada means flights to other countries are pretty far, like really far. So in 2023, I decided to check out the closest country, the US. After my solo trip to Los Angeles in 2020, I started looking into top spots in the States. Was I in the mood for the coast, the mountains, nature, or just some new and exciting experiences? A friend showed me this cool site for flight deals - skyscanner.ca. I checked out big cities like Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. A flight to Vegas caught my eye - it was under 3 hours, and come on, it’s Vegas! I got super excited about possibly going to Vegas and shared it with my coworkers and friends, who were more than happy to give me tips and suggestions. The plan was simple: enjoy everything Vegas has to offer and try my luck at the famous casinos. I took 3 days off work (Thursday, Friday, and Monday), booked a flight with Flair Airlines, and found a 4-night Airbnb stay about 15 minutes from the Vegas strip. I aimed for a cheap flight and place to stay because I wanted to splurge on food, gambling, entertainment, and all the fun stuff Vegas is known for.

Looking out from my window seat on the plane, the first things that caught my eye were the Nevada desert, the red rocky landscape, and, of course, the iconic Las Vegas Strip. Once I landed at Harry Reid International Airport, I grabbed an Uber and headed straight to my Airbnb.

Started the next day with some strawberry pancakes at a local iHop, then hopped on a double-decker bus (the cheapest way to get around) to head to the strip. It took almost an hour to get there, but I was stoked to explore Las Vegas. Once I hit the strip, I was in awe!

The roads were packed with cars, the sidewalks were swarming with tourists, and everywhere you looked, there were hotels, malls, theaters, attractions, and casinos.

Here's a quick rundown of the spots I checked out, ate at, and would totally recommend to anyone hitting the strip:

1. iHop is awesome for breakfast and brunch. They've got delicious pancakes with all the toppings you could dream of, and their customer service is super quick and friendly.

2. Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino - it’s got a flashy and fancy casino floor. I grabbed a bite at the Earl of Sandwich and went for the Full Montagu hot sandwich. I tossed $100 into an old-school slot machine and ended up walking away with $300! (Just so you know, this was my only win the whole trip, so don't expect the odds to be in your favor!)

3. The Bellagio Conservatory and Garden at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino - it is always packed, but it's so captivating that you'll forget about the crowds. I managed to grab three awesome shots even with all the people around.

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   Caesars Palace - I mostly hung out at the mall and casino, didn't really explore the hotel part. There was this cool show in one of the hallways called the Fall of Atlantis. It was free, and the stage was surrounded by aquariums with all sorts of fish. The show had animatronics with fire and water, plus statues telling the Atlantis myth. Just outside Caesars Palace, I walked by Hell's Kitchen. I thought about grabbing dinner there, but I was way too casually dressed and kind of scared to see how much it would cost to eat at a Gordon Ramsay spot.

5. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas - I hit up the food court on the top floor, and had an awesome teriyaki chicken rice bowl at Bang Bar by Momofuku.

6. The Bellagio Fountain - the water show was amazing. On my first night, the water moved perfectly to three famous songs - Andrea Bocelli's 'Time to Say Goodbye', 'All That Jazz' from Chicago, and an EDM track that wrapped up with Tiesto's 'Red Lights'.

7. Fremont Street—though it's a bit of a trek from the main strip and all the big attractions, I like to think of it as a more glitzy version of Stephen's Avenue (my Calgary pals will get the reference). It's definitely got some age to it, but you'll still find casinos, restaurants, and tons of street shows with dancing DJs and performers showing off their strength and acrobatics.

8. Maggiano's Little Italy - awesome service, a fantastic selection of wines, and creative Italian dishes. I had the mushroom ravioli with an Italian salad on the side, and it went perfectly with a tasty Pinot Noir.

9. Catch the amazing show 'Awakening' at Wynn Las Vegas! It's got everything you could want in a theater experience—awesome lights, killer choreography, fantastic music, a stunning set, and a super talented cast of dancers and actors. I'd totally go see it again!

10. Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace - if you're hungry enough, this buffet's got everything you could want - exotic seafood, juicy meats, and a whole spread of other goodies. It's a bit weird, though, because even with a reservation, you're just getting in line for the buffet. It took about 20 minutes before we finally got a seat and could dig into all the food.

I usually fall for what I see, and Vegas totally blew my mind. The sights, the lights, all the hotels and casinos, and the vibe of the strip really grabbed my attention. If I had tons of cash, I would've done so much more. I'd be at every show and try out all the cool activities and experiences. It's such a fancy place to hang out! I'll be back, hopefully loaded with cash!