Honeymoon In Las Vegas!

Las Vegas is THE 24 hour city. You can eat at 4 AM, shop in the hotel gift shop at 3AM, dance at a club all night long, hit the casino or you can enjoy the city leisurely. Relax by the pool all day long with a tropical drink, dine at world class restaurents, see a show, sight see or shop, its all there for you to enjoy. If you like outdoor activities, you can hike or rock climb at Red Rock Canyon or just drink in its breathtaking beauty. Bottom line, Vegas has it all.

The days of the dollar ninety nine cent buffets are long gone, but they've been replaced with chefs cooking up fresh food and international offerings in pleasant surroundings.

You won't easily find mirrored ceilings and round beds. I've been to Las Vegas over a hundred times, I've never seen anything like that! The hotel rooms are luxurious, comfortable, clean and safe and offer a lot of amenities. They are RESORTS.

The staff of the hotels and casinos don't dress like they do on the tv show Vegas. They wear modest uniforms! And they are not all young and glamorous, they are hardworking regular folks.

The strip clubs are all off the strip, you won't come in contact with any of them unless you search them out. You also won't find a lot of crazy people like in Taxi Cab Confessions..those were ACTORS!

You'll find a lot of normal people enjoying themselves. From newleyweds to those getting married in Las Vegas, to seniors to college students on spring break, you'll see every walk of life. I've even seen Buddist monks at the airport!

The hotels are resorts and are amazing. There are themed hotels like the Luxor pyramid, New York, New York with NYC theme, the Venetian with its gondolas, the Excalibur with a castle theme, the Mirage with an island feel, Paris and the Vegas version of the Eiffel tower, the Bellagio with the Lake Como theme and fountain show and TI with its pirate show. There are resorts that are pure luxury like Wynn's, The Hotel, The Four Seasons, Mandalay Bay, Caesars Palace and the Bellagio. The MGM Grand is a mega resort. The Aladdin is morphing into Planet Hollywood. Others like the Rio, Harrah's, the Flamingo offer good lodging at a great price. For the old Vegas feel, there is the Sahara and the Riveria and the downtown area with the Golden Nugget leading the pack.

If you want off strip accomodations, look into Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, the Rio and the Orleans and don't forget the Palms which is just off the strip and visible from the strip, but a LONG walk.

Wynn's Las Vegas

The Venetian

The Suite Life in Las Vegas!

Having stayed in nearly every hotel on the Las Vegas strip and off strip hotels, I can attest that the suites are amazing. If you decide to spend the extra money for a suite because its your honeymoon, know that not all suites are the same. Some are called a petite suite, it usually is a large room with two bathrooms and a sofa. Some are like apartments.

My personal favorites are listed below, but my top vote goes the suites at the Bellagio. The penthouse suites have his and her bathrooms. Her bathroom has a jacuzzi tub, his has a steam shower. There is also a smaller bathroom off the living room. You have a wet bar, a FORMAL dining room and a bedroom.  There is a large wet bar as you enter through the foyer.   The living room has a game stystem, fax, sofa, chairs and a sound system.   The drapes operate by button, pusth the button and open and close the drapes and sheers.  The view is amazing. 

Paris has smaller parlor suites which are in the corners of the hotel. The main suites face the Eiffel tower and have two bathrooms, a dining room with a crystal chandileer, a living room with a tv and a bedroom. There is a pop up tv at the foot of the bed.   But the best part is a straight on view of the Eiffel tower and gardens.  Very romantic!  Its like having the romance of Paris with the excitement of Las Vegas.

TI has petite suites and regular suites.   The petite suite a marble foyer with his and her bathroom with a refrigerator in one of the bathrooms, bathrobes,  a king size bed and a sofa, coffee table and chairs.  The newly remodeled tower suites are a retro fusion.  Very modern, clean lines, HUGE bedroom / living area with sofa and flat screen TV, refrigerator, Bose radio system and desk.   His and her marble bathrooms with a jacuzzi tub for two in hers,  a large shower in his, safe, bathrobes and slippers.   Very comfortable and luxurious in a totally different way, the bed is just heavenly. 

The Venetian is all suites, with a step down living room.  HUGE marble bathroom, large living room with another TV, fax machine and a desk in addition to sofas and coffee table.  The bathrooms are huge and luxurious. 

The Luxor pyramid has spa suites with a jacuzzi in the side of the room and Egyptian themed suites that have to be seen to be believed.  In the towers, they have beautiful one bedroom suites.  There is a large bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and separate shower and a huge double sink.  There is a living room with sofa, another tv, easy chair,  intimate dining table with chairs, wet bar, refrigerator and egyptian decorations.  I would recommend this over the pyramid spa suite.  This is perfect for a honeymoon. 

Caesars Palace tower suites are super nice with his and her bathrooms and a joint walk through shower. Very cool and very romantic! The main room has a sofa and chairs.  Opulent as you would expect from Caesars.  The tower suites are quite a walk from the main casino area, but if you are on your honeymoon, who cares? 

Rio bills itself as an all suite hotel. The suite you will get is a large room with a sofa / bedroom combo and a bathroom. The Rio does have large suites, but I haven't seen them. The Stratosphere suites are average. I've heard the suites at Wynn's, Bally's and the Hard Rock are nice, but I haven't had the pleasure of staying in their suites.

If you are not planning on spending a lot of time in your room, a regular run of the house room will be very comfortable and accomodating.   Many couples will opt for a night or two in a suite and then move to a regular room.  Most of the hotels have updated their beds ;  the Bellagio, Mirage and TI have all upgraded to ultra comfy beds.  You'll want to sneak them home!

Tips for a Las Vegas honeymoon!

Research the city online and get advice from your friends and family who have been to Las Vegas. Many times a travel agent who has not been to the city will place you in a hotel that is inexpensive but not near the action of the strip or in an older strip hotel that has seen better days. You can also look on the internet and get travelers opinions on the hotels before you book. My favorite web site is Tripadvisor.com. I always find honest reliable tips and the truth about hotels room here: Find the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say about hotels in Las Vegas

There are pros and cons to buying a package deal for your airfare and flight. For first time visitors, it may be less expensive to buy a package deal. The package deals can sometimes be more costly, so do your homework. They are priced EACH sharing one room. Before you book, look at the airfare and hotel prices. Call the hotel directly, tell them you are on your honeymoon and ask if they have any special room rates. Figure out the price of the room with taxes and airfare and divide it in half. That's your price per person. Don't be dazzled by the packages that offer you freebies like a limo transportation to your hotel. It won't be a limo, but a small bus that stops at every hotel. The limo busses charge per person. It could be be less expensive to take a taxi,because the price is per taxi, not a person. Tell the driver not to take the tunnel. (This is called long hauling to up the taxi fare.) A taxi ride to the middle of the strip is about $15.00 plus tips, depending on traffic.

Tell the hotel on check in that you are on your honeymoon. They sometimes will send up a bottle of champagne and snacks or you may get an upgraded room. An upgraded room may NOT be a suite, it may be a room with a better view of the city, or it may have a spa tub or be in a corner with a sofa instead of just a chair.

Hotels in Las Vegas look closer together than they actually are...so plan on bringing comfortable walking shoes if you plan on walking. If you are going to LV in the summer, its very hot, so duck in the hotels while you are walking and drink a lot of water to keep yourself hydrated.

If you love lounging by the pool, find a hotel with a great pool.

The Bellagio Pool

The top hotel pools are the Bellagio with its lemon trees, Italian gardens and separate pools giving you some degree of privacy. Mandalay Bay has a wave pool and a lazy river that you can float on while leisurely enjoying the sun. The Flamingo has tropical gardens and is a delight on the strip. They have actual live flamingos and a waterfall grotto where you can sit inside the shade and watch the water flow over the entrance. My beach pals give it the number one vote in the city. The Mirage has tropical gardens and a waterfall that give you the feel of being in a polynesian resort. The MGM Grand and Monte Carlo both have lazy rivers and are great pools. Casears Palace garden of the gods pools are beautiful, with lots of fountains and marble. You have to be a guest of the hotel to use the pool.

You can have drinks and lunch around the pool. Cabanas are expensive to rent and you need to make prior arrangements with the hotel if you want a cabana. If you are just a pool lounger, plan on getting up early to claim your spot. Pools furnish towels, so you don't have to pack your own. Just your sunscreen and suit and you are good to go!

Las Vegas can exhaust you with the nonstop activities and the heat. If you are there to relax and recover from the wedding, don't overschedule your days. Don't book tours and a lot of activities. Play it by ear, you can always pick up a tour at your hotel. If you just HAVE to see Celine Dion or another major show, get your tickets in advance so you aren't disappointed. Most shows have tickets available the day of the show, but they are not the best seats.

Shopping in Las Vegas is a sport for both men and women alike. Casears Forum Shops are not to be missed. The ceilings are painted to look like the sky, the streets are cobblestone and its like walking into ancient Rome. Two of the fountains have animatronics and the statues come to life! Very cool and FREE! The sky will change with the lighting and it will seem like twilight or mid day depending on how the lighting changes. They also have a circular escalator...of which there are only several in the world. More free entertainment! :)

You'll also see some of the most expensive goods you've ever seen in your life...my husband is still trying to recover from picking up a $1200 tie...he thought the tag said $12.00.;) You'll also find affordable things, I always find great shoes.

The Forum shops also has some great dining options. From the Cheesecake Factory to the Palm Steakhouse to "alfresco" dining at Wolfgang Puck's, there's great food in all price ranges.

Another great shopping spot is the Fashion Show Mall across from TI and Wynn's. It is so big it could takes days to shop it all, If you are a shopaholic, don't miss it.

Las Vegas has some world class art galleries. The Bellagio has an art gallery that has had major art exhibits, one was on Monet, one was all impressionistic, one on Ansel Adams. The Guggenheim in the Venetian is another gallery, they host exhibits. My favorite was an Egyptian exhibit that blew the top off the King Tut exhibit, it was just amazing and so well arranged. Wynn's also has an art gallery with priceless art masterpieces. I find the galleries a pleasant respite from the noise and a relaxing way to pass an afternoon.

The nightclubs in Las Vegas get a lot of celebrity buzz, but I've yet to see anyone entering or exiting that is a celeb. (I have seen celebs in LV, but sometimes you have to do a double take, they look different in person...somewhat normal..lol.) Some clubs have very strict dress codes and the lines to get in can be long. There are companies that will offer you VIP passes (for a price) to be guaranteed entrance. Most week nights when there isn't anything major happening in LV, you can get in. Sometimes there are people from the night club that will approach pretty girls at the pool and invite them in to the VIP section. Hmmmm. If you want a quiet evening with soft music, you can probably find a lounge in your hotel that will fit the bill and has no cover charge. If you like to dance and rock, you can find someplace to dance in your hotel. BUT..if you want to get into the moment's hot spot, you may have to dress the part.

Gambling!

If you are planning on gambling in Las Vegas, set a daily budget and stick to it.

Its easy to blow the gambling budget and hit the cash machine, but you'll regret it later. Learn the games you want to play so you'll have some knowledge and know your risk. People can and do win, but if you go EXPECTING to win, you'll be disappointed. You can play penny video slots and they are a lot of fun, or you can play table games. Most casinos offer classes in the games so the novices can feel comfortable playing the games. If you don't have a clue what you are doing, ask the casino staff and they'll be happy to explain the games.

Join every slot club in every hotel you visit even if you are not planning on gambling there.   You will get a slot card that looks like a credit card, you insert it into the slot machine and it tracks your play for comps. Some will give you free buffets and show tickets to afternoon shows, tee shirts and key chains just for signing up. Some will require you to reach a certain amount of points to get a tee shirt of a food comp. A comp is short for complimentary and the casinos hand out comps based on your play. You might get comps for food at great restaurants. All drinks are free as long as you are gambling. Some hotels are more liberal with their offerings, you won't get top shelf alcohol unless you are a big gambler, but free is free. A tip to the cocktail waitress, usually a dollar per drink is appreciated and will keep her coming back to your spot. In addition to the comps you can receive by playing on your slot card, the hotel will send you future offers for discounted lodging. If you plan on going back, its a deal to book at the casino rate instead of the regular rack rate.

IMPORTANT!
If you didn't book a package rate and you are going to gamble in your hotel, charge your food to your hotel room.   ALWAYS use your slot card when you gamble in the casino so they will track your slot play for comps. They track it by issuing points. Before you check out, go to the slot club and have them check your points. Many times the casino slot club will will pick up some of your food and maybe discount your hotel room, or even give you free nights. They'll take the comps right off your bill, but you have to do it BEFORE you check out. It pays to ask when you join what point range you have to achieve to get comps. Don't think because you are not a big gambler that you can't get comps. Again, tell them you are on your honeymoon! It also pays to introduce yourself to a slot host, either in person or by phone. Tell them you are coming in on your honeymoon and that you are interested in joining the slot club and doing some gambling. Your slot host is your laison to better room rates and comps. Don't be afraid to call the hotel and ask to speak to a slot host. They are nice and accomodating and will give you the information you need if you are planning on doing some gambling.

Dining in Las Vegas

Food in Las Vegas is plentiful and most of the portions are huge except in the gourmet restaurants. You can eat anywhere from McDonald's to a 5 star restaurant. Most of the hotels have coffee shops where you can get a good reasonable meal. The coffee shop is just a name for a casual 24 hour a day restaurant.

Everyone who visits Las Vegas HAS to try a buffet.

Its almost a requirement! Some are spectacular, some are nothing more than a feeding trough.

The best rated buffets in Las Vegas are at the Bellagio, Wynn's, Paris, The Mirage, Treasure Island TI,the Aladdin (soon to be Planet Hollywood), the Rio's seafood buffet and the expensive Sunday Sterling brunch at Bally's.
Good buffets are at the Luxor, Harrah's, Mandalay Bay, the Rio's Carnival World Buffet and all the Station Casino's buffets.
Pack the Pepto and antacid if you eat at the Excalibur, Imperial Palace and the Stratosphere.

Some of my personal favorite restaurants in Las Vegas are: Francesco's at TI for Italian food, the Luxor Steak House, Kokomo's at the Mirage, the Palms at Caesars Forum shops, Il Fornio at New York, New York and Green Valley Ranch, Olives at the Bellagio, Zefferino's at the Venetian, Grand Luxe Cafe at the Venetian. And of course, any Starbuck's and In and Out Burger. These are my favorites based on lots of return visits and always getting a great meal. You DO NOT have to eat at a gourmet restaurant manned by a famous chef to get a good meal in Las Vegas. There is so much good food in LV you won't be able to handle 3 meals a day.

Romantic Spots!

Head to the top of the Stratosphere tower or Paris's Eiffel Tower at night to see the city by night.

The Bellagio fountains with a view of the Eiffel Tower in the background. One of the best spots to view the fountains is from the Fontana Lounge in the Bellagio. The Fontana Lounge has live entertainment and you can watch the fountains from the inside of the lounge or outside on the Fontana's patio while sipping a drink and having a snack. If you are a guest at the Bellagio, its very romantic to walk around the pool gardens at night.

The gondola ride at the Venetian is very romantic, your gondalier may even break out in song. Some couples actually marry on a gondola.

Wynn's has some very romantic spots..find a softly lit quiet lounge where you can talk and enjoy a drink.

Red Rock Canyon is very romantic and very quiet.

Free Things You Should See!

Some of my favorite things that are free:

The Bellagio Fountains, the ever changing conservatory botanical gardens and the million dollar Dale Chihuly glass ceiling flowers in the Bellagio lobby.

The Mirage Volcano erupting in the evening

The huge aquarium in the lobby behind the check in area at the Mirage

The canals at the Venetian and the marble floor in Venetian Lobby

The pirate show at TI, the Sirens of TI

The lion habitat at the MGM ...you can see lions through the glass. And in that vein, check out Seigfried and Roy's white tigers at the Mirage. Also, walk down the sidewalks at the Mirage toward TI and enjoy the palm trees and the landscaping.

The Freemont Street Experience light show downtown. The over head light show is superimposed on an over the street canopy. Very cool!

The animatronic fountain shows in the Casears Palace Forum Shops.   The circular escalator in the Forum Shops, only one of two in the world.

A walk through Caesar's Palace.  A look at the old Vegas and the opulence of the legendary hotel.

The Masquerade Parade in the Sky at the Rio.  A free show with floats in the ceiling.  Fun and free and you can catch Mardi Gras beads.

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