the ultimate travel guide toLas Vegas
No other city does excess quite like Las Vegas.
Sin City’s famous Strip is its dynamic heart, where everything is big and bright – behemoth hotels, shopping malls and replicas of famous world landmarks are wedged between the neon lights of glitzy casinos that beckon travellers to put everything on the table.
Be sure to check out the Bellagio Fountains light show and get bang for your buck at one of the many casino buffet restaurants. It’s a great place to make friends over some very reasonably priced margaritas.
Fancy yourself a nostalgia buff? Head to the Neon Museum – a collection of more than 150 neon signs that have been retired from iconic casinos such as the Sahara, Stardust, Riviera and the Golden Nugget, ranging from the 1930s to the present.
Behind most signs is a unique story about the person who created it, where and when it was made and its role in Vegas’s colourful history. The museum is only accessible via a guided tour – pick the night-time one to see the signs all lit up.
Be a high roller in more ways than one, inside your own private glass capsule on the High Roller – the world’s tallest observation wheel.
Spinning 168 metres above the Vegas skyline, this landmark is connected to The LINQ’s outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment promenade.
Hire a private capsule for your party of 40 or just you and your one someone special, complete with open bar and 360-degree views over the city.
At Serendipity 3 ice creamery at Caesar’s Palace, lash out and order the Golden Opulence Sundae, made with rare ice cream and chocolate, topped with edible 23-carat gold leaf.
At US$1000 a pop, it was listed in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive sundae in the world in 2007.
While outrageous decadence and mischievous adventures are certainly the norm, there’s balance offered here too, with some great day spa, detox clinics, healthy cafes and workout spaces to be found. This multifaceted city is actually rife in health and wellness. If you’re seeking a brief respite from the exhilarating chaos or have always been keen to travel here but thought it wasn’t for you, there are plenty of alternative forms of fun that come without the hangover aftermath.
Las Vegas’ five-star Venetian-Palazzo Resort promotes itself as the world’s largest resort, and if you discount natural features like beaches – which tend to expand resort properties – that claim appears to be true.
It delivers grand opulence at a remarkably good price.
The Venetian was huge when it opened in 1999, and it now has 4027 suites.
The addition of the adjoining Palazzo in 2008 meant another 3066 suites, many of them with three or more TVs, fully stocked work centres, and all-marble bathrooms with TVs of their own (in case the ones in the living area weren’t enough).
Ever wondered where the stars stay during a decadent Vegas visit? For some of the biggest celebs The Nobu Villa in Caesar’s Palace is their number one choice.
For a humble US$35,000 per night, this exquisite three-bedroom rooftop villa (covering just shy of 1000 square metres) is Japanese-inspired design at its best.
Custom music, fine cuisine by Nobu chefs and spa services further sweeten the experience, while the outdoor deck is almost as extravagant as the interior with its garden, whirlpool, fire and water feature, full bar, dining area, barbecue pit and views over The Strip.
