Outrageous Experiences To Do In Vegas

No other city does excess quite like Las Vegas, as exemplified with these most decadent experiences… By Alissa Jenkins

Always wanted to explore the City of Sin, but so far have been unsure how to do it with any sense of gusto? Well, don’t you worry, we have the recipe for quite the unforgettable Las Vegas escape if you have the guts… that is.

It should be said, these thrills should be taken on with a sense of caution, if at all… and International Traveller takes no responsibility for the emptying of your bank account or any marriages that may occur during your stay…

1. Marry on the High Roller

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.

It takes 30 minutes to do a full rotation, so you can even tie the knot mid-air! From US$47 per person for a night ticket.

2. Eat gold for dessert

The Golden Opulence Sundae from Serendipity 3, Las Vegas.

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.

3. Champagne breakfast at the Grand Canyon

Champagne and a Natural World Wonder – what better way to start the day (or end it)?

Papillon offer sunrise and sunset helicopter tours from Las Vegas, landing within the Grand Canyon, almost one-and-a-half kilometres below the rim.

Once landed, expect a champagne picnic with world-class views, as towering cliffs marked by time and red iron deposits surround the plateau.

The scenic flight also includes views over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, which are almost as impressive at the world-renowned landmark itself. From US$484 per adult.

4. Launch the Bellagio Fountains

The Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas, USA.

If you’ve got a pretty penny to spare, US$250,000 worth of them in fact, you can control one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Bellagio Fountains.

At the casino’s Hyde nightclub, you’ll be shown to your own VIP table on the waterfront patio before being presented with a 30-litre bottle of Ace of Spades (equivalent to 40 bottles of champagne), and a gold-plated box.

Inside the box will be a selection of songs to choose from and a red button – pick a tune, press the button and watch the fountain show unfold.

5. Devour a $5000 burger

The US$5000 FleurBurger at Fleur by Hubert Keller in Las Vegas.

Attention burger aficionados, we’ve found the world’s most expensive (and presumably tasty) specimen.

The US$5000 FleurBurger at Fleur by Hubert Keller is a decadent tower of Wagyu beef, foie gras and shaved black truffles, sandwiched between brioche buns.

Those who brave this wallet-busting burger are rewarded with a complimentary bottle of Chateau Petrus 1995 served in Ichendorf Brunello crystal glasses.

And if the receipt isn’t a sufficient keepsake, the bottle and stemware are shipped to the guest’s home after the dining experience.

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6. Sleep like a celebrity

The Nobu Villa bathroom in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas.

Ever wondered where the stars stay during a decadent Vegas visit? For some of the biggest celebs (we’re looking at you, Bieber), 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.

7. Take the wheel of a real racing Lamborghini

Rev heads, rejoice. For a truly five-star driving experience, pay a visit to the famed Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Here you can choose from a selection of the world’s top race cars – Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche – and select a racing package to suit.

The ‘Full Throttle’ option for instance comes with full training, first-hand experience driving laps, video recordings and expert analysis, plus a gift bag including racing shoes and gloves, under-suit t-shirts and hat.

For more information on indulgent Las Vegas experiences, visit lasvegas.com/au

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Seven outrageous Vegas experiences to do before you die