Las Vegas: The Guide
Beccy Miller
Welcome to Sin City – America’s Playground. Las Vegas is oozing with extravagant stage shows, cavernous casinos, luxury hotels, huge buffets, pool parties and even drive-thru weddings. You don’t need to enjoy gambling to have a great time in Vegas. It’s a destination that anyone can enjoy, thanks to amusement parks like Adventuredome and Adventure Canyon. Golfers will love playing on some of America’s finest courses, while shoppers can lose themselves in the Fashion Show Mall.
The Strip
The Strip – which is just a road full of huge hotel resorts, has some of the most magnificent hotels in the world. Most are themed and have their own gimmick or things to see. Egyptian-themed Luxor is built as a pyramid, Excalibur a Medieval castle. Further down the strip, Paris Paris Las Vegas has the Eiffel Tower outside, while the Venetian has its own canal where you can ride a gondola outside and into the hotel. These examples only scratch the surface, - you can spend days hopping from one to another exploring them.
Showbiz
Las Vegas has one of the world’s highest concentrations of theatres in the world. There are huge, dare-devil magic shows from the likes of David Copperfield, Penn & Teller and Criss Angel, acrobatic displays from Cirque Du Soleil and massive musical numbers from the likes of pop stars such as Celine Dion, Katy Perry and Usher. This is in addition to your regular, West-End and Broadway-type shows.
Food Heaven
Las Vegas might not seem like a destination for the food connoisseur, but nestled amongst larger-than-life all-you-can buffets, there are some excellent dining choices. In Caesar’s Palace, you can find Guy Savoy’s offering – beautiful, Michelin-Starred cuisine in gorgeous surroundings.
Or head to the Palazzo, where you will find not one, but two outstanding restaurants; Carnevino, for possibly the best steaks in America, or Cut, which as well as steak, also offer amazing meat dishes. If you’re vegan, then newly opened Crossroads Kitchen, the Strip's first-fine dining plant-based restaurant will ensure you are fed well without the use of any animal products.
Grand Canyon
No trip to Vegas would be complete without a visit to the nearby Grand Canyon. The closest entry point from Las Vegas is Grand Canyon West Rim, which is 128 miles - about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Las Vegas. The drive takes you through parts of Arizona and past other great spots, like the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Boulder City.
However, the most impressive way to see the Grand Canyon is via a helicopter trip, which will take you over the Canyon, offering the most impressive views and some trips will even land in the basin, so you can enjoy a spot of lunch before returning back to Las Vegas.
Want to discover Las Vegas? Check out our cruises here and remember we can add tailor-make a cruise for you and add Vegas to any North American itinerary.