Undoubtedly, one of my absolute favourite holiday destinations is Las Vegas. It is over the top, fun and just a little trashy. But I genuinely believe that it has something for everyone. After two years of lockdowns, a short break to Las Vegas is the perfect post-pandemic holiday!
How to get to Las Vegas
BA and Virgin Atlantic both fly direct from London to Las Vegas. The old Manchester service is unfortunately no more, but we headed down to Heathrow and flew with Virgin Atlantic who were amazing as always. The flight to Las Vegas is just over 10 hours but it was comfortable. There are also various indirect routes through the US, making Las Vegas the perfect destination for a twin centre USA holiday.On arrival we found that the best way from Las Vegas airport to the Strip was taxi from outside of the airport. There were loads available so there was no need to queue, and the fare is a flat rate depending where you are being dropped.
Where can I take a test to get to Las Vegas?
At the moment, tourists arriving from the UK into the USA need to take a pre-departure test. We used ExpressTest at Heathrow Airport on the way out for our test, and then the Randox Health self tests to come home. Both were very straightforward and results / fit to fly certificates issued in plenty of time.
Where to stay in Las Vegas
The huge choice of hotels in Las Vegas can make where to stay a really difficult decision! We stayed at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas this time. We love the City Center development on the Strip, having stayed at Aria & Vdara previously. The hotels are much more modern than some of the older properties, with much more natural light and they smell nicer too! The central Strip location also suits us. I’ve also stayed at Luxor, MGM, Wynn, Trump, Planet Hollywood & Bellagio previously; and would always choose one of the City Center properties for future stays
The queues for check in were long and it was a little frustrating after such a long flight, but the staff were friendly and we felt that they were coping well at a busy time. They took a hold on my credit card to cover incidentals and reminded me about the mandatory resort fee that most hotels on the strip charge. The fee covers your use of internet as well as hotel amenities like the pool & parking. When planning your budget for Las Vegas do check those resort fees so you aren’t surprised later.
Best things to do in Las Vegas
The shows are always spectacular in Vegas and we saw two this time. I wanted to do something a little different to the huge productions so we went for Absinthe Vegas at Caesars, a kind of circus/acrobatic/burlesque crossover which was incredible from start to finish. The Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio was an elegant affair, with awesome performers - probably one of my favourite evenings in Las Vegas ever. I booked both of these in advance before we left the UK.
Top restaurants in Las Vegas
As we were travelling over Christmas and expected it to be busy, we did make restaurant reservations in advance. As always, we had some incredible meals but highlights were Nobu Virgin Las Vegas, Mon Ami Gabi (Paris), Barry's Downtown Prime (Circa), and Din Tai Fung (Aria).
When is the best time to travel to Las Vegas
Las Vegas is truly a year-round destination, thanks to its hot, dry desert climate but it does get colder in Winter. To grab the cheapest Vegas deals, consider traveling March to May or September to November when the weather is kindest.
As we travelled to Las Vegas over Christmas and New Year, the holiday decorations were on a mind blowing scale and really quite beautiful. The US goes all in for Christmas and Las Vegas is no exception. Highlights were definitely at Aria and the Bellagio.
If you are looking for a party scene then the weekends are the best time to visit Las Vegas, and for the pool parties you want to be heading to the Strip in the Summer. Vegas pool parties are legendary but many pools close for the season in October so check what will be happening before you commit to your dates!
How can I find the best deal on a 5-night Las Vegas trip
The best Vegas holiday deals are midweek when the city is a bit quieter. We can put together a tailormade Las Vegas itinerary including flights, hotel, transfers or car hire into one ATOL protected package holiday for complete peace of mind.
Las Vegas travel tips
We found the best way to get around Las Vegas was to walk most of the time, but we also used rideshare apps like Uber & Lyft to get downtown, to Fremont Street and to the outlet malls. We also jumped on the monorail between Park MGM and Bellagio a couple of times. I noticed that the Deuce bus was still pretty frequent on the Strip and a great option if you are exploring a lot
It’s a very popular myth that on check in you can slip the front desk staff a $20 bill to get a free room upgrade. I have always been too embarrassed to give it a go but I’d love to know if anyone has ever had that work for them!
If you are looking to gamble then you need to consider what budget you’ll need to gamble in Las Vegas. Its good to set a limit at the outset, and bear in mind that the minimum bets change depending on which casino you are at, what time of day it is and how busy it is. You’ll find that its more expensive on the weekend, and its pricer on the Strip than downtown. So if you are a beginner and just after a little flutter, consider having a go one morning when its quiet.
Pool parties in Vegas are seasonal and are not open year round and a big event like a boxing match or rodeo in town can massively increase prices. So it’s really important to plan your dates well to get the experience you want, at the right price.