As Frank Sinatra once said, “Las Vegas is the only place I know where money really talks – it says, Goodbye.” Whether you are gambling, fine dining, drinking, seeing a show, or doing some shopping, Vegas knows how to empty your pockets!
For those of you that don’t know, Las Vegas is a city within Clark County in the state of Nevada. It is the 25th-most populated city in the United States. Filled with any activity that you can dream of this 24-hour town can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on your will power!
Personally, we love Las Vegas, and this will be our first post on Sin City, with many to come. We always have a blast when we go and always get the itch to go back when we come home. Every time we visit, we try to stay at different hotels, see different shows, and eat at different restaurants so we can uncover the hidden gems and the best options for our trips…and hopefully yours too!
This time around, we stayed at the New York New York Hotel and Casino. Located roughly in the center of the strip, we were greatly impressed with our stay. We have always passed through this property, but never stayed there so we thought why not. This resort is part of the MGM chain and much to our surprise the room was nice. Since rooms are not at a super high price point, we thought that the accommodations may be outdated or unkept, but upon entering, we found the room to be modern, super clean, and quiet. The biggest perk (in our opinion) was that you didn’t have to walk miles to get to your room from the parking structure. We stayed in the New Yorker Tower and the elevator was really just a hop, skip, and jump away. Additionally, the check-in experience was flawless. You can check-in ahead of time on your phone and use a digital key card, so you can go straight to your room and avoid all lines. FYI – this update occurred at most hotels on the strip during COVID and it looks like it will continue post-COVID as well. Another cool bonus is the free tram that is offered next door at Park MGM. This tram takes you all the way over to the Bellagio, so it saves your feet and your time when moving around the strip. Park MGM is all but three yards from NYNY so it’s easy to hop on the tram. If you are like us, you will park your car at your hotel or fly, and then hoof it all along the strip. That being said, this tram can really save you. We walked 31 MILES on our trip! Side note – The Las Vegas Monorail is also a great option that goes even further down the strip, but it is not free…still very reasonable though. Prices can be found at www.lvmonorail.com. Now, for the things that may be seen as negatives…the pool at NYNY is on the smaller side so if you want to party it up at the pool on your vacation this may not be the spot for you. Additionally, the rooms do not have refrigerators so that means no storing your items and no minibar. Outside of those two factors, we didn’t really see any other downsides to this place. We would 100% stay here again.
Now for all the endless food and drink items that we indulged in…
~ Wahlburgers – Located in front of Bally’s Hotel, and owned by actor Mark Wahlberg, musician Donnie Wahlberg, and chef Paul Wahlberg, this awesome joint is a must try. This casual burger and bar restaurant chain was founded 10 years ago and currently has various locations in the United States, Canada, and Germany, with plans to expand into Australia and New Zealand. Wahlburgers became so popular that it had its own reality TV series for 10 seasons on A&E. Stop by to get a burger, some tots with secret Wahl sauce, and go WAHL out.
~ TAO Asian Bistro – Located in the Venetian Resort, this late night, fine dining restaurant, is ranked as the best Asian Restaurant in Vegas. The Venetian explains that “The lush and sultry environment of TAO transports guests to the Pacific Rim. Culinary elements from China, Japan, and Thailand are combined to create a menu packed with bold flavors.” If you want to come here, make your reservations, as it is always packed! We were very impressed with our food, and we got a smorgasbord! We got the Hot & Sour Soup with Shrimp Toast, Rock Shrimp Lettuce Cups, Shrimp Pad Thai, Crispy Orange Chicken, Triple Pork Fried Rice with Pork Belly, BBQ Roast Pork, and Chinese Sausage, and lastly the Giant Fortune Cookie with White and Dark Chocolate Mousse. Can you say stuffed?! The vibe is lively, the lights are dim, and the music is loud. To be honest, we felt “old” in this spot because the music was a bit overwhelming. Before you say anything, yes TAO is also a night club, but the night club is a separate location so it should have nothing to do with this. Anyways, the food is excellent, and we encourage you to try it…we just wanted to give you a heads up regarding the noise level.
~ Bacchanal Buffet – Let us preface this with we are not buffet people at all. Located inside Caesars Palace, this buffet is the largest and most sought out buffet in all of Las Vegas. With 90 minutes to eat all that you can, 9 kitchens, and 15 daily specials, this place has endless options from every part of the world. It is also not your typical buffet, with prices sitting roughly at $75 per person and reservation only availability, you might think you are dining at a top chef’s restaurant. With all that said, we wanted to put our buffet opinion aside, and see what the hype was all about. The insane volume of food is beautifully displayed, and some options are made to order, but overall, we didn’t think Bacchanal lived up to the hype. There were definitely some picture worthy food items, but the price and food quality were not equals to us. In addition, since you make a reservation, we thought you just show up and are seated like most other reservations, but this is not the case. Once you arrive, you must wait in an endless line to check in. Once checked in, you are moved to another line that you need to wait in to pay. By the time all was said and done, we weren’t seated until almost an hour after our reservation. So, if you wanted our opinion, it would be not to go unless you want to eat your weight in food.
~Fat Tuesdays – Although originally in New Orleans, most cannot go to Las Vegas without thinking about a Fat Tuesday! These frozen daiquiris are reasonably priced, absolutely delicious, and can be pumped with as much or as little alcohol as desired. You can also mix flavors. Some of our favorite mash ups include:
~Cotton Candy – Bellini mixed with Eye Candy
~Miami Vice – Strawberry mixed with Pina Colada
If you get one, remember to keep your cup because refills are discounted and there is no expiration date. This means that you can bring your cup from previous trips and still get the refill discount!
~ Bobby’s Burgers – Located inside Caesars Palace is this small must go burger spot. This is likely the only place where you can experience Chef Bobby Flay’s excellent recipes without spending your paycheck. Modestly priced, this place has burgers, sandwiches, fries, shakes, and more. We ordered the crunch burger which has American cheese, potato chips, and Bobby’s secret sauce and OH MY GOODNESS…we just might begin to put potato chips in our burgers at home! Certainly not a low-calorie menu, but 100% worth it!
~ Pin Up Pizza – This spot advertises as the largest slices on the Strip, but we are pretty sure they are the largest slices anywhere. Located on the exterior of the Plant Hollywood Hotel, this trendy spot is ideal for quick cheap eats. Servers are dressed to impress with rockabilly attire inspired by pin-ups such as Bettie Page, and portions are huge. One piece of pizza is larger than a plate and you can get a combo that includes a slice, a garlic knot, and a beer for under $15. Tell us where on the strip you can beat those prices?! This place is open until 2 or 4am depending on the day and can be taken to go. This is a great place to go after a night of bar hopping!
In between stuffing our faces, we wandered in and out of the hotels, played some slots, took some pictures, and saw a show. We usually try to see a show on each trip, and almost always indulge in the free shows all along the strip.
On this visit, the paid show that we saw was Criss Angel MindFreak. Rated the #1 magic show of all time by the Las Vegas Sun, this show is full of illusions unlike any other. Criss will shock you in revolutionary ways in his theater at the Planet Hollywood Resort. See him levitate, pull doves out of thin air, and get out of a straitjacket that the audience has tried on before him. Without giving much else away, we encourage you to give this show a chance. We aren’t typically into magic, but we thoroughly enjoyed this experience. You leave it feeling hyped and bewildered as to how the heck he accomplishes some of his acts. We still have yet to figure out the techniques behind some of his stunts…they truly defy logic. Come see what tricks Criss Angel has up his sleeve, in your purse, or behind your back! On a more serious note, Criss brings special attention to Pediatric Cancer in a beautiful way, he raises awareness of the not so uncommon issue facing many families and shares a personal part of his life…his son, Johnny Crisstopher’s cancer. He reminds us that life is beautiful and uses his platform to raise money for the Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation that provides funds for research, treatment, and hopefully a cure. Even if this show isn’t your cup of tea, this foundation should be. Cancer does not discriminate, and we all need to stand up to it together.
In addition to this show, we also headed to the Luxor Hotel to experience the Titanic Artifact Exhibit. We recommend this to anyone who appreciates history or learning! Here you will feel the excitement and the tragedy of this incredible ocean liner. You will see more than 350 items pulled up from wreckage and see full-scale replicas of first, second, and third class cabins, as well as the Grand Staircase and Observation Deck. The most remarkable part of this exhibit is the privilege of viewing the largest piece of the Titanic ever recovered. A 15-ton piece of the ship’s hull remains preserved here in the hotel, you will unquestionably feel a sense of eeriness as you gain perspective on how large this vessel was. Some of the relics that were of most interest to us included:
~ Gaming Cards – Playing cards belonging to a passenger onboard the ship.
~ Unopened Bottle of Champagne – A bottle recovered from the wreckage that still has champagne in it.
~ Shackle, Mounting Brackets, and Iron Wrench – Iron accessories from the vessel that show the deterioration caused by the ocean water and current. These solid metal items have been reduced to what appears to resemble petrified wood.
~ Perfume Vials – These vials lay still on the ocean floor for roughly nine decades and upon recovery they still emitted scents of rose, lavender, and bergamot. Can you say wild!
~Baker’s Toque – This chef hat was owned by third baker William Hine. It was said that he wore this on the day that the boat capsized and ultimately, he perished.
~ A Cosmetic Cream – Found in a glass jar, the cream has solidified and remains intact.
~ Chandelier – This chandelier was recovered from the vessel. It was one of many located within the first class areas on the ship.
Another enjoyable part of this is that upon entry, you are handed a replica boarding pass with a real passenger’s information on it. At the end of the experience, you find out if “you” survived or perished in this catastrophic 1912 event. Tickets cost $32 for adults and $24 for children and can be bought in advance or at the box office.
Some of the free entertainment along the strip that we enjoy includes:
~ The Mirage Volcano Show – Schedule times can vary, but the Volcano typically erupts between 8 and 11 PM each hour. See water and fireballs spew out and experience a volcanic eruption in person…lucky for us, this one is safe.
~ The Fountains of Bellagio Show – This water show is unlike any other that you will see. Watch water skyrocket as high as 460 feet, and observe it dance to a plethora of different songs. This show is a must see when visiting Vegas – it never gets old, even if you’ve seen it before. The show features more than 1,000 fountains and will undoubtedly mesmerize you.
~ Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens – A beautiful area within the Bellagio casino and resort that consists of 14,000 square feet and is home to tens of thousands of flowers, trees, and plants. Five times a year, an extensive crew puts together a breathtaking display that will awaken your senses. Each display is unique and all displays are worthy of some pictures!
~ The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat – Wander the Flamingo hotel and you will find a hidden oasis that is home to flamingos, swans, ducks, koi, turtles, and pelicans. This is surely a photo op!
Now for the gambling – Troy observes, I gamble. My entertainment of choice is the penny slots. Surely, I can play a hand of Blackjack or join in a round of Poker, but I prefer the slots. The lights, the reels, the anticipation of it all enthralls me. I place the blame on my grandmother, who used to play penny slots. I used to meet her in Vegas as a young child…my family would escape the cold in Wisconsin for a few weeks and go to Las Vegas, and we would drive from California and meet them. I used to sneak in and pull the lever down on the machines she was playing…I thought it was the coolest thing on the planet. Nowadays, there aren’t many machines that have moving levers and rarely do pennies fall out upon a win, but they are just as fun! I like to think that she is watching over me when I play the slots and giving me good vibes! Keep in mind, you must have will power if you gamble…bring a set amount of money to spend, plan to lose it, and do not take additional funds out of the bank. If you lose it, you planned for it, if you win that’s a bonus, but you are not going outside of your budget range. Remember people do hit jackpots, but Vegas is not successful because of payouts, they are successful because they eat your money up more times than not. I usually break even when I go, but there have been times when I’ve come home up, and there are times when I have come home down. This trip, I was down, but I did have a lucky machine…Medusa. I do often find that the lucky machines shift…last time the lucky machine was Fu Dai Lian Panda.
We can’t finish this post without discussing Resorts World! RW opened on June 24th of this year and is the newest hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip since the Cosmopolitan Resort opened in 2010! You will find this hotel on the North end of the strip in between Treasure Island and Circus Circus. It stands 66 stories tall on the same plot of land that the Stardust Hotel once sat on. There are 3,500 rooms, $1,400 slot machines, a wide variety of restaurants, and big-name entertainment acts. Some of the sights that stood out to us when walking through this giant resort were:
~Suns Out Buns Out – This entertaining eatery has various egg dishes served all day long. Its mascot is a sunny side egg with its buns out!
~ The Liberace Exhibit – Found in the Conrad portion of resort, you can see a restored piano used in the Las Vegas Hilton shows of Liberace in the 1970s. Alongside the piano is additional wall art that gives homage to the colorful Liberace.
~ Rolls Royce Display – Found in the Crockford section of the resort is a custom display of famed Michael Fux collections vehicles. Bright, flashy, and incredibly pricy, these cars are parked in a hallway of the casino for up close and personal viewing pleasure. They are meant to bring awareness to the Michael Fux Foundation that provides financial and personal support to at-need children undergoing medical treatment.
~ Various Art Displays – Throughout the three hotels you will come across random pieces of art, some favorites were the donut display, the neon roses, and a rolled-up Volkswagen Bug.
Overall, our trip was a blast and went by in the blink of an eye as usual. Somehow you stay up all night and still the time flies by. We are already anxiously awaiting our next Vegas adventure. What is remarkable about this crazy town is there are always new things to see, do, and eat. Every time you come, it’s as if you are a first timer again!
When you go do remember that what happens in Vegas, does not stay in Vegas…it winds up on social media!
Until next time…
Playing Slots and Taking Shots,
TnT