Las Vegas Travel Forum

Creating a Las Vegas Travel Forum meant that once again I trekked out to Sin City to check out some new sites and ONCE AGAIN I loved it!

On this particular trip I flew Jet Blue Airways. I have a lot of friends who swear by the service of this airline and I wanted to see what they were talking about. Sure enough I was impressed. I flew non-stop out of JFK’s Terminal 5 to Las Vegas and had a great flight! I knew we weren’t going to be served a meal on board, so picked up a salad (in the terminal-after security) and went about my merry way. We were served snack (for free) and in-flight (in0seat) Direct TV service was awesome. The curbside check in was easy and the flight attendants were friendly and appeared to be happy to be there. Be sure to look into flying with Jet Blue, I had a great experience.

The Flamingo was one of the reasons I decided to visit Las Vegas. This institution is being fully renovated I was lucky enough to experience the fruits of the restoration. When you stay, be sure to ask for a “Go Suite” facing the strip. I was blown away by the view of the Bellagio Fountains! Aside from the sleeping quarters, the redesigned pool areas were also amazing. Checking in couldn’t have been easier and based on my positive experience, I will definitely try to stay at this legendary property on my next trip.

Of course, we did all the things you would expect to do in Vegas, gamble, eat, shop etc. But we also had time to take in two shows. First was Jubilee; the longest running Burlesque show on the strip. The show was awesome. The sets, the costumes and of course the performers all were top notch. The show is running at Bally’s. We also saw The Producers with Tony Danza at The Paris. I love that show and Tony (and the rest of the cast) did a great job. One of the things I liked about both shows was the duration. They kept them tight and quick!

We also had some time to spend at The Golden Nugget on Fremont Street. They just spent 50 million dollars on the pool and it shows! If you are planning on a trip to Vegas, stay at least one night on Fremont Street. It is definitely worth it.

By Erik Hastings
September 18, 2006

What a whirlwind four days in Sin City! I commented to Gary (my business partner) while we were standing on the rooftop lounge (The VooDoo Café & Lounge) of the Rio Hotel, that Vegas was a town I could live in someday. The weather was perfect for our trip and we packed as many activities as we could in our short time there.

I was in town to speak at a travel conference and our meetings were held at the fabulous Wynn Hotel . This is Steve Wynn's latest Las Vegas hotel on the north end of the strip. I expected the hotel to be luxurious and expensive and my expectations were exceeded. The service, the rooms, the pool, the spa and the "Wynn Experience" were all awesome. The view from the 30 th floor (where my room was) overlooked the mountains and I could pull the drapes with the touch of a button. And yes, the Wynn provides complementary turn down service with a chocolate on the pillow! The point is, if you are looking to spend a few extra bucks on your accommodations; the Wynn is a perfect choice. In recent trips to Vegas (within the last two years), I have stayed at the Aladdin, and The Paris . Both were affordable and marvelous.

On this trip, I am so glad I took time to get to the downtown district of Las Vegas. I loved the Fremont Street Experience. It's "over the top vintage Vegas." If you've never been, you must spend a few hours gaming at the legendary casinos like The Golden Nugget and Binions Horseshoe. I spent part of my afternoon on Fremont Street and came back at night to see the awesome light and sound show on the canopy. About ten years ago, they decided to close off (to vehicle traffic) five blocks of Fremont Street and cover it with this canopy thing-a-ma-jig. During the day it provides shade from the direct sunlight as you stroll down the street. But at night, they show these really cool light shows! The canopy is akin to a giant LCD screen! It is a little difficult to describe the experience in words, so have a listen to my interview with Lisa Robinson (Director of Marketing for The Fremont Street Experience). She is the Fremont Street Diva and she knows her neighborhood. Getting downtown is very easy: by taxi it's about fifteen dollars or you can take a bus called " The Deuce " for a couple of bucks. The Fremont Street Experience is a great diversion from the strip and I'm glad I included it in my itinerary.

On the activity front, I had a chance to play golf at The Rio Secco Golf Club and my score was a disaster but the course was awesome! This 18 hole championship course was designed by Rees Jones and is open to the public. And because it's 800 feet over Vegas, you'll love the scenic views of the entire city! It definitely had a "desert" feel to it, but the fairways were beautifully manicured and the greens were perfect (albeit a little fast). The staff was friendly, helpful and attentive. Now I don't know how to "rate" a golf course but I do know the pros play at this one... and for a below average duffer like me, I had a challenging and fun golf experience at Rio Secco. Be sure to ask about their new "T Mates" program.

Now for my favorite subject: Dining. Over the last decade, Las Vegas has emerged as a world class culinary destination. Most of the major chefs have their restaurants here and the edible choices are seemingly endless. But, the truth is, there are only so many meals one can take part in without a stomach ache, a trip to the emergency room or a Weight Watcher meeting. On my trip, I had an amazing dinner at The Country Club-A New American Steakhouse inside The Wynn. Be sure to ask to sit outside if you get the chance. I also stopped by The Mirage for the "Vegas Classic Buffet"; in and out for 30 bucks for two people-what a great meal. While on Fremont Street in downtown, I dropped by the buffet at The Golden Nugget for lunch. I was surprised to find the food was very acceptable and cheap! Yes, you can always spend a lot of money on food in Vegas, but don't underestimate the Vegas buffet!

My best meal on this trip was at The Rio . This resort is located just off the strip, as you can imagine, it pulsates with energy and a Carnivale theme. The restaurant is called "VooDoo Café & Lounge" and it is located on the 50 th and 51 st floor (the top) of the Rio 's masquerade Tower. The vibe was calm, dimly lit and a little dangerous. The panoramic views of Las Vegas were literally breathtaking. While perusing the menu be sure to order a "Witch Doctor" cocktail for two. It's a rum-based punch with dry ice brimming over the side and two very long straws. It was so tasty, we had two! The food was magnificent. I opted for "the Three Little Pigs" pork dish which included a pork chop and andouille sausage with a béarnaise accent. My dinner-mate chose the blackened rib eye and he's still talking about it! For dessert, you have to have the Bananas Foster. It's light, flavorful and served tableside. Even if you're not staying at The Rio, definitely take time to have dinner at Voo Doo, you'll love it.   

This last trip to Vegas was a huge success! I kept my craps-shooting to a minimum (and in turn kept more money in my wallet) and had a great experience. Although, I didn't have time to take in the live mud wrestling at the Frontier Hotel, I still had a great time. Big thanks to the Las Vegas Visitor Bureau (and Erica at R&R Partners) for helping me with my itinerary. And on that note, before your trip to Vegas, be sure to check out www.visitlasvegas.com and of course my Las Vegas travel forum.

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By Erik Hastings
2005

Now, Las Vegas is not for everyone. However, I believe a lot of people who haven’t gone there for this reason would be very surprised how much fun they have. The first time you’re there you just have to walk the Strip and check out all the Casino Resorts – the Shark Tank at Mandalay Bay, the Sphinx at Luxor, the roller coaster at New York New York, the ultimate grandiosity of MGM Grand, the fountains at Bellagio, the canals at Venetian, the 1/3 size Eiffel Tower at Paris. There’s a whole lot to take in and the strip is 4 ½ miles long so use sun block and drink lots of water – this is the desert! Aside from the typical gambling (which I am not telling you to avoid) there are some really great shows (‘O’ at Bellagio is named that because you sit there with you mouth hanging open for two hours!) and really fine restaurants (almost every great chef in the world has a place in Vegas.) There’s also some cool places off the beaten track – Peppermill’s Fireside Lounge is a blast for some drinks, The Beach is a fun “locals” nightclub, and a game of pool at Double Down is like being in the East Village. Couple of hints: most of the resorts have check in at the airport; you can get a shared limo ride from the airport to your hotel for under ten bucks; and if you want to avoid the taxi line, get a sky cap to take your bags for a few bucks. And of course keep on checking my Las Vegas travel forum for updates.

Erik Hastings

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