After three months of watching and waiting, I finally kicked off my 2017 travel plans with a trip to Vegas. It was great to be on the road again, though I’ve decided to visit only the mainland domestic destinations from my travel list.
Over the next month, I’ll be sharing the highlights of my trip: the restaurants I visited, who I saw, where I hiked… how little I slept.
So let’s get started with my first night in Sin City.
Bye Bye Atlanta
I left Atlanta at 9:00 PM EST and arrived in Vegas at 10:00 PM PST. I expected to be drunk on jet lag after crossing time zones, but I was well-rested and ready to get a taste of the sinful Vegas nightlife.
Welcome to Sin City
When I walked off the plane and right into a “mini-casino” of slot machines outside the gate, I knew I had arrived in Vegas. I have never seen an airport with so many flashing lights and such loud music.
Tristan, our Junior Editor at Alexis Chateau PR, picked me up from the airport. We then headed into the heart of downtown.
Las Vegas did not disappoint. I had expected bright lights and a party city vibe, but Vegas brings more city lights than New York and more partying than Jamaica.
“I really want to see Vegas’ light bill,” I told Tristan.
The Plaza Hotel & Casino
I stayed at the very old and somewhat famous Plaza Hotel & Casino. It’s no 5-star hotel, but it was comfortable, affordable, and has an interesting history in pop culture.
As far back as the early 1970s, the hotel had a cameo in the James Bond film, Diamonds are Forever.
It was also featured in Lil Wayne’s music video for No Worries and Iggy Azalea’s video for Change your Life. The Ultimate Poker Challenge has also been filmed at the Plaza Hotel.
The view from my room wasn’t too bad, either.
The cost of the room from check-in on Monday to check-out on Friday was $236.64. As a full disclaimer, I have no idea what the regular rate for the rooms are.
We do receive special rates for the trips we book at Alexis Chateau PR, for anyone, anywhere in the world. And as co-owner of that service, I pay no markup.
Metamorphosis
I had dressed for comfort on the flight, but knew it was time to dress up for the Vegas night life.
After Check-In
15 – 20 Minutes Later
The Taco Bell Cantina
Spirit didn’t feed me on the flight, so I asked Tristan where the nearest Taco Bell was. I wanted something cheap and tasty to gobble down before going to the club.
No wise woman drinks on an empty stomach in a foreign place.
This is fact.
Now, if only someone had warned me that the Taco Bell Cantina in Vegas actually serves beer and wine. I had to see it to believe it.
Unfortunately, they were out of wine, though they did have beer and alcoholic slushies.
Even if you bought non-alcoholic drinks, you could be your own bartender. Doesn’t this remind you of old fashioned beer dispensers?
Quick Tip: I made a mess trying to use that thing. Beware of the circle. That is not where you put the cup. You’re better off just holding it under the nozzle.
After my soda fiasco, we ate upstairs, under the glow of the enormous and elaborate taco bell sign.
Marquee Nightclub
As fun as it was to see the flagship of my favourite restaurant chain, it was time to experience the real nightlife scene in Sin City.
I’ve never gone clubbing in America before, and Vegas seemed like as good a place as any to put an end to that.
At Marquee, there were dancers hoisted up at the back of the DJ’s stage, on a balcony overlooking the club. Every so often when the bass dropped, there was steam and fog and icy confetti falling towards us, too.
We also ran into a Frenchman, who spent the entire night dropping by with comic relief. I forget how friendly Southern Europeans are, and how absolutely comical they can be when they want to be.
It made me a little homesick. I spent a lot of time in Southern European company back home. There aren’t too many of them hanging around Atlanta; not that I’ve seen, anyway.
I didn’t do much dancing that night. I was more focused on taking in the sights and basking in the literal glow of the experience. There was so much to see and such little time to experience it all!
By 3:30 AM, the club started to empty out, so we took the hint. Outside, Vegas was still very much alive, but I knew it was time to head back to my hotel to get some rest.
My Itinerary
I had my entire itinerary planned for the week, and I didn’t want to miss a thing. I can tell you now: I ticked off every last thing on that list.
For the following day, I had 4 main activities planned:
- The Rooftop Pool
- Shopping
- Dinner with 2 online friends I had never met in person before
- The Bellagio Fountains
Have you ever been to Vegas? What did you think of the night life? I’m starting to think Vegas should take New York’s title as “the City that Never Sleeps”.
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My Vegas trip was sponsored by Alexis Chateau PR and booked by our in-house travel agents. Is there a country or city you’ve always dreamed of seeing with your own eyes? Then stop dreaming, and start traveling.
Email us for details!
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