OUR MEMBERS CHOOSE LAS VEGAS TO
- Party round the clock
- Enjoy excellent hotels, restaurants and gambling in a neon city, right in the desert
- Go on a golfing or gambling break
Sin City has been undergoing something of a luxury makeover in recent years. The hotels are as splendid as they are surprising, but the town of neon lights and strip bars also has classy casinos and 16 restaurants with Michelin stars. Whether it's a top hotel, restaurant, casino or show you're after, Ten UK Americas expert Zia Bapuji can help. Here are her tips:
PYRAMIDS & LUXE HOTELS
Everyone knows Las Vegas is a party town, but these days indulgence is served up in serious style. Luxe Vegas starts with the lavish hotels, and continues in the casinos. Members like the city's five-star hotels, such as the new Palazzo, which overlooks the strip, and the Wynn. For members who may want to enjoy the strip but be based away from all the action, the Lake Las Vegas Resort, 17 miles away and home to the Ritz Carlton and Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort, makes an ideal choice.
Talk to the team about what type of hotel is right for you - if what you really want is to sleep in a pyramid or a kitsch replica of Venice that can also be arranged.
HOT DOGS & FINE DINING
"Going to Las Vegas for its food used to be like going to Tehran for a hen night. The home of cold beer and dirty girls didn't do restaurants. It did all-you-can-eat buffets and 99c hot dogs," says travel writer John Arlidge. All that's changed: 16 of Las Vegas's restaurants now boast Michelin stars, and competition among restaurateurs is fierce.
The three-star Joel Robuchon (at the MGM Grand Hotel) is French fine-dining with limited seating which, members say, creates an intimate atmosphere. Diners can choose from a six- or sixteen-course tasting menu, in addition to a la carte.
Other highlights include Barlotta, at Wynn Las Vegas, where fish is flown in fresh from Italy, and Mix, Alain Ducasse's restaurant at THEHotel in Mandalay Bay (the only hotel in Vegas that is not a themed resort). New restaurants opening in 2008 include Wolfgang Puck's CUT (at The Palazzo), offering steak connoisseurs everything from prime Nebraska corn-fed, 35-day dry-aged steaks to Japanese 100% Wagyu beef from the Kagoshima Prefecture. Ask Ten for advice, other tips and to arrange reservations.
COCKTAILS & BARS
Sin City is cocktail city: Here you'll find anything from strip bars (both low and high end) to lounges, shows and showgirls. There's something to suit everyone, but what's hot or not in bars changes as often as coins jangle through slot machines.
Zia reports that, on her last trip to Vegas, Ghostbar, perched 55 stories above the city in the Palms casino, was popular and fashionable. The Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace continues to be a celebrity favourite, as does Tryst nightclub at the Wynn.
The Asian-themed, multi-levelled Tao (at the Venetian) draws a beautiful and famous crowd and JET (at the Mirage) features three dance floors, each with its own distinctive sound. Almost every single hotel offers a show, with the Cirque du Soleil and Monty Python's Spamalot proving particularly popular. Ask Ten about guest lists.
SHOPPING
Las Vegas is a great place to shop and a popular addition to the itinerary on hen nights. The city's relaxed, air-conditioned shops are usually located moments from your hotel and have all the designers and brands you'd find on Bond Street and Madison Avenue.
The weak dollar means that bargains abound, though UK tax due on your return makes some items better value than others. Shopping is a big draw for members and the team can help you compile a shopping itinerary.
GRAND CANYON & GOLF
Las Vegas may be low on heritage, but get out of the city and it's big on natural beauty. The Grand Canyon is 180 miles to the east, with Death Valley National Park to the west and the Mojave National Preserve in the south.
Las Vegas itself is also renowned for the quality and variety of its golf courses, ranging from the Royal Links Golf Club (an immaculate recreation of 18 holes of the British Open) to the desert and canyons of the Badlands Golf Club. Talk to us about cars and helicopters.
GAMBLING
Blackjack, craps, roulette or slot machines: there are endless ways to be parted from your money in Vegas. You can do sticky carpets and rows of slot machines or go high-end luxury - Wynn Las Vegas is the only casino resort in the world to hold the Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond rating. Talk to us about where to go.
LAST MINUTE & SHORT BREAKS
With non-stop flights most days of the week with Virgin Atlantic, members say Vegas is ideal for a three- to four-night stay - and can often make a great last-minute break. Members also like to have a few days stay in Las Vegas as part of a longer West Coast holiday.
