Vegas A Perfect Week
Top 20 The Short List
Sleep and Play
1. Everyone deserves the vacation of a lifetime. Something plush, luxurious, where you are pampered and get to play to your heart’s content. This is my itinerary for a vacation week you will always remember.
The Tower Suite at Wynn Las Vegas is the only suite awarded both the Mobile Five Star Award and AAA Five Diamonds Award in Vegas. The suite is 1,280 square feet, has a 42” plasma LCD TV, a soaking tub and glass enclosed shower, and replicas of the world renowned Wynn art collection gracing the walls. Best part, the lights and drapes have remote controls bedside, so you can close out the world and sleep in after those late nights out.
The Tower rooms also have their own private pools and come with personal shoppers who will give you a private tour of the shopping esplanade of the hotel. Manolo Blahnik, Chanel and Dior are just a couple of the designer stores here.
Room rates for the Tower Rooms range from as low as $289 to $689 at high-season. They have the best, user-friendly calendar on their website; you can click on dates and view the prices for all of their rooms.
The MGM or Paris
If the Wynn is a bit pricey for your pocketbook the MGM Grand and Paris offer beautiful rooms, excellent service, great places to dine, lots of gaming space and are both right on the strip. Paris is about the middle of the Strip and MGM is at the South end of the strip.
Photo Courtesy MGM
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What Makes it Maximum Vegas
• Deluxe Rooms starting at $89.99 a night
• Ultra comfortable double pillow top mattresses
• Larger than average Las Vegas room
• Custom black and white marble bathrooms
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The photo above is their standard
deluxe room–they have suites of all kinds and terrace suites, too. Gorgeous hotel and you get to see the lions. Even if you are not staying here, visit the hotel and see the lions. 
Paris Hotel Casino Las Vegas
Photo Courtesy Paris Hotel Casino Las Vegas
The photo right is one of the suite rooms at Paris–not a standard room. The deluxe rooms, which are called Luxury rooms start at $110 a night. For the suites like this plan on spending about $360 a night.
Luxury Room Offers
Custom European furniture, rich fabrics, and warm decorations give these rooms a distinctive French feel. The speakerphone, voice mail, video-on-demand, and in-room safe provide the convenience you deserve. The immaculate, marble bathroom features both a bathtub and a stand-alone shower. Available with one king-size bed or two queens.
Gambling
2. While in Vegas there are certain things you have to do and gambling is one of them. Even if you are not a gambler, you simply have to experience throwing the dice, betting on the little black ball (roulette), playing blackjack and pulling (or pushing the button) the slot machine handle; at least once in this lifetime:
Craps
Casino Royale has the best craps table in all of Las Vegas and is in the heart of the strip. It has one table with 100x (x means times) odds and the house only has a .02 percent edge. Added bonus, it’s not scary because you can place a bet as low as $3.00 if you’re just learning how to play.
Poker
The Mirage has been voted as having the best Vegas poker room in 2008. The Mirage is in the heart of the strip, right beside TI and is noted for friendly customer service and an elegant casino. Be sure to buff up on your poker strategies before visiting the gaming room.
Blackjack
The Sahara, where Frank, Sammy and Dean used to end their nights with breakfast–back in the day, is voted the best place to play blackjack. You can play with single decks and with betting limits starting from $5 up to $1,000, or play with six decks. The slots here also seem loose, as six members of my family and I all left the casino with more money than when we got there. It was the first and only time it happened and we were there a week.
Roulette
The Bellagio is one of the few casinos that offers single zero roulette with an en-prison rule and their version of the game has a 1.35% house edge. If you are staying at Wynn Las Vegas, they also offer a similar roulette game.
Slots
Flamingo in Vegas had the loosest slots. We played for a half-hour or more on $20. All of my winnings came from the Flamingo when we were in Vegas. Although, I did win a small amount from the Palms. While you are at Flamingo check out the lovely Flamingo gardens. The pool areas are lovely and romantic. Great place to go in the evening to cuddle up with your honey and do some heavy petting.
The service here is friendly and fast. Often times when you are gambling it takes the waitresses a while to bring your drinks. We ordered virgin strawberry daquiries and the waitress delivered them to us in a few minutes.
BTW, you can get a room here starting at $45 a night. They are located right in the middle of the strip and have some great entertainment.
Footnote: Things change fast in Vegas. As of 8/18/08 these were all current. But, could change in a weeks time.
Tips
• I always bring a small purse (8” high by 6” wide) with a long strap, so it can be secured over my neck and carried in front of my body. It is stylish; doesn’t come off my neck, so there is no fear of forgetting it or someone stealing it. I carry my lip gloss (it’s dry in the desert), comp cards, money, ID (you never know when you are going to hit it big), hotel key, camera, cell phone and hand wipes. It is the only purse I take; my wallet goes into the room safe.
• Before any gambling starts, get a players card from the casinos you are playing at. You will earn comps for rooms, meals, shows and merchandise.
• When gambling, drinks are on the house. When playing table games, if you have put up $500 or more, cigarettes and sometimes snacks or meals are on the house. When you give the pit-boss your comp cardyou can ask for comp tickets for shows a
Photo Courtesy Zumanity |
nd dinners at that time.
Shows
Las Vegas is famous for world-renowned shows. The stages are specifically built for each show, which enhances the performances. Seats are comfortable and most every seat is good in Vegas. Book ahead to be sure to gain entrance to the shows and ask the booker what seat they recommend. We have never been steered wrong. The best seats are not always in the first six rows. Often, the best seats are to the middle or upper decks. See these shows in the order they are listed below:
3. Zumanity at New York New York Hotel & Casino. This show ties with Mystere’ as one of my favorites. It is funny, provocative, tasteful and celebrates all body types and all sexual tastes without judgment. The show uses much great humor is refreshing and sexy. You will laugh more than you realized because there is not a lot of advertising about the show that credits its great sense of humor. See the review.
So, start your stay out with this sizzling adult show. Its the only place I recommend you get front row seating. And, the front row happens to be a couch for two. The couches are comfortable and offer the best view of the stage. It’s like you are sitting in your living room with your own special show.
Advice: Don’t make plans for after the show, go straight to your room and enjoy your partner for a long evening of passion. Now, that’s what I call a great way to relax and get into the swing of Vegas.
***BTW, you aren’t really seeing breasts and nudity on the photo of Zumanity. They wear exagerated tops to look like private parts.
4.
Bette Midler or
Cher at Caesar’s Palace. Depending on when you arrive in Vegas, either Cher or Bette will be headlining, they alternate dates. The shows are receiving great reviews and both women know how to give show-stopping performances.
Courtesy Caesar’s Palace |
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5. Mystere at Treasure Island is the best show I have ever seen. Next month (August ’08) will be the fourth time I have seen it. Everything about it is fabulous. The costumes, music, humor, performances, and the stage. This show is best viewed from the back of the first deck or the front rows of the second deck. There are acts that come out of the ceiling you will miss if you are too far upfront. This show uses all of your senses. If you see this one first, it will dull the experience of the other shows. Remember to buy a CD from Mystere to bring home with you; it is one of my favorite CDs. See the review.
KA and O are both enjoyable shows, but Mystere is still tied for number one, alongside Zumanity. See the reviews on KA and O.
6. Tournament of Kings at Excalibur is a fun dinner
Photograph Courtesy Excalibur |
show where you will eat with your fingers, watch jousting, see dancing maidens, swig ale, view invading armies, and enjoy fireworks…all from the comfort of your dinner table.
Tip
The front row of tables is a great place to be–but be sure to eat all of your dinner before the show starts because when the horses start running, your table gets full of dirt from their hooves. The second row is also a great place to sit because you get a bit higher up for your view of the arena. The food is good and service is fast. More tips in the review.
Eat
Where to start on this topic? Some of the world’s best chefs live and work in Vegas. And, whatever type cuisine you enjoy, it is offered here. This list is not even the ‘tip-of-the-tip’ of the iceberg…
7. Crepes at Paris for a treat, an after dinner dessert, or for breakfast. The crepes will be a treat you’ll remember long after your vacation is over. You can get fruit filled crepes or crepes with ham, cheese, sausage, etc. They are all delicious.
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Photo Courtesy Bellagio Las Vegas |
8. Picasso at Bellagio is considered by top food experts to be the best meal in Vegas. Beautiful food served in a beautiful restaurant with authentic Picasso’s hanging on the walls. This restaurant is suit and tie worthy. You can get a four or five-course prix-fixe dinner or a tasting menu for about $115 each. And, the wine cellar is stocked with more than 1,000 bottles from all over Europe. The food is an elegant French cuisine, seasonally prepared, with a Spanish influence and the menu changes daily. It is created by Executive Chef Julian Serrano. Dress is business casual.
9. Isla Mexican Kitchen at TI received the award for the Best Mexican Restaurant in Las Vegas by the Las Vegas Life Magazine from 2004-2006 and is my favorite Vegas Mexican restaurant. Wait a minute…it’s my favorite Mexican restaurant anywhere, come to think of it. The Isla Tequila Bar has a Tequila Goddess who welcomes guests with a selection of 90+ varieties of tequila for Margaritas and Sangrias. They make the ultimate margarita, a $99 Goddess Elixir, which is made table- side with Herradura Seleccion Suprema, Grand Marnier 100 year anniversary, Cointreau and Fresh Citrus Syrup.
Attractive Attractions
10. To keep up the sizzle Zumanity started, don’t bring your swim suit top—only the bottoms. Ladies tell your husband you are taking them on a secret adventure and get ready for some fun. Plus, get pampered, treated to exquisite service and great music. European sun-bathing is commonplace in Vegas and the most beautiful people in the world can be found gathered at the tasteful pools of Vegas.
