A Vegas Guide from a Vegas Girl
If you know me, you know that I’m a Vegas girl. I went there for the first time on a family vacation when I was 11 years old in pursuit of seeing my queen Celine Dion live. My whole family loved the trip so much that we went back two years later. I have now been there 6 (soon to be 7) times. There was a 10-year gap between my last two visits, so some things have stayed the same, but a lot has changed! I have become the go-to for Vegas advice in my personal sphere (pun intended), so these are my best recommendations.
Some say that Vegas is not for everyone. That may be true, but I am a firm believer that Vegas has something for everyone. You can choose your own adventure.
If you think that Las Vegas is just gambling and strippers, I can assure you that I don’t like either of those things and still find plenty to love about Vegas! There are so many different things to do and see, all within a relatively small area. You can cram a lot of action into a few days, and you typically don’t need more time than a long weekend.
🎭 Shows: The crown jewel of Vegas!
You can see almost any type of show your heart desires in Vegas. Comedy, magic, music, dance, impersonators - it’s all there, all the time. Some of the greatest talents in the world flock to Vegas for residencies, which are becoming more and more popular, but you can find talent everywhere, from the singer in the lobby bar to the Broadway-style musicals to circus acts and magic shows.
You can find a calendar of all events across the city on any given date at Visit Las Vegas.
Some notable options:
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque shows are a quintessential Vegas experience. If you’ve never seen one, put it at the top of your list. Think of it as an incredibly athletic, unique, and visually stunning adult, artsy circus.
There are several different themes of Cirque shows performing across Las Vegas. We saw the Beatles-themed one many years ago, and it was absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, this one is no longer active, but there is a Michael Jackson-themed version that I’d love to see!
The Sphere
The Sphere is unlike any venue I’ve ever experienced. It’s a must-see!
There are a variety of artists performing concerts there now, so check the calendar. If there isn’t a concert you want to see, check out The Wizard of Oz 4D movie.
Things to note:
The Sphere is connected to The Venetian, and you can access it via a long walk through the casino, conference center, and a walkway.
Do not arrive early
When we saw a movie there, we discovered that the start time on our tickets was when the doors opened, not when the show started. There’s nothing right around the Sphere other than a big parking lot, so you’ll be standing outside waiting until the doors open.
🎰 Gambling: It’s there if you want it
Gambling is honestly the least interesting part of Vegas to me, but you get free alcohol while gambling, and drinks on the Strip aren’t cheap! Bring cash for tips.
My go-to lucky bet is $1 on 27 in Roulette.
🎡 Great Views & Rides: It’s all about the LIGHTS
Vegas is a natural and man-made beauty, and there are many spots to get a good view. The ideal strategy is to go around sunset so you can:
See the mountains in daylight
Watch the city light up after dark
The Strat (formerly Stratosphere)
Incredible views
Thrill rides at the top
I’ve done all the rides, but I was braver and more physically resilient in my youth.
It’s a bit far from the heart of the Strip, so you’ll want to get a ride rather than walk.
High Roller Ferris Wheel
It has large, enclosed cabins, so even if you’re afraid of heights or Ferris Wheels, I think you’ll enjoy it.
It’s located in the LINQ Promenade, which is a fun area to walk around with lots of restaurants and shops.
Great views and a more relaxed experience - minimal adrenaline.
The Eiffel Tower
Las Vegas has a copy of most of the world’s famous landmarks. The Paris Casino has a half-size replica of the Eiffel Tower, and it’s right in the heart of the Strip.
I have not been up to the top, but it’s right across the street from the Bellagio fountains, which would give you a great view. (I will note that I’ve seen the fountains from a balcony on the Cosmopolitan, and it is not the same when you can’t hear the music!)
New York-New York Roller Coaster
A fun little adrenaline rush.
Short, but worth it!
🎯 Attractions (So Many Options)
Vegas has endless attractions:
Driving race cars
Helicopter tours
Extreme mini golf
Indoor amusement park at Circus Circus
And everything in between
I haven’t done a ton of these, so I don’t have specific recommendations, but you can find a lot of information on the Vegas tourism sites and TikTok (seriously, it’s a great travel resource).
This one looks fun and is something we may try on our upcoming trip in February: ⛳️ Swingers Mini Golf
⛲ Bellagio Fountains (Free & Magical)
A classic Vegas must-see, and it’s completely free. It’s best to see at night, but shows are running frequently throughout the day.
Weekdays:
Every 30 minutes from 3:00 PM–7:30 PM
Every 15 minutes from 8:00 PM–midnight
Saturday & Sunday:
Every 30 minutes from 12:00 PM–7:30 PM
Every 15 minutes from 8:00 PM–midnight
Bonus: There’s also a free botanical garden inside the Bellagio that’s worth popping into.
🚣 The Venetian Canals
The Venetian is a great resort to walk around in. It has:
Indoor and outdoor canals, where you can pay for a Gondola ride
Gorgeous architecture with a full mall
A lot of the casinos go hard at their theme, and it’s fun to simply walk around, explore, and people-watch. Vegas has the best people watching you’ll ever find.
🍽️ Food (Buffets & Beyond)
Vegas is famous for its elaborate buffets. I don’t have specific buffet recommendations because we skipped this on our last group trip, but we will be checking some out on our upcoming trip in February! I’ll report back.
That said, you truly can’t go wrong with food in Vegas. There’s something for every budget and every craving.
We went to Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen on our last trip. It was a fun theme with delicious food!
🍸 Clubs & Nightlife
Vegas nightlife is on another level.
The Cosmopolitan has a dayclub pool with 90-degree water if you want to party at a reasonable time. (Reservations encouraged.)
Nightclubs are everywhere if you are interested in staying up very late. Club promoters are roaming the streets looking to hand out free passes all the time, so keep your eyes peeled if you want some!
There’s a Coyote Ugly in the New York-New York Casino that was really fun when I went (over a decade ago, but still iconic).
🎉 Fremont Street: Where the Real Party Is
Fremont Street is old Vegas, and it’s a must.
It is a covered street with a massive light show and a zipline.
There are three different stages with live music.
It’s packed, loud, overstimulating, and SO much fun - Vegas, baby!
Tips:
It’s off the Strip, so you’ll need to get a ride there. You will drive through some sketchy areas between the Strip and Fremont Street. I wouldn’t veer off of Fremont Street once down there.
This is where you’ll find cheaper food, drinks, and gambling.
🕵️ Speakeasies (A New Vegas Trend)
Speakeasies were not a thing when we went to Vegas 10 years ago, but apparently now they’re everywhere.
They’re all over TikTok, and we didn’t make it to any on our last trip, but here are a couple worth checking out:
Search “Vegas speakeasy” on TikTok, and you’ll fall down a very fun rabbit hole.
🏜️ Day Trips: Hoover Dam & Red Rock Canyon
If you want a break from the Strip, these are both incredible but very different vibes.
You could see one (or both) in one full day.
You’ll need a car (or a tour package).
A car is not necessary for the Strip, so I would not recommend renting one for your whole trip.
Both are beautiful and impressive - just know they’ll take up most of a day due to travel. There are hiking trails in Red Rock Canyon, and the Hoover Dam is cool to see and explore. The Dam is on the border of Nevada and Arizona, so you can have a foot in each state!
🚶 Transportation Tips
There are a lot of direct flights to and from Las Vegas, so it’s a very accessible trip. The airport is right off the Strip, so you won’t waste time getting to and from your hotel.
Bring comfortable walking shoes - you will walk A LOT.
The Strip is walkable, but the casinos are massive. You’ll often think, “Oh, that’s just two casinos away,” and it’s actually a mile
Plan to Uber/Lyft/Taxi a lot if you’re going off of the Strip or traveling long distances along the Strip.
When to Go
I’ve been to Vegas in the Winter, Spring, and Summer. Vegas is in the desert, so it doesn’t rain much, and you can expect a lot of sunny weather.
I will never go back in the Summer! It was miserably hot.
In the Winter, it’s not necessarily going to be swimsuit and sandals weather, but it will be pleasant enough to enjoy being outside with a light jacket. It’s a nice break from Midwest Winters.
Spring was definitely the most pleasant time to visit, weather-wise, but it is a bit busier.
🏨 Where to Stay
You must stay on the Strip. This is non-negotiable.
I’ve personally stayed at:
Luxor (2x)
Excalibur
Cosmopolitan
Treasure Island
I stayed off-strip once, and I would not do it again.
Pretty much any hotel/casino directly on the Strip will be fine, though some are obviously higher-end than others.
We will be staying at Park MGM when we go with my family in February. I haven’t stayed there yet, but my parents and brother have, and they liked it enough to want to go back!
Hotel Guide
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1. Bellagio
Theme: Italian / Lake Como elegance
Price: $$$$ (Luxury)
Pros: Iconic fountains; beautiful conservatory & upscale dining
Cons: Expensive; crowded due to popularity
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2. The Venetian
Theme: Venice canals, gondolas, European elegance
Price: $$$$
Pros: Huge all-suite rooms; tons of dining & shopping
Cons: Can feel overwhelming; higher gambling minimums
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3. The Palazzo
Theme: Modern Italian luxury
Price: $$$$
Pros: Large suites; quieter & more refined than Venetian
Cons: Less themed; fewer “wow” attractions
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4. Wynn Las Vegas
Theme: Ultra-luxury modern resort
Price: $$$$
Pros: Best service on the Strip; sophisticated rooms; gorgeous grounds
Cons: Very expensive; not heavily themed
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5. Encore at Wynn
Theme: High-end boutique luxury
Price: $$$$
Pros: Newer rooms; quieter & upscale; great spa
Cons: Small casino floor; nightlife crowds at Encore Beach Club
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6. ARIA Resort & Casino
Theme: Sleek, contemporary tech-luxury
Price: $$$$
Pros: Modern rooms; great dining; central CityCenter location
Cons: Lacks a theme; tech features can be glitchy
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7. The Cosmopolitan
Theme: Modern, trendy, boutique-luxury
Price: $$$$
Pros: Balcony rooms (rare for Vegas); great restaurants & nightlife
Cons: Party-heavy environment; pricey
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8. Caesars Palace
Theme: Roman empire grandeur
Price: $$$$
Pros: Famous; great dining; massive casino; central location
Cons: Can feel crowded; some room towers are dated
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9. Mandalay Bay
Theme: Tropical resort / beach
Price: $$$
Pros: Best pool complex in Vegas; Shark Reef aquarium
Cons: Far south Strip; long walks inside resort
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10. Park MGM
Theme: Modern, clean, non-smoking
Price: $$$
Pros: Entirely smoke-free; great restaurants
Cons: Smaller rooms; minimal theming
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11. Resorts World (Conrad & Hilton)
Theme: Sleek, new, high-tech
Price: $$$
Pros: Newest major resort; modern casino; solid dining
Cons: A bit far north; less foot traffic
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12. MGM Grand
Theme: Classic Vegas mega-resort
Price: $$–$$$
Pros: Lots of shows, huge pool, huge casino
Cons: Massive resort = long walks; rooms vary widely in quality
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13. New York-New York
Theme: NYC skyline, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge
Price: $$–$$$
Pros: Fun vibe; good location; affordable
Cons: Rooms are smaller and older; noisy at times
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14. Paris Las Vegas
Theme: Paris streets, Eiffel Tower, French architecture
Price: $$–$$$
Pros: Great theming; center Strip; good dining
Cons: Some rooms dated; casino can feel smoky
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15. Planet Hollywood
Theme: Movie/celebrity pop-culture
Price: $$–$$$
Pros: Younger vibe; Miracle Mile shops attached
Cons: Not heavily themed; can be loud
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16. Treasure Island (TI)
Theme: Former pirate/adventure theme (now toned down)
Price: $$–$$$
Pros: Solid value; good location near Venetian
Cons: Not as modern; theme mostly removed
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17. Sahara
Theme: Modern desert-inspired
Price: $$–$$$
Pros: Recently renovated; boutique vibe
Cons: North Strip location is quieter and less central
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18. Luxor
Theme: Ancient Egypt / Pyramid
Price: $–$$
Pros: Unique architecture; affordable for the Strip
Cons: Rooms show age; long walks in pyramid layout
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19. Excalibur
Theme: Medieval castle
Price: $–$$
Pros: Very cheap rooms; family-friendly
Cons: Dated rooms; more basic experience
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20. Flamingo
Theme: Classic retro Vegas / tropical
Price: $–$$
Pros: Perfect center-Strip location; cheap rooms
Cons: Hit-or-miss room quality; older property
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21. Horseshoe (formerly Bally’s)
Theme: Classic Vegas casino — minimal theming
Price: $–$$
Pros: Excellent central location; low prices
Cons: Dated rooms; plain atmosphere
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22. The LINQ
Theme: Modern, minimalistic, youthful
Price: $–$$
Pros: Budget-friendly; great mid-Strip position
Cons: Small rooms; lower-end amenities
I highly recommend staying within the red circle or very near it.
Final Thought
Vegas is what you make it. You can relax, party, explore, splurge, or do all of the above - sometimes in the same day.
Plan a little, leave room for spontaneity, wear good shoes, and remember…what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 🎰✨
