Ok, let’s get this lame slogan out of the way – What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. There, I said it. It is officially in the article…despite the fact that I believe it’s the worst slogan of all time. Las Vegas is a place that creates stories and memories, why would you not want to share that with people? I love telling people about my trips there; what I did and the debauchery I got in to. It is part of the fun. When was the last time you said to someone who went to Vegas, “Hey, how was Vegas?” and their response was, “Sorry, can’t tell. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”? Never.

Based on that, I am here to share some info on Las Vegas for virgins and veterans. Not so much personal stories, but places to eat, shop, and party. If you want personal stories don’t be afraid to ask, I will share. Some are good, some bad one, and some don’t need to be re-told, but I will anyway.

Food

Once you’ve arrived, there is so much to do and see in a short period that you need to make the most of all the time you have. To save time, I suggest finding places to eat in and around your hotel. This will not only save time, but you’ll also save on cab fare. Here are a few places in the main section of the strip that are good, fast and close to everything:

Food Court at Caesar’s Palace

This is one of my all time favourite places to eat in Vegas. There are about 10 places to choose from that include pizza, comfort food like chili and soup in a bread bowl, and a place that allows you to customize a big ass salad for cheap. It is located right in the heart of the casino, just off the gambling floor and is right next to the entrance to the Forum Shops, which I will touch on in the shopping section.

Price Range: $10-$20
Wait Time for Food: Less than 5 mins

Planet Hollywood Buffet

Honestly, any buffet is good. I have personally been to Bellagio, Paris, Caesar’s, and now Planet Hollywood. We went there for dinner and it was reasonably priced and the food was good. If you stay at the hotel, as we did, you receive a $5 voucher. It’s always a good idea to go to concierge or guest services and ask if they have hotel coupon books, as most do and are happy to give them out if it means you will spend money in their hotel. The food at Planet Hollywood Buffet is broken into sections by region: Italy, America, Mexico, Asia, and the Middle East. There is also a Seafood section, a Salad section, and a Dessert area with some unreal choices, like crème brule, self-serve ice-cream, and even cotton candy.

Price Range:$25-$35, breakfast, lunch, dinner all differ
Wait Time for Food: Instant

The N9ne at The Palms

The N9ne is a steakhouse located at the Palms casino and is worth every penny. I have only been there once, but the service was great and the food was outstanding. Going out for one nice meal per trip is a definite must and this is the place for all you carnivores. The Palms is located off the strip, so I would suggest making a night out of this by eating dinner here then spending some time in the casino and partying at one, or all four, of the clubs at Palms, which I will get into later.
http://www.n9negroup.com/#/n9ne/main/

Price Range: $100
Wait Time for Food: around 30 mins

Shopping

I am not an avid shopper, I almost hate it, but when you make a trip to Vegas, you need to check out the shopping it has to offer. There are a lot of places to see and it could honestly take a whole trip to see all the stores, but here are some I have been to which range in price and style for everyone:

Las Vegas Premium Outlets

With stores such as Billabong, Calvin Klein, FCUK, Hugo Boss, Nike, Oakley, True Religion and many, many others, this is the place to go for deals. It is located off the strip so a taxi is necessary to get there, but it is worth the trip. People just love outlet malls and this one has some great deals at some great stores. Visit http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=58 for more details and keep an eye out for printable coupons that can save you even more money!

Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood

Aptly named, this is a mile long circle that has stores running on both sides of the foyer. Located right at the entrance to Planet Hollywood, this is a great place to walk around and check out not only big name brands, but also what some smaller local brands offer. Aside from just shopping, there are a few restaurants and a must visit ABC Store. This is a store that offers trinkets and tourist stuff, but it is a must visit because it sells Vitamin Water, Gatorade and Energy Drinks. This is honestly one of the first places I visit, as there is nothing worse than waking up hungover and not being able to replenish those electrolytes.
http://www.miraclemileshopslv.com/

Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace

The Forum Shops is a premier place for high end stores such as Chrome Hearts, Burberry, Gucci, Harry Winston, Louis Vuitton, among others. It’s a great place to do some window shopping, unless you win big and have the bankroll to blow on some of these shops.
http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/casino-misc/the-forum-shops-detail.html

Partying

When it comes to partying in Las Vegas, there are hot spots, warm spots, and cold spots where you have no business going. Getting to know the places to go is key, as there are are promoters all over trying to get you in to their club. Be prepared to spend money as cover is regularly $20 (minimum) and drinks are anywhere from $8 to $20 depending on type of alcohol and whether it’s a single or double. Here are a few places I suggest, especially for first time visitors:

Rain at The Palms

Rain is an enormous club that is located in the premier hotel for young people in Vegas. Once again, due to its distance from the main strip, it is a place you will want to spend an evening with dinner, gambling, then partying. Rain is the biggest of the four clubs at The Palms and is the home of Paul Oakenfold on Saturday nights. The best deal is an all access wristband you can purchase for $60, which gains you access to Rain, as well as the three other clubs: Ghostbar, which is 55 floors up and offers insane views of the strip on their big patio; Moon, which is located on the penthouse of the new Fantasy Tower at The Palms, also has an amazing view, as well as a retractable roof that when open, shows the night sky and when closed, acts as a video screen; and Playboy Club, which is actually attached to Moon via escalator and elevator. The club has tables to gamble on, where the dealers are Bunnies, which is always good for the guys out there.
http://www.n9negroup.com/#/rain/main/

Tao at The Venetian

Tao is still one of my favourites. It is the second story of a two story restaurant/club and has some amazing features. The architecture when you walk in is stunning and it leads you into an open space with a big main bar and tables all around. I recommend bottle service at this club, as it can get packed, making you feel like a penguin trying to move around. Bottle Service will run you about $400 per bottle, not including tip, but is worth the money. From the girls dancing in various locations, to the hot tubs with girls in them for eye candy, this club is a must visit.
http://www.taolasvegas.com/tao.html

Empire Ballroom

For those who are not done clubbing at 4am, which is when most of the clubs shut down, head to Empire Ballroom. Empire is an after hours club and is open from 3am to 10am on weekends, meaning you can literally party all night. They play mostly house music and it is laid out like an open gym. With multiple bars as well as tables available, this is a great place to check out at least once. Best of all, there is a McDonalds next door so you can get a greasy meal at 7am when you are on to the next place.
http://www.bachelorvegas.com/nightclubs/ballroom.html

So there you have it. A few places to eat, shop, and party while in Vegas. It’s always nice to have information when you go somewhere new, but walking around and finding stuff out is part of the fun as well. I have found some gems and some duds (stay away from Wild Coyote in New York, New York) just by walking around and experiencing new places. The main reason for a trip to Vegas is to let loose and have a good time, so do it.

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Spiro Khouri

Spiro Khouri has called Vancouver home since his inception in 1984. He is a proud resident of the city and is excited to share it with others through his writing in Define Magazine. Spiro loves attending new events and will be bringing them to you on a regular basis.

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