I titled the post by year because we visit Vegas yearly, sometimes more often. No, we don’t have a gambling problem; Vegas is simply everything we love all in one place and easily accessible. Shopping, shows, slots, spas, restaurants, people, people, and more people! I have so many good Vegas memories, and we made more in 2021. One of the most enjoyable moments happened as my husband and I sat at a café table in the Bellagio Hotel sipping wine and watching crowds pass. Every single person, of course, is a story. I do love a good story. Some people who passed made eye contact and smiled or said hello, and some went about their business. Everyone had his or her own personal style. This year, the most obvious style trends were tattoos – mostly covering legs. I wanted to stop everyone and ask, “What made you choose that bird tattoo?” or “Are those song lyrics?” I’ve never seen so much body art. The other style trend popping are handbags with chain straps, so, you know I went shopping! I adore this Tori Burch option, but I lost at slots, so no Tori. I’m looking at this Amazon option. Or maybe this one? Have not decided yet. Thoughts?
We’re MGM people. We stay at the Mirage mostly and have stayed at nearly every MGM property. This trip, we tried Aria. Not disappointed. Gorgeous room where everything was digitized! An iPad next to the bed controlled the drapes, lighting, etc. Nothing like laying in bed until 10:00 then touching a screen to open the blackout curtain allowing sunlight to seep through the sheers. Pressing a button next to the door signals staff that you’re sleeping late. Clean later, much later. The bathroom layout is dang smart: tub and shower together in a glassed-in wet room. Overall, very comfortable and spacious room. Of course, I checked out the gym and spa.
The gym has everything any workout enthusiast could possibly need. I found a quiet corner, grabbed a Yoga mat and some 5-lb. weights, and pulled up a Denise Austin workout video on my phone. Denise has kept me fit for 30 years. Next stop was the spa. Massages in Vegas resort hotels are usually not ridiculously expensive and allow access to whirlpools, saunas, lap pools, and salt meditation rooms all day, so they’re worth the splurge. This year, I noticed prices were about $20 more than our last trip in 2019 (we skipped 2020 – Covid, duh). Also, the time allotments are less – 50 minutes opposed to 60, and 80 minutes opposed to 90. Gone are the days I could go to the Mirage spa for 90 minutes and pay $180. Alethea provided one of the best massages I’ve had, and I’ve had many.
The only disappointment or inconvenience about our stay at the Aria resort was that the breakfast buffet is still closed causing quite a crush in the only restaurant open. Covid, ugh.
We must talk food. Dining in Vegas is world class and won’t kill the chain-strapped handbag budget if you plan it right. So many great options, but choosing a restaurant overlooking the Bellagio fountains wins every time. We chose Yellowtail, described on the website as “where Japan and Las Vegas meet.” Yellowtail’s diverse menu offers mouth-watering choices:
Another restaurant we enjoyed was the Water Grill. Located in the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, diners enjoy an imitate, old-world atmosphere while devouring selections from the raw bar, sushi menu, or even choice steaks. After a frenzied few hours of intense shopping, a cool glass of Pinot Grigio paired with oysters hit the spot!
Vegas shows range from too-touristy to down-right raunchy. The many Cirque de Soleil offerings fall in the too-touristy category for me (I fell asleep in The Beatles at the Mirage). I’ve enjoyed several Broadway shows while in Vegas, but this year, we chose raunchy. The circus-esque show, Absinthe, is definitely raunchy, and at times, somewhat vulgar. If you’re easily offended, don’t go. For me, it was a trip highlight, a must-do. The skilled performers managed acrobatic impossibilities that simply blew me away! The sword-swallowing act had me so tense I truly wished for a shot of absinthe. Several celebrities attended the small-venue show, including one of my faves, Shailene Woodley.
Sigh, our yearly Vegas trip is over. Until 2022!
Been there; done that. 