I’ve decided to start a tradition in our household: to visit Las Vegas each year during Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Why?
Because Vegas ROCKS over the holidays!
There are usually less people in the city so you can enjoy the shows, casinos, shopping and dining with ease. Hotels cut their prices right up until New Year’s Eve which means you can find some pretty sweet deals at your top favorite luxury Las Vegas resorts. And let’s not forget the most important reason! SALES SALES SALES! The forum shoppes at Caesar’s palace have huge sales… more specifically, Jimmy Choo’s store has a mega, MEGA sale. We are talking 50-70% off. Thus far, I’ve been able to score big every time on at least one pair of fab shoes!
Helpful Hint: Rodeo week is usually the first or second week in December which is always fun to check out. There’s also a ballroom dance competition you may enjoy!
Taxi’s, Uber & Lift
I like to stay in Vegas for 2-3 nights. Since we live in San Diego, it’s super easy to drive there in under 5 hours. If you’re flying here, no prob. The airport is easy to manage and there are tons of taxis and now Uber and Lift drivers waiting for you.
Speaking of Uber, let’s talk about that for a second. Just two years ago, Uber was banned from Vegas. I’m assuming they were trying to protect the livelihood of their taxi cab drivers which I totally get. I do however, prefer to use Uber because in my experience, the drivers are friendlier, the cars are nicer and it’s a less expensive fare. However, about a year ago, Uber won their case and Las Vegas lifted the ban. Lyft can also operate out of Vegas.
The downside? Vegas is less friendly to Lyft and Uber. Oftentimes, you have to walk all the way to the opposite end of the casino to find the parking entrance where they allow Uber and Lift drivers to enter. Sometimes it’s the same place; other times, they’re completely different. On our last Vegas trip we were walking in circles at Caesar’s palace trying to find the Uber area! It was kind of comical actually, I wound up getting some extra shopping done LOL.
My Favorite Show
I used to compete in Las Vegas a lot (my ballroom competition days) so I’ve had the opportunity to see many, many shows. I have to say, I’m always fascinated with Cirque du Soleil. I am in awe of those performers- their bodies, skills, talent… I could watch them all day long and night! KA’ is one of my favorites with the moving stage, climbing and soaring acrobats, and really cool costumes.
My most fave show is La Reve’. It totally helps that La Reve’ is at The Wynn and I love going there for pictures. The Wynn definitely has the most beautifully decorated lobby in Las Vegas.
Let’s get back to the show- it’s AMAZING! I mean, in all seriousness, these acrobats are crazy talented! They’re diving over 80 feet into a pool, swinging from trapezes and performing synchronized swimming routines. Then, when the stage emerges from out of that same pool, they begin to ballroom dance. How cool is that?!! I was on the edge of my seat praying that the stage continued to operate efficiently and timely enough so no one hit it on their way down (there goes the control freak side of me- I’d never be able to perform in a show like that, relying on OTHER THINGS to keep me safe).
Some helpful hints when you’re booking your tickets: don’t go for VIP or the most expensive tickets! Save your money- the theatre is very intimate and every seat in the house has a great view. If you go too close, be prepared to get wet, the acrobats’ splashes will hit you. If you opt for VIP, you’ll be sitting in the farthest row back. We were about 6 rows up and it was perfect!
The Delano
A few years back, The Hotel at Mandalay Bay was remodeled and taken over by The Delano (yes, the one you’ve heard about from Miami). What I love most about this hotel is their pet friendly policy. You all know how I am with Vasco… wherever and whenever I can bring him with me, I do. So obviously he’s a huge fan of The Delano Las Vegas too :)! Of course I love the Mandarin (who doesn’t) but The Delano is easy, it’s at the far end of the strip so it feels quieter, it’s super modern in style and design which I love, it’s reasonably priced, and you can walk to my favorite burger joint through the adjoining lobby that connects to The Luxor Hotel. (This pescetarian orders the mushroom burger- it’s the fries and 100110 toppings I die for every time).
Some helpful hints: Make sure you ask for an upgrade at checkin- it’s usually very inexpensive and sometimes complimentary. Their corner suites are the best, you have two walls of open window views of the downtown strip. If you have a pet, their conveniently located outdoor doggie area is super close to the hotel. You’ll probably meet some dogs along the way so if you’re not a dog person, this probably isn’t’ the place for you. Dogs of all sizes frequent the hotel’s lobby (one of the many reasons I love this hotel so much).
Dining
The Burger Bar is by far the yummiest of places for lunch or a late afternoon meal! I prefer to fast on our drive out there and race to the spot as soon as we check in! Make sure you lighten your calorie intake the week before! Trust me, you’ll thank me after you devour an order of their insanely delicious sweet potato or steak fries. I’m vegetarian, so I always order their portobello burger and add like 50 toppings… pineapple, peppers, spicy sauces and whatever else I’m craving. And guys, I totally eat like TWO orders of fries and I don’t like to share! Every time I come home from Vegas, I have to workout triple time.
Tao Las Vegas at The Venetian is my choice for dinner. We have tried a few other places like Maestro’s and Lavo, but Tao just has this super cool Buddha Bar vibe and feel, plus they have awesome healthy options! I order riceless sushi to balance out my tofu pad thai dish (which I am in love with) and for dessert, I stick to their insanely fresh uni. Of course, I usually share my noodles with Anton and order a few sashimi pieces so I am satiated but not overly full. November through December is a perfect time to dine here- although it can be busy, it’s not so packed as it can be during the summer vacation months. You can also opt to enjoy the nightclub here- just make sure they are open on certain holiday weekends like Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Helpful Hints: I always make my reservations in advance! I know I’m a bit (or a lot) OCD but it’s soooo much easier to arrive prepared because Vegas tends to grab you and consume your time and before you know it, it’s dinner and show time!
The Best Shoe Sale Of The Year
Who finds Jimmy Choo shoes they like in their size and 50-70% OFF any other time of the year? If you do, I seriously need to know details!
We’ve been coming to Vegas during Christmas or Thanksgiving for the past three years and I’ve hit the jack pot every time. Maybe it’s just that the Jimmy Choo Vegas Forum Shoppes store has more options? Or more sizes? I don’t know and I really don’t care. 🙂 I just know that I now have about 6 pairs of shoes (a mixture of sandals and boots) as a result of this fabulous sale and I received a huge discount on every pair! I even convinced my Dad’s girlfriend to stop by on our last trip- she did more damage than I did :)!
If you’re not into women’s shoes men, don’t sweat it. They have a John Varvatos nearby where Anton found some great sale items. Unfortunately for me (wahhhh) Louis Vuitton did not have a sale (shocker NOT) but it’s still fun to go in and check out their Forum store. And after all of this shopping and great savings, why not head over to Joe’s Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab for a glass of champagne and some stone crab appetizers? I can think of NO other way to celebrate!
Vegas & Fitness
The only thing I missed was a workout! So, sometimes I’ll just stretch and do some pilates or abs in my hotel room and try to walk a lot to our destinations down the strip. But when Vegas is freezing cold, which it can be in November and December, we Uber everywhere!!
I always try to get an extra workout in the morning we drive out there, and the day after we return. I definitely splurge a lot on those fries I was telling you about so trying to eat healthy the other meals on the trip (sushi and fresh stone crab) keeps me from packing on the pounds! OK- so maybe I splurge on a little bread too but it’s a vacation, right? Everything in moderation, do you agree? Balance is key!
Just keep in mind when planning your next Thanksgiving or Christmas, Las Vegas could be a great place to stay and enjoy. It’s fun, affordable and extremely festive over the holidays.
What do YOU like to do in Vegas? Any awesome shows I should go see? Have you ever been to the ballroom competition or Cowboy Christmas during December? I’m also dying for a great club. There are so many… we usually do the pool and day DJ thing in the summer… The Encore is great at night too, but where else is spicy and fun to try???
xx Shanna
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