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| Somewhere in Las Vegas by the Strip. Photo ©CanadianandWorldTourism/Canada en Español/Cactus Rock New Media |
I hadn’t been back in Las Vegas for over 30 years. Until a couple of weeks ago. I was there for very personal reasons. A series of unfortunate events led to a very fortunate one wherein I found a couple of lovely aunts (very young aunts at that) who live in Las Vegas. My sister and I owed them a debt of gratitude and we decided to go see them. So we booked a few nights at the Aria Resort and Casino (my sister’s favorite in Las Vegas). Actually she booked the room, I just showed up 
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| The modern Las Vegas Strip. Not what I remember from my last visit over 30 years ago. Photo ©CanadianandWorldTourism/Canada en Español/Cactus Rock New Media |
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| One of the pools at the Aria Resort. Photo ©CanadianandWorldTourism/Canada en Español/Cactus Rock New Media |
Las Vegas was never my cup of tea (I’m not a gambler) and even though I liked what I saw this time, the opportunity cost makes me lean more towards New York City, one of my and my wife’s, sister’s and best friend’s favorite destinations. It would be a different story if I was 15 to 25 years younger. Mostly because of the aforementioned DJ’s shows. Not that I wouldn’t go to a Tiesto or Kygo show today, but it’s not the same. I might look weird (though in Vegas, who’d care?). By the way Tiesto will be doing a ton of shows a the MGM Grand’s Hakkasan Nightclub this year. If you’re single or a young couple in your 20s, 30s you may want to consider a weekend in Las Vegas. I’m sure it’d be lots of fun. Having said this though, my lovely aunts still live in Las Vegas so there’s always the possibility of my sister and I booking the Aria again to go see them – and who knows maybe we’ll go to a Kygo show too!
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| One of the “older” but best known Las Vegas resort hotels. Photo ©CanadianandWorldTourism/Canada en Español/Cactus Rock New Media |
As if the DJ and party scene was not enough to call Las Vegas, America’s playground, the city of almost 700,000 people will now have an NFL football team when the Oakland Raiders move there for the 2020 season. Las Vegas city council approved and agreed to fund part of the $1.7 (or 1.9) billion new domed stadium to the tune of $750 million of public money. No doubt the football team will add to Las Vegas smorgasbord of entertainment choices. And for Canadians (always in the top 3 foreign visitors to Las Vegas), the NHL 2017/2018 season will be the fist one for the Las Vegas Golden Knights!
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| The Strip is not cheap, but if you were really tight for money and still wanted to go to Las Vegas, it is still possible to find very inexpensive accommodations. Photo ©CanadianandWorldTourism/Canada en Español/Cactus Rock New Media |
One thing to remember though is that Las Vegas is no longer a cheap destination. All those years ago, it was very cheap to stay and eat in Las Vegas (the idea being that you’d make up the cost by gambling). Today that’s no longer the case. Las Vegas is becoming a veritable fun city. The sin may still be there, but the music and the food are much better now!
Check out hotels and resorts on TripAdvisor to find one you may really like. I recommend the Aria Resort. It’s amazing. But it’s not inexpensive. You may want to consider the MGM Grand if you’re planning to go to a show at Hakkasan. More moderate priced hotels: New York, New York, Planet Hollywood, and Bally’s.
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| From the older guard, the Ceasar’s Palace, home to Celine Dion’s and Elton John’s residences in Las Vegas. Photo ©CanadianandWorldTourism/Canada en Español/Cactus Rock New Media |
Happy Travels. Travel Happy!
Source: canadianandworldtourism.com