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Las Vegas
In the 1990’s Las Vegas reinvented itself as an upscale place to which even families could travel. The hotels/casinos now are huge complexes, usually with a theme. There is the South Pacific theme of Mandalay Bay; the movie theme of MGM; the Middle Eastern theme of Aladdin, and the French theme of Paris. Shopping and great dining venues were planned as a part this rebuilding, along with headliner shows-sort of a “Broadway” in the west. The Bellagio incorporated a large man-made lake in the foreground where fountain shows are performed daily. The fountains are scnynronized to music, so the water is dancing with the melody. One also cannot leave out the active volcano in the front of the Mirage. A trip to Las Vegas is truly a vacation to get all of your senses working.
Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino has to be my favorite place to stay on the strip. It has great restaurants, such as The Border Grill (Mexican food); Wolfgang Puck’s Trattoria del Lupo (Italian); Red, White and Blue Bistro (American), not to mention The Bayside Buffet. I consider this buffet to be one of the best on the strip. They offer a Sunday Champagne Brunch, which I highly recommend. Mandalay Place, a shopping strip that connects Mandalay Bay to Luxor,is an interesting, one of a kind shopping venue. Connected to Planet Hollywood (formerly the Aladdin) are the Miracle Mile Shops which are home to Ben Sherman, H & M and the French Connection. Via Bellagio at the Bellagio offers Tiffany and Hermes. The Fashion Show Mall is literally 2 million square feet of shopping where there is a live fashion show every weekend. No trip would be complete for me if I was not able to spend some time in a spa. Mandalay Bay has one of my favorite spas, along with its adjoining spa at THEhotel, a sleek and modern spa called BATHHOUSE. This spa has waterfalls throughout, along with hot and cold plunge pools. It is truly a relaxing experience. During my last visit I had the pleasure of experiencing the spa at Luxor. Some steam room time before a deep tissue massage,a body scrub and a facial were just what I needed after dancing the night away. Krave is a dance club located adjacent to Planet Hollywood on Harmon Avenue. It has a large dance floor and played all the current dance videos. The clientele was of every age. I would recommend stopping there to dance and have a drink or two on your visit to Las Vegas. Every casino has a club, or “ultra lounge,” and each has a different theme. If you are looking to rub elbows with celebrities, LAX,PURE, Studio 54 and Blush, to mention a few, are the nightclubs for you. From Broadway shows like Phantom and Lion King, to the world renowned Cirque du Soleil shows like “O” and Zumanity, Las Vegas remains unmatched as the Entertainment Capital of the World. There is no shortage of star power at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, where Cher and Bette Midler perform phenomenal shows. Barry Manilow also has an ongoing engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton. Wynn Las Vegas is now offering a new “Pride Package.” It is for the people who appreciate the fabulous things in life. The package includes a premium suite, couple’s massage, round of golf, poolside cabana, nightclub bottle service and VIP indulgence at Le Reve. It is truly a way to pamper yourself and your partner. For more information about Las Vegas please contact CJ at 631-580-7188 or cj@travelwithmontecarlo.com. To be added to our email list for newsletters and specials please send your email address to newsletter@travelwithmontecarlo.com |
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All Rights Reserved 2012
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Visiting Las Vegas sure is not a gamble these days. It is a sure bet! Now is the time to take that trip to Las Vegas. Hotel rooms are much cheaper than usual, not to mention the cost of airfare. Las Vegas has had many personas over the years. “Sin city” was an adult playground of sorts. Gambling, drinking, smoking and other vices were what Las Vegas was all about in years past. 
In the new millennium, Las Vegas has begun to focus on LGBT travelers. This past February I traveled to Las Vegas with two friends to celebrate a birthday. I had not been there in over a year, and a year in Vegas time is like five years everywhere else. There was so much new going on; new restaurants, new clubs and even a new “city”- City Center, a project by MGM. City Center will be a self sufficient “city” with hotels, casino, condos, shopping and restaurants. It is quite an impressive project. I am amazed at how much has been built in such a short time. The construction crews work around the clock.