Tamika in Vegas

This past summer my friend Tamika went on a girls trip to Vegas. My first (and only) time in Vegas was summer 2015 and after reading through Tamika's experience I realized my first time in Vegas was very similar. I guess everything worth seeing in Las Vegas is on one boulevard. 😎 After reading about Tamika's trip comment below if you have been to Vegas and if you also had similar experiences. 

Las Vegas, Nevada (USA)

Where did you go?

I went to Las Vegas June 2017.  Weather wise, it was the perfect time to go.  Temperatures there were in the 100 (degrees Farenheit) or higher everyday, sun shining definitely contributed to that summer heat as well.

Being from the east coast, the heat over there was dry, no humidity. But why would there be humidity? Technically it’s a city in the middle of the desert. So even though it was hot, it was enjoyable since there was no humidity to make you feel sticky and uncomfortable

I really enjoyed myself, the trip was so much fun.

Was this a girls trip, family trip, couples or single trip?

My trip to Las Vegas was a girls’ trip for my cousin’s birthday.

Did you visit any famous landmarks ?

I visited a few known landmarks, the Las Vegas strip, Caesar’s Palace and the Wynn Hotel. We also did ziplining from the roof of the Rio Masquerade Tower, as well as party at popular spots like 1OAK Nightclub and Drai’s Beach Club Nightclub.

Best experience?

The best experience of the trip was seeing the Las Vegas cliché wherever you went but each place having its own “identity” at the same time.  Everywhere lived up to the Las Vegas cliché of glitz, glam, expensive cars, money, gambling,  big spenders, palm trees, etc; although each “campus” you visited had it’s own theme and vibe.

Caesar’s Palace lived up to its name. It was beautiful and detailed with Roman architecture (columns and statues) and style just as if we were back in the Roman Empire.  Inside was a casino, a shopping mall, art galleries and restaurants.  In the mall there is a show called “Fall of Atlantis” which is a Roman mythology story. The story is portrayed with mythological electronic puppets. You can look it up J  Art Galleries were your expected art galleries, paintings and sculptures with no explanation and freedom of your own interpretation.

Wynn Hotel was another hotel landmark visited. The theme for this “campus” was classy, 1940s Frank Sinatra style.  Walking onto the hotel property you heard jazz music and more of a classic music style.  There were waterfalls and water fountains that shot water in the air on cue with the music.  Inside the Wynn Hotel was more shopping and restaurants but for the upscale luxury crowd; stores were Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes, etc.

I noticed a nice restaurant in this hotel with the option of lunch on the balcony. Also there was a garden in the middle of the mall, more like an arboretum.  The design of this hotel was detailed with eccentric art décor, mirrors, marble, and exotic plants.

The Nightclub experience was just as you’d imagine. Everyone was on their “A” game when it came to apparel, dress to impress. And just as you “dressed to impress”, the nightclub service was there to match, Bartenders catering to you and exclusive VIP.

Worst experience?

Not exactly falling into the category of “worst experience”, but one of the things that I wasn’t prepared for was taking cabs to get around everywhere. I guess being from Boston and living in Brooklyn (NYC), I’m so used to walking wherever or hopping on the subway real quick if my destination wasn’t in walking distance.  Depending where or what activity you did you may have to cab it to your next destination. For example we did ziplining at the Rio Masquerade Tower, but after had to take an uber to Caesar’s Palace. Both places were not in walking distance of each other.

Another thing was crossing the street. Who would think crossing the street in Las Vegas would be a task? Well…try crossing Las Vegas Boulevard.  When you go to cross at the corners its blocked off, some type of glass shield. Instead you have to go up escalators and walk across the bridge/overpass to get to the other side. Again, being a Boston native & a current New Yorker (city life), crossing the streets at the corners is a normal thing; having to cross the street this way in Vegas felt weird.

Most surprising?

The most surprising thing about the trip was that being from the east coast was almost a foreign thing.  Many people we met there were all from some parts of California (mainly Los Angeles) , and anywhere else out west.  When I and my cousin told people we were from Boston and Brooklyn, people would react by saying “What y’all doing way out here? That’s so far away.” LOL 

We met one person from the east coast though, she was from Miami. But Miami is a completely different place within itself from Boston and Brooklyn.

How was the food?

The food was great, our hotel had a complimentary 3-hour buffet breakfast: Waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, bacon, sausages, fresh fruits, muffins, fresh juice, water, coffees, teas etc.

In terms of food, I didn’t get a chance to do any of the restaurants. I would definitely go back and do one of the upscale restaurants for a nice sit down dinner. And of course, for some more light gambling and fun.

Would you go back?

I’d even go back for the scenic view from flying in the plane.  The land transition is amazing, from desert (Nevada), to green & nature (farm states in between), back to what looks like cement blocks in a birds eye view (New York) .