Bright lights and great deals in Las Vegas

I have always wanted to visit Las Vegas and enjoy the glitz and glamour of the Nevada City’s many casinos, shows and other attractions the strip has on offer. The only thing that had put me off visiting Vegas and absorbing the incredible rush of the luxury and extravagance on offer was the high price of accommodation. Las Vegas is not exactly known as a budget holiday location and the huge resorts may offer the ultimate in entertainment and 5 star luxury, but they also know how to charge top dollar for the privilege.

Then, to my surprise something happened that made my trip to Las Vegas possible and I finally got to live my Vegas adventure and stay in some top casino resorts. This not only didn’t break the bank, but left me with more money to spend on the other activities Vegas is famous for. I couldn’t believe it when I saw some of the great deals on offer by the casino resorts and did a little digging as to why there were suddenly great deals and budget specials cropping up all over the place. It seems the emergence of online casino sites in Canada has negatively impacted the Las Vegas resorts and they have seen a drop in visitor numbers.

Flamingo hotel CC: Matze_ott

Our first stop was at the Flamingo Hotel that dates back to 1946 when it was opened by Bugsy Siegel on the then Las Vegas Highway 91-now the Vegas strip. The resort is located on the 4 corners of the strip along with Caesars Palace, the renowned Bellagio and Bally’s. I stayed in one of the 3500 rooms that overlook an incredible water park and 15 acres of lush Caribbean gardens inhabited by an array of bird and aquatic life. The hotel belongs to the species survival program and I encountered animals I had no idea existed whilst staying there, and the chapel and spa are both situated in the gardens with the most breathtaking views across the landscape. The casino was massive and aside from the huge amount of gaming options available the resort also offers other entertainment that featured everything from x rated burlesque shows to comedy and the legendary Margaritaville ; home of the famous cheese burger and margaritas with a kick.

My second stop was the ARIA resort and casino; a resort that actually cares about the environment and has a large focus on sustainable and green design. The resort is visually very striking and uses natural light wherever possible; including in the casino. The over 4000 rooms and suites are the height of modernity and combine integrated technologies that allow you to customise their features. This was great entertainment in itself and helped nurse me through the worst hangover I have ever had after dancing the night away and rubbing shoulders with celebrities and A-list DJs in the HAZE and Gold boutique nightclubs. I finally got to see a Cirque du Soleil show and in true Vegas style they brought Elvis back to life in a stunning tribute. Food is another huge attraction at the ARIA resort and they have amassed an impressive collection of critically acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs. I enjoyed the Japanese cuisine the most as well as the concept food that was a totally new experience to me.
All in all my first experience in Las Vegas was mind blowing, and with the rock bottom deals on offer by many resorts I would definitely return for another visit.

Thanks to Sebastian for writing this guest post for us.