Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas
Slide Nr 1A glittering oasis of lights in the Nevada desert, Las Vegas was indeed founded by gangsters in the early years of the 20th century and has no doubt seen enough rather nefarious activity over the decades to have rightfully earned its nickname, Sin City. But today, Vegas is better known for its world-class entertainment, superb culinary scene and hotel properties that are ever upping the ante when it comes to art and design. If you only have 24 hours in town, here’s what one perfect day might entail.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 28:30am, Put an Egg On It — The earlier you can get to the only Vegas outpost of cult Los Angeles fast-casual joint Eggslut, the better your chances of not having to queue with the hungry masses. Head for the second level of The Cosmopolitan (which also happens to be one of the Strip’s hippest stays) to get your eggy fix of classic breakfast sandwiches perfected with premium ingredients, house-made condiments and oh-so-pillowy brioche buns. (Note: Eggslut opens at 7am weekdays and stays open all night on Friday and Saturday.)
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 39:15am, Stroll Down Memory Lane — Visions of Las Vegas are synonymous with neon signage, and thankfully, many signs from bygone decades have found a permanent home at the Neon Museum, located just north of the Strip in the city’s downtown district. Guided tours of the museum’s so-called neon boneyard provide a treasure trove of insights into the signs and their stories. And yes, photos for personal use are allowed – so best be prepared for your Insta photo-op.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 410:30am, Peep The Street Art — One decidedly insider fact about Las Vegas is that it has an exceptional collection of murals by local and internationally known street artists, including pieces by Vhils, Shepard Fairey and D*Face, to name a few. What began with a few commissions for the Life is Beautiful festival (held every September) has turned into a legitimate downtown street art district, the heart of which is Fremont Street, E. Ogden Avenue, North 6th and North 7th streets – but don’t be shy to wander further afield.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 511:30am, Window Shop & Then Some — No trip to Vegas would be complete without a visit to one of the city’s iconic shopping destinations, which include The Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace and the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. In addition to top-tier retailers, both venues are known for their ambiance and entertainment: the gondola rides at the Grand Canal Shops and the “Fall of Atlantis” show at the Forum Shops are definitely Vegas classics. Embrace the surreality, and enjoy the show.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 612:30pm, Lunch With A View — One of the latest buzzy topics in the Vegas restaurant scene is the move of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago to prime real estate at the Bellagio, directly overlooking the lagoon where the hotel’s fountains do their dance beginning at noon on weekends and at 3pm on weekdays. Whether or not the fountains are active, the serenity of the lagoon and a few shared plates – think light pizzas, pastas and salads – are the perfect midday pitstop.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 72pm, Indulge In Some Poolside R&R — One of the secrets to making it through a marathon Las Vegas day that will go well into the night is to take a bit of a time out at some point in the afternoon, to rest and chill before Round 2. And since Las Vegas hotels typically have such beautifully designed pools – Aria Resort & Casino, Caesar’s Palace, The Cosmopolitan and the new Park MGM all have lovely ones – why not enjoy them? Even if it’s not swimsuit weather, there’s nothing wrong with relaxing poolside and getting a little vitamin D. [Photo: Park MGM Pool]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 83:30pm, Hotel Hopping — If you’re a hotel fan, an art and design lover, a foodie, or all of the above: one of the best parts of Vegas is checking out what’s new and notable around town. The Palms, fresh from a major refresh, has a very cool new vibe; the massive Damien Hirst shark hanging suspended over Unknown bar on the casino floor sets the tone as soon as you arrive (Hirst also had a hand in the bar’s polka-dot motif). And the opening of the Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas has transformed the former Monte Carlo into one of the Strip’s must-visit destinations. [Photo: Unknown at The Palms]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 95pm, See Las Vegas From New Heights — The lights of the Las Vegas Strip are undeniably dazzling, which makes sundown or after-dark the perfect time to head for the world’s tallest observation wheel, the High Roller. Similar to the London Eye or Singapore Flyer, spacious cabins allow for optimal 360-degree viewing; one rotation takes 30 minutes (and, because it’s Las Vegas, there’s a bar cabin option for guests 21+). For even better views – and in less time, too – Maverick Tours’ Las Vegas Nights helicopter tour offers a bird’s-eye view of the city’s hotels and landmarks during a spectacular 15-minute flight.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 106:30pm, Dinner + Show (Option 1) — Between the Cirque du Soleil performances, celebrity residencies, and variety shows of all stripes, there’s no question that Vegas truly is the entertainment capital of the US. The key to a good evening game plan is keeping things easy, which is why the combination of dinner at The Cosmo’s sultry supper club, Rose. Rabbit. Lie., plus tickets to Opium, the new Spiegelworld variety show – think retro-steampunk space journey, peppered with bawdy humour – works so well. [Photo: Opium by Spiegelworld]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 116:30pm, Dinner + Show (Option 2) — Then there’s Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. Both American pop stars are launching residencies at Park Theater: Lady Gaga Enigma opens 28 December and includes 23 show dates for 2019, as well as several dates for a jazz and piano show. Britney: Domination bows in February. For dinner before a show at the Park Theater, the NoMad Restaurant, Primrose or Bavette’s Steakhouse at Park MGM and any of Aria’s restaurant offerings – including the new Vegas outpost of Catch – are all right there. [Photo: Primrose]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
Slide Nr 14Read Before You Go — Much has been written about Sin City, and any traveller looking to peek behind the curtain before they even reach the city limits is spoiled for choice, from the perennial favourite Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson, to Larry McMurtry’s The Desert Rose and Nicholas Pileggi’s Casino. For a broader view, reach for Literary Las Vegas: The Best Writing About America’s Most Fabulous City – a collection of stories and musings on Vegas, written by some of the country’s most-revered authors, including Joan Didion and Tom Wolfe. Perfect for airplane or poolside reading.
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