With a slew of openings, Nevada’s most famous city has plenty to lure in 2023, finds Tamara Hinson
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Whether it’s the city’s first Formula One race in November, British Airways’ new service from Gatwick (launched in March) or the revamps to some of its most iconic hotels, there are countless reasons to visit Las Vegas this year – or indeed to book ahead for next year, with Virgin Atlantic flights from Manchester starting in 2024.
The makeover of the New York New York hotel kicked off last year and will be completed this summer. We’re particularly excited about the Big Apple-themed paint jobs in the bedrooms, which will feature splashes of taxi cab yellow. For clients keen to see the best of the US capital of fun, we’ve put together a 48-hour guide.
Day one
09.00: For a beautiful breakfast, head to Sadelle’s Café at the Bellagio, overlooking the hotel’s famous conservatory (fun fact: the garden is tended to by more than 100 horticulturalists). Its famous dishes include homemade bagels and caramelised sugar-topped grapefruit. The Belle Epoque-inspired decor is spectacular – bonus points if you bag one of the gorgeous clamshell armchairs.
10.00: The Mob Museum is one of the most popular attractions in downtown Las Vegas. You’ll learn not only about the shady characters who once controlled Las Vegas’s casinos, but also about their modern-day counterparts – whether it’s the Italian Mafia or Mexico’s cartels. The exhibits are constantly updated, with recent additions including items owned by Al Capone.
11.30: Downtown’s newest attraction is the Punk Rock Museum, which opened on Western Avenue in April. The museum – the brainchild of NOFX frontman Fat Mike – boasts one of the world’s largest collections of punk memorabilia, including legendary musicians’ instruments, several of which can be played by visitors. There’s also a punk-themed wedding chapel, tattoo parlour and bar.
13.30: The Bedford by Martha Stewart restaurant, modelled on the lifestyle guru’s farmhouse, opened in the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino in 2022. The bread basket is already the stuff of legend (try the grape and rosemary focaccia). Other highlights include the fettuccine alfredo with Périgord truffle.
15.30: Walk off your lunch by exploring the Palms Casino Resort, which emerged from a $600 million acelift in 2022. The makeover involved room revamps, a remodelling of the casino and new decor throughout.
There’s also a new American gastropub, Serrano Vista Cafe. But the most spectacular spot? Unknown: a bar by Damien Hirst, whose 13-foot shark, divided into three parts and displayed in a tank, sits behind the bar.
16.30: Head to the Strip’s FlyOver Las Vegas, which opened in 2021. Visitors who brave this high-tech simulator ride can can feel like they’re soaring over the city – or over Canada’s snowy peaks, thanks to new experience Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies
19.00: Opt for an early dinner at Superfrico, housed inside the Cosmopolitan. It’s next door to the venue for the OPM (more on that later), and the show’s performers regularly cavort through the restaurant, performing gravity-defying acrobatics table-side.
The menu, described as Italian American Psychedelic, isn’t as weird as it sounds – think pizzas, steaks and seafood. The must-have item is the mozzarella, made right at your table by the servers.
21.00: Head to OPM, an adult-only show hosted by Andromeda, a glitch-prone android. The venue is intimate (clients with a fear of audience participation might want to reconsider) but the acrobatics are spectacular. It’s not for prudes – the adult-only rating is due to swearing, adult humour and a brief bit of nudity – but the brilliant performers are fantastically diverse.
Expect gravity-defying acrobatics, a limbo dancer and some pretty impressive bubble-blowing.
22.00: Head to The Chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan to experience what it feels like to sit inside a super-sized crystal chandelier. Its most famous drink – which has racked up $9.4 million in sales – is the Verbena.
Made with tequila, yuzu and lemon verbena, it’s garnished with a Szechuan flower. When eaten, it numbs the tongue and sends tastebuds into overdrive, highlighting the individual flavour notes.
Day two
09.00: Start with pastry perfection, courtesy of Dominique Ansel Las Vegas at Caesars Palace. The swanky bakery’s cronuts are legendary, but the highlight is the vending machine that dispatches Ansel’s famous cookie shots – warm cookies filled with Madagascan vanilla milk. Messy? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely.
10.00: Burn off that sugar high with some retail therapy. The city’s two biggest outlet malls are Las Vegas South Premium Outlets and Las Vegas North Premium Outlets, which is closest to the Strip. One of the latest destinations for shoppers is The District – a 70,000sq ft retail space at Resorts World Las Vegas.
You’ll find everything there, from big-hitters such as Fred Segal to smaller brands such as Corso, which is famous for its beautiful Mexican jewellery.
12.00: Time for brunch at Resorts World’s Crossroads – the Strip’s first plant-based, fine-dining restaurant. Popular dishes include the (meat-free) meatballs. Afterwards, hop over to the car park and try the Vegas Loop, a twin-tunnel underground transportation system.
Visitors can hop into a Tesla and whizz over to the conference centre in a matter of seconds, and there are plans to build 50 stations along the Strip.
14.00: For the ultimate art fix, you can’t beat AREA15, a purpose-built entertainment district minutes from the Strip. It’s filled with weird and wonderful art installations and standalone attractions including Wink World – a collection of light-based art installations in darkened rooms.
There are various bars and restaurants at which you can refuel, including The Beast by Todd English. Later this year, work will start on a suitably spooky permanent attraction inspired by Halloween Horror Nights at Universal’s theme parks. It’s expected to open in 2025.
16.00: You don’t have to be a history buff to appreciate the (permanent) Discovering King Tut’s Tomb exhibit, which opened last year at the Luxor Hotel & Casino. You’ll gain fascinating insights into everything from mummification to death masks, while VR technology allows visitors to explore the tombs.
18.00: For dinner, it’s got to be NoMad Library Restaurant, at the hotel of the same name (both are part of Park MGM). The restaurant’s walls are lined with 25,000 books from David Rockefeller’s personal collection, and some date back to the 14th century. Seafood and steaks are the speciality; try the pork tenderloin with bacon jam.
20.00: Mad Apple, which opened in 2022, is Cirque du Soleil’s newest show. It’s an explosion of daredevil acrobatics, comedy and music, including plenty of New York-inspired showstoppers. We love the onstage bar – head here for a pre-show drink and to mingle with the performers as they warm up the crowd.
Top tip
Holly Whittred, travel experts team leader, Premier Travel
“Don’t miss a ride on the High Roller observation wheel at the Linq. The 40-minute ride provides a great introduction to Las Vegas, with breathtaking 360° views. Agents might like to suggest doing it twice – by day and at night.”
Book it
Premier Travel offers five nights‘ room-only at the Luxor Hotel & Casino, including flights from Heathrow and transfers, from £859 per person, departing on May 12, 2024, based on two sharing.
premier-travel.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock/minizen; Meg Blair; Laurent Velaquez; Mob Museum Las Vegas; NoMad Las Vegas; Cosmopolitan Las Vegas; MGM Resorts, the Linq
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