Las Vegas

Check out the usual web sites such as www.booking.com and www.venere.com the Mirage was our choice because it is the middle of the strip and made walking to ones like Caesars, the Venetian, Paris & Bellagio easy and was mid-price range. Perhaps we were lucky but having gone for a standard room we were fortunate enough to have a fabulous corner room overlooking the strip. The hotel itself was good, perhaps not the best selection of restaurants on the strip, but still a reasonable variety and a number of good bars with happy hours, wine tastings etc. and the tropical jungle lobby and pool area is well done. Reading recent reviews I would choose the Mirage again for a return visit.

Restaurants

Las Vegas has some of the best choice of top notch eating but at a price, however most of the hotels seem to do special menus at more reasonable prices for even their top notch places so it is worth going on line or just wandering round the hotels to see what is on offer.

Japonais at the Mirage, does happy hour Sushi and other Japanese food along with half price drinks between 5 to 8, the quality of the food and drinks and the service were all excellent.

B&B Ristorante, Venetian, this is a special treat only, it is owned Mario Batali, a very well known New York chef, the food and service was absolutely top-notch, the wine list is amazing but a bit scary price wise. Recent reviews seem to indicate it is trying too hard to impress.

The Village Buffet, Paris, is as you would expect a French buffet and although a bit twee in the setting, the quality is excellent. It is based on French regions with loads of choices for starters, mains, and desserts. Be prepared to queue for a table and then have a good wander round to see everything on offer before deciding. Bottles of wine were incredibly reasonably priced..

Spago, Caesars Palace, Forum Shops, is one of Wolgang Puck the legendary Californian chef’s more reasonable Vegas eateries. Have lunch in a Rome setting under a changing sky and eat the great pizzas. There is also a more formal and more expensive dining area.

The Grand Wok, MGM Grand, does good noodle dishes and sushi both of which were fairly reasonable priced. Certainly a good place to eat if you want to experience another hotel on the strip and at a decent price.

Mandalay Bay Hotel had an amazing selection of different restaurants, and is definitely worth checking out.

If you are in New York, New York having a beer then try the NY Pretzel Stall, get one to take away and eat at the bar with your beer.

Bars

Japonais, the Mirage, happy hour 5 to 8, smart and mixed age group good setting

Parasol Up, Parasol Down, Wynn, sit at the lakeside bar before 9pm and look at the fantastic light show on the trees surrounding the lake then prepare to be surprised and again at 9.30. Great cocktails on offer.

Opposite Caesars just by the foot bridge crossing the strip is an outdoor bar with cheap drinks and juggling bar men, gets a bit loud with rock music but give it a try.

Drink

Lots of people visit Vegas not just for the gambling but also for the drinking and the relaxed laws meaning you can buy alcohol twenty four hours a day. As you can drink while walking along the street you will encounter a lot of people who have had far too much to drink, but it does not mean you will not enjoy yourselves.

Do try all ends of the spectrum for a real Vegas experience, have a cocktail in the fanciest bar of which ever is the new “in” hotel on the strip, have a cheap frozen margarita or a beer at one of the cheap strip bars at happy hour. If you really want an off strip experience try Fremont Street, light shows, concerts, cheap food and drink, not to everyone’s taste but give it a go.

Do the Grand Canyon helicopter trip, there are some that include a champagne breakfast on the canyon floor which is amazing. It really is a once in a lifetime experience and should not be missed.

The hotels are the thing though, whether it is the Lions at the MGM Grand, the Fountains at the Bellagio, the Volcano at the Mirage, the Grand Canal at the Venetian, or just being amazed by the shops in the Wynn, you just have to enjoy the whole experience.