Las Vegas has got to be one of the most interesting places to me. It's a city that is a complete anomaly from everyday 'normal' life. The glitz, the glam, the lights, the clothes (omg the clothing!).... Vegas is an Experience like no other. I went last month as part of the IMEX America conference and had a really great time.
We stayed at the Palazzo which is an extension of the Venetian Hotel on the north end of the strip. Holy cow it was SO nice and I absolutely love love LOVE this hotel!!!!!! (Is that enough !!! to express how much I liked it?!) The Palazzo is absolutely beautiful. Now, we've stayed in the Venetian side as well (in the Venezia tower), but I really liked the Palazzo side better, at least for me. The rooms really are pretty much the same on both, but I just loved the layout of the hotel on the Palazzo side. I plan to do another post just on the hotel, so I'll leave my hotel comments for that post. So stay tuned. But you can take my word for it that both the Venetian and the Palazzo are beautiful and I don't think you could go wrong with a room at either. And I'll be back in Vegas in a couple weeks (staying at Mandalay Bay this time though) but I plan to visit the Venetian for their
Winter in Venice Holiday celebration. I've got to do the ice skating and try one of those eggnog cupcakes. Yum.
So one thing that I wanted to point out is that Vegas is more than just the strip. Yes, the strip is amazing and for sure what people think of or imagine when they think of Las Vegas. Besides Elvis. The strip definitely has a vibe all it's own, one that is quintessential Vegas. It's definitely changed from the days I remember some 25 years ago when I went as a kid and stayed at the old Sahara. Ick! In fact, the strip that we think of today didn't even exist back then. But you can still get a taste of that old Vintage Vegas if you visit the
Fremont Street Experience in the downtown area, just a couple miles north of the main strip.
This place is really cool! Totally weird and different and the first time I went I was like "Whaaaa??? It's all enclosed?" Ok. So it took a little getting used to (again remember I was here as a kid, cruising the 'old strip' with my parents, consisting of the Golden Nugget, Binion's, the Pioneer Cowboy etc... Remember those places?). So if you remember the old days then it may seem a little strange to see it all enclosed, but if not then I guess it will just seem cool! ;) So it's really awesome and by comparison to the 'new' strip, it's a complete blast to the past of the old Vegas. Why, you ask? Well, here's just a few reasons --
For one thing it's way casual and super laid back. No dressing up in heels and fancy clothes if you don't want to. Of course you can, but sometimes you just wanna be casual and if so you will have no dress code worries here. Another plus is that things are CHEAPER! Table games are cheaper (we played $10 blackjack at Binions... we couldn't find any $5 tables anywhere), you'll find more penny or nickel slots, and food is cheaper. Drinks aren't really an issue because you don't pay for those, you just tip your waitress.
But even the waitresses are more laid back here too (jeans and t-shirts vs the skimpy outfits for the waitresses on the strip). Parking is also cheap if you need to park, like 25 cents/ hour. Seriously?? And another on the plus side is that everything is so close by. Once you're in the dome, it's just a short walk to anywhere you want to get to. Unlike the New Strip where you have to literally walk miles from one hotel/ casino to the next, on Fremont St everything is close by and a short walk away. There's also tons of excitement from live music, street performers, dancers; there's even a short zipline you can do right under the dome! And I almost forgot! Duh! One of the main attractions is the laser light show (Viva Vision) that is shown on the dome ceiling.
And it's also fun to go to the some of the Vintage spots like Binion's or Golden Nugget for the casino or buffets.
And yes, there is even transportation from the New Strip to the Downtown/ Fremont St area so you can get there fairly easily. Just take the
Deuce on the Strip bus and it will take you right there! So simple :) May take a bit longer, but cheaper than a cab.
So the next time you're in Vegas, consider visiting the Fremont St Experience for something old, new, and different! You can stay on the strip and head up to Fremont St for the night, or stay in the downtown area and venture to the New Strip for an evening. It's great that there is so much to do and so many options for your next trip to Vegas. If you need any help or suggestions, I am happy to help.
ALSO, Big News >>>>> Starting next month I will have
Vegas Advantage Cards available for sale. Cheaper than what you can find online. More details on that coming soon.
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