July 4th in Las Vegas

            Las Vegas was a whirlwind of excitement. For four days, Greg and I experienced real Sin City. When nothing closes and sleep is rare, anything is possible.  

            The VIP treatment started on our way to Vegas. I told US Airways that it was Greg’s birthday and I wanted him to have a window seat. Instead, we were upgraded to first class. All of the extra amenities and comfort certainly made our travel experience more enjoyable.

            After a relaxed five-hour flight, Greg and I arrived at the Encore Las Vegas. We were greeted warmly at the door and escorted to the front desk. The luxurious design of the hotel was the first thing I noticed. Most of the common areas are saturated in a bold red. Over sized chandeliers, butterfly adornments and fresh floral arrangements are seen throughout the hotel. The delicate features and meticulous attention to detail are captivating. And of course, these details are highlighted in the guest rooms. Our panoramic suite on the 63^rd floor was clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated. The amenities that came with the room were extraordinary. Like panoramic views of the mountains, long plush Turkish bathrobes, and the sweetest smelling lemon grass soaps made by Desert Bambu (the hotels own line of toiletries). This is the type of room you are excited to come back to at night, or in our case the early morning. 

                              

                                              View from our room*63rd floor

View from our room. 

Sunrise from our room.

             What set the Encore apart from any other hotel was the impeccable customer service. From the moment we arrived, the staffs’ number one priority was our comfort. Mayra, who checked us in, kindly went into detail about clubs, restaurants and anything else we inquired about. On Greg’s birthday, she sent a card and a lovely box of chocolates to our room. The Encore did a wonderful job respecting and fulfilling our specific needs. If other hotels are in need of an employee makeover, they should look towards the Encore, Wynn for advice.

Pictured below is the Birthday cake Greg's sister had delivered to our room. Baked by the Wynn Hotel.

                                        *****                                                       

Thursday, we reserved a private cabana at the Encores European pool. Everything we could have wanted was provided. Like a refrigerator stocked with refreshments and snacks, a 42-inch flat television, 2 private shay lounges, and a very private and comfortable seating area. Our personal host Noah was wonderful. He was there all day to make sure we had everything we needed. And the pool, it was heaven! The music never stopped, and the drinks were to die for. My personal favorite was the coconut mojito with a sugar stick. Greg had the perfect hang over cure; a double shot Bloody Mary. Spending the day in our private cabana was the perfect way to beat the 110-degree desert heat. 

           A major highlight was meeting UFC owner Dana White, and fighters Chael Sonnen, and Cung Lee outside of our cabana. They too had cabanas and were gracious enough to chat and take pictures.

 

  

 

Greg and I with Dana White

*****

               For a delicious dinning experience, visit Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill. Located inside the MGM, directly across from the Cirque Du Soleil KA Theater. Although the restaurant is inside the casino, the environment is calm and relaxing.  As we dinned, we felt detached from the madness that is Las Vegas. The sophisticated, but casual atmosphere set the mood for the delectable food that was served. The menu offered so many delicious dishes; we could have ordered one of each. Our server C.J was pleasant and had a subtle approach to his recommendations. Even though it was his first day as a server, he was knowledgeable about the menu, both food and wine. C.J’s suggestions were so descriptive that we ordered accordingly. The fresh, ripe ingredients and beautiful presentation excited every picky taste bud of mine. Manager Melvin Talib was also helpful when it came to a birthday desert. Greg was presented with a beautiful fruit and pastry dish decorated with the words “Happy Birthday” and a sparkler. Both gentlemen are great assets to the company.  We were lucky to have dinned the night they were working.  

Appetizer: Mesquite grilled steak skewers, cremy celery salad, with house steak sauce.

My Entree: Organic chicken, creamy yukon gold potato puree, sauteed vegetables

Gregs Entree: Double pork chop, sweet corn succotash, crisp bacon, with grain mustard sauce

Greg's Special Birthday Dessert thanks to Melvin Talib

 

Clubbing in Las Vegas can be overwhelming. Outrageous entry fees and long lines are common. But don’t let this stop you. If you’re prepared, you will have an amazing time.  

My advice?

*Purchase an Ultimate Nightclub Hopping Pass through Viator.com. The pass provides free entry to 20 clubs and front of the line VIP access.

*If you don't purchase a clubbing pass, arrive at the club as early as possible. Lines become very long.

*On weekends (Thurs-Sun), women can get into most clubs for free. The two easiest ways are by getting on the guest list or by finding a promoter. To get on the guest list, call the club as early as possible and ask to add your name. To find a promoter, just go outside-it’s that easy. 

*If you’re going to drink, pregame. Have a few drinks inside the club for the experience, but don’t go crazy. Your bank account will look quite bare after a night in Vegas. 

My Other Random Las Vegas Tips

*Flying into Vegas at night is an awesome was to see the Strip. I recommend arriving around 10pm. Clubs don’t open until then anyway.

*Packing for Vegas is easy... 

For Women-There aren’t many dress rules for women in Las Vegas. But just because you want to dress sexy, does not mean you have to look tacky. Stay away from pounds of jewelry and heavy makeup; you’re going to dance it off anyway. And when showing off your assets, just choose one. 

Remember, every woman needs a pair of beige color stilettos. They go with just about everything. But please girls, as I have mentioned in the past, buy a pair of fast flats by Dr.Scholls. Walking around barefoot in Vegas is not clean or attractive.

Always bring a bathing suit, makeup remover, and hairspray. And if you decide to sleep, bring a pair of pajamas.  

For Men-There are many dress rules for men. Always look your best. No sneakers, fitted hats, Ed Hardy shirts, baggy pants, or sunglasses on at night. I would recommend a sports jacket (for dinner or the casino), a button down shirt, a nice pair of jeans, and fashionable dress shoes (when clubbing, a sports jacket is unnecessary). If possible, have everything tailored and ironed.

If you’re going to wear accessories, keep it simple and stylish. 

*Always ask for upgrades. Whether its at the airport or hotel-it’s worth a try.

*During the day, stay at the pool. It’s too hot to do anything else. But if you decide to go to the strip during the day, bring lots and lots of water! I cannot stress this enough. Avoid buying over priced water from the casinos. Look for people selling bottles on the bridges above the strip.

*And lastly, just have fun and go with the flow. It’s Vegas.