Las Vegas Girls Trip!

TRIP TIPS

HELLO VEGAS!!! I had an amazing weekend with my ladies in "Sin City"! I've been there about 15 times over the last 6 years and none of my trips have ever been the same (or even similar.) I have never stayed in the same hotel twice and there is always something new to I learn on every trip. We used to have a good friend who lived in Southern California and would drive in to visit whenever we were in Vegas. We would go hiking during the day and hit the clubs at night; so over the years, I have hiked a lot of places in Nevada. Before this trip, the girls and I talked about seeing a show or doing something fun besides the club. So Thursday afternoon we decided to take a helicopter ride over Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon and around the area. Even having seen the beauty of these places before, seeing it from overhead was a whole new experience! I highly recommend checking out the helicopter tours since there is so much to see; this is a great way to cram it in an afternoon. The tour was 70 minutes and we covered a lot of ground! Typically, the helicopter lands in the Canyon for a few minutes, except when the temperature is high because it effects the pilot being able to fly out of the Canyon (it was 113 degrees this day so we did not get to land).

So the trip was off to an wonderful start! Our hotel, "The Cosmopolitan" was spectacular! Like I said I have never stayed anywhere twice and each place has it's charms, but this place will be hard to top (if I ever stay any place else). That night we ate at "Stk" in the Cosmo. I should coin this phrase but it was "small space, big taste" because the food was fantastic but the restaurant itself was pretty small. But the food was so good, the drinks were fabulous and the atmosphere was so enchanting that we didn't care if it was small or not. When the steak came out it was cooked to perfection!
(Below: Artwork in the hotel and drinks)

(Tequila in Cidar - from "Stk") (Gimlet with an egg white)

Friday we got brunch at the "Avenue Cafe" and spent the afternoon poolside at MGM's pool and lazy river! Brunch was delicious! I got salmon with capers which came with a bagel and hard boiled egg. I was trying to eat sort of lite so as not to feel sick by the pool in the heat; it was a great choice.

When we were finished eating we decided to checkout MGM's pool bc I had been there before and loved it!

We rented a cabana, which has been on my bucket list of things to do in Vegas FOREVER! I usually travel with my husband so paying for 2 people in a cabana seems silly; especially when the entire amount is coming from the same checking account. But it cost $550 which includes alcohol and food! Not to mention it gives you a shaded area, 4 lounge chairs, some other seating, a safe to lock up your wallet and phone, a small refrigerator, electric outlet (to charge your phone) and four rafts for the lazy river (which cost $25/each if just go to the pool, without a cabana). They offer massages which run about $2/minute. There is a menu of things they offer, we opted for the foot scrub massage which was absolutely wonderful!
Friday night we shopped at Venetian Shoppes and made our way over to Caesar's. I forgot the last time I was in Vegas they had been working on building an H&M and if you haven't seen it yet it's freaking huge! Not as big as the one in New York, but this one is 3 stories and it the middle of a casino, pretty impressive. So we shopped and had a simple dinner then headed back to the hotel bc the sun had worn us out (and it was 1am, 4am east coast time).

Saturday when we woke up we decided to check out our pool. This time no cabana but still a very impressive pool. The Cosmopolitan has 3 pools, so it didn't seem overly crowded! We found plenty of chairs at the Chelsea Pool, had some delicious cocktails and just relaxed. After some time in the sun we went back to our room and got ready to go out. I know I said I wanted to report on "Drybar" but there just wasn't enough time; so we'll save that for next time. We made reservations at a place I highly recommend, called "Beauty and Essex." From the outside it looks like a pawn shop, but you walk in and push the door on the left that looks like it would just be a backroom for employees, it actually leads to the restaurant! Even better than the restaurant two nights prior; we ordered small plates (because the bites are served in 6's and that happened to be how many girls we had in our group that night...PERFECT!) We had some time to kill and there are a TON of cool places just right in the hotel so we checked out a really cool bar called "The Study." It's tucked in next to "Rose.Rabit.Lie" Supper Club. Music here is provided by you, select a record (don't let that scare you they have new artists, not just what grandma and grandpa used to listen to, but don't let that worry you bc if you're into that they have the oldies but goodies as well). Their drinks (water included) were served in pretty cut glass drink ware. I knew after being by the pool most of the afternoon and in the heat, also having a full night of club life ahead I needed to hydrate. I ordered a water and didn't even feel weird ordering a second one bc it came in a super fancy glass! I even had a few people ask what I was having, which was hilarious to respond "water" lol.
"Hyde" is always one of my favorite clubs. The view is great bc it's right on the water of the Bellagio so you can see the fountains go off and the reflection of the lights from the Eiffel Tower. The music is always a fun mix of now and throwback; it's just the perfect start (or end to a night out). So after spending some time there we headed back to our hotel bc (I forgot to say this earlier) at dinner our waiter asked if we had plans for the night and if, since we dined there, we wanted access to to "Marquee" (the club by one of the 3 pools in our hotel). I LOVE this club!!! Halsey was performing that night (bonus!!!), this club has always got it goin' on! From the decor to the music and everything in between. I never feel claustrophobic bc you can always walk outside to get away from the loud and the crowd.

Sunday we slept in and packed, had to leave for the airport by 1pm so not much except a mechanical bull ride to report. Oh I'm sorry you probably want to hear about that?! Well unfortunately, with some things, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

(Link to my bikini): they are out of the dark purple but it does come in 23 other colors!
https://www.venus.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=351~4028&ProductDisplayID=44943&fltr=true

(Link to my black playsuit): https://www.fashionloungeusa.com/products/sam-playsuit

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TRAVEL TIPS

Packing light:

I know that's easier said than done but what I do is a few weeks prior to my trip, hang everything I think I want to take (or if you don't have room for a hanging bar, find a corner or some place you can put things as you think of them for your trip. If I get something new, it goes on the bar so I remember I have it, lol. Then the night or two before I go through it with a fine tooth comb. "Can I wear this multiple times?" Some times that can't be helped but if you can get more wear out of something, take it! That will leave you room for new items to be brought home from your vacation!

Bring shoes that pull double duty. In Vegas you want comfortable shoes but if you insist on heels, buy some fast flats you can wear them on the walk to the club (or after the club), just carry your heels and throw the flats in your handbag when you arrive. I typically opt for fancy low wedges or heels I know are comfy. BTW there is a Marshalls and a Ross so you don't have to take our a loan to buy those Louboutin's. (Side note): when we were walking around shopping Saturday night, I found this store where the Louboutin in Caesars used to be. It made me sad bc all of their fixtures were still there (you can see behind me, the shoe cubbies). I forget the name but I will share it with you on my Insta as soon as I remember! They were super comfy (Italian made) and their "signature thing" is sparkles on the bottom! The girls actually picked this awesome suede and lace vest out for me from http://marshallretailgroup.com/brands/

I try to stick with a color scheme (again hanging items on a bar or putting them in one place will help you to do this). On this trip I wore black as my accessory color (my shoes and backpack purse were black) and my outfits were either neutral to go with black or red/pink color family. I did decided army green is a neutral and goes with pink, red, purple, etc. If you wear it with confidence you might start a new trend!

https://www.xomandysue.com/store/p692/Delia_Romper.html#/

What to wear in the airport:

I typically wear a t-shirt and leggings to the airport and then that is what I sleep in; this time I didn't know what we were doing, if we would even go to the hotel first or not so I wore a romper. It was perfect bc it has 'cold shoulder sleeves" that I tucked in once we arrived and were walking around in the heat. On the way home I wore the thing that took the most room in my bag, the green jumpsuit (which made me realize how wonderful having pockets is). I had my phone and ear buds in one pocket and wallet in the other and I felt like I didn't need anything else (very freeing)!

I wore my heels at the airport bc they took up more room in my suitcase than flip flops. Another great idea is pack the heels on the flight out and wear them on the way home. This will "magically" give you more room in your bag for vacay purchases.

(See how I changed the look by tucking the sleeves in?!)

https://www.xomandysue.com/store/p949/Reese_Romper.html#/

https://www.stitchfix.com/

How do you leave room to bring home treasures?:

Bring things you need like shower items but only take what you will use in the time you are there. You don't need to take the entire bottle of shampoo unless you are leaving for a month. I bring a travel tooth brush and a cheap razor (shave with the good razor the day I leave and use the cheap one for touch ups). I take my regular shampoo and conditioner but put it in a small travel bottle that I can toss at the hotel and typically I just use the body wash the hotel has. I buy a mini deodorant ($1 at the grocery, even if they don't have your usual brand, if it's a short trip, who cares).

I have never done this (but have talked about it many times) I have heard of people taking clothes they are thinking to give to goodwill or get rid of and just leave them at the hotel. I want to go somewhere with just the clothes on my back, an empty suitcase and shop (like at an H&M or someplace) for my wardrobe; this would take some planning and very patient travel partners.

Space saving ideas

Roll your clothes, I have debated this FOREVER but it honestly is the best way to get the most room out of your bag! Again, if you can wear your heels (or shoes that will take up the most room) through the airport. Or just stick to one pair of shoes, which is no fun but in a few weeks I am traveling to New Orleans and going to SERIOUSLY try to do this!

Like I said, I didn't get time to checkout Drybar but I had a really great plan to save time (and if you want to try and not bring bottles of shampoo). I washed my hair the night before we left and curled it. Vegas has dry heat so I knew it wouldn't get as greasy, like it does at home (typically I wash it every other or every two days at home). So I figured I could get away with it lasting til Saturday then getting it done for the club. I did take my curling wand for touch ups but I probably could have gotten away with "Not Your Mother's Beach Babe" texturing spray (which I always have on trips, the mini bottle of course). I should have known to book early because duh, Saturday night they had one appointment left which conflicted with our dinner reservations, lesson learned.