Vegas

I realize I'm a little late to the party in having not been to Vegas yet, but I'm planning to head there in late January for my birthday with some girlfriends.
We'll be there for 4 nights and I'd like to see 2 shows/concerts. We've already decided we want to see "Love." Any other must sees?
Also, what are your favourite two restaurants (no sushi please)?
Finally, hotels. Top two? We'd like to have some spa time if that helps.

Thanks in advance

C x

Wynn

Venetian!

Perfect choice for a GF b'day celebration. My favorite property and spa is the Mandalay Bay. More specifically, stay at The Hotel and enjoy all the Mandalay has to offer. I used to spend 3-4 hours a week in the spa, not getting services but simply relaxing. The eculyptus steam will cure anything that ails you.

There are a slew of restaurants in the 3 hotel property (Four Seasons is on the top 11 floors of Mandalay) but Charlie Palmer's is probably my favorite. I haven't been out there for 3 years, so am not sure what other restaurants to suggest. Town Sqaure seems to be the new hot spot on the Strip. it's a mecca of shops and eateries.

I do know that you need to spend at least a little time at the Hard Rock Hotel. With any luck there will be a concert you want to see at The Joint, a 1500 seat concert hall. The coffee shop there is great for breakfast and people watching. A lot of the young action has gone to the Palms hotel and casino, but the Hard Rock is an icon and always amusing.

So much to do! Make sure you take a ride out to the Red Rock mountains, just north of the city. Gorgeous. If you make it to Summerlin, my old neighborhood, Kona Grill is a happening spot with good food and an excellant happy hour.
Just south of Mandalay Bay, on the strip, is Saks Fifth Ave. Off the Rack. And a half hour south in the 15 is Nordstrom's discount store. The shopping in Vegas is fabulous.

Shop, spa, eat/drink, dance...24/7 non stop action. You can sleep when you're dead.

Hey Camille - Being a huge fan of the world of gambling, I really like to stay at the Pallazzo. Its all adult, has TAO nightclub, 5 or 6 pools (no matter where you stay, ask for the private pools that you have to spend a minumum at - its worth it - all adult, usually great music) its attached to The Venetian and Barney's - where you can spend your winnings! Oh - and if you get a spa service, you get all day access to Canyon Ranch Spa - its got a rain/light shower, a salt room, a steam room; rated one of the best spas in the country. I can see why.

Also, the incentives at the Pallazzo for going back are great; I have a standing invite of $250 in credits, $100 spa credit and up to 4 nights free in a suite (they're all suites) after just staying there once. I've used it and they keep inviting me back; either I have thier money or they have mine ;-). In either case, it makes future visits pretty reasonable and easy to do on a whim.

Resturants? I usually eat at the steakhouse of whatever casino I'm at when I get hungry. they're all good - ie: CUT, Prime, I ate at Carnivino last and while its rated one of the best in the country, it wasn't THAT much better than the average good steakhouse in Vegas, I didn't think.

One really super cool place I ate was a thai place in a terrible nieghborhood; its in the same strip center as The Green Door, actually (didn't know that until I recognized it as we drove up!). Its called the Lotus of Siam. AMAZING. On a Sunday night at 9:15, it was a 45 minute wait. Full of locals, great wine list and fabulous (and good priced) food. As we had a cab drop us off, I was regretting my choice (heard about it over a poker hand at Aria)...dingy, bars on the doors. And the best meal I've ever had in Vegas. And the cheapest dinner there too. With the sex clubs in the vicinity, there are plenty of cabs to wisk you back to the flash and the cash. This resturant is just amazing and worth a 10 minute cab ride.

The Wynn and the Venetian are probably the top two hotels in town at the moment. I'm not into spa stuff, but I'm sure that they have the amenities you want. Also the The Hotel at Mandalay Bay is nice.

If you love Thai food, one of the best Thai restaurants in the U.S. is in Vegas -- Lotus of Siam. You'd never believe it to look at the exterior (or interior, for that matter). But the food is amazing. (If you go at lunch, order off the menu and avoid the buffet.) A great collection of German Riesling, too, which is a wonderful accompaniment to the spicy Thia food.

http://www.saipinchutima.com/

Awww...Thanks ladies and gents...you've done me proud.
I'll collate the info and let the other girlies chime in and help pick...and I'll update this thread after the visit. REALLY looking forward to this

C xxx

Andres at the Monte Carlo: http://www.montecarlo.com/restaurants/andres.aspx

Hey Camille - Being a huge fan of the world of gambling,........
Also, the incentives at the Pallazzo for going back are great; I have a standing invite of $250 in credits, $100 spa credit and up to 4 nights free in a suite (they're all suites) after just staying there once. I've used it and they keep inviting me back; either I have thier money or they have mine ;-). In either case, it makes future visits pretty reasonable and easy to do on a whim.

Resturants? I usually eat at the steakhouse of whatever casino I'm at when I get hungry. they're all good. Originally Posted by Sydneyb

2 points:

For rated players, interesting to see how to comps have moved over the last decade....easy early in the decade, tightened up mid decade to downright liberal these days...

I'm a fan of the house steakhouse as well, paticularly for in-suite dining (the fact that is it likely is comped is nice too). Nice steamy shower while you wait, preceded and followed by a cocktail from the wet bar. Why waste a couple hours in a crowded restaurant no matter how fab during a weekend in Vegas?

Encore to stay, for din-din a few of my culinary favorites are Bouchon & Aquaknox at the Venetian

Restaurant: Alex (it's at the Wynn)

I agree that you should definitely stay at the Wynn/Encore. I stayed there with a girlfriend of mine a few months ago and we didn't leave the property the entire time. Be sure to dine at Okada, Switch and Sinatra and check out Le Reve. It's an amazing, beautiful show. Have fun lady!

If you love Thai food, one of the best Thai restaurants in the U.S. is in Vegas -- Lotus of Siam. You'd never believe it to look at the exterior (or interior, for that matter). But the food is amazing. http://www.saipinchutima.com/ Originally Posted by TexTushHog

Great minds think alike! I'm SO with you. I don't even love Thai food, and this is my favorite resturant in Vegas. And don't forget the proximity to the sex clubs in the (very) near proximity!

stay at wynns and eat at alex

I enjoyed staying at the Aria. They have a really nice spa there, nice pools, nice rooms.

Love is a good show, so is O.

I liked Sage for dinner (at the Aria). It's not as fancy as some of the other spots, but the food and atmosphere is great. The Gold Lounge (again, at Aria) is a nice place to have drinks and bar food.