Viva Las Vegas!

After sleeping in to get over the previous day, we headed off for our first full day at Sin City. And what a day it was going to be.

We booked tickets for a show of Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand hotel, and we were supposed to pick them up at the box office there. As we intend to get a good look at every hotel on the strip this year, we figured today was a good day to view the Strip south of our hotel. With some really major hotels situated just south of us, it was going to be a packed day!

First off, directly adjacent to the Bellagio, there is the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Virtually brand new, it is a really stylish hotel. We did not like it though. It just lacks a lot, and we did not pay much attention to it. Next up: Aria. With really pretty shops just in front of it, Aria is also pretty new and marvellously built and decorated. This is how all shopping malls and hotels should look like!

After that, there is of course the Monte Carlo Hotel. Built based off of the original hotel at Monte Carlo, it is really nice, baroque and romantic. We did not take a look inside as we were in a hurry to get to our tickets. Next time!

Next to the Monte Carlo lies New York – New York, with the Brooklyn Bridge in front of it and both the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building towering over it, this hotel is mimicking the skyline of our previous destination. Inside, it is not as grand as outside. Just like many others, you go straight from the pavement into the casino and it lacks much of the ambiance other hotels have. It is not bad, but not the best. The ride is lovely though! It is definitely on my todo list!

Across the street, the MGM Grand is situated. Currently under a major overhaul it has temporarily lost a lost of its grandeur, but you can still see what it used to be. Let’s hope it will come out better than before! Oh, and the lion exhibit is unfortunately closed for now.
This is where we got our tickets, and will be returning to that night.

Going back across the street we continued our journey south. Encountering familiar grounds with Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay, we travelled through all of them as they are all linked together. With temperatures searing it feels good to be inside. Outside is no joke, I can tell you that!