Long Weekend in Vegas

The first time I went to Vegas, I was prepared not to like it at all. I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it so much that I returned seven months later. The traditional gambling is just one way to spend your time (and your money). The restaurants are fantastic and varied in food and price. You can go as high-end or as low-end as you might like. Aureole in Mandalay Bay is amazing and on the high end. (To go high-end on the weekends, reservations are encouraged, lest you get shut out.) The shows are incredible. Cirque de Soleil continues to impress. Zumanity is a favorite! Walking from one hotel to another - each with its own character and schtick - is an experience. And the gambling is always fun. The roulette table agreed with me. It is also easy, though, to learn new games. The casinos, after all, want your money. The blackjack dealers are particularly helpful, at least at the lower-stakes tables. There are also lessons offered on Texas Hold 'Em and others. Walking along the Strip also provides some great surprises in Vegas -- Monets at the Bellagio, the roller coaster at New York/New York, and the incredible cocktails at Rum Jungle, located in the swank Mandalay Bay. The energy of Vegas is contagious. Like New Orleans, everybody is there to have a good time. It may indeed be the happiest place on earth. Oh, and at the roulette tables, you can't go wrong on 17! Enjoy!

Quick Tips:

Staying on the Strip will provide all of the opportunity for diversions you could ever want.

Best Way To Get Around:

As long as you are staying on the Strip, a car is not necessary, as walking is the best way to experience the city. However, there is a monorail that runs along the east side of the Strip. It is a very efficient way to get around - and much quicker than cabs. Get the multi-day pass; it's worth it.

Best Things Nearby:
The Strip is at least six miles away. The resort offers a shuttle that runs only every 75 minutes, which is not the most convenient schedule. A cab is $20 each way.

Best Things About the Resort:
That said, the rooms are very well-appointed and clean. The one-bedroom unit is very comfortable. The in-room Jacuzzi is a nice perk. The pools are nice, and the exercise room and treadmills provide a good place to run.

Resort Experience:
If one is looking to spend down-time in Vegas off the Strip, this is a good option. Its location - at least six miles off the Strip - puts it a little out of the way for those looking for a more traditional Vegas experience. That said, the rooms are spacious and clean, with great big TVs and a comfortable in-room Jacuzzi. As the area gets more built up, this resort should become less remote.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Not Available
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Not Available
• Service: Good

Royal Star is located in the Venetian, one of Vegas' premier hotels. Located near Aqua Knox and Delmonico's Steakhouse, Royal Star offers a more casual upscale experience than its competitors. (We dined here because they accepted guests without reservations!) The dining room is very comfortable - well lit and open. It seemed there was not another table within hearing distance. (I dined with only one other person, but there were several tables designed to share a meal with larger groups, complete with very large lazy Susans allowing all diners access to each wonderful dish!)

Our meal was incredible. We started with lettuce cups and moved onto Yin Yang scallops (half served with spinach and half in a red chili sauce) and Shan Yu filet, great beef in a wonderful pepper sauce. The fried rice was tasty. Our waitress (who was lovely) hailed from Green Bay, Wisconsin. This was the only detail that reminded us that we were, indeed, not in the tranquil Far East. The desserts were underwhelming, but the entire experience was extremely delicious!

Aureole in Vegas was perhaps one of my most enjoyable dining experiences ever. As you descend the four stories of stairs - and, on the way down, discover the magic that is the restaurant's eclectic and vast wine "cellar," visible for all to see - you get the feeling you are onto something unique.

We had dinner at the bar, where there were only three other diners, and the staff I will rave about the food momentarily. First, though, wine lovers (or even likers) will be amazed by the electronic wine list. The PDA-like device allows you to sort your options by country, grape, price, vintage, and I’m sure anything else you might need to sort by. In addition to providing many entertaining moments, the technology also allows the diner to narrow down choices and present them to the sommelier for the final analysis. We were not disappointed by the mild but flavorful Two Paddocks Pinot Noir from New Zealand. It was fantastic! The wine (which was retrieved from the second story of the wine storage area by a very nice young woman who harnessed herself up and was hoisted to retrieve the bottle) nicely complemented our appetizers (which became dinner) of exquisite ravioli and scrumptious (I am told) foie gras, half served warm and half cool.

The appropriate attentiveness of Stephen, our young bartender from Dallas, who was mildly reminiscent of George W. (don't hold that against him!) only added to our experience. He allowed us to hang out at the bar as long as we were comfortable and to take as much time conversing between courses as we wanted. We concluded with cheesecake and fresh raspberries. Although not for the economically squeamish, the $40-plus per person listed above is the highest allowable on the site, this $100-plus experience is worth splurging on. Enjoy! And dress up a little. Even though Vegas does not require this, you'll feel better!

Rumjungle is many things to many people -- an awesome cocktail lounge, a trendy restaurant, and a happening nightspot. We enjoyed its cocktail-lounge aura on an early evening before the crowds arrived. Juxtaposing actual fire and water (both are everywhere throughout the space), the space ensconces you in its black, cavernous surroundings, like so much of Mandalay Bay.

Vegas is over the top, and this place transports you to the next level. Any place built on rum drinks can't be that bad, especially when the rum drinks are served in 16-ounce glasses. Go for it! And if you like it, go for it twice. Each of the specialty drinks we sampled was as good as the one before, so I would imagine you can let your senses take over and you will do fine.

The place drew a varied crowd. While we were there, we saw a wedding reception going strong, couples on dates, and groups looking for another diversion in Vegas. All seemed happy! The food looked spectacular. We had conch fritters. While not typically Vegas, they were wonderful and added to the feeling that we have been whisked out of the desert and onto some remote Pacific isle (loaded up with fashionable people, of course!) Heather was a fun bartender who made sure we started the evening on the right note! We returned later in the evening, but elected to not explore Rumjungle after it had turned into a nightclub with a cover.

Red Square is another amazing place to have a good time in Mandalay Bay. (Mandalay can do nothing wrong, as far as I am concerned!) In terms of creating an ambience, this place is stellar. Before you walk in, the beheaded statue of Lenin outside the entrance sets the tone for a truly exotic experience. The red lighting adds a visual cue, as does the Cyrillic-inspired decor. The bar - which specializes in vodka and martinis - is built to keep drinks cold. The bartenders are your comrades in cocktails; they are adept at making a wide range of drinks. We went here for our last drink of the evening (which, in Vegas, can probably come at any time of the day), and the crowd was fun and conversational. I recommend the Key Lime Pie martinis; not so Moscow, but definitely very Vegas, baby!