Hawaii 50 - New Years Eve In Las Vegas

We have both been to Las Vegas a number of times and to us, it's a great place to start or end a trip. The airport feels like a small local airport yet has flights from all over the US and the world, and it's minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, making it super convenient for an overnight stay. Plus for us, going to Las Vegas first, is a sure way of getting over the jetlag quickly. Las Vegas really doesn't sleep, more so than New York. Shops, restaurants, bars, casinos, don't seem to ever close, everything seems built to help you stay awake, and if you're really struggling, there are oxygen and IV bars, and even the casinos themselves, pumping stuff into you to keep you awake. 

Las Vegas is one of those cities which can be anything you want it to be. You need to go prepared to get what you want from this city. We have been to Las Vegas on relaxing holidays where we've sat by the pool drinking frozen cocktails. We have also been on adventures with helicopter flights to the Grand Canyon, and hiking and camping in the state parks. We have spent a lot of money in high end hotels, Michelin star restaurants, and exclusive bars, we have also been on a budget and still had amazing food, drinks and experiences. We have gambled a lot, and gambled slightly less (we like to gamble but I know people who have visited and not spent a penny). We have also seen some amazing shows, street artists, and seasonal displays. Our advice is to visit Vegas with a budget and a plan for what you want from your holiday.  

This trip was slightly different from our previous ones. We were visiting with friends who had never been before and we were coming in the winter for New Years Eve. Having only been in the spring and summer previously, we completely underestimated just how cold Las Vegas is in the winter! Our plan this trip was to explore downtown and some of the more iconic hotels on the strip. 

We ended up visiting The Stratosphere, where we tried to get to the top floor but because it was NYE, there was a surcharge which we were not willing to pay for a quick photo opportunity. The Venetian for the amazing gondola boats and Venice style shop fronts, the Bellagio for the Christmas display which included Coke-Cola Polar Bears, New York New York for some downtown New York, Caesars Palace (Lee was desperate for a poo but we'll pretend it was for the circular escalators which are the only circular ones in the world as we were informed by our escalator guru Keiron), and Paris for some Parisian fare. 

We stayed in Bally's hotel which was right next door and connected to Paris. The main reason for staying here was because it was the only hotel which was reasonably priced on the strip. Normally Vegas hotels are relatively cheap compared to hotels in other cities but during NYE, they sky rocket to ridiculous prices. Bally's was dated and the casino stunk of years of cigarettes, but the rooms were spacious and clean and the hotel was connected to Paris was a big bonus. It was also in the process of being rebranded from Bally's to the Horseshoe, taking the hotel back to its roots.

We spent a long time deciding what to do for NYE. There is a lot on in Vegas, too much to choose from. We agreed that we didn't want to be in the street, which is closed off from mid afternoon and hundreds of thousands of people pile into the road to drink, party and watch the fireworks, but we still wanted to see the action rather than be stuck in a restaurant or bar. I saw an advert that BrewDog were opening a Las Vegas bar with a roof top bar near the MGM. A few emails later and we were booked into their all-inclusive package which included a table on their roof top, and all you could eat food and drinks from their premium menu. It was expensive, but it was worth it, especially when the Wagyu Truffle Burger we had included cost over $150 on the menu! There was so much food, I took 3/4 of my lobster mac and cheese home with me for a homeless man, who hopefully didn't have a shellfish allergy, to enjoy a NYE feast. 

Being on a roof top of NYE was a great decision! 8 casinos on the strip and downtown, all display the same fireworks display to the same music at midnight for 10 minutes. Its amazing to see fireworks everywhere you look and they're all in sync, an amazing experience. 

Would we go back to Las Vegas... of course! We love the place but I now we have done NYE, we wouldn't do it again. We'll return when the weather is nicer, the hotels cheaper, and the strip less busy.