I’ve been to Vegas, baby! Yes, “Vegas, baby” was the phrase of the week! This was alternated with an energetic “Vegas, Wooooo”, or if we were really excited (of which there were plenty occasions) even a “Vegas baby, wooooo” combination was called for! 

Yes, I was poised for a crazed week in this so called “Sin City” to see how wild the place really gets. I mean, we’ve all heard the rumors, seen the movies, watched that episode of ‘Friends!’ I thought I knew what to expect. And while it was just like stepping into a real life film set, only with no Director to shout “Cut!”…it was and it wasn’t what I thought!

I was genuinely surprised by how elegant and classy some of  the Spas and Pools were! I was blown away by the extravagance – but not in a tacky way, as you might imagine!

I didn’t know Las Vegas was allowed to have a Hotel as serene and calm as the Mandarin Oriental! Their pool is an amazing haven floating way above The Strip, with Cabanas and attentive staff catering to your every need! Their Spa is Oriental luxury at its best – with treatment rooms looking out over amazing views of the city. You’ll definitely HAVE TO HAVE  one of their treatments when you’re next in town! The whole experience is not to be missed!

In surprising contrast, but equally as luxurious, is The Spa at Trump International Hotel & Tower. The friendly staff and warm decor make you feel immediately at home - I felt like I could be having a slumber party at Paris Hilton’s mansion, as I had a manicure with a side order of Champagne and fruit salad!

But of course Vegas’ main appeal to most is that, like a Mission: Impossible movie, it’s unashamedly over the top! So if you want the Taj Mahal of Spas, look no further than the Spa and Salon at Encore. It will, quite literally, take your breath away! (So will the price of the carpet, a whopping $5 million!) Its magnificence is beyond words, and you’ll definitely WANT IT on your ‘Must Visit’ list!

And while we’re on the subject of “Must See”s, let me draw your attention to my major LOVE IT of Las Vegas! Caesars Palace’s Garden of the Gods is a stunning collection of Roman style pools that are, quite simply, jaw dropping! The sheer scale of them is outrageous, I felt dwarfed by the glamour of it all! (Yes, little ol’ 6ft me!) Our personal Cabana came with two waitresses (one for cocktails, one for food, of course) who served us the most deliciously deadly cocktails in between dips in the pools and trips to the Qua Spa. Hail Caesar, is all I can say!! LOVE IT!

My other favourite Hotel pool was the French Riviera style collection of gardens at The Palazzo.  Fresh and stylish, with waiters handing out frozen grapes and water sprays to keep us cool, I felt pampered beyond belief. The Palazzo has come up with another innovative way to keep cool during their pool parties at the weekend: Champagne Showers! (I kid you not!) Jennifer Love Hewitt was hosting a party there the Saturday we left, and as we sunbathed, Spice Girl Mel B was filming her new E! reality TV show at the next pool! I’m obviously not the only one sending some L.O.V.E. to The Palazzo!

Right upstairs though, above the interconnecting Palazzo and Venetian Hotels was the super-sized super spa, Canyon Ranch. Yes, all 69,000 square feet of it! This encompasses a whole lot of indulgent treatments, energetic fitness facilities and even a rock climbing wall, for those who haven’t had a breakfast Mimosa (oops, that’s me out then!!) But when I go back I HAVE TO give it a try!

Now I couldn’t go to Vegas without experiencing a genuine Sin City all night pool party – and I have to say, I attended the best! Move over Kardashians, Hayley’s here to parrr-deeee! Surrender at Encore was the most amazing night! There were dancers on podiums in pools, hot guys and girls – if you want the typical MTV experience, you’ve come to the right place! But it wasn’t dignity-out-the-window, Ibiza-style debauchery! Everything in Vegas is done with a touch of class and glamour. After all, you never see Kendra crawling round drunk at these parties, do you?  We’ve still got to look good for all the photos!

What I loved best about all our pool experiences was the Private poolside Cabanas available. They range around the $500 mark (above and below for varying length of time) and when split between a group of you, it’s a very reasonable price to pay for such an amazing treat! They are perfect for making the experience complete – in the day, it’s somewhere cool to rest out of the sun. At the pool parties at night, it’s somewhere calm to retreat to and recoup your energy! Most come with a TV, fully stocked fridge, comfy sofas, personal fan, pool toys, and  in the day when the heat gets to a certain degree, they even spray out a cooling mist over the loungers!

All in all my Las Vegas experience was one I will not forget in a hurry. I have absolutely fallen in love with the city – and I know you will too. Now,  just to make you all super jealous (and run to book the next flight out there) click on my Photo Slide Show link, below, to see just how much fun I really had!

PS - Speaking of flights. We flew an incredibly comfortable 9hrs 50 minutes direct from London Gatwick to Las Vegas with Virgin Atlantic. The economy seats were spacious, plenty of leg room - and that’s coming from the 6ft girl with the worlds longest legs! Scrumptious food and drink and a great selection of TV Shows and Movies made the time just..huhu..fly by!!

Plan your trip, as I did,  with: www.visitlasvegas.co.uk

LAS VEGAS SLIDE SHOW

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