48 hours in Vegas – the wildest itinerary you’ll probably see.
For almost a year, I’ve been wanting to visit Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Due to circumstances, I shelved the idea and hoped maybe I’d go before this year ends. I don’t know if it was fate, but when my friend S reached out to me, I knew this was the chance. I convinced her to go, and we booked everything nearly five days before the trip. In that one week I combed Pinterest boards to find more places to add to my already filled out itinerary. I was a little stressed out since it was right after Navaratri, and I had so much to do in so little time including packing, which basically is the hardest part of traveling for me. But little did I know this was going to be a magical trip.
I haven’t really traveled with a lot of friends before – I mostly go with family, and they know me more than anyone else. I was a little apprehensive about the dynamics of traveling with someone new, but little did I know this was probably one of the best trips I would have ever taken with a friend. Not only did S and I celebrate friendship, but so did I on my confidence. This trip made me take more control of my life – sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth – I felt I took more ownership of planning, figuring out things on my own, and trusting myself.
I allow my self doubt to meet strangers and friends and consequentially, the real me ends up taking a back seat. I was determined to not let that happen this time – this trip is truly an accomplishment for myself as a person because I refused to give up so quickly and learned that self trust is more important than anything else.
Cheers to figuring it out as I go! Shoutout to J, who helped us book some cool things to do in Vegas!
Eataly: My friend and I commenced our trip at Eataly. Having got off the plane, we were starving and needed something to eat. I got pasta and a Nitro Espresso Martini, which was sweet. If you’re vegetarian, this is the place to go. There are many vendors who sell varieties of food – definitely check out the desserts section if you can!
HAUS OF GAGA/LAS VEGAS: This place will knock your socks off! You can view her wigs and costumes from her songs in this museum-like place. It’s a very colorful and electric place to see. It’s worth visiting if you have five minutes and love Lady Gaga!
Rose wall in Park MGM: The hotel itself is gorgeous and features two walls – one with roses and one with peacock feathers. This is a great place for photos.
New York-New York: I mean, it’s New York. Say hi to the Statue of Liberty and take some pics by the pathways. Filled with skyscrapers, this hotel is surely a tribute to the celebrated city!
Excalibur: I love fairy tales, and this place is reminiscent of the Disney castle. To get the best photos, go to the front where the pickup area is, and you can also get a great view of New York-New York. Inside is also splendid if you want to experience a castle vibe.
Luxor: This was right next to Excalibur, so we took a some pictures by the sculptures before turning back to the other side of the Strip. The structure of the pyramid is so majestic that it even glows at night powerfully.
Sugar Factory: After a quick break at Starbucks, we were motivated to walk towards the other side of the Strip. We crossed the street and walked for the Sugar Factory. Though we didn’t get drinks, it was worth checking out for the views and aesthetics. There is a yellow rose covered wall that is cute to pose by.
Paris Las Vegas: This was one hotel I really want to see. I was fascinated by it when I visited Vegas when I was 13 – this was extraordinary during sunset. You can see the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. Honestly, the Strip looks more gorgeous at night since the lights shine brightly and emphasize the structures. We didn’t have time to go to the viewing deck, but maybe next time!
- Fountains of Bellagio: From Paris, we saw the famous fountains dance in synchronization to music. When you are in Vegas, this is one of those places that you see and marvel at. How did someone design something so amazing? It is just the cream of the crop.
- Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: This is such a pretty place to visit. I’ve seen pictures during the day, but it’s more gorgeous at night. When you first enter the hotel, there is an artistic ceiling; if you keep walking, you will be led to the Conservatory, which is a visual representation of a garden and cute animals. According to the website, the garden is 14,000 square feet and highlights sustainability and Mother Nature through various themes every season.
- Mayfair Supper Club: We didn’t have time to go here, but the entrance is a rose wall that is retro-like. There are a lot of rose themed restaurants and walls in Vegas!
Flamingo: This is an attractive place with its pink signs and flamingoes. If you want to see the place for aesthetics, stand in front of the sign to get the best view.
The LINQ Promenade: This is easily one of the prettiest places I’ve ever visited. Filled with shops, restaurants, the High Roller ferris wheel, zip lining, and bright colors, LINQ Promenade is definitely one of the places you cannot miss. The view at night is surreal with the stars.
The Cromwell: This is a hotel we stopped by for a few minutes – it is so grand and fancy. It’s worth a quick pit stop.
Caesars Palace: We were very hungry, and I knew the best place to check out would be Caesars Palace. We walked in, and it felt like walking inside Italy. Room after room led us to casinos, restaurants, and lights. We ate at TaCo and got this tasty bowl that was super filling – this really helped us recharge our batteries.
- Vanderpump Cocktail Garden: We couldn’t go to this place because of the long line, but this was one of my places on my bucket list. I’ve been watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and found out that this is one of Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants! I hope I could visit this place next time – there is a beautiful garden-like entrance with neon lights. It looked beautiful from the outside (and in the pictures I saw online).
- The Forum Shops: It led straight to the Forum Shops, which were so gorgeous to see under the blue ceiling. It felt like you were walking in Italy with the cobblestone floors, Terra-cotta roofs of the shops, and Fountain of the Gods. I didn’t want to leave this place. When we exited the hotel, it led to a large, swirly escalator that was so cool to ride. We got an epic view of the architecture, and I was stunned by the magnificence of the design.
The Volcano at the Mirage: We walked our way further down the Strip. On our way to the Venetian, we saw people lining up against wall. I was curious as to why they were waiting there and only when we reached the Venetian, did we see the volcano erupt. It was a fiery performance with a burst of fire. You can still get a great view from the Venetian.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas: What can I say? The way this hotel was built was stunning. It felt like Venice with the gentle blue water, the gondoliers, steps, and exterior design. We walked on the steps and saw Black Tap but didn’t have time to go in (the milkshakes looked amazing!). We decided we would come back if we had time the next day. **We came back the next day and took photos on the second floor (the floors and pillars were gorgeously designed) – we also saw the huge painting in the ceiling – it was stunning.**
Wynn: This was quite a walk, I’m not going to lie. When we went inside, we went through the shops, and that’s how we saw the garden and lights inside. I knew it would be a pretty display based on pictures I’ve seen online. The hotel looked quite luxurious with the gold color scheme, cursive writing, and lovely lights.
Car ride to Strat: We stopped our night at Circus Circus since the Strat looked so close, but in reality, was so far away. I was really hoping to finish the entire Strip by foot, but at this point, it was nearly 1 AM and we were both exhausted from seeing so many places in one day. We asked our Uber driver to drive us to see the Strat on our way back to our hotel – it was colossal. He showed us the famous Vegas sign at the end and the hotels from the back – it was simply stunning to see.
The Strip: We covered the entire Strip in one day from one end to the other. It’s totally doable, but it’s better to start earlier in the day and if you want to spend more time at certain hotels, you have to pick them accordingly. Vegas is more beautiful at night – no wonder the day is calm compared to night!
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign: We took an Uber to the famous sign. There was a huge line to take pictures – we asked our Uber driver to wait for ten minutes in the parking lot while we took some pictures from the side. Honestly, you can stand at any angle and still get pretty good photos.
Mrs. Coco: We had reservations for this pretty cafe and decided to have lunch here. We made it just in time for our reservation. It was such an visually aesthetic cafe with flowers, pink themed props, signs, and lights. The avocado sandwich and rose cocktail were so delicious – it’s definitely worth the long drive from the Strip. But you have to plan your day accordingly because it is quite far from the Strip, and there are many things you may be able to do on the way there.
The Neon Museum: After we left the cafe, we booked our tickets to The Neon Museum in two minutes before our Uber driver arrived. We both were interested in seeing lights and signs in this outdoor museum. When we arrived, we provided our extra bags at the front for safekeeping (no professional cameras allowed, by the way) and walked outside. If you want to see signs and cool visual representations, this is worth the trip. It took us about 30-45 minutes in total to see everything.
Seven Magic Mountains: In all honesty, I came to Vegas to see this. I was super worried we wouldn’t be able to see it since it was already getting dark by the time we finished the Neon Museum, but I kept pushing for it. We took an Uber from the museum to the famous art structure – though it felt like we were going so far away from the Strip, we were driven more by adrenaline than fear of being somewhere in the dark in the middle of nowhere. We asked our Uber driver to wait for us for a couple minutes (since I read in a blog that there may be no service in the area to book an Uber or use your phone). We jumped out and ran to the Seven Magic Mountains. It was breathtaking at sunset. The sun was ready to say goodbye, and the night was so young. I don’t think my heart beat so fast in anticipation – I felt like a kid again when I saw this. For five minutes, I jumped around in excitement that we actually made it and saw this even though it was so dark outside. I’ve seen pictures of the mountains during the day, and they’re so gorgeous. But seeing this during sunset made me appreciate art in a different way. There are seven boulders that are about 30-35 feet high with the colors of the rainbow in Day-Glo by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone to highlight the “contrast of the surroundings” (according to the website and YouTube). One of the most magical places I’ve ever been to for sure!
Show: When in Vegas, you have to see a show. It’s totally worth the hype, and you only live once!
The Chandelier: I wanted to go here, which is a three-level lounge with a huge chandelier-like wall in the Cosmopolitan. We posed by the heel and was so excited we started our night at this spot. The walk to the hotel is quite fantastic – you get to see so many buildings and a green building with the GUCCI sign.
Sweet Sin: If you like macarons, colors, signs, and lights, this is a cute place to go. We got bagels for our bus ride to LA the next day to go – this is nestled right in Linq Promenade.
Me. Poojah.