‘The world’s biggest adult playground’ Top travel guide on where to party, sleep, eat and drink in Las Vegas
OUR new Spotlight On column gives you the lowdown on what to see and do in your favourite holiday hotspots.
This week we're shining the light on the ultimate US playground, Las Vegas.
Lisa Minot, Head of Sun Travel, filled us in on her recent visit to the city that "oozes fun, frolics and more..."
Talking about her recent trip, Lisa said: "Is it even Vegas if you don’t end up in a pool at the end of the night?
"My most recent trip to Sin City was to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s 40th birthday.
"Where else would a brand like Virgin mark their milestone than a town that is the world's biggest adult playground.
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She added: "While we ended the night joining Richard Branson jumping into the pool at the Virgin Hotel, Vegas really is somewhere where anything goes.
"Whether you’re losing hours in the casinos, watching world-class acts in the many theatres or shopping until you drop, it’s the ultimate pleasure paradise.
"But Vegas never sits on its laurels - constantly reinventing itself. We checked out the astonishing Fontainbleau hotel with its Miami beach club vibe and dizzying array of restaurants, clubs and bars.
"But we also found a more authentic side to the city downtown in the Arts District - with vintage stores, art galleries and some seriously good restaurants offering up a very different vibe.
"And while the neon signs, bright lights and excitement of the city are an obvious draw, take time to explore a little further afield.
"Less than an hour from Vegas is Red Rock Canyon where the dramatic natural beauty can almost compete with the man-made delights of Vegas."
Must see and do
Sin City's reputation may be built on gambling, but there's stacks to do outside of its casinos - and here are our best finds.
As well as ogling the architecture all along Las Vegas Boulevard (better known as the Strip), catch a show at Sphere, the high-tech and visually stunning orb-shaped arena.
Be sure to take a selfie at the Strip's Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas sign, above, then stick with the bright-lights theme with a visit to the Neon Museum, a boneyard of historic Vegas signage.
Hidden gem
Between the Strip's skyscrapers and Downtown's casinos lies the more laid-back, low-rise neighbourhood recently rebranded as the Las Vegas Arts District. Its streets are packed with colourful murals.
Bargain-hunters will also love this area's vintage stores: Antique Alley Mall is particularly treasure-filled.
There are galleries and artsy stores to mooch around as well.
Fuel your explorations at Vesta Coffee Roasters, or grab lunch at the excellent, Italian-inspired Esther's Kitchen.
Best views
Las Vegas is home to the States' tallest freestanding observation tower.
And you won't get a better bird's-eye view than from the deck at the Stratosphere Tower. Tickets cost from £18.
Well, that is unless you take a helicopter tour above the Strip itself (from £90).
Or go bigger still by combining the Strip with a bucket-list trip to the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon, costing from £490 with Maverick Helicopters.
Best restaurants
Step back to a funkier time at 1970s-themed Diner Ross, located within The Linq casino, at the very heart of the Strip.
With retro lighting, red leather banquettes and vintage posters, it's a fun and quirky environment.
Tuck into buffalo chicken schnitzel, with sides of mac 'n' cheese or Disco Fries topped with gravy and cheese.
And you can dance it all off next door at DiscoShow, an immersive celebration of disco through the decades that starts from £81.
Best bars
Hidden-away bars are something of a Vegas trend - a throwback to the days of Prohibition - and two of the best are located within The Cosmopolitan.
The Ghost Donkey Mezcal & Tequila Bar is a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge hidden behind an (almost) unmarked door while Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails is accessed via a hair salon and offers live music.
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Best hotels
For a bargain stay, choose a larger hotel such as MGM Grand, which has 9,000 rooms to fill and rates from £58 per night.
Or make it a special occasion and upgrade to the Strip's newest hotel, Fontainebleau Las Vegas where four nights with return flights from £1,695pp with bon-voyage.com.
Plus Where To Grab A Bite in Las Vegas
The Secret Food Tours are a risk that could pay off if you want to play restaurant roulette...
For a taste of the city, head on a Secret Food Tour which will whizz you off through a mystery selection of restaurants each with its own role in history.
Over the course of an afternoon, you can enjoy a selection of treats from lesser-known eateries to give you a true flavour of the place.
Other food highlights included a delightfully authentic, and gut-busting, Italian feast at Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District, and some of the best Chinese food I’ve ever tasted at Mott 32 — think a Friday night takeaway but with a Michelin star.
In Caesars Palace you'll find a host of restaurants, including branches operated by star chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay