Lose track of time in the 24-hour city of Las Vegas that’s the perfect girls’ weekend
I HAVE only just landed in Vegas and already the glad rags are on and I’ve donned my highest heels, ready for a girls’ night out.
Known for its spectacular shows, world-class casinos and buzzing Strip, Las Vegas is a high-octane oasis in the Nevada desert, with neon lights and attitude.
It is also a surprisingly do-able long weekend for you and your all-female squad, with direct flights from Gatwick. OK, it’s a ten-hour journey, but I’m not here to catch up on my beauty sleep.
Besides, jet lag is not an issue in this 24-hour city.
Instead, I teeter on those giant heels to a glam first dinner at destination restaurant Beauty And Essex, located just off the main strip.
It might sound like a Towie tanning salon, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Located in the glitzy Cosmopolitan Hotel, it is disguised as a pawn shop outside and has a speakeasy vibe inside — and the food is amazing.
The menu reads like something from MasterChef, with tuna poke tacos, oven-braised chicken meatballs and flourless chocolate cake pops all tempting the taste buds.
But there is something even sweeter on the menu for us as the night continues — Magic Mike Live at The Hard Rock Hotel.
Based on the hit movie of the same name, this striptease dance spectacular is a must-see show for any girl gang. It involves buff male bodies and slippery pecs, and — for me anyway — the loss of inhibitions.
But what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! Luckily there is no willy-waggling. This is about aerobic moves, choreography and having fun, not awkward grinding and sleazy lap-dances.
The beauty of Vegas for a short break is how compact it is. Many of the attractions and venues are connected to each other by tunnels and walkways.
I explore them from my base, the centrally located Park MGM hotel, which has chandeliers, marble floors and a spa, perfect for some girly pampering.
I explore the bustling strip with its visor-clad pensioners playing slot machines, drive-thru wedding chapels and gorgeous 20-somethings going wild on vacation.
It is easy to see why this is often considered the entertainment capital of the world. Casinos and luxury hotels rub shoulders with restaurants, and there are more spas than you can shake your gambling chips at.
Sell-out shows, sporting fixtures, shopping — and that all-important sun — all cram into one whirlwind zip code. You can either plan every minute of a trip, or go with the flow.
One thing no girly group should miss before a night out is a pampering hair and make-up session at Violet Hour Salon in the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
The make-up artist sprinkles her “look-a-million-dollars” magic dust on me and I’m ready for a cocktail bar crawl faster than you can say: “Put it all on red.”
We take our perfectly blow-dried hair and glossy lips to the Venetian Hotel with its marble entrance and numerous bars.
By the time I get to bed, after a flutter in the casinos and a stint at Tao Nightclub, I have lost all track of time.
The following morning I join a Soul Cycle class at the Wynn Las Vegas — another hotel — in an attempt to sweat out some of the previous night’s excesses.
Even this indoor cycling studio has a fun party atmosphere, with cool lighting and upbeat music that almost makes me forget I am doing a 45-minute workout.
Having built up an appetite, I feast myself silly on delicious food as part of the Savors Of The Strip Lip Smacking Foodie Tour.
Many big-name chefs have flagship restaurants in Vegas and this is a great way to sample multiple signature dishes without needing reservations at every top restaurant.
My favourite dishes are the mouthwatering tuna cones at Julian Serrano and the plethora of puddings at Cucina By Wolfgang Puck.
After three hours of eating and walking between four restaurants, I am ready for a lie down.
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Enter the ARIA Resort & Casino Spa, where I am treated to one of the best facials I have ever had.
The therapist works her magic, and I leave feeling refreshed and revived.
It is the ideal way to unwind — and the perfect end to my girly weekend in this desert city.
GO: LAS VEGAS
GETTING THERE: Norwegian Air flies direct from Gatwick to Las Vegas four times weekly, from £309pp return. See .
STAYING THERE: Rooms from £79 per night at the Park MGM hotel. See .
OUT AND ABOUT: Lip Smacking Foodie Tours cost £98pp. See .
MORE INFO: See .