Las Vegas, Sin City, whatever you want to call it, is a city that almost feels unreal, that is an entire different experience than other normal touristic hotspots. It is a city of lights, gambling and outdated “luxury”.
Since we found ourselves in a tour on the west coast, of course we couldn’t just skip Las Vegas and the nearby surroundings. The first great thing was that right as we got off the plane, I was met with slot machines in the middle of the airport.
We easily found an Uber that would pick us up and take us to the hotel this time. Another thing I noticed while in the car is how many advertisements there are on the highway for lawyers for accidents, kind of freaked me out at first.
Then we entered the marvellous Las Vegas. I love that city for exactly what it is. Big, crazy looking buildings and extravagance at every corner! You can be in France, Egypt or England, all while walking down the strip.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff746bbd-a71b-4353-b089-b2169a4e9e7c_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80d30af0-b040-4af3-aaee-89cd9e7cf90b_1200x1600.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0b0d52a-dce6-4be2-b604-56ed873afd7d_1600x1200.jpeg)
We stayed at Bellagio, same as the previous time I found myself here. The hotel room and the bathroom were huge and clean, I really liked it. We also stopped by the pool, where I loved the decor and the vibe it gave: you felt like you were taking a swim in an Italian garden all while being in the middle of a bustling city. The hotel in of itself was absolutely huge, with shops, restaurants and a casino.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5826addd-2968-4d41-9f99-417e51aac699_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4d6beeb6-1782-4905-904e-15f1fdca9e0b_1200x1600.jpeg)
Since we got in some time in the afternoon, we had plenty of time to walk around the strip and check out all the other hotels. The shopping area in Caesar’s Palace was insane. Fountain shows, an indoor sky, it was everything.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43123e1f-3f10-4364-8088-3d95959a8e7b_1200x1600.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F101afd58-3816-443a-a50c-fc931dc37097_1600x1200.jpeg)
We were supposed to eat dinner at Hell’s Kitchen that day, we even made a reservation, so we got all dressed up and took ourselves to the restaurant, only to find out that we made our reservation for October instead of September. Cue the huge disappointment. Instead, we opted for Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. We thought if we weren’t going to sit in the proper Gordon Ramsay restaurant, we might as well try some of his food either way. The food was actually pretty good! I was getting anxious when the waiter kept refilling our drinks and after the first refill I even told him we’re ok, because I could’ve only imagined what it would amount to on the bill! He seemed baffled that we didn’t want any more refills, and he kindly informed us that they were free, at which point we relaxed and continued to enjoy our drinks.
There are also so many crazy shops on the strip: a dedicated Coca Cola store, one for M&M’s, Hershey’s, and so many that we didn’t even have enough time to check them all out. You could just as well do a hotel sightseeing while in Vegas, they looked impressive!
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F148e532e-e35e-45e1-bf7e-fd05cc2e3c7c_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0ff15efe-b543-4c4f-8eec-12526651b2b4_1600x1200.jpeg)
The following day, we decided to take a trip to the Grand Canyon. Since we didn’t have a car, we downloaded Turo and found a convertible Mustang for a decent price, and what better time to drive such a car than while in the US. The experience overall with Turo was very smooth and enjoyable, we had a little hiccup nearing the end of the day, but it had nothing to do with Turo (but I’ll get to that in a bit), so I would definitely rent through them again.
I absolutely felt like I was in a movie driving in this car. We had the roof down, music blasting, and once we got off the highway, the road was gorgeous. The vibes were immaculate.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd594f288-cdc8-4c7a-b7dc-01574cda2d09_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71773b2a-b1a5-46bc-a34c-1dd1344a4622_1600x1200.jpeg)
The Grand Canyon took our breath away. I felt so small looking down. America has some of the most unique and incredible landscapes you will ever see.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F40ca0e38-898f-4fa4-8fc8-67c0c5eebf5a_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16c24822-0156-4947-8659-b0929669b3bc_1200x1600.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1222e683-ed09-4d7d-8df7-f7cad776a197_1200x1600.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6bd09036-9ac2-40ab-96b5-516c8f567e7e_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9fc7277e-d9d7-4eaa-b8ac-3ef9db264682_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad0b9e1-c316-4a3b-a565-450993ee3090_1600x1200.jpeg)
We walked around for a while, and on the way back we also stopped at Hoover Dam. I didn’t really know what to expect, but the sheer size of it left me speechless. It is not a detour going there as well, so I think it’s worth seeing the both of them in one go.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69481cc6-4130-40a6-9c83-d7104552066c_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F13544514-1349-480d-8025-278ffa7b3ab8_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb992c219-50a7-42e0-a717-3481ba940997_1600x1200.jpeg)
On the way back, we stopped at an outlet to do some shopping. While we were getting ready to drop the car back, we had to fill up the tank and also wash the car. The washing part was ok, nothing unexpected happened. But oh man, trying to put gas in the car, that was something. We soon found out that the only way to get gas, was to insert a card at the pump. The problem was, our cards were rejected everywhere, and they wouldn’t accept cash. Our time was really running out and we were looking at an extra fee if we were late dropping off the car, so I was getting kind of nervous. I kind of blacked out and I don’t remember how we solved the issue, but I think a nice employee managed to find a solution for us so we made it just in time.
The following day, we spent most of it relaxing at the pool, walking the strip, and finally hitting the casino at night. This was my first time ever playing, and we turned a 20 into 100 at the Wizard of Oz slot machine in Caesar’s Palace! I was SUPER excited. We wanted to exit in glory so we ended the night there, and that’s when the funny-not-so-funny part of the trip happened.
As we went up to the room, my boyfriend started feeling nauseous. We blamed it on the heat and I urged him rest. Then the throwing up started. And it kept going, and going, in to the next day, which was our last full day. He literally could not get out of bed without throwing up. I was kind of scared to leave the hotel on my own, but I went to the CVS right across the street and asked for anything that would help with nausea, and we got some Dramamine. That worked for the nausea, but it made him SO sleepy, he slept until the next day. So when I realized that there was no way he was going to be able to exit the room that entire day, I had to go an cash out our winnings from the casino. It was already night, but I put my big girl pants on, sucked it up and went to Caesars to get our money. On the bright side, I got to see the fountain show by night at Bellagio, since we didn’t get the chance until then!
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39caff15-e5ef-4abd-81df-b3d245c5ea1f_1600x1200.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2c905211-a727-4f6f-8cd1-ab6d3bf37126_1600x1200.jpeg)
Not to leave you hanging, we blamed the entire thing on some food that stood in the sun for a bit to long.
But the fun didn’t end there! On the same day, we got a message that our flight was cancelled! So instead of a long flight with one layover, we got 3 long flights, with 2 long layovers! That was horrible. We were on the road for over 20 hours that day.
On our last day, my poor boyfriend finally felt good enough to stand up and move. We took one last walk around Vegas and got our Uber back to the airport, where we started our journey back.
Despite all the curveballs we got, I really enjoyed Las Vegas, and I would definitely love to come back some day! Especially since we didn’t get to do that much due to the circumstances, but it’s ok, now we can laugh about it.
Thank you for reading!