Travel to Las Vegas: The Allure of Sin City

Sin City, the Entertainment Capital of the World, the Strip. Whatever you are referring to it as, Las Vegas is a flashy, touristy place to visit. So it isn’t much of a surprise that Las Vegas was my first trip in my love affair with travel.

I wasn’t a seasoned traveler at all when I went on this trip. In fact I probably “did Vegas” all wrong. It was a business trip to a convention of sorts so I was traveling alone, but once there connecting with people I only knew very vaguely. This was back in 1999 and I was seven months pregnant. Obviously I was not the picture of the usual visitor to Las Vegas. Also, I only stayed there for two or three days and didn’t have much free time.

As someone who hadn’t traveled very much, I didn’t research my destination at all. When I flew in to Las Vegas I was surprised at how flat and desert like the surrounding area was. Landing at what was then McCarran Airport was also a bit of a surprise. My assumption was that it would be flashy and glitzy, but it was small and fairly dated. Nowadays travelers fly in to the much more updated Harry Reid International Airport in the same location, although the surrounding area is obviously still flat and desert like.

Where I Stayed

I stayed at the Luxor Hotel, an Egyptian themed hotel located at the south end of the strip. It was relatively new at that time, having opened in 1993. My room was in the tower, not in the pyramid, but I had no complaints. While most of my days were spent in the conference rooms, I did have some time by the pool and a brief time looking through the shops. I was too overwhelmed to book a ticket and attend a show on my own and that is something I feel I missed out on. I’m not a gambler, but while in Vegas, you have to try a bit of gambling. One day I did sit at the slot machines for a little while until I lost the money I had set aside for that purpose.

What I Did

It was quite warm in October in Las Vegas but I walked up and down the strip and was amazed by all the lights and colour. It felt a lot like being at an adult themed Disneyland. Open liquor was everywhere as were ads and posters for shows which didn’t seem to include much clothing. Did I mention I was traveling alone and was seven months pregnant?! It just didn’t seem to be the right place for me. One sight I really did enjoy was the musical fountains at the Bellagio Hotel. It was quite a lavish display that runs every half hour or every 15 minutes, depending on the day and the time. Well worth the walk to watch it.

Would I ever return to Las Vegas? Maybe, but I haven’t yet. On a more recent trip I talked to a couple about their thoughts on Vegas and they said it felt too “plastic”. A strange way to describe a place, but I think it is fairly appropriate. However, some people love it there so maybe it is worth another try at some point. There were definitely things I didn’t see or do that may have changed my perception. Like I said, I should have gone to a show of some kind.

While this was over twenty years ago and some things have changed a lot, when I look at Vegas today I think there are some things that would appeal to me. I would go to Fremont Street, which I’ve heard is a completely different experience from the Strip. There are so many exhibits and other themed hotels that I would like to see. I would check out the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum. And the most recent attraction in Las Vegas is one I would really like to see, the Sphere.

After all, if you translate Viva Las Vegas it literally means “long live Las Vegas”. The glitz of Sin City will be there for many years if I want to return.

Photos from pixabay.com