Vegas, baby!

For our first trip together, my boyfriend and I decided to go to Vegas. We wanted to stay at a nice hotel right on the strip...one that was moderately priced. After checking different rates online, we decided to make our reservations at Treasure Island. I've been to Vegas several times prior to this trip, so I knew that Treasure Island was a nice (not like some of the "dives" that are out there). Anyway, once we got to the hotel, we checked right in. The girl at the desk was extremely courteous and told us that we would be receiving a free bottle of champagne once we got to our room. (I'm not quite sure why we received the champagne...we didn't request it, nor were we there to get married.) Anyhow, we were not about to turn it down! Once we got to our room, we headed straight to the window. We had the most amazing view of the strip. I've been to many other hotels on the strip, and I've got to say that this view was the best I've seen so far! The location of the hotel gives you the best angles...we could see from the Mirage all the way up to the MGM!

Some afternoons we spent by the pool. The pool area is a little small and unlively for my liking...but if you want to relax and get a tan (and not be bothered with big crowds), then this pool area will serve the purpose.

Nights were fun! We went to "Tangerine", the hotel night club. Since we were guests of the hotel, we received VIP passes. We skipped to the front of the line and didn't have to pay a cover. Tangerine is a cool bar. I especially love the patio outdoors. If you stay there long enough, you will see the live "pirate" show in the lagoon.

Quick Tips:

When making your reservation, ALWAYS ask for a "strip" view! (At most hotels, there isn't extra charge for this, but make sure to ask just in case.) Nothing is worse than getting to your hotel only to find you have a view of the mountains! (Unless you prefer to look at the mountains.) Nothing completes the Vegas experience like having an awesome view of the Strip!

Best Way To Get Around:

We walked the majority of the time, only taking a cab to get to hotels/clubs off of the strip. (Palms, hard Rock, etc.)

Treasure Island is a hotel that I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to stay right on the strip without spending too much. My boyfriend and I stayed there for 4 nights and we paid $129 a night. We thought this was a very good deal.

When we arrived, we went straight to the front desk to check in. It was about 9pm, so there was no line. The girl at the front desk was very friendly and even sent up a complimentary bottle of champagne.

When we got to our room, we were amazed by the view! We could see all the way down the strip! It's probably one of the best room views in Vegas that I've seen so far. (we made sure to ask for a strip-view when we made our reservations)

The room itself was a basic standard size room. It was furnished nicely, and was kept very neat and clean. The marble bathroom was very spacious. It included a large vanity that accommodated all of our toiletries...plus we had room to spare! (you don't find that too often in hotel bathrooms) There was an abundant supply of pomegranate-scented soaps and bath products which were of very good quality. The bath/shower was very large...the tub could fit two people.

The pool area was a bit on the small side. It wasn't very lively either. There weren't too many people there. Don't get me wrong, I don't like it when it's soo crowded that you have to fight for a lounge chair, but I like when there's a nice amount of people there to create a good party vibe.

Another thing that my boyfriend and I loved, was the "Krispy Creme" counter. Every morning we'd get a donut and milk for breakfast. It was like a ritual. It's located near the tram station that takes you to the Mirage. It's great for people staying at the Mirage also...they can just hop on the tram and grab a donut as soon as they get off.

Lastly, Treasure Island is home to the famous pirate show. The "Sirens of TI" as it's called, is a great show that the hotel puts on every night. It's free to the public and it runs about 20 minutes long. They have approximately 3 shows a night. (depending on the weather) Definitely something you don't want to miss!

Located inside Treasure Island, Kahunaville is a restaurant/bar that offers more than just food and drinks. In addition to the "dueling piano" show that they put on almost nightly, you'll find some of the best "flair" bartenders in Vegas! Like something you'd see out of the movie "Cocktail", these bartenders flip bottles and perform crazy stunts that you wouldn't believe! (They're big into audience participation as well). Note: Randy was our bartender every time we went there, and he was awesome! P.S. The food was great too!

I recommend the "Top of the World" restaurant to anyone who wants to enjoy the best of Vegas! Located at the very top of the "Stratosphere" hotel/casino, this "revolving" restaurant provides an aerial view of the entire city. Revolving once every hour, you are guaranteed to see an awesome view of the strip while enjoying your dinner and/or cocktails. This restaurant provides a view unlike any other! The atmosphere is simple and elegant...dimly lit with candles on each table, so that your eye is immediately drawn to the view. This is a great "date" restaurant! The food is fabulous as well. (I had the lobster ravioli with vodka sauce). I give 2 thumbs up for presentation of each dish...especially the desserts! They were so nice to look at, you almost didn't want eat them.

So if this is your first trip to Vegas, or your fiftieth, the "Top of the World" restaurant is an experience you don't want to miss, and won't soon forget!

"Ghostbar" at the Palms is one of the coolest bars to hang out at. Generally for the younger crowd, the vibe in this place is cool and eclectic...what you would expect a Vegas club to be! Located on the top floor of the "Palms" hotel/casino, you can walk outside onto the deck and see an awesome view of the strip as well as the rest of the city. For those who aren't afraid of heights, do check out the clear dance floor at the edge of the deck. It looks straight down (55 floors) to the parking lot below. Pretty cool, but you may have to fight the crowd in order to see it, or for that matter, dance on it. (It's kind of small, so only a few people can fit on it at a time). I've been to Ghostbar over 4th of July weekend, and it was pretty packed. However, I've also gone during off-peak times (September/October), and it's much easier to chill out and actually enjoy the view without having to fight the crowd. There's also a hotel photographer that walks around and takes pictures of the guests that are later posted on the Palms website. My boyfriend and I have been on the website twice. We usually go on Tuesdays, or as they call it, "Tuesdays on Top". Ghostbar is definitely a must-see in Vegas!

For those who love thrill rides and aren't afraid of heights, I definitely recommend riding the "Big Shot" on the very top of the "Statosphere" hotel/casino. Sort of like a "reverse bungee," this sling-shot ride propels you upwards of 100 feet (not to mention that you're already 900 feet up to begin with), and lets you freefall back down. The ride will bounce up and down a few times before coming to a complete stop. The coolest thing about this ride is that it's up so high, and gives you and awesome view of the entire city! I think most of the adrenaline comes from the anticipation of when the ride will start. You're just sitting there, and there's no warning of when this thing is going to shoot you up into the atmosphere! I've been on this ride during the day and at night...I recommend riding it at night when the city is all lit up. It's a surreal experience!

"Tangerine" nightclub is located inside the Treasure Island hotel/casino. The first thing you'll notice, are the cool colors and lighting. A vibrant orange color accents the entire place. Outside on the deck, you'll notice more of the orange and pink lighting and hues that reflect off of the water/lagoon. I'm sure if you get there early enough, you can get a seat at the bar on the outside deck, but my boyfriend and I got there around 11pm and it was packed outside. We wanted to see the Pirate show, but there were so many people standing in our way that we couldn't see a thing. (My advice is to get there early, and sit as close to the water as possible). We went back inside the club to find a burlesque show about to start. There is a little stage right behind the bar, and that is where the girls dance. Since we were staying at Treasure Island, we didn't have to pay a cover, and we skipped straight to the front of the line.