Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert was settled by the Spanish in 1829 and the Mormons built a fort there in 1855. Gambling was legalised in Nevada in 1936 and gangster Bugsy Siegel opened the Flamingo in 1946. The town earned the reputation of being a hard-hitting town of booze, prostitution, gambling, drugs, standover merchants, gangsters and every illegal activity you can think of. It was a hard-man's town.
Well that was then. Getaway asked Aussie actress Sophie Monk, now resident in California, to show us the Las Vegas she knows: the fun town for girls. There are shopping malls galore, every type of spa you can imagine and lots of fancy restaurants and bars.
Aria Casino and Resort
The brand spanking new and massive Aria Casino Resort was a good place to start with some pampering. It's part of the new City Center Complex, which towers over the Strip. It's a city within a city.
The resort has 4004 guest rooms and an enormous casino floor. Three pools have 50 cabanas, an adults-only pool, 16 restaurants and 10 bars and lounges including a nightclub.
The two-level spa and salon has 62 individual spa treatment rooms, 55 salon stations, barbershop, deluxe fitness room, exercise studio and meditation and relaxation rooms.
Aria's 1800-seat theatre houses Viva Elvis, a Cirque du Soleil tribute to the life and musical legacy of The King, Elvis Presley.
New York-New York Hotel & Casino
After some indulgent relaxation, Sophie and her friend Sarah were ready to hit the shops. The choice is staggering. Malls and shops in every hotel sell everything from the world's most exclusive brands, excellent discount opportunities and Vegas kitsch.
They reckon the best place to find gifts to give your friends a laugh is at New York-New York Casino. There's an endless supply of goodies you look at and think "Who would buy that?" and then end up buying it for that person in the office with a weird sense of humour. The Getaway office is full of such gifts!
Mind you, there's nothing kitsch about New York-New York itself. It's luxury all the way with an over-the-top array of posh amenities.
Bellagio
With 30 storeys of luxury inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy, this is one not to miss. Its 3.2 hectare lake lies between the property and the Strip. It has a large dancing water fountain synchronised to music. Inside you will be fascinated by Dale Chihuly's Fiori di Como, more than 2000 handblown glass flowers covering the lobby ceiling. Bellagio is also home to Cirque du Soleil's aquatic production
O.
Bellagio's award-winning spa is one of the best and most expensive in Vegas. Sophie and Sarah popped in to have a manicure before deciding where to go for a night of fun. Of course, while they were there, they couldn't resist a little bit of window shopping at the Giorgio Armani, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Hermes and Fendi boutiques.
L'Atelier De Joël Robuchon
Las Vegas has a stream of "all you can possibly eat" restaurants, as well as the usual fast-food outlets, but for a truly special dining experience, L'Atelier at MGM Grand is one of the city's two Michelin-star restaurants.
One of eight gourmet restaurants owned by France's esteemed chef, L'Atelier is known as "the culinary workshop of the gourmet mastermind". Believe it or not, their signature dish is pommes purée, known to us as mashed spuds. Menus start at US$49 and there's a five-course tasting menu for US$85 so it could be worth a visit.
Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino
This is the place for sunset drinks. Way up on the 64th floor of Mandalay Bay Hotel, the Hotel is one of Vegas' fashionable hot spots. Sip a cocktail or enjoy your favourite beer or spirit. DJs Frankie 808 and P-Nut entertain as you watch millions of lights announce night on the Strip has officially begun.
Thunder from Down Under
For some fun from home, Sophie and Sarah just had to go to see the sensational Thunder from Down Under show at Excalibur. It's a hot spot for a girls' night out with plenty of flirting between the stars and the audience and inhibitions are let drop for a couple of hours of fun.
The athletic performers are "scorchingly hot, hot, hot" and the dancing sexy. The pirate dance, a tribute to the Spartans of 300, is a classic tux strip-tease, "tease" being the operative word. There's no nudity so you can take your grandma along, and after the show there's a photo opportunity with the hunk of your dreams.
Eve the Nightclub at Crystals
For the perfect end to a huge day and night, the girls went to Eva Longoria Parker's glamorous nightclub. It's a favourite spot for Hollywood's hottest — Prince, Kim Kardashian, Avril Lavigne and other stars are regular visitors. Eva and her husband, Tony Parker, make regular appearances.
Eve the Nightclub has given Vegas nightlife a boost in a new direction. Location, celebrities and excellent food blend to amuse and entertain the most discerning fun crowd.
It's all black and gold with booths around the circular dance floor, there are giant video screens and DJs and custom-designed Swarovski crystal chandeliers.
The comfort of Aria was beckoning. There was a lot to talk about and shopping to compare and we think Sophie and Sarah have given us a perfect example of Las Vegas definitely being a fun place for girls!
*View all of Sophie's Las Vegas antics here:
*Check out Sophie's wet and wild trip in Hawaii here:
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada — the gambling capital of the world.
Cost
Aria Resort & Casino poolside cabanas are from $372 a day. Rooms are from $120 a night. Sky Suites start at $465.
Thunder from Down Under general admission starts from $38.
Prices correct at May 5, 2011.
For further information
Aria Casino and Resort
3730 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
United States
Ph: +1 866 359 7111
www.arialasvegas.com
New York-New York Hotel & Casino
379- Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Ph: +1 866 815 4365
www.nynyhotelcasino.com
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
United States
Ph: +1 888 987 6667
www.bellagio.com
L'atelier De Joel Robuchon
3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109-4319
United States
Ph: +1 702 891 7358
www.mgmgrand.com/atelier
Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino
3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
United States
Ph: +1 877 632 7800
www.mandalaybay.com
Thunder from Down Under
Excalibur
3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
United States
Ph: +1 877 750 5464
www.excalibur.com
www.thunderfromdownunder.com
Reservations: www.excalibur.com
Eve the Nightclub
3720 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
United States
Ph: +1 702 227 3838
www.evethenightclub.com
Visas: Most Australians do not need a visa, providing they have a machine-readable passport with at least six months' validity after the departure day, have a round-trip non-refundable ticket and do not intend to stay longer than 90 days. Australians need to complete a pre-travel authorisation at www.cbp.gov/esta.
Electricity: 110V to 115V at 60Hz. Outlets take two parallel, flat prongs. Australian visitors will need a US adapter and converter.
Time zone: Nevada is GMT -8.
Currency: The American dollar.
International dialling code: +1.
