When people think of Las Vegas, what usually comes to mind are the endless amount of casinos, neon lights and non-stop partying. It may be all that but until I actually visited for the first time last month, I realized it’s also an amazing spot for a romantic getaway. Though it may not be the most apparent choice, Las Vegas actually has a lot more to offer other than the high life. However, to get it out of our system, the first night my boyfriend and I landed, we did indeed go straight to XS Nightclub and party until 4 am in the morning. Not to mention Toronto time is three hours ahead of Vegas, making it a bit of a YOLO moment. However, we only had three days to spend in Vegas and we weren’t going to waste it. If you and your significant other are the types to want a relaxing vacay on the beach, Las Vegas might not be the place for you. But if you’re like us, who loves the city life as much as a sunny vacation and always up for a bit of adventure in a big city, Las Vegas has all the offerings you may be looking for.

 

Winter might be an odd time to visit Vegas but one of the major perks of coming during offseason are the travel deals. Once I saw flights to Las Vegas for almost half the price, I was ready to pack my bags and leave town. The main attraction for Las Vegas is undoubtedly the different themed hotels. Some might find it a bit gimmicky but my boyfriend and I had a lot of fun walking around the infamous Las Vegas strip, going from one hotel to the next. It was kind of like hitting up one major city after the other from Paris to Venice and so on. Pictured above, standing in front of the Paris Hotel, is Vegas’ version of the highly recognized Arc de Triomphe. Though it obviously doesn’t compare to the real thing, I really felt like I was back in Paris for a moment. As well, you can’t help but marvel at the “Eiffel Tower” once the sun goes down on the strip (see picture below). Dressed in my long black jacket, distressed jeans and infinity scarf, I was actually freezing during most of my time in Vegas that I kind of regretted not bringing more layers. FYI to those visiting in the middle of winter, bring lots of functional clothing that will keep you warm because you’ll be doing a lot of walking while in town!

 

Las Vegas was built on the foundation of attracting many tourists from all over the world and what better way to do that than to give their visitors a taste of some of the most architecturally stunning cities. I’ve done club hopping before but hotel hopping was – dare I say – even more fun. Each hotel was completely different from the next, with something visually appealing to draw in large crowds at the front of each. Other than the casino section of the hotel – which all looked pretty much the same – I was pretty amazed at how each hotel was transformed into a different exciting space for their guests. Pictured above is one of Las Vegas oldest hotels, The Flamingo which is home to some live flamingos right in the city. Not going to lie, I had no idea until that point that flamingos could live in such a cold climate (it was 11 degrees when we were in town), but it seems like Vegas isn’t the place where you name a hotel Flamingo without actually having live flamingos in it 😉

 

One of those most memorable and romantic parts of our Las Vegas trip had to be our dinner at CATCH, located in Aria. Other than the amazing seafood that people raved about online, I couldn’t resist coming here for this beautiful floral backdrop (pictured above). Dressed head to toe in my skintight pink two-piece, I finally felt ready to take on Las Vegas. From the first night when we arrived in Vegas, I knew the girls here went all out when it came to their partywear. I saw some jaw-dropping outfits during our one night of partying and even felt underdressed in my bodysuit and skintight miniskirt. I also blame the fact that I was pretty much half asleep from just getting off a plane that I didn’t feel at my best. However, when we arrived at CATCH, I had my bright pink lippy on with my 4-inch blush pink heels that I finally felt Vegas-ready. You have to look your best to feel your best, right?

 

The restaurant itself was undeniably gorgeous. The entrance was lined with twinkling lights down a long pathway filled with colourful plants hanging from the walls and ceiling. It was Insta heaven with many waiting for their chance at a photo op. Las Vegas has always been known for their neon lights and eye-catching displays but the decor at CATCH really put the icing on the cake. The long stretch of lit-up flowers and plants were just a prequel to the intimate dining experience waiting for us at the end of the pathway. The restaurant itself had a lovely garden theme with artificial trees situated throughout. Known as one of the more modern and chic hotels in Vegas, Aria Resort & Casino definitely has a very trendy vibe to it. With a very exciting and stylish atmosphere, CATCH is for sure the place to be seen. If you plan to visit, definitely be prepared to dress to impress.

 

CATCH is a tapas-style seafood restaurant and as suggested by our server, we ordered a bunch of small plates to share between us. I’m not going to lie but everything we had was honestly so delicious. The wagyu beef tacos were just a tad on the salty side but still pretty amazing. I’d highly recommend getting the truffle sashimi – which is what they’re pretty much known for – and of course, the oysters were super fresh as well. Here I am, above, all glammed up for our second night in Las Vegas. The restaurant, which is located right inside of Aria, was perfect for a pre-Valentine’s dinner and had all the same excitement you’d find in a club. As well, what I really liked about Vegas, contrary to popular belief, is how down-to-earth everyone was. From the partygoers to the servers and Uber drivers, everyone was very welcoming, which made our first-time Vegas experience all the more enjoyable.

 

Another upside to visiting Las Vegas in the middle of winter was that is also happened to be Chinese New Year weekend when we arrived. If you didn’t know, Vegas is huge on Chinese New Year celebrations because of the large number of Chinese guests that frequent the casinos. In Chinese culture, we believe that a new year signifies new luck, which is why Vegas goes all out in putting up the Chinese New Year displays to celebrate with us. As a result, there’d be Chinese decorations everywhere we went. We were delighted to see a different display in tribute to the Year of the Pig at each casino we visited. It was especially nice for me because I personally loved seeing all the cute pig displays. Pictured above, at the Bellagio, is my favourite CNY display that we were able to see. I also coincidentally wore an all-pink outfit that night, matching all the Chinese New Year decorations along the way, which I didn’t mind at all 🙂

 

One major bummer for traveling to Las Vegas in the middle of February is that all pool parties and day clubs are closed for the season. However, nothing was going to stop us from visiting the Grand Canyon while in town. When visiting the park of all parks, make sure to designate one whole day for the excursion. We got on our tour bus at six in the morning and got back to the city around 9 pm that night. Of course, it also depends on which part of the Grand Canyon you choose to visit. We chose to go to the South Rim, which is the one people boast of having the best view; it ’s also the furthest one to reach by bus. Nonetheless, the entire trip consisted of us sitting on a bus all day with just three 1-hour stops along the way. One thing I did love though was how we were immediately welcomed to the views of the desert and distant valleys as our bus made its way outside of the city.

 

After spending almost half the day on the bus (approximately 6 hours), we finally reached the glorious Grand Canyon. And yes, it was just as amazing in real life as in pictures; the vastness of the canyon will always be etched in my mind as miles and miles of molten rock lay before my eyes. I only wish I could’ve enjoyed it a bit more but the truth is one, we only had 2 hours total to spend at the canyon and two, it was freezing on our visitation day. After taking our mandatory canyon shots, we’d run back indoors for cover each time. If you’re planning to come during the winter months, be sure to dress warmly and be prepared for snow! Although the weather was not what we’d expected, the Grand Canyon was definitely still the highlight of our Las Vegas trip. What could be more romantic than a visit into the desert with your beau beside you to freeze along with?

 

The South Rim was the epitome of picturesque but if given the chance, I’d want to drive here by ourselves next time so we can hike all the way to the edge. Pictured above is the view from the Grand Canyon National Park. We were taken to two viewing points during our tour, with this one boasting the best view of the canyon. I definitely agree that the view was nothing short of spectacular but it felt a bit touristy as I was initially hoping to get a picture without the metal fencing. FYI coming on a bus tour won’t get you those epic shots you see on IG – you’d have to come here on your own time if you want to venture off freely. There’s also the option to visit the West Rim – which only takes about half the time – but I hear the view isn’t as amazing. Moreover, if you want to up the romance factor during your visit, you can also take a helicopter ride through the canyon but we decided to take in our first time here on land.

 

Other than the partying, gambling and drinking that one must partake in when in Las Vegas, the one thing you cannot miss out on is the buffet. I’ve never found buffets to be that great in general but the Bacchanal at Caesar’s Palace was just amazing. It included a carving station, bone marrow, crab legs and a dessert station serving freshly made crepes and gelato to name a few. By the end of it, I’d eaten until I was in so much pain and my only wish was that I could eat some more (that’s how good it was). Pictured above, in front of the pool at Caesar’s Palace, we got to enjoy the entire outdoor facility by ourselves beforehand because as I mentioned before, pool parties don’t open up until mid-March. If you ever want to take in the serene atmosphere of the massive Ceasar’s Palace without a soul in sight – winter is the time to do it. Dressed in my all-black outfit with my fitted nude turtleneck, I was trying my best to stay warm while looking stylish in Vegas. I also ended up matching the Roman columns of Ceasar’s Palace while at it 😛

 

Although Las Vegas has been longtime coined the name Sin City, there’s actually more to it than just the party scene. With multiple scenic parks nearby, luxurious hotel spas, Michelin-starred restaurants along with Gordon Ramsay’s infamous Hell’s Kitchen, it’s an exciting city with world-class culture as well. Most people wouldn’t think to come to Vegas as a romantic getaway but my boyfriend and I loved the opulent hotel scene as much as the tranquility of the outskirts of the city. Pictured above is our balcony view from our suite at the Signature at MGM Grand. Since the condo-like hotel sits at the back of the strip, we got a nice peaceful view of the city lights without all the noise pollution coming from the strip itself. If you prefer a more convenient location though, I’d recommend booking a hotel right on the Las Vegas strip. However, if you’re looking for more quiet time with your significant other, the Signature does the trick.

 

Ending the night in true Vegas fashion, we hit up the fountains of Bellagio to see their water show timed at every 15 minutes to the beat of a different song each time. If watching a water show set against the backdrop of the beautifully lit Bellagio hotel at night doesn’t spell romance for you, I don’t know what does. It might be the most basic thing to do while in town but it’s a Vegas must. The Bellagio is the most recognized landmark on the strip, situated right beside Ceasar’s Palace and in front of the Paris Hotel. When in town, it definitely helps that all the hot spots are all clustered together so you can see everything all at once. I also hear downtown Las Vegas, located north of the strip, is where the real fun is but we didn’t get a chance to check it out this time around. Hopefully the next time I visit Las Vegas I’ll be sitting poolside at Ceasar’s Palace with the sun beating down on me. Until next time, Vegas!

 

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