Long Weekend Trip to Las Vegas

Arrive in Las Vegas in the late afternoon/early evening and check into your hotel! Hilton Grand Vacations Elara is my favorite hotel to stay at with a group of 4+ as they have one to four-bedroom suites. For smaller groups, The Cosmopolitan is my top choice.

Once settled into your accommodation, grab a casual first night dinner at Gordon Ramsey Burger for a laid back yet delicious first meal in Vegas.

After dinner, explore the strip and make sure you see the Bellagio fountain show which plays every 15 minutes from 8 pm-midnight. The fountains are breathtaking, dancing in sync with music that plays surrounding the entire fountain pool.

Day two kicks off with brunch at Alexxa's. Located directly across from the Bellagio fountains at Paris Hotel & Casino, Alexxa's boasts a fantastic brunch with bottomless mimosas outside right on the Strip.

After brunch, explore the Strip and hit up some of the casinos to try your luck at your favorite casino game (I'm a sucker for Ultimate Texas Hold'em!). Head back to the hotel mid afternoon for some pool time and then get ready for dinner.

For dinner, we are heading to Bazaar Meat by José Andrés for one of the best steaks you'll ever have. Featuring any and all cuts of meat from shareable tomahawks to individual filet mignon, Bazaar Meat has stood in the top five steakhouses I have been to for five years now. Don't sleep on the mashed potatoes - they are life changing!

After dinner, head to a world-renowned Las Vegas show, such as Cirque du Soleil and that's a wrap on day two!

The sun rises on day three where we can spend the day in one of two ways - partying or relaxing! The party option has us going to Wet Republic or Encore Beach Club. These are my two favorite pool party spots, and I usually pick whoever has my favorite artist playing. If you are celebrating a special occasion, splurge for a VIP table experience with your own server and table with loungers. Relaxing option sends us to Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace. This spa is absolutely gorgeous with Roman inspired baths, hot and cold tubs, saunas and more, in addition to one of the best massages I've ever had.

For dinner, head to Carbone for an excellent authentic Italian meal. The Lobster Fra Diavolo is exquisite, as is the veal parmesan.

At night, hit the High Roller Observation Wheel at the Linq for a ride 550' above the strip! Spice it up with an optional open-bar ticket where an onboard bar serves bottomless drinks during the 30-minute ride.

On our final full day, let's spend the day on a tour of Red Rock Canyon where we explore breathtaking views of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Located just 30 minutes from the Strip, the views of natural red rock formations are genuinely breathtaking.

Returning from Red Rock, head to Old Vegas and the Freemont Street Experience. The vibe of old Vegas is quite different from the Strip with many old-school casinos such as Binion's, along with the brand new Circa. Sports fans must check out Stadium Swim at Circa for a pool party-meets-sportsbook experience. Thai food lovers will love dinner at Le Thai right in the heart of Old Vegas. The short rib fried rice is some of the best Thai food I have had hands down.

Head back to the Strip for a final night out at Hakkasan for a night full of dancing to world-class artists. Boasting 80,000 square feet over five levels, Hakkasan offers an out-of-this-world club experience

Day five brings the end of our trip, heading to the airport, and maybe trying to use our last bit of luck at the in-airport slot machines! Waiting to board our flight, my favorite activity is planning my next trip back to Vegas!

Making a list of things you loved, things you didn't get a chance to do and things you want to do on your next trip while they are fresh in your mind can make your next trip that much better!