Las Vegas - where we stayed and what we did

If you look online, there are a lot (and I mean a LOT) of posts about Las Vegas. Covering all sorts of topics from how to book, where to stay, where to eat etc etc.

So what can I add that's any different? Well, first up, a bit of back ground info - this was our 8th trip to Las Vegas! I really do think Vegas is like Marmite, you either love it or hate it, there's no in between. I always wanted to visit Vegas as a child and from our very first trip back in 2001, we've loved it wholeheartedly.

And so, as you'd probably imagine, after all those visits, we've done most of the typical must-see attractions that all tourists do. Even so, Las Vegas is a city that is constantly evolving and changing and as it was 8 years since our last visit (!) there was plenty to see that was new to us. So this post is not an exhaustive must do/must see post, more of a taste of what we did this time around.

Flamingo Hotel and Casino

First up - our hotel. We've started trying to stay in a different hotel every time we visit in the (very optimisic) hope of eventually working our way through most of the hotels on the strip. This time around, we chose The Flamingo Hotel and Casino.

We had a tick-box list for our Vegas hotel. It had to be central, with a view of the strip (the name given to the main road through the centre), it had to have 'character' and finally, be within budget. Not much to ask then? After a lot of searching around, we narrowed it down to two hotels. Bally's or Flamingo. The deciding factor? The Flamingo had a wildlife habitat with real live flamingos in. Decision made! It's also the oldest hotel currently on the strip so plenty of character there.

We booked direct, and made sure to join the Caesar's Reward Scheme. Caesars owns a surprising number of hotels in Vegas and elsewhere so if you're planning on staying a while here or in another Caesars property, it's worth getting a reward account. It's free and gives you benefits other than just points.

Not going to lie - resort fees in Vegas are a shocker. Just be aware of them, take a deep breath and budget for them. If you want to stay central, it really is the price you have to pay. Some hotels are starting to reduce or waive them, but whether they'll ever go is anyone's guess.

Overall thoughts on The Flamingo? We loved it. We paid extra for a strip view, but didn't pay for one of the newer refurbished rooms which we felt was a good decision. Our room on the 16th floor was perfectly good enough: clean, spacious and very very comfy. Now, if you don't like 24 hr flashing neon lights, then a strip view room might not be the one for you! Luckily, we slept through the light shows every night no problem.

The Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge

This classic Las Vegas icon has been on my must do list for years. Unfortunately, it's destined to stay there. It's open 24 hrs but despite all our best planning, we still managed to pick a time with huge lines waiting to be seated. So a quick peek in, a little whimper at missed opportunities and The Peppermill was added right back onto my wish list for next time.

The Linq and High Roller

Last time we visited, this was still in the planning stage - so this whole area was new to us. A quirky, lively side area off the main strip, The Linq shopping promenade sits in between The Flamingo hotel and The Linq Hotel. You can even take a zip line from one end to the other if that's your sort of thing. At the far end is The High Roller, a 550 foot high observation wheel, currently the tallest wheel in the world. As we were guests at The Flamingo and Caesars Rewards members (remember the benefits...?) we got discounted tickets and quicker boarding. Although, mid-morning when we went is a pretty quiet time to go anyway and daytime tickets are slightly cheaper than night time. There's also a evening option of a pod with an open bar and unlimited alcohol if that takes your fancy!

Walk The Strip

Not one for the faint hearted - and truth be told, we could only manage half the length at any one time. But when you remember the strip is just over 4 miles long, the heat (over 100 degrees everyday we were there), we didn't do too badly. It's been said many times, but sensible footwear, lots of sun cream (factor 50+ for us) and as much water as you can carry is the way to go. We always started early in the day, caught the monorail to the end of the strip and walked back to our hotel which was halfway along. Mornings meant less heat, less crowds and much easier walking. It's been a very long time since we did this and although we were pretty shattered afterwards, it was worth doing for just to be able to see everything up close and without the crowds (plus there's air conditioned shops along the way like Sephora to pop into...).

Visit a celebrity chef's restaurant

You'll spoilt for choice here and if you watch the food channel, you'll recognise a lot of the named restaurants. And if you're from the UK, be amazed (possibly dismayed) at how many restaurants and eateries Gordon Ramsey has. The other half's favourite chef is Guy Fieri so a visit to Guy Fieri's Restaurant and Bar was a must do. Heads-up, it's not cheap (as you'd expect) but a big part of the visit is the experience of going. Luckily, it didn't disappoint. The staff were lovely, the food amazing and the bill every bit as eye watering as you'd expect! Again, we went mid-afternoon so had time to relax and experience it all without the evening crowds.

The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Free to visit and some rooms in the hotel overlook this. It's a little hidden oasis in the middle of the madness of Vegas. There's scheduled feeding times and opportunities for photo shoots with the parrots (have to say - I was less keen on this, I never like to see that sort of staged interaction with any animal). Apart from this, the animals and birds in the wildlife habitat looked very relaxed and well cared for. You can even get married here if you want...

Monster Mini Golf at The Twilight Zone at Bally's

What can I add to this! Who would have thought glow in the dark indoor mini golf would be so much fun, so much fun in fact, we visited twice (and you get a discount ticket for the 2nd visit). The staff were amazing and so welcoming. Wear white if you want to stand out (literally) and visit early morning if you want to pootle around at your own pace. There's also a mini arcade and a food court nearby with the best Chinese food. We seriously loved this place, if you want to visit it can be hard to find though. Just head for the food court and you'll find the signs for it eventually.

So that's just a taster of some of the things we saw and did this time around in Las Vegas. We still have a very long wish list of things to do and see (Peppermill!) but that just means we have the perfect reason to go back again for visit #9

Thanks for reading

Cathy
xx

Basic car care for your next holiday*

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure there’s not a nicer feeling than setting ‘out of office’ on your email, closing the door on work and setting off on holiday. For me, the travelling is as much part of the holiday as the holiday itself. We like to take our car and be as independent as possible (plus there’s no weight restrictions on luggage!).

We regularly have short trips in the UK and at least once a year, we head over to France and Belgium. But as exciting as it is go on holiday, one major part of any driving trip is to make sure your car is ready for the journey. Basic car maintenance is a good habit to get into and can save you from any unexpected problems during your journey.

Having just returned from a week driving around Devon and with a trip to France on the horizon, I thought I’d share some of the basic checks we do before setting off. I normally travel with the other half and to be fair, he likes to do the checks himself. But if I’m travelling on my own, I do them myself.

The first item on our list was definitely the tyres. I always give them a once over before driving anywhere (and on both sides, it’s easy to forget what’s happening on the passenger side if you’re the driver). If the tyre pressure is too high or low this can cause uneven wear. If the tread is too low, it’s an MOT failure. Our tread is was getting low so a new set of tyres are needed before we go to France. It’s easy to check what tyres you need simply by entering your car reg online at websites like DAT Tyres where you can buy car tyres at economical prices.

Checking the oil – again this is changed when the car has its service or if you’re confident enough it can be something you tackle yourself. Check the oil level before any big trip and remember to make a note of what type of oil your car uses. I have a sticker in the glove compartment to remind of that as well as the recommended tyre pressure.

Other checks we do are cleaning the air filter, brake fluid level, the water in the radiator and making sure the screen wash is topped up, preferably with some screen cleaner to get rid of all those pesky bugs you get on your windscreen. Check your windscreen wiper blades as well. It’s amazing the difference a new set can make.

One other hint I would give for car maintenance is to read your car manual and if going on a long journey – take it with you! We had to change a brake light bulb once while in France and the whole thing was a lot less stressful knowing we had the manual to hand.

And the final bit of car maintenance? Making sure the driver and passengers are looked after. I always have a supply of snacks and drinks on hand and plan stops along the way to break the journey up. Share the driving whenever you can (unless you’re my other half who hates being a passenger) and make sure the sat nav is up to date. If you’re driving abroad remember the check the legal requirements for what you must carry in the car (high viz jackets, spare bulb kit and breathalysers for France for example).

So, there you have it, my hints and tips for making sure your car is safe and ready for your next holiday.

Thanks for reading 

Cathy

xx

* This post contains sponsored links

Days out - Dippy on Tour in Dorchester

Did you know there's a dinosaur travelling the country?

Dippy the Dinosaur who used to grace the entrance way in the Natural History Museum, London is now on a natural history adventure across the UK. His first stop was the Jurassic Coast and the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester.

Now I remember visiting the Natural History museum many times as a child, Dippy was moved front and centre to the Hintze Hall in 1979 when I was 10 and as a lover of all things dinosaur, he was a big thing. I still have the model of a diplodocus I proudly bought with my pocket money. It sits on my bedroom window sill watching the neighbours like a minature prehistoric bodyguard.

His tail was a bit more curled than we remembered and according to the staff he's changed position a few times over the years. Also the balcony at either end had to be cut to accommodate him. After being at the Natural History museum for a total of 110 years, it's remarkable he's made it in one piece.

It was so good to see plenty of visitors, even towards the end of his stay. Talking to a member of staff they said they had had in excess of 100,000 visitors since Dippy's arrival. He really is a bit of a crowd pleaser! And what a beautiful location for the first stop!

Next stop on the tour is Birmingham - wonder if I could become a Dippy groupie and follow him around? His last stop is is Norwich Cathedral which I imagine will be spectacular.

The full list of stops and dates can be found here - if you're planning a visit, let me know!

Thanks for reading

Cathy
xx

M&Co SS18 Holiday Shop Brunch

Last week the lovely folk at M&Co invited me to brunch to have a peep at their upcoming SS18 holiday range.

After the 'Beast from the East' and all the snow and bad weather - a little bit of sunshine was definitely needed! So on a rather soggy Wednesday morning, I made my way to Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings in Clerkenwell.

What a beautiful location for a spot of brunch! The greenhouse was a perfect location to showcase the new ranges - there was definitely a tropical vibe going on.

Some of the key pieces that really caught my eye were those with the vibrant, tropical leaf theme.

If you wanted something a bit simpler, this cover-up was a favourite, neutral enough to wear with a variety of colours, but with a hint of a print. The white top I can imagine pairing with jeans and sandals for a casual day out.

I even spotted some tassel earrings!  One of my favourite trends from the last year so very glad to see no sign of them disappearing anytime soon. The fuschia and blue colour combo is perfect.

Younger shoppers weren't forgotten either.

It was good have a look at men's fashion as well. I think it's fair to say my other half is probably not too bothered with current trends, but I can certainly see him in one of these hats in the summer (the pastel shirts....I'd have to work on that!).

And last but not least - what a beautiful location. Although I've been to this part of London before, I had no idea this little gem was here.

A big thanks to M&Co for the invite - I now need to plan a summer holiday!

Thanks for reading

Cathy
xx