The Best Things To Do In Vegas That Have Nothing To Do With Gambling

For as long as I've been dancing in nightclubs, I’ve always wanted to go to the party capital of the world: Vegas. But I’ve always been a bit hesitant about actually going, I thought it would be a bit too tacky, and I was convinced that by the end of the trip, I would end up on the phone to my mum, hysterically crying, because I had blown all my money in the casinos. However, when I finally made the transatlantic trip, I was surprised. Yes, the Strip is flashy, but it's a lot more glamorous than first impressions. It's like a hyper-glamourous Disneyland, just with added alcohol - and filled with designer stores instead of gift shops. (Forget the casinos, I actually had to worry about not spending all of my money in the shops.)

Best places to shop

If you would like to feel like you have been transported in time back to Ancient Rome – strongly recommended – then make sure to visit The Forums Shops at Caesars. The mall located in the famous hotel includes Balenciaga, Chanel and Mulberry, just to name a few, under a huge fake blue sky adorned with roman pillars and giant water fountains. (If you want to save your money for the casinos, there are also a few high-street favourites like Guess and a HUGE H&M.) Perhaps fanciest of all is the exclusively designer mall connected to The ARIA, The Shops At Crystals, where you can dream of owning a Birkin in Hermes, and browse an absolutely giant Louis Vuitton store. But the outlet stores are a good excuse to take a limousine ride away from The Strip - as 10 minutes away is Las Vegas Premium North Outlets, which has shops like Kate Spade, Burberry and Calvin Klein (underwear is half the price it is in the UK).

Best places to eat

Packed with live tanks, Water Grill at The Forum Shops At Caesars Palace, probably isn’t best for vegans – but you can guarantee that the seafood really is fresh, with the octopus being a firm favourite. Make sure to practise your chopstick skills for ambient Cantonese dining at Mott 32 in The Venetian. Their signature dish is the Peking Duck - and you can understand why as it is cooked for 12 hours and requires an advance notice of 2 days. (The smoked black cod is also out of this world.) Complete with flower photo boards, Catch at The ARIA is one of the most Instagrammable restaurants – but it also helps that the seafood is really, really good. Especially the crab rolls. If you're looking for more unconventional seafood, then you need to try the smoked salmon and caviar pizza – with cocktails – at Spago in the Bellagio.

Most Instagrammable places

Obviously, the first stop for the 'gram is the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. But this is closely followed by the indoor gondolas in The Venetian, which are an influencer's dream. Another influencer favourite is the neon museum, which, you guessed it, is filled with pretty neon signs to illuminate your feed. If you want the ultimate Vegas snapshot, get a photo outside one of the iconic wedding chapels – wedding optional – or simply grab a a massive frozen cocktail as a prop for a photoshoot on the Strip. Pause by the Eiffel Tower if you want to fool all your followers that you're in France.

Best places to stay

If you’re looking to stay in the centre of everything, and enjoy the height of luxury, thenThe ARIAis pretty hard to beat. You can stay in a huge tower suite – two bathrooms, living room, bedroom – with phenomenal views over the city: everything in the room is controlled by an iPad. Have a bit more cash to spare? You can opt for the ARIA Sky Suites, which have dedicated tower of the resort, complete with their own gated driveway and private lobby with VIP check-in. The Venetian is another fantastic option, with spacious suites starting at £84 a night. The Cosmopolitan and The Bellagio are also firm favourites in the centre of town.

Bonnie McLaren was a guest ofSimon Shopping Destinations and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Feel inspired? Get planning your trip to Vegas here.

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