I’ve almost fully recovered from my recent getaway to Las Vegas to celebrate my bestie’s bachelorette. 5 bridesmaids, 4 groomsman and the bride and groom to-be all enjoyed a long weekend complete with laughter, late nights, food, booze and of course fun! Although we all considered the weekend a success, the days leading up to the big bach bash were a bit stressful as we tried to work out all the last minute details to make sure the everything went smoothly and most importantly that the bride and groom had an unforgettable time!

If you are you in the midst of planning a bachelorette or do have friends who are, then you may find this guide helpful. Below are my tips for planning the ultimate  bachelorette party in Las Vegas!

 

EAT

Le Village Buffet – If you want to really indulge in French cuisine try the buffet at the Paris Hotel. I dined here on my 2^nd trip to Vegas and I still have dreams about the truffle pasta and crepe station. It’s seriously the best!

Bardot Brasserie – If you’re looking for a bit more upscale French dining experience, check out the Bardot Brasserie located in the Aria Hotel. Delicious and beautiful.

Fremont Street – If your group is open to venturing off the strip, checkout Fremont Street. In addition to fun dive bars and a carnival atmosphere, there are also some great restaurants in this area like Carson Kitchen (pictured above).

Boozy Brunch at the Bellagio – If you still have energy after a long night of partying and want to enjoy a boozy brunch, it doesn’t get much better than The Buffet at the Bellagio. From 7am – 3pm on weekends, the Buffet offers a mouthwatering selection of dishes from around the world along with unlimited champagne (optional).

Giada – Vegas is home to a TON of celebrity chef restaurants including the likes of Bobby Flay, Guy Fieri, Tom Colicchio, Nobu Matsuhisa, Emiril Lagasse, José Andrés and Gordon Ramsay to name a few. Giada De Laurentiis just happens to be my favorite. She is also the only female on the list! Seeing as though you’re in Vegas for a girls’ weekend (and it’s 2018 and time’s up!) Giada’s seems like an appropriate choice, am I right?! Plus, I’ve eaten here and it is equal parts beautiful and yummy and they have a pepper grinder as big as a toddler!

Carmine’s – If you’ve really worked up an appetite, consider dining at Carmine’s Italian Restaurant located in Ceasar’s Palace. Entrees are served in generous portions, family style so no one will go home hungry!

 

DRINK

Let’s be honest, you girls are going to Vegas to let loose and have some fun, which means drinks are in order! There are plenty of watering holes from swanky rooftop lounges to dive bars and everything in between. I’ve highlighted a few options below.

Minus 5 Degrees Ice Experience – for an unforgettable experience, you and your girls should check out Vegas’ only ice bar. Zip up your parka and sip on a cocktail inside this bar filled with over 90 tons of ice. From the interactive sculptures to the bar itself, everything is made of ice!

Clique Bar & Lounge – If you find yourself in teh Cosmopolitan Hotel and pass by this bar at the right time, you’ll be treated to complimentary bubbly! Even if free drinks aren’t offered, it’s a sexy spot to grab a drink before starting your evening.

Mandarin Bar – Located on the 23^rd floor of the Mandarin Hotel, this lounge offers a sophisticated lounge vibes with stunning views of the city. If you’re group needs to detox, there’s also a beautiful tea lounge located in the Mandarin as well.

107 SkyLounge – For happy hour specials head to 107 SkyLounge located in the Stratosphere Hotel. The best part is this bar offers TWO happy hours – the early bird from 4pm – 7pm (2 for 1 drink specials and ½ price appetizers) and late night from 12am – 3am (drinks only). Sip on your lychee martini or cucumber mojito while enjoying panoramic views of the strip!

 

STAY

Lucky for you, accommodations in Las Vegas are relatively inexpensive. Even hotels in the heart of the strip have rooms for under $100 a night. Thanks to our bride-to-be, we got a free hookup at a property south of the strip, which was an added perk! Below are just some of the options to consider when planning your destination bachelorette bash.

Location, Location, Location: The Flamingo – I’ve stayed here 2 out of the 4 times I have visited Vegas and it is hands down my fave. The draw for me is the location (and the live flamingos)! You just can’t beat it. It is smack dab in the middle of the everything. It’s across from the Bellagio and adjacent to the Linq Promenade where you’ll find a variety of cute shops, bars and restaurants as well as the High Roller Ferris wheel. While it is one of the older hotels, they recently completed a new addition that is nice, new and modern.

Unique Experience: Luxor – If you want to try a themed hotel, the Luxor is where it’s at. This hotel is modeled after an Egyptian pyramid and the theme is carried throughout the entire interior decor. It is a bit farther south, but the tram is nearby which offers easy access to the strip.

Luxury With A Touch of Romance: Bellagio, Paris, Venetian & Caesars – If you’re looking for classic Vegas glam, these 4 hotels have you covered. Each is beautifully designed with French and Italian influences that for a moment will have you thinking you’ve been transported to Europe, or at least to Epcot. The attention to detail is pretty remarkable.

Ultra Modern: The Cosmopolitan & Aria – These sister properties are two of Vegas’ newer hotels and both have a sleek, contemporary feel. From the elevated outdoor ice rink and multiple pools and spas to the chic bars and restaurants located in each, these hotels are like a mini metropolis. There is so much to do here you never really need to leave!

 

PLAY

Scavenger hunt – This is the perfect activity to bring the group together and see a number of the main attractions along the Las Vegas strip. Since we had the guys with us, we split up into team bride and team groom and had an intense competition. I pieced together parts of Vegas scavenger hunts, bachelorette scavenger hunts and added some of my own ideas and ended up with a pretty solid list. It didn’t take long for everyone to get into the game and for the competition to heat up! I’m sad to say tat despite our best efforts, team groom prevailed and we had to buy them a round of drinks along the Linq Promenade!

Nightlife – Most people visit Vegas for the nightlife. Luckily, it doesn’t disappoint. Most hotels house nightclubs where the music pulses, drinks flow and confetti falls until the wee hours of the morning. The only drawback are the lines and cover charge, which can be a nuisance.

You can avoid all that by linking up with a Vegas promoter.  Honestly, the best way to find one is by walking the strip and sooner or later you will be approached by someone promoting an event that evening. Exchange numbers and you’ve got your contact for the weekend! Don’t be weirded out, it’s Vegas baby! They’ll typically add you to the guest list so that you can bypass the lines and cover charge and even partake in happy hour, which is offered to ladies at most venues. I’ve had memorable evenings at Marquee and Tao, but there are literally dozens of clubs to choose from! It all depends on what music you like and what vibe you’re going for, which you can discuss with your promoter.

Dispensary – For those who indulge in recreational marijuana use, you’ll be happy to know Nevada is now 1 of 9 states where pot is legal. As a result, there are several dispensaries on and around the strip. We visited the Apothecary Shoppe, which caters to both medical and recreational users. The staff was friendly, professional and quite dapper looking in their black vests. They were also very helpful and eager to answer any and all questions. There was even a popcorn machine in the lobby so you could grab a snack for the road! Even if you don’t smoke, it is worth a trip just for the experience.

Sunday Pool Party – Sundays in Vegas are for rehab. No, I don’t mean rehabilitation from all the drinking you did the day before. I mean the Rehab Beach Club pool party at the Hard Rock Hotel! $20 for gals, $40 for guys (when purchased in advance) and you’re in! Just do your best to get there early to snag a prime location. It also ends at dusk so if you chose to be fashionably late, you just might miss it. Be sure to check out the dress code and list of prohibited items before you go so there are no problems at the door. Unfortunately, we didn’t get moving until late in the afternoon on Sunday and ended up just throwing ourselves a pool party at our own hotel!

National Parks – Between the brunching and boozing, it’s unlikely you’ll have time to do much exploring off the strip, but if you do there are some amazing parks that are less than an hour away. The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Lake Mead National Recreation Area are definitely worth checking out! I stayed in Vegas a few extra days and got to explore both on my own.

 

 

WHERE TO SHOP BEFORE YOU GO

In the lead up to our Vegas bach bash, I was in charge of decorations. It took a bit of pre-planning given that I had to purchase everything ahead of time and fly it to Vegas. Because of my travel and work schedule, I had to get all my shopping done and orders in 2 weeks in advance, fly it from Indy where I purchased it and then to New York because I had to fly from the city directly to Vegas. That meant flying balloons, streamers, presents, party favors, tape, ribbon, gift bags, wrapping paper to Vegas! Below is a breakdown of all the goodies I found and the shops where I found it.

Party city: Balloons, streamers bachelorette monogramed plates and cups, bride baseball hat with vail

Target: Party balloon banner

Walmart: Pink straws

Amazon: Bachelorette sash, veil and team bride tattoos plus a couples conversation starter game

Dollar store: Neon plastic cups to use throughout the weekend and as party favors

Vista Print: Personalized stickers to apply to the cups

Etsy: Monogrammed tanks to wear for the scavenger hunt (provided by my friend who runs the Onesies Never Enough Etsy shop). They also have cute water bottles!

JoAnn Fabrics: Scrapbooking paper to use as backing for the scavenger hunt print outs

Pinterest: I searched here for scavenger hunt ideas

 

Have you attended a bachelorette party in Las Vegas? What tips would you add to the list? Headed there soon? What are you most looking forward to checking out? Share your comments below!

 

PIN IT!