After a year-long internship in California, I did a 30-day solo trip around the US and my first stop was Las Vegas. I arrived at the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas around 9pm and went straight to my hotel. I stayed in the Stratosphere Hotel which cost about 30 dollars per night and it was one of the few hotels that didn't charge a resort fee. This was the only hotel I stayed in during my trip as I wanted to have a private room for the first two nights because I was quite upset about saying goodbye to everyone in California. The hotel was really nice and it had a lovely rooftop pool with stunning views of Las Vegas and the surrounding desert.
The first day I relaxed by the pool for a few hours and then I walked down the Strip looking at all the hotels and casinos. In the evening, I bought a ticket to the Magic Mike Live show which cost about 50 dollars. Depending on when you go, the ticket price can differ and it can cost up to 300 dollars. I really enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend going to see it.
The next day I checked out the hotel and went to a hostel as it was cheaper (around 15 dollars per night for a shared room) and I thought it might be easier to meet people. The hostel was called Las Vegas and it had a swimming pool, kitchen, a cinema, and a common area.
Once I checked in and left my backpack, I was going to go for a walk and while I was leaving reception, I started talking with another girl who was travelling solo so we decided to go for a walk together. We walked through most of the hotels on the Strip and took loads of photos. We also went to Caesars Palace and swam in the pool for a bit. One of my favourite hotels was the Venetian Resort where we saw the Venice canals and gondolas.
The next day, I had the chance to tick something big off my bucket list. I booked a day trip to the Grand Canyon. I don’t usually go on group tours as I prefer doing things at my own pace, however as I don’t drive and couldn’t find a way to get there by public transport, I booked a few days in advance the Grand Canyon South Rim Bus Tour through Canyon Tours which cost about 80 dollars.
The bus picked me up around 6am and it took about 5 hours to get there. With a couple of food stops/toilet breaks on the way. I really enjoyed looking out the window as we drove through Nevada and Arizona. When we got there, we had a few hours to explore on our own and take photos. The views were absolutely breathtaking and it wasn’t too crowded with tourists.
The tour lasted for about 14 hours so when I got back to the hostel, I just fell asleep. The next day I checked out of the hostel early, around 6am and headed for a new adventure. I booked a bus to Utah where I stayed for a few days and hiked in Zion National Park. You can read my full blog post from South Utah here.
Las Vegas definitely exceeded my expectations. I wasn’t sure about going alone in the beginning as I don’t enjoy drinking or gambling, but I had a great time and I would love to go back again and see some more shows. It is also a great base to have to visit places like the Grand Canyon and Southern Utah, especially if you don’t drive.
Have you ever been to Las Vegas? Which is your favourite hotel?
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