First Timer's Guide

The only constant in Las Vegas is change. I manage to visit Las Vegas several times a year and no matter how often I go, something will have recently opened or have recently closed, and something else is being renovated. There is always something new to see, in fact just trying to see everything that has changed could consume the entire trip. But what if this is your first trip to Las Vegas (or your first trip in five years)? With so much to see in only three or four days, even contemplating a plan can be a daunting task. To help separate the "should do" from the "must do" I will describe some of my favorite places and sights here.

Outstanding Restaurants
Everyone needs to eat. And in Las Vegas the list of establishments serving food is enormous and varied. Once known for its inexpensive buffets, Las Vegas has recently exploded with ultra-high-end establishments featuring exotic menus and celebrity chefs. Whether you are looking for an inexpensive experience or the dining experience of a lifetime, you will find it in Las Vegas (often right next door to each other). Here are some of my favorites:

Mon Ami Gabi (Paris)
Ostensibly a steakhouse, this restaurant is a combination of the expected dark wood and leather interior married with a vaulted-ceiling atrium and the only bistro seating on The Strip. If you sit outside in the evening you can watch the Bellagio fountain show across the street. The food is exceptional. ($$$$)

Red Square (Mandalay Bay)
The front of this establishment is Las Vegas' best vodka bar (complete with ice embedded in the bar to keep your vodka cold) and in the back you will find an opulent Russian-themed restaurant. Picture yourself as a Soviet Mafia kingpin dining on caviar and good vodka. The menu is pretty far out there but I have had the "de gustation" option and always been delighted by the variety. ($$$$$)

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