okaybee

You know how the famous saying goes – what happens in Vegas… gets made into a video and shared by me because I’m an over sharer.

We were in Vegas for my lovely friends hen party (or bachelorette, if you’re from the states). Yes, it’s a very extra trip to go on for a hen party, but that’s just the kind of group we are. Nothing by halves.

One of my first few posts, back in the day, was actually about my last trip to Vegas, complete with shoddy iPhone photos. I don’t even know what iPhone I had back then, but I know the camera wasn’t all that. I’m actually going to do a separate post on one of my favourite experiences from Vegas, which was the helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon. Reason being, I have so many photos and thoughts from that experience, that I feel it warrants it’s own rambling post.

There will also soon be a new YouTube video recounting some of my worst travel experiences, because let me tell you, getting to Vegas was a hot mess and had my resting heart rate at an abnormally high level. But that’s another ramble for another day, so I’ll get into my Vegas recap now.

For the most part, we arrived in Vegas around lunchtime on the Thursday. It’s a pretty long flight from Ireland so we all felt completely drained. Because I’m an old lady and not afraid to admit it, I got to my hotel and napped. I knew if I wanted any shot of being even slightly fun that night, that a nap was essential. No regrets. We ended up ordering room service before heading out to our limo tour. We paid for a limo to take all 20 of us (yes, 20 females at a hen party in Vegas), around to the Las Vegas sign, the Bellagio Fountains, down the strip, and basically just let us dance around the limo while drinking prosecco. It was so much fun! Let me tell you, nothing bonds females like blaring Beyoncé and Spice Girls in a limo with booze.

We then headed to Hakassan for the night, which was ideal as we were staying in the MGM Grand. Meaning if anyone felt tiredness waving over them, they could just head up to their room easily. I managed to stay out way longer than expected, so yay me. My playsuit is Zara and definitely my favourite outfit all trip. Super comfy, cute colour and easy to wear. God knows when I’ll get to wear it again as nights out in Dublin tend to be as close to sweats as I can get now.

Day two was a serious – let’s chill by the pool drinking cocktails and talk about random shit – kind of day. Which are the best kind of days if you ask me. That night, we headed to Omnia because Tiesto was playing. Getting 20-something Irish girls on a hen party into a club is no joke. You all get separated, no matter what. You end up searching for the bride to be. It’s all very messy. But I have to say Tiesto puts on a great show and Omnia was probably the most insane nightclub I’ve ever been to. The light shows, the atmosphere, the giant bottles of Dom descending from the ceiling to tables. It’s literal madness.

At this point, the days are blending together. It is Vegas after all. I think day three is when we went to a pool party. Long story short, we didn’t get our asses up in time to go to Wet Republic, and there was no way in hell we were going to queue in the heat. Cut to us ending up in a Stoli sponsored cabana in Marquee a few hours later, dancing our asses off in the pool and generally having the best time. I love pool parties. Once I getting over the self-consciousness of being in a swimsuit around everyone (I’m working on it, I swear), I have the best time. They do take all the energy out of you though. The heat, combined with day drinking is a lethal mix.

Sunday, myself and three of the girls decided we needed to get some Vegas “culture”. I’m putting culture in commas there because we were hardly going to museums and discussing the faults in modernist paintings. Instead, we went to the Neon Museum. This is essentially, where old Vegas signs go to retire. It’s a really cool place to visit and definitely worth heading outside the strip to see. After tolerating all the heat that we could, we decided we had earned an incredible brunch. If you’re every in Vegas and find yourself looking for a good brunch, head to Lago and get the Mac Carbonara.

I dream about that pasta dish. I’m not lying. I’ve attempted to recreate it since. It’s not the same. I would have bathed in that pasta. I would have brought it to the little chapel and married it. Words cannot describe. So yeah, I’m recommending it is what I’m trying to say. If you’re organised, book in advance for a window seat. Otherwise, eat your food, grab one of your bottomless drinks and head out to watch the fountains. It’s a quintessential Vegas experience.

That night we headed to XS to see the Chainsmokers. It was pretty wild. I don’t know how we ended up so close to the stage (and some girls ended up in the dj booth), but I tend not to ask too many questions when we’re out as a group. I really enjoy that nightclub, we say Will.i.am there a few years ago and it was such a fun night. If you’re into combining swimwear with regular clothing, then you’re going to love it.

We got to day five, and lets call it like we see it. We were damn tired. I think I said “How did we do eight nights of this?!” about 75 times a day. Vegas takes it out of you. You need to go prepared. I think the fact that I was flat out in work (still working at 10.30 pm the night before leaving) prior to leaving, combined with the fact that I’m an actual old lady now meant that five nights was my limit. So much so, that we ended up in Hooters for dinner that night because no one had the energy to think of anything else. Classy.

Vegas is like no other place on earth. If you haven’t experienced it, you need to. It’s an adults playground. A DisneyWorld for grown ups. Neverland for the young at heart. It’s just one of those places you need to see to believe. Me? I’m going to give Vegas a rest for a few years. Three trips is plenty for this nearly-thirty year old.