Getting Ready to Go to Vegas!!

I have been going to Vegas with my mom, every year since I turned 40. On April 2nd, I turned 45 and once again we are booked to hit Vegas, April 15 -19th.  It’s a birthday gift from my husband…and indeed it’s a NICE gift.

Going to Vegas takes some preparation:

Here’s my top ten list of things I need to do to get ready for this amazing trip:

1) book a tasting menu. This is our ONE treat. We don’t eat breakfast or lunch in a retaurant but we spend big $$ on dinner ONCE. We have dined at Bar Charlie, Nobu and L’Atelier ..and this year we are off to Twist by Pierre Gagniere at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Can’t wait.

2) buy magazines to read at the pool: My mom likes: People, Style at Home, Oprah…I like: Loulou, Women’s Health, Food Network magazine

3) books: Last year I read “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” by Max Tucker. I laughed and laughed but it’s not for the faint hearted. I haven’t selected this year’s book yet. Suggestions are welcome.

4) clothes: Bought a few new bathing suits and found some cute things at H&M. I’m set.

5) check weather patterns: It’s not uncommon for us to sit at the pool from 9 to 5 (like a working day)…so it’s imperative that there is sun!! Otherwise, we will shop and spend money.

6) book mani/pedi/blow dry: I booked this appointments weeks ago so I can get on the plane looking like I’m ready to hit the clubs soon as we land (which we do). We dont even check into our hotel first.

7) of course like every trip, must take care of the home-front: arrange car pool, playdates, buy groceries etc.

8) find off the strip restaurants to try: we have been doing this for the last two years and have discovered unbelievable food at half the price. i.e Raku, Lotus of Siam. So I spend a lot of time doing restaurant research on www.chowhound.com

9) buy snacks to bring with us to much on around the pool: i.e almondina, tuna, crackers, nuts, dried fruit. This means…a trip to the bulk store.

10) SLEEP before I go…coz once we land, sleep isn’t such a priority.

Basically our schedule goes like this:

8:30 a.m…wake up, put on bathing suit, grab a Starbucks Latte in the lobby and proceed to the pool

5:00 p.m…leave the pool, shower, and rest (ok..sleep).

7:00 p.m…start to get ready for dinner

8:00 p.m…dinner reservations

10:30 p.m….clubbing with my 71 year old mother!!

2:00 a.m….time to go to bed.

REPEAT.

Unlike other years..this year, I am on twitter so  I have been following @Vegas in the hopes that I will get some local suggestions and tips how to best enjoy our time. It’s been helpful. Hopefully this year, (if there are clouds), we might check out a spa. Its time..we have never done that before and I hear Vegas has some unbelievable spas.

Watch out for a post-vegas report on April 19th…K?