Katie Sweetland's Vegas Adventure: Desert Dreams and Shark Tanks
Las Vegas had been calling to me for a while. Not just for the neon lights and casino floors, but for everything that surrounds it. The desert. The Grand Canyon. The engineering marvel that is the Hoover Dam. As a travel advisor, I needed to experience the full scope of what a Vegas trip could offer my clients, beyond the slot machines and buffets.
We booked through Expedia-Travel Advisors for this couples getaway, and I deliberately split our stay between two very different Vegas experiences. We started with a night at the Golden Nugget in Old Vegas by Fremont Street, then moved to the strip for the remainder of our trip. I wanted to understand both sides of this city, and I'm so glad I did.
The Desert Stole the Show
While Vegas itself delivered plenty of entertainment, getting out of the city and into the desert became my favorite memory. We booked a comedy tour bus to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, and that combination of stunning natural beauty with laughter along the way was pure joy. Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, looking out at those red rocks against the Arizona sky, I felt small in the best possible way.
But here's something I never expected: the wind at the Hoover Dam. It was absolutely remarkable. There's a spot where people lean over the edge to look down, and the wind whips up with such force that hats go flying. We could see them scattered on the rocks below, a collection of lost caps from tourists who weren't prepared. I had to grip my belongings tight. Then you step back just a few feet and it's completely calm. Nature showing off, I suppose.
Even the flight in was memorable. We had a cloudless day, and from the plane I could clearly see Lake Mead and how dramatically the water levels have dropped. The desert landscape stretched out beneath us, and I could spot the Hoover Dam before we even landed. It made me appreciate how much this region has changed.
The Insider Tricks That Paid Off
I always do my research before traveling, and this trip was no different. One of my favorite vacation activities is finding a good piano bar, so I mapped out which ones were convenient to our hotels before we even left home. That planning meant we enjoyed some fantastic nightlife without wandering aimlessly after a long day of walking the strip.
Speaking of insider knowledge, let me share a trick I used at the Golden Nugget. When we checked in, I slipped the concierge twenty dollars and asked about upgrades. We ended up in a beautiful suite in one of the towers. That hotel also has a shark tank built into the swimming pool, and there's a water slide that takes you right through it. It's a feature that makes Old Vegas worth the detour.
For clients who struggle with walking, I now know to recommend hotels just behind the strip that connect to the Monorail. You can tram around the city instead of exhausting yourself on foot, and those hotels often cost less than the main strip properties.
Who Would Love This Trip
Vegas works for a surprising variety of travelers, partly because it's one of the more affordable destinations to reach from Winnipeg. Flights and hotels can be done on a budget, then you control your spending once you arrive. Couples looking for entertainment, food, and a mix of relaxation with adventure will find plenty to love. The party atmosphere makes it less ideal for families with young children, though it can work if you focus on daytime activities and attractions.
What I know now that I couldn't have known before is how essential advance booking is for tours outside the city. That comedy bus to the Grand Canyon? It sells out. If you have your heart set on a specific experience, you don't want to arrive and find it unavailable. I can help clients secure those reservations early, so they don't miss out on what might become the highlight of their trip. Vegas surprised me with its layers, and I cannot wait to help others discover them too.