My great friend, Peter surprised me with a New Year’s weekend trip to Las Vegas where we stayed at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.  He had recently sold the small biotech company that he owned, so there was so much to celebrate.  We had both visited Las Vegas many times in the past as it is a popular destination for pharmaceutical events, so the idea of sitting among the indoor cafes sipping café au laits instead of rushing around to all of the venues was a delightful change to our schedule.

We took a later flight for the added drama of seeing the city lights at night.  A short hop from San Francisco, we would land in a little over an hour where he had a limousine waiting and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot for the ride.  Approaching Las Vegas Boulevard, I could not take my eyes off of the Eiffel Tower, watching it come into view until the limo finally arrived.  Standing at the base, I was in awe of this monumental replica, half the size of the original and all lit up like the City of Light.

Strolling through the resort we couldn’t help but notice the reproductions of famous Parisian landmarks.  We reached our hotel suite with a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower and after having admired the Las Vegas Strip from our room, I noticed an envelope addressed to us on the table.  I thought it was another surprise from Peter, but soon realized that we were offered two nighttime passes for the Eiffel Tower Experience, compliments of the Paris Hotel.  We called to secure a time which left us with a couple of hours to explore the hotel and take a photo of the tower from its base.

We arrived fifteen minutes early and congregated at the elevator where there were several others waiting to make the ride up to the 46^th floor.  Adequately bundled up, I found myself rubbing my hands together in anticipation of the windy, cold weather.  Although Las Vegas sits in the middle of a desert, the temperature drops at night bringing with it a chill in the air.   We boarded the lift and upon reaching the top, we were afforded spectacular views of colorful lights that seemed to go on for miles.  We stayed long enough to watch the Bellagio fountain from this vantage point and agreed that we should stop by the next day to arrange for a front row seat from one of the restaurants.  It was getting late and our noses were growing cold when we decided to return back to our rooms and settle in for the night.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful morning nor a more beautiful view as we ordered breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi.  Hearty crepes with a side of steak frites could not have been a more perfect Parisian meal before setting off for a visit to the Bellagio.   Planning a leisurely day ahead, Peter wanted to watch the fountains from inside and the only thing on my mind was Jean Philippe Patisserie.  It has become my obsession when I visit Vegas to take note of the new creations made from this bodacious boutique confectionery.   With tickets for the production of “O” later that evening at 4PM, we knew it would be wise to confirm the theater entrance ahead of time.  We spent the rest of the day at The Bellagio with the exception of coming back to the hotel to prepare for the show.

Peter made reservations at the Italian restaurant, Martarano’s, located inside of the Paris Hotel.  We started out with the Fried Calamari Bubzy spiced with a sweet and spicy chili sauce, which was the perfect heat for me, while Peter required more spice thinking the sauce was a little too sweet for his liking.  In addition, we shared a Homemade Mozzarella & Tomato Salad which is similar to a Caprese Salad without the balsamic vinegar.  The mozzarella melted in my mouth with its freshness while the basil added a whole new level of umami.   Our main entrees included the Bucatani Carbonara, the perfect pasta with pancetta, cream, black pepper and Parmigiano-Reggiano while Peter decided on the Veal Marsala made with Florio Sicilian marsala wine sauce with mushrooms.

We realized we had quite a while before bringing in the New Year, so we stopped by La Cave so I could pick up a bottle of wine that we could open while I freshened up and Peter checked his emails.  We are not the nightclub types nor do we gamble, so our plans were to stop by the Napoleon’s Lounge for a drink and roam the casino to people watch, which was the perfect night for the occasion.  Gorgeous gowns and fancy dresses were accompanied by men in suits with some in tuxes.  The crowded casino and lobby proved everyone to be in high spirits ready to carry the night into the early hours of the morning.

The bartender at the Bellagio invited us to stop by earlier, so we decided to take him up on the invitation, order a bottle of champagne and place bets on what time we would finally make it back to the room.  The night was vibrant, which gave us a new level of energy and we had so much to celebrate.  We discussed our plans for our last day in Vegas and I was  looking forward to my massage at the Paris Spa.  We were also excited about spending a day back in San Diego where we first met to celebrate a friend’s birthday and enjoy a day of hiking, which has always been our favorite activity.  The New Year was already promising to be a wonderful start to our relationship, new jobs and a crazy year of travel.  And as the countdown began, we had already decided to make this the best year possible.   Happy New Year!!

What did you think about the Paris Las Vegas?  Have you had the opportunity to visit and if so, did you enjoy any of the amenities?  I would be interested in hearing about your stay if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  If you would like to know more about the Paris Las Vegas, I would be so happy to answer any questions you have if you would leave a message in the comments section as well.  Many thanks for reviewing my experience at the Paris Hotel and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Telephone:  877 796 2096

Eiffel Tower:  The main attraction of the hotel is the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck.   Built half the size of France’s world-famous landmark, visitors can board the elevator 46 stories high for spectacular views of the Las Vegas strip.

 Nightly Light Show:  From sunset to midnight, the Eiffel Towerlights up every 30 minutes in similar fashion to the Paris landmark.

Shop the Paris Hotel:  Reminiscent of the lovely neighborhoods of Paris, the Las Vegas shops along Le Boulevard are set along cobblestone walkways.

Book a Spa Treatment:  Voie Spa & Salon offers a wide variety of services including massages, facials, manicures  & pedicures.

Where to Stay:

Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Telephone:  877 796 2096

With over 2700 rooms, there are several options to meet your budget.

Where to Eat:

Nobu:  Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Telephone:   702 946 4007

My favorite is the lobster shiitake salad and I always save room for dessert…the Yuzu Cheesecake.

What to Eat:

There are several restaurants at Paris Las Vegas, but I also like to venture out for a cheap buffet in the Old Vegas district.

What to Read:

• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, by Hunter S. Thompson
• Leaving Las Vegas, by John O’Brien

Photo Guide for Las Vegas:

• “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” Sign
• The Paris Hotel Entrance and Eiffel Tower
• The Luxor Walkway and Sphinx
• The Excalibur Hotel
• New York New York Hotel
• The Arc de Triomphe at the Paris Hotel
• The Eiffel Tower view from the Bellagio
• The Bellagio Fountains and its Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
• The Rose Covered Entrance to the Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio
• The Linq Promenade with views of the High Roller and Inside the High Roller
• The Venetian Stairs and Lobby
• Gondola Ride at the Venetian
• The Venetian Bridge
• The Stairs at Wynn Las Vegas
• Neon Museum signs
• Fremont East District sign
• Retro Vegas Sign
• Abbey Road
• The Empty Club
• Fremont District Murals
• Red Rock Canyon’s Red Rocks and Joshua Trees
• Valley of Fire State Park – Slot Canyon, Fire Wave, Mouse Tank Road, Pastel Pink Canyon
• Seven Magic Mountains
• Mrs. Coco’s Cafe (book in advance)
• Hoover Dam
• Canyon West (about 2 hours from Vegas)

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