Zumanity Show - Las Vegas, Nevada

So your in Las Vegas, the City of sin, and you want to see a show.  There are many to choose from and in my case I'd love to go see a Comedian or Broadway show, but I'm with my husband who unsurprisingly wants to see something a little more exotic (we are in Vegas after all).  So with "Jersey Boys" off the table and a strip club definitely not our taste we found a great show called "Zumanity".  They consider it "The Sensual side of Cirque Du Soleil".  With amazing acrobatics, sexuality, comedy and nudity all rolled into one, this is bound to fulfill both you and your spouse.   And ladies, no worries, there is plenty of male flesh to make up for all the under dressed women you'll see in the show.  

Cirque Du Soleil has some wonderful shows in Vegas and all over the world and even with a little
risqué added to the mix they dont' leave out any great stunts. I watched in amazement thinking, "I wish I could do that, wearing THAT...and look that good while doing it!"

TIPS: Zumanity is located inside the NewYork NewYork hotel. Don't get there late, in fact get there EARLY, the pre-show is hilarious and a must see!  If your looking for front row tickets I will tell you that after having sat up close, a farther back seat is much better and better yet an upper level middle section would probably be even nicer (and cheaper).  The stage is small and personal, so no seat is really a bad seat unless you were front row far right or left.  When you get too close you can see some of their tricks to making it all happen and that makes it a little less exciting.

Have you ever been to a Vegas show? Which one and did you like it? ShareThis

Treasure Island - Las Vegas, Nevada

I have yet to be disappointed with my hotel choices in Vegas and Treasure Island is no exception!  This 4 diamond hotel sits at one end of the Vegas strip.  I consider this "the end" of the strip because after that, all the famous hotels sort of stop and there is just a nice shopping mall, and much farther down the road the Stratosphere, which is more like a drive rather than a walk away. 

What's not to love about Treasure Island?  At first glance you might think this Pirate Ship themed hotel is for kids - well try again!  A grand Casino fills the lobby along with a great Mexican Restaurant (Islas) that served yummy appetizers (which was my dinner).  Sit at the bar, stick a $20 in the game machine while you eat/drink and they'll give you those drinks FREE! Way better than the free drinks in the Casinos. 

Our room was very clean, comfortable and had a floor to ceiling view of the Vegas strip.  The beds were plush, which is important to this mom who has a Tempur-Pedic at home I can't live without.  A flat screen hung on the wall, while my husband and I fought over the one lounger chair in the room every night.  To top it off the rates were great in February and the weather was just right!  

If your in Vegas for the nightlife (which we're not) they have what I hear is a great nightclub "Christian Audigier's" and you get in FREE while staying at Treasure Island (which is normally a  $30 cover).  Unfortunately some of that "night life" spills over to the pool area and I wasn't too excited about all the beer bottles and drinks that surrounded the edge of the cloudy watered pool.  But luckily I was there to relax and not swim. 

There is a Pirate Show on the outdoor ship every evening in front of the Hotel but I can't say whether it's worth a watch or not because I've missed it every time and the one time we planned for it, it was canceled due to high winds.  Although we did however catch a wedding on the Ship, which was interesting and a unique way to tie the knot.  Much better than a drive-thru!

So if your headed to the City of Sin, I definitely recommend Treasure Island.  Although check back later this week to see my NYNY review, which I'd have to say has a few more perks that draws me to the other end of the strip!

Looking for "kid friendly" activities in Vegas? Check out Trekaroo

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4 Great Reasons to visit Vegas - And Gambling isn't one of them!

If you would have asked me 4 years ago if I had been to Vegas and what it was like I would of told you that I had driven through once when I was 19 and had no desire to return to the City that is infamous for one long street full of hotels in the middle of no where!  I had heard stories from friends suitable to make a "Hangover" sequel and this was not my idea of any sort of vacation.  I'm not one for putting my money into a machine that doesn't give something in return and I'm definitely not in favor of getting myself into a drunken stooper and stumbling back to a hotel room at 4am.  What else in the world is there to do in Vegas?

Now, having made a few trips to Vegas I must take back that old statement and reprimand myself for judging the unknown.  A couple years ago my husband and I were in need of some sunshine and a break from the kids.  But where could we go for a 4 day weekend close enough that seemed out of the ordinary for some relaxation?  I did my usual online searching and came across Vegas.  My initial reaction was "no thanks", but after realizing we could use our miles for a quick flight and it was sunny and affordable I decided to give Vegas a try.

Where I stayed my first trip

I booked Treasure Island at a great rate that I honestly can't remember, but even still today they sometimes have $50 a night for this 4 Diamond hotel. Join their mailing group for these special rates. 

When we arrived I can remember thinking "this isn't what I remember".  I entered Treasure Island in awe of the sheer size of the Casino, restaurants and jumped for joy when I saw Starbucks in the hotel. It was like a cruise ship on land, everything in one place and this was just one of many hotels on the strip.  After we dropped our luggage I was excited to see the rest of Vegas. 

A Shoppers Delight

I must say I'm not a big shopper myself but in Vegas it's almost impossible to not google at the couture clothing and shops that occupy every hotel on the strip.  It can be a bit repetitive if you've done too much walking in one day but still interesting to say the least.  My husband and I even found ourselves drawn into a Peter Lik art gallery on our first trip and  made a purchase.  Not something I would have normally done at home but it's a wonderful picture and I have no buyers remorse.

Fine Dining
You won't find yourself in search of food in Vegas, it's everywhere you go.  From fine dining to the Hard Rock Cafe, they have everything!  We ate at a new restaurant every evening and I think did so without breaking the budget, although you can find yourself in search of that right price range if your not up for dropping $50 for two at dinner.  During our second stay at NYNY we found plenty of good priced restaurants and food stands right in the hotel. That was one of my favorite things about NYNY, when it was late and we didn't want go out, we didn't have to. 

Entertainment
From Broadway's "Jersey Boys" to Cirque du Soleil you'll find what I consider the most vast selection of Theatre, comedy, night clubs, concerts and magic in one place.  Whether your looking to have an evening to not share what happened in Vegas when you get home, or something a little less revealing, you'll find it in Vegas.  I have yet to see my share of shows, but the one show we have returned to see twice is "Zumanity".   If your planning to see a show, don't dropped your jaw when you have to easily drop $100 bill or more to get in the door.  Shop around before you head to Vegas so you know what your wanting to see and see if your hotel has any offers for shows.

Sunshine and Relaxation
This is my ultimate vacation deal breaker!  If there is sunshine, relaxation and a pool then it's most likely to make my top ten destinations list.  Vegas has some of the biggest and in my opinion nicest hotels in Northern America, so of course they are going to have great pools and spas to go along.  One thing to know about the pools in Vegas is that the they are most likely going to be used for drinking and not so much relaxing, but you'll find that if you lay out in the morning and afternoon sun, your less likely to come across the party crowd.  They are typically still asleep till the afternoon making up for their memory loss of the night before.

Vegas is now one of my favorite weekend vacations without the kids, when I've got the miles and time to go.  I'm not a seasoned Vegas traveler but it's nice to know it's a great destination for sunshine and plenty to see and do.

P.S - Call me crazy but I hated "The Hangover" movie ShareThis