Weird and Wonderful Hotel Entertainment: Vegas Style
There’s no shortage of entertainment options in Las Vegas, and mostly it centres around the large mega-resorts that are scattered around the city. Not every hotel can afford a Celine Dion or Elton John, and to stay competitive they sometimes come up with bizarre ideas to keep punters amused.
Here are some ideas if you’re looking for a little off-the-wall hotel entertainment (that preferably does not involve Siegfried and Roy)
Taking the mountain to Mohammed
Iconic monuments are hard-earned. And clearly the architects of Vegas hotels don’t have the time or inclination to build them. So why not borrow from other great cities?
That’s obviously what they had in mind when building the hotels: Paris Las Vegas, New York, New York and the Venetian. Each offers a little slice of the city you know and love, but with fewer rats, beggars and (in the case of Venice at least) no ghastly smell of sewage.
For $10, you can go up a half-scale model of the Eiffel Tower and look out over the Strip. Not quite as romantic as the original maybe, but still fun to do!
Speaking of mountains…
Climbing mountains used to be the preserve of superfit overachievers. Not in Vegas, it’s not. Steve Wynn – one of the chief founders of modern Las Vegas invites you to climb the man-made monstrosity using a series of spiral staircases. Punctuated of course, by shops and restaurants.
The Lake of Dreams is another popular attraction for those who like to experience nature from the inside looking out. The whole hotel complex cost a baffling $2.7billion, and a visit to this hotel is a must, even if you’re not staying here.
Horsing Around
Looking to relive a scene from ‘Fear and Loathing’? Then you’ve come to the right place. It’s often been said that mixing childrens games with alcohol is a bad idea. What about putting a carousel in the middle of a bar, and then adding beer and cocktails?
Another shrine to kitsch, this little piece of filmic history should entertain you for a while – so long as you can stand the constant screaming of children. Perhaps enough Martinis will drown them out.
Pool Party?
Ok, it’s Sunday evening and Garth Brooks is sold out. What better way to spend your time than hanging out in the heat half naked?
Complete with sandy beaches, waterfalls and in-pool gambling (think swim-up bars, but with blackjack). During the day, Rehab is the place to hang out – where the body beautiful rub shoulders with gambling addicts and millionaies alike.
And once you’ve dried off, there’s several good quality restaurants and bars. There’s everything from uber-smart Nobu sushi to steak.
Pool Party: Sundays noon-8pm
Liberace Museum
My granny told me she was shocked when she found out Liberace was gay. One visit to the Liberace museum might have convinced her, though.
Featuring a mirrored Rolls-Royce, a piano-shaped ring with over 250 diamonds and as much glittery costume as you could shake a stick at, the museum is a shrine to all things camp.Kitsch, over-the-top and excessive, the Liberace museum holds up a mirror to Vegas itself. All done without a trace of irony!
On a more serious note though, your entrance fee contributes towards a scholarship fund set up by the great man for the performing arts.
Entrance fee: $12.50
