They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Well if that’s the case I’m about to commit stereotypical cliché treason by breaking that sacred bond and spilling the beans on my recent trip to Sin City last month. Don’t worry, nothing too graphic, just a general summary of my experience.
The reason for my trip was to celebrate my cousin’s last moments as a free man and sorrow at his impending doom that is married life. That’s right, a bachelor party!
Now, we’ve all seen movies of bachelor parties in Vegas and even though to the best of my knowledge none of us returned with a missing tooth or a tattoo on their face (or anywhere else for that matter) this trip pretty much lived up to all the expectations.
The plan was simple: 5 days, 5 clubs and have an awesome time.
And so the official countdown to my cousin’s impending doom began at Tryst night club. Situated at the Wynn, one of Vegas’ newest and most exclusive hotels, the club was an accurate reflection of the mega structure it was housed in. The 30 meter high waterfall at the back of the club and the gorgeous waitresses walking around made it feel as if you were at a Victoria’s Secret party on an exotic island rather than in the middle of a desert! As the night went on things were getting even better as the club started filling up with people and after a few drinks making friends was as easy as it could get. Needless to say it didn’t take long before our reservation had been swamped by girls on hen parties that seemed to be living by the same Vegas motto as we were.
Our remaining nights took us to some of the most amazing clubs Vegas had to offer. Hyde at the Bellagio was perhaps the most mesmerising as it is it opens out to a balcony overlooking the world famous dancing fountains. The brand new Hakasan at MGM Grand was the toast of the town as it was celebrating its opening weekend with renowned dj Tiesto on the decks getting the party started. And with its four floors of pure class it has every potential of becoming one of the best clubs in the world. XS was probably the most recommended club by anyone who had visited Vegas and rightly so. Again housed in the Wynn, this club was the perfect destination to end our trip with a bang! As exclusive as these clubs were they all seemed to share the same overwhelming power to make even the most withheld person break out of their protective shell and become a totally different person.
A special shout out has to go to “Rehab”. The pool party to end all pool parties. This “little party” at the Hard rock hotel just off the Vegas strip was well worth the short taxi fare. Beautiful women pumping and grinding everywhere and free flowing alcohol reminded more of a scene from a Snoop dog video. Yet it seemed that the only thing a guy had to do to talk to a beautiful woman was just… well, just stand there and they’d take care of the rest.
But beyond all the parties, gambling and bright lights there’s another side to the Vegas, the “cultural side” as far as that definition can be allowed to be stretched to its broadest sense. Taking the opportunity of a “free day” from our strict itinerary I proceeded to discover this. And so I headed to Freemont Street also known as the old Vegas strip or “down town Vegas” as the locals call it. Relatively unknown to most people of my generation yet this part maybe even more famous than the current strip, immortalised by the Rat Pack who would regularly perform in some of the surrounding Casinos back in the 60s and all Vegas based films of the 70’s. With a short walk down the street you quickly discover that you recognise a lot more than you originally thought, such as the iconic waving cowboy sign as well as the 4 Queens and Golden Nugget Casinos. Even more amazing is the 90 foot digital video display system that covers the whole street, given the unofficial accolade of being essentially the biggest T.V in the world!!! The bright lights portrayed from the casino signs to the video display hanging above you, the swing bands playing on the street causing by-passers to bust a move or two as they walked by and the other street performers and magicians trying to dazzle you with their tricks created the scene of a relentless party much different to the ones we had come accustomed to the past few days but equally as exciting and enthralling.
Looking back on it know it wasn’t the fancy clubs or the adrenalin that rushed through my veins as I gambled away a months hard earned salary on a couple of numbers on the roulette table that stuck with me . Instead it was that special thing that caused friendships to be formed out of complete strangers from one minute to the next, girls you’d meet earlier that day at a pool party join you at the club that night with no hesitation, or even scissor kick a woman’s robust behind for no apparent reason and still manage to get away with it as if nothing had happened! (I’d like to stress that by no means am I condoning violence). I’m talking of course of the Vegas factor! Without even knowing it this unexplained feeling will grip you from the first moment you step on to that road in the middle of the Nevada desert and make you act in ways you never thought possible. This was my first trip to Vegas and certainly won’t be the last by the looks of it.
