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Always Packed for Adventure!

It's the destination and the journey.

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2nd Anniversary Trip- Serendipity, Donkey and Jubilee

Two celebrity chef restaurants in a row? Why not? On Monday, we slept-in and ate brunch at Caesar's Palace in Gordon Ramsay's Pub and Grill. It was burgers and fries ( I mean chips) for both of us. This is definitely the place for a fancy, high quality burger. The decor is fun too, a low-rent Timothy Oulton. 

I had been dropping hints all weekend that I wanted a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3. I've made the home version from a packet mix many times, but I had never actually drank one at the restaurant. We go to Vegas all of the time, but this experience had been eluding me, until now! Stars aligned, we shared one of their signature drinks at the outdoor bar. 

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We demolished it in five minutes. Heaven.

A cute picture outside of Caesar's Palace. 

We went to Red Rock Canyon in search of wild burro. It was very, very windy.

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We found one burro. He was our friend, until he realized that we didn't have food for him.

In the evening, we cleaned up for our big anniversary night out.

It started with Jubilee, Bally's long-running, old-style Vegas topless revue show. That was a mouthful! Here are a few pictures that we took the day before. 

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I have no idea what I expected the show to be, as any expectations were immediately erased by the experience of Jubilee. We got prime seats, right in center, in the second row of tables. This was far too close. Jubilee is a grand spectacle and needs to be viewed from a bit of a distance. There was just no way to take it all in up-close. The theater is small, so even the back row would feel close to the action. 

Jubilee has an identity crisis. One moment, there are singers doing jazz standards, the next dancers doing a Samson and Delilah sketch, then all of a sudden, they are on the Titanic as they crash into the iceberg, there's a bit of tap-dancing, some guys doing the robot, boobs, feathers, sequins, et...Nothing is cohesive. Sometimes it's serious, like a segment with beautiful ballet dancing, but most of the time it's just corny. 

The show is awesomely-bad. I was shaking from trying to contain my giggles. It's completely ridiculous. Christopher Guest is in on this, I'm certain. However, that doesn't mean that there isn't talent or enthusiasm on the stage. All of the performers were very talented, I just had to think that Jubilee is where their dreams went to die. It's so bad. 

The other amazing aspect of the show was the clear tension between the two lead female singers. When each was individually in the spotlight, they shone, but the minute it was the other's turn, the one that was in partial shadows shot daggers at the one performing. They seemed to try to "out-sing" each other. This competitive/hate had nothing to do with their characters or a theme of the show. It was utterly compelling. When we walked out of the theatre, Dan had noticed it too, and said that they need to make a behind the scenes reality show of the Jubilee cast. Brilliant.

We splurged for dinner at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. This restaurant has the best views of the strip. Giada pales in comparison. We were given a table for two by the window. Here was our view. Spectacular.

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We went with the tasting menu, which included bison, lobster, and foie gras. Delicious, but so filling that we barely made it to the dessert. Dan even did the wine pairing and cheese course. 

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Our server, who was the absolute best, even brought us a bonus dessert. 

Our second anniversary vacation was a success! 

tags: Serendipity 3, Serendipity 3 Las Vegas, Frozen Hot Chocolate, Frozen Hot Chocolate at Home, Frozen Hot Chocolate Serendipity 3, Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill, Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill Las Vegas, Best Burgers in Las Vegas, Celebrity Chefs in Vegas, Red rock Canyon, Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas, Tourist Red Rock Canyon, Pictures of Red Rock Canyon Nevada, Wild Burros Red Rock Canyon, Views of Red Rock Canyon, The Wild Burros in Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Must-Do List, Las Vegas Anniversary Vacation, Las Vegas Shows, Las Vegas on a Budget, Jubilee Las Vegas, Topless Show Las Vegas Jubilee, Did Christopher Guest Direct Jubilee, Jubilee Theatre Bally, Where to Sit for Jubilee, Jubilee Costumes Ballys, Jubilee Reality Show Vegas, Ballys Reality Show, Titanic Scene in Jubilee, Samson and Delilah Sketch Jubilee, Tap Dancing Jubilee, Ballet Jubilee, Awesomely-Bad Jubilee, Awesomely-Bad Vegas Shows, Old Style Vegas Revue Show Jubilee, Eiffel Tower Las Vegas, Eiffel Tower Restaurant Las Vegas, Best View in Las Vegas Eiffel Tower Restautant, Most Romantic Restaurant in Vegas Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Special Occasion Restaurants Las Vegas Eiffel Tower, Giada Cromwell Las Vegas, Jubilee Cast Singers Hate Each other, Singers in Jubilee, Views from Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Tasting Menu Eiffel Tower Restaurant Las Vegas, Pictures Eiffel Tower Restaurant Las Vegas, Foie Gras Las Vegas, Bison Las Vegas, Wine Pairing Eiffel Tower Restaurant Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, Bellagio Fountains, View of Bellagio Fountains from Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Eiffel Tower Restaurant Anniversary Dessert
categories: Eat, Watch, Visit
Thursday 11.26.15
Posted by Karen Lea Germain
 

Aria Sky Suites

When we decided to elope in Vegas, staying in a spectacular room was a big part of our plan. We picked a package that gave us one night in an Aria Sky Suite and we added an additional night to make it a full weekend.

Since we were short on time, we opted to fly to Vegas. Dan got off work a little early and his boss even drove us to Bob Hope International, so that we could relax and kick-off our weekend. I dressed up for the flight, so that time wouldn't be wasted in Vegas!

Next stop, Las Vegas!

Our Southwest flight went off without a hitch. 

Boarding our flight

At McCarran International, we had a limo driver waiting in baggage claim to drive us to the Clark County Marriage Bureau. 

Stretching out in our Limo

It took less than ten minutes to apply for our marriage license. There was no wait and Clark County allows you to preregister, which we did, so all the clerk had to do was print out our information and witness our signatures. It couldn't have been easier. 

The limo driver whisked us back to the Aria and through the private entrance to the Sky Suites. The Sky Suites have a private valet area, check-in/concierge desk, elevators and a lounge. The entrances to the Sky Suites are very discreet from the casino floor and I probably would never have noticed them if I was a guest in the standard rooms. 

We were checked in a matter of minutes and we headed straight to our suite. 

My dress matches the elevator!

When we entered our suite, we encountered a hallway and the first bathroom.

The first bathroom in our Sky Suite.

Next, we saw our wet bar. Concealed in the cabinet was a well stocked mini bar, as well as a completely empty fridge. 

Drink?

We had a dining room table, which we used to dine on our wedding cake!

Our table.

The living room had a plush couch where we parked ourselves for a Storage Wars marathon as we were waiting for our ceremony. I love watching trashy television shows in hotel rooms!

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My favorite part our suite was the bed. It was probably the most luxurious bed that I have ever slept in. It was so nice, that we paid extra to have a six pm check-out and spent Sunday afternoon watching movies in bed and taking a nap. If the bed could have fit into my luggage, I would have stolen it!

The best bed ever.

And the other part of the bedroom.

As if to remind us of home, there was a cactus on the bedside table.

It's just like the cactus on our patio, except healthier looking!

The Sky Suites included a nightly turn-down service. We were each given a box of chocolate and a quote on our bedside tables. They also set out slippers on a mat on each side of our bed. 

The box contained six squares of individually wrapped pieces of chocolate, each one a different flavor. I really liked the green tea and honey piece.

A proper Vegas weekend must include an enormous jacuzzi tub. I stocked up on bath bombs from Lush prior to the trip and I took a long soak each day. I even surprised Dan with a manly bath bomb shaped like a robot!

Big Tub = Happy Karen

We had a great vanity area filled with every type of amenity that we could possibly need, stuff beyond the standard hotel offerings, like shaving foam and toothpaste. We really didn't need to pack any tolitries for our trip, as it was all provided.

Sky Suite Vanity

The huge double closets had soft robes. We ended up loving the Aria robes and bought two in the Spa store.

Big closets

The shower was enormous and had amazing water pressure.

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Aria is known for being a tech-saavy hotel. Everything from the curtains to the lighting is programable. Dan really enjoyed playing with everything and setting it to our preferences. It gave him some home improvement ideas. 

There is one area where the tech went too far!

The Japanese Toilet

The toilet paper is just there to make you feel more at ease. With a push of a button, you don't need toilet paper, as this toilet is equipped to wash and dry your private parts. You can even program the intensity level of the wash. Dan has traveled to Japan and wasn't freaked out by this tech toilet. I, however, was very freaked out.

Yes, I tried it. It tickled. Never again.

Rear or Front? Keeping this blog classy!

We had amazing views from our room, looking out towards Red Rock Canyon and overlooking pool complex. Tour helicopters flew by our window every few minutes. The first picture was taken at the end of our hallway and the rest are views from our room.

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My favorite perk of staying in the Sky Suites was the lounge.

Sky Suite Lounge

In the mornings, we went to the lounge for coffee, pastries and fruit. In the evenings, we had wine, giant chocolate covered strawberries and cheese. We never purchased bottles of water, because they were available in the lounge. The lounge was a great perk!

A pretty flower arrangement in the lounge.

Outside of dining in Crystals, we stayed on Aria property the entire weekend.

On Friday night, we had a lavish meal at Jean George Steakhouse. We went with the five course tasting menu with wine pairings. The food was amazing. The most memorable course was caviar served over a lemon jelly in a half lemon. It was so usual and delicious.  The steak was fork tender and intensely flavorful. It didn't even need the fancy sauces that were served on the side. I made the mistake of having a large glass of wine prior to our meal and just couldn't finish my wine pairings. By the end of the meal, the last several pairings had piled up. It was embarrassing.

i kept thinking that the Vegas party police were going to arrest me for wasting alcohol!

Jean George Steakhouse is a decadent meal and a must-do on a Vegas dining fantasy list.

We had a mixed experience at the Aria Cafe. Visually stunning, the cafe has high ceilings and nature accents like a cactus garden and piles of rocks encased in glass. Our server was nice, but the overall vibe of the staff is indifference. The food is good, but incredibly over-priced. There is no reason that a club sandwich should cost close to twenty-dollars. I object on principal. We had a nice meal, but I would definitely not eat here again.

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Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of my favorite casual meal of the weekend. We had lunch in Crystals at Wolfgang Puck's Pizzeria and Cucina. The pizzas and white sangria were fantastic. However, what really sealed the deal was the platter of fresh baked cookies, especially the ginger snaps. We had a wonderful server and we definitely would go out of our way to return to this restaurant. 

We spent the morning before our wedding in the Aria Spa getting a couples massage. As with everything else at Aria, the price was heavily inflated. I've had massages at high-end spas all over Los Angeles and Aria's prices were about double.

That said, the spa facilities are lovely and our massage therapists both did a great job. I left feeling rejuvenated and relaxed. Massage aside, the entry fee for the spa facilities is a great deal. Thirty dollars give you a day pass to use the jacuzzi's, steam rooms and saunas. The spa has several areas to lounge around and relax. There are plenty of refreshments and great shower products. It's very nice and well-worth the price of admission. It's probably the best deal at Aria. 

Even though it was cold, I was stubborn about wanting to use the pool. Pools are one of my favorite things about Vegas hotels. Aria's pool complex is huge and with multiple pools, nearly every lounge chair is positioned in a prime poolside spot. The space is well planned and maximized. This would be a great pool in warm weather. We shivered for thirty minutes and headed back to the room. Another trip..

We were sad when it was time to climb into our limo and head back to the airport. Aria is a beautiful hotel and was a great escape for our wedding weekend.

tags: Aria Las Vegas, Aria Sky Suite Review, Pictures of Aria Sky Suite, Review of Aria Day Spa, Jean George Steak House Aria Review, Tasting Menu Jean George Steak House Aria, Aria Cafe Review, Aria Las Vegas Pool, Wolfgang Pucks Pizzeria and Cucina Vegas Review, Wolfgang Puck Ginger Snaps, Aria Sky Suite Lounge, My Experience Staying in Aria Sky Suite, My Aria Las Vegas Wedding, Southwest Burbank to Vegas, Views from Aria Sky Suite, Views of Red Rock Canyon, Japanese Style Toilet, Toilet that Cleans You, Tech Toilet, Toilets in Aria Sky Suites, Beds in Aria Sky Suits, Best Beds in Las Vegas Aria, Aria Sky Suite Water Pressure, Lush Bath Bombs, Lush Robot Bath Bomb, Storage Wars, Watching Trashy Television in Hotel Rooms, Aria Sky Suites Amenities, Aria Sky Suite Entrance, Clark County Marriage Bureau, Getting Marriage License in Clark County
categories: Eat, Sleep, Visit
Tuesday 11.19.13
Posted by Karen Lea Germain
 

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