There may not have been a tiger in my room when I woke up in Vegas, but I did find myself fully dressed in a ballgown, smelling slightly of chlorine, with muddled memories of a conga line and Richard Branson swirling in my mind…
Bleary-eyed, I squinted at the time. It was 7.30 am – 15 minutes before my Pink Jeep Adventure Tour to Red Rock Canyon was due to leave. A spike of panic propelled me into the shower, down to the lobby and into the back of a Barbie-coloured people carrier just in time.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/3w0tQLoUd1724925011718.jpg]
Red Rock Canyon is a national conservation area in the Mojave Desert, 40km from the strip, famed for its towering red sandstone peaks, picturesque canyons and Native American petroglyphs (rock carvings). I’d been looking forward to the excursion for weeks, but out on the highway, air-con battling furiously with the 40-degree heat, I suddenly felt the full extent of my hangover. Thirty touch-and-go minutes later, we reached Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center. While the group milled around the exhibits, featuring hardy desert plants and cute indigenous desert tortoises, I inspected the cool, clean ambience of the restrooms.
The next beauty spot was the colourful Calico Hills, shimmering in glorious hues of yellow, pink and red under the cloudless sky. Clutching my water bottle, I perched gingerly on a smooth rock as our guide explained the breathtaking landscape. Multicoloured layers of sediment and craggy formations tell the story of geological evolution over millennia, including a period 600 million years ago when the area was at the bottom of an ocean. Half the group clambered up a rock face to get a better vantage; I decided to live vicariously through their Instagram posts.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/1418228941.jpg]
We discovered how native tribes adapted to life in the unforgiving terrain thanks to natural underground water sources (including one where the Bellagio fountains now stand), viewed 800-year-old carvings etched into huge boulders, and studied rock-lined roasting pits used to bake agave – the plant from which mezcal is distilled.
Unfortunately, even an abstract reference to tequila threatened to launch my stomach into bitter revolt. I crawled to a patch of shade and prayed for the tour to end. How had I ended up in such a sorry state? Like every good Vegas story, I’ll need to retrace my steps…
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/2129277417.jpg]
WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS?
I’d arrived 48 hours earlier, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic. The trip was in celebration of the airline’s three-times-weekly service from Manchester to Las Vegas, which launched in June. But the main event was to celebrate the airline’s 40th anniversary – and what better location than the ultimate adult playground.
The party actually started back in London, with Champagne and food in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow Terminal 3, and continued onboard The Bar in Upper Class for the 11-hour flight.
Harry Reid International Airport is conveniently close the action (arguably, it's part of the action, with 1,000 slot machines for travellers to make a last bid at the jackpot). From wheels down, it was a quick change (because who needs sleep?), then off to explore the playground. Literally: Play Playground, a new interactive games experience at The Luxor.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/2779749871.jpg]
Think: launching yourself at bullseyes in a Velcro suit, bouncy castle mazes and helter-skelter slides, fuelled by generous pours of your chosen poison and tasty snacks. If interactive fun and sensory overload is your jam, you'll also want to check out AREA15. The New York Times described it as "an urban Burning Man mall" for its eclectic mash-up of art installations, VR experiences, rides, unique retail and various dining options.
Narrowing down your itinerary in Las Vegas is difficult. From Caesars Palace to Cirque du Soleil, the city is stuffed full of outlandish landmarks and hedonistic delights, with more muscling their way in all the time.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/8229472299.jpg]
New to the skyline is the futuristic Sphere, opened in September 2023, which dazzles with its innovative domed screens. Inside, guests can expect immersive cinematic shows in 18K resolution, alongside a line-up of live concerts and events. Starting this month, The Eagles take up residency, with 20 tour dates running until the end of January, mixing classic tunes with next-generation technology.
Also new to the strip is the Formula One circuit, with a 6.2km track weaving its way around the streets of Las Vegas for perhaps one of the most eye-catching racetracks in the world. The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix kicked off in November 2023, with a 50-lap night race won by Max Verstappen. Tickets for the upcoming 2024 fixture (21-23 November) start from a cool US$964, while coveted seats on the start/finish line in the Heineken Silver Main Grandstand will set you back US$2,526. Offered as an event space during off-season, more tourist-themed activations are in the works, including tours of pit lane, access to the starting grid and a peek inside the team garages.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/YF125Ii861724925202722.jpg]
NEED FOR SPEED
Strange whimpering noises emerged from certain members of the group as we arrived at our next destination, where 20 exotic supercars glistened on the forecourt of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A frantic photo shoot ensued: arms folded in front of a Ferrari 296 GTB, hand on the bonnet of a Porsche 911 GT3, drool dribbling onto the wing mirror of a Maserati MC20.
Camera rolls satisfied, we headed indoors to meet with Enrico Bertaggia, a former Italian F1 driver who founded the Dream Racing track experience in 2011. We signed our life away in waivers, watched a video introduction - and then the fun part-studied a selection of around 40 potential supercars. Questions from my cohort flew thick and fast - handling, speed, and weight as difficult decisions were made. I chose a bright yellow number, or in car parlance, a Lamborghini Huracán Performante.
I stooped nervously into the driver's seat of the showy speed machine. Luckily, in the passenger seat was a highly-trained pro, who skilfully narrated the circuit, helping me stay in the lanes - and encouraging me to put my foot down. Five laps whizzed by increasingly quickly - but the entire session is recorded with dash cam and cockpit footage, so you'll be able to relive the once-ina-lifetime experience (expletives and all). Packages start from US$399.
Cars aside, there's plenty of high-octane thrills to be had, from zip-lining down the Linq Promenade at 35mph with Fly LINQ, teetering over the edge of The Strat Tower on the X-Scream rollercoaster, or catching massive sporting events at the Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders - the 58th Super Bowl was hosted here in February.
Our nervous systems needed some soothing, so we headed off for a round of golf instead. Topgolf features 120 all-weather bays with comfy sofas and computer-controlled putting stations facing out onto an enormous green. Pros can perfect their craft, while beginners can play a series of games, with every swing tracked by computers and points assigned on digital screens. This being Vegas, there are, of course, VIP cabanas with private pools, five unique bars and DJs every Saturday.
For cultural delights, the Arts...
Bleary-eyed, I squinted at the time. It was 7.30 am – 15 minutes before my Pink Jeep Adventure Tour to Red Rock Canyon was due to leave. A spike of panic propelled me into the shower, down to the lobby and into the back of a Barbie-coloured people carrier just in time.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/3w0tQLoUd1724925011718.jpg]
Red Rock Canyon is a national conservation area in the Mojave Desert, 40km from the strip, famed for its towering red sandstone peaks, picturesque canyons and Native American petroglyphs (rock carvings). I’d been looking forward to the excursion for weeks, but out on the highway, air-con battling furiously with the 40-degree heat, I suddenly felt the full extent of my hangover. Thirty touch-and-go minutes later, we reached Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center. While the group milled around the exhibits, featuring hardy desert plants and cute indigenous desert tortoises, I inspected the cool, clean ambience of the restrooms.
The next beauty spot was the colourful Calico Hills, shimmering in glorious hues of yellow, pink and red under the cloudless sky. Clutching my water bottle, I perched gingerly on a smooth rock as our guide explained the breathtaking landscape. Multicoloured layers of sediment and craggy formations tell the story of geological evolution over millennia, including a period 600 million years ago when the area was at the bottom of an ocean. Half the group clambered up a rock face to get a better vantage; I decided to live vicariously through their Instagram posts.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/1418228941.jpg]
We discovered how native tribes adapted to life in the unforgiving terrain thanks to natural underground water sources (including one where the Bellagio fountains now stand), viewed 800-year-old carvings etched into huge boulders, and studied rock-lined roasting pits used to bake agave – the plant from which mezcal is distilled.
Unfortunately, even an abstract reference to tequila threatened to launch my stomach into bitter revolt. I crawled to a patch of shade and prayed for the tour to end. How had I ended up in such a sorry state? Like every good Vegas story, I’ll need to retrace my steps…
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/2129277417.jpg]
WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS?
I’d arrived 48 hours earlier, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic. The trip was in celebration of the airline’s three-times-weekly service from Manchester to Las Vegas, which launched in June. But the main event was to celebrate the airline’s 40th anniversary – and what better location than the ultimate adult playground.
The party actually started back in London, with Champagne and food in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow Terminal 3, and continued onboard The Bar in Upper Class for the 11-hour flight.
Harry Reid International Airport is conveniently close the action (arguably, it's part of the action, with 1,000 slot machines for travellers to make a last bid at the jackpot). From wheels down, it was a quick change (because who needs sleep?), then off to explore the playground. Literally: Play Playground, a new interactive games experience at The Luxor.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/2779749871.jpg]
Think: launching yourself at bullseyes in a Velcro suit, bouncy castle mazes and helter-skelter slides, fuelled by generous pours of your chosen poison and tasty snacks. If interactive fun and sensory overload is your jam, you'll also want to check out AREA15. The New York Times described it as "an urban Burning Man mall" for its eclectic mash-up of art installations, VR experiences, rides, unique retail and various dining options.
Narrowing down your itinerary in Las Vegas is difficult. From Caesars Palace to Cirque du Soleil, the city is stuffed full of outlandish landmarks and hedonistic delights, with more muscling their way in all the time.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/8229472299.jpg]
New to the skyline is the futuristic Sphere, opened in September 2023, which dazzles with its innovative domed screens. Inside, guests can expect immersive cinematic shows in 18K resolution, alongside a line-up of live concerts and events. Starting this month, The Eagles take up residency, with 20 tour dates running until the end of January, mixing classic tunes with next-generation technology.
Also new to the strip is the Formula One circuit, with a 6.2km track weaving its way around the streets of Las Vegas for perhaps one of the most eye-catching racetracks in the world. The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix kicked off in November 2023, with a 50-lap night race won by Max Verstappen. Tickets for the upcoming 2024 fixture (21-23 November) start from a cool US$964, while coveted seats on the start/finish line in the Heineken Silver Main Grandstand will set you back US$2,526. Offered as an event space during off-season, more tourist-themed activations are in the works, including tours of pit lane, access to the starting grid and a peek inside the team garages.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1724773960/articles/2lBoLn-IV1724924934878/YF125Ii861724925202722.jpg]
NEED FOR SPEED
Strange whimpering noises emerged from certain members of the group as we arrived at our next destination, where 20 exotic supercars glistened on the forecourt of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A frantic photo shoot ensued: arms folded in front of a Ferrari 296 GTB, hand on the bonnet of a Porsche 911 GT3, drool dribbling onto the wing mirror of a Maserati MC20.
Camera rolls satisfied, we headed indoors to meet with Enrico Bertaggia, a former Italian F1 driver who founded the Dream Racing track experience in 2011. We signed our life away in waivers, watched a video introduction - and then the fun part-studied a selection of around 40 potential supercars. Questions from my cohort flew thick and fast - handling, speed, and weight as difficult decisions were made. I chose a bright yellow number, or in car parlance, a Lamborghini Huracán Performante.
I stooped nervously into the driver's seat of the showy speed machine. Luckily, in the passenger seat was a highly-trained pro, who skilfully narrated the circuit, helping me stay in the lanes - and encouraging me to put my foot down. Five laps whizzed by increasingly quickly - but the entire session is recorded with dash cam and cockpit footage, so you'll be able to relive the once-ina-lifetime experience (expletives and all). Packages start from US$399.
Cars aside, there's plenty of high-octane thrills to be had, from zip-lining down the Linq Promenade at 35mph with Fly LINQ, teetering over the edge of The Strat Tower on the X-Scream rollercoaster, or catching massive sporting events at the Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders - the 58th Super Bowl was hosted here in February.
Our nervous systems needed some soothing, so we headed off for a round of golf instead. Topgolf features 120 all-weather bays with comfy sofas and computer-controlled putting stations facing out onto an enormous green. Pros can perfect their craft, while beginners can play a series of games, with every swing tracked by computers and points assigned on digital screens. This being Vegas, there are, of course, VIP cabanas with private pools, five unique bars and DJs every Saturday.
For cultural delights, the Arts...
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Business Traveller Uk (Digital) - 1 Issue, September 2024