Can’t afford international airfare? Just go to Las Vegas. The quintessential American city is actually quite global – so long as you’re okay with two-thirds replicas of Parisian towers and Egyptian pyramids with frozen cocktail bars inside. The next time you visit Las Vegas, don’t just visit Las Vegas alone; be a desert jetsetter and visit Italy, Rome, France, Egypt and all of Asia, too. Here’s how:
Take a Gondola Ride at The Venetian
Few things are as romantic as a meandering gondola ride through a Venetian canal, guided by a singing gondolier. If you can ignore the pulsing lights of the casinos across the street, that’s the exact experience you’ll have at the Venetian. Ride through the turquoise water of the outdoor canals, or journey by boat through the Italian village inside. When you’re done, go for gelato at the Grand Canal Shoppes.
Party Inside the Eiffel Tower
Yeah, the Eiffel Tower in Paris is pretty cool, but does it have bottle service? We don’t think so. Have the ultimate French experience with a heavy dose of Las Vegas opulence by heading to Chateau Nightclub inside the two-thirds replica Eiffel Tower outside of Paris Las Vegas. Dance the night away and then take an elevator to the Eiffel Tower viewing deck at the top (open until 1 a.m. each night). If you’re feeling extra fancy, grab a table at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant and enjoy Strip views from 100 feet up.
Savor Culinary Delights in Chinatown
Las Vegas’ Chinatown district may still be considered the city’s best-kept culinary secret by some, but word is definitely getting out. The growing neighborhood, which is located just minutes from the Strip along Spring Mountain Road, is home to incredible Asian cuisine. From edomae-style sushi at Kabuto to Hainanese chicken rice at Big Wong and insanely spicy Sichuan food at Chengdu Taste, Chinatown is a veritable haven of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Shop Like a Roman at Caesars Palace
If you’re not in a shopping mood, you will be when you see the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This indoor monolith features floor after floor of marble columns, intricately carved statues and stunning skylights. Climb to the highest floor to take in the Roman splendor below, and then go have lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, because you’re definitely still in America.
Step Inside an Egyptian Pyramid at Luxor Las Vegas
On the far south end of the Strip, a massive stone sphinx guards a pyramid – but you don’t have to answer a riddle to get inside. Named after a city in Egypt, Luxor Las Vegas boasts the world’s largest atrium and the distinct oddity of allowing you to sip champagne inside a pyramid. If you’re superstitious, you’ll notice that the sphinx is facing east, unlike the original Great Sphinx of Giza, which faces west. This is believed to be bad luck, but don’t let that stop you from taking a chance in the casino anyway.
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