OK, Firstly, thank you forum members for helping in planning our trip.
and I would like to share my observations of the trip and the "Total Experiences" experience!
here we go....
None of our party had ever stayed in a Harrah’s property before (we have been in the Mirage, Wynn, Venetian, THE Hotel and Bellagio, and I have organised group trips before) but as we were after a party weekend for my Dad’s 60th, he wanted to see Bette Midler and two of our party had not been to Vegas before, we thought Caesars would be the best place to be.
Having spent some time trying to organise the trip from the UK, making transatlantic phone calls and surfing a host websites trying to book, I was introduced to Harrah’s Total Experiences programme where we had a dedicated member of staff to assist in organising our trip, for free! This is a brand new programme and we were the pilot group from the UK.
Prior to departure we (me and Dani from Harrah's) met up in London and worked jointly to plan an itinerary, and when we arrived everything was sorted and reserved and although I am a low roller, we were treated like VIPs.
Forget $20 tricks and club hosts and all of that, as a group we wanted for nothing, just ask Danielle and she arranged it all- front of queues not just in Harrah’s properties, but everywhere.
So here is the brief trip report from the best week ever.
Tuesday.
Arrived from London to Vegas. Picked up by Limo (nice!)
Got into the room (Harrah’s upgraded us to a VIP rain man suite- see photos) which was the best!
Went up Stratosphere, which was ok, and then downtown. My brothers had never been to vegas before, so I always think downtown is a good place to start before the lack of sleep and cumulative alcohol intake catches up with you.
Wandered around Fremont St, ate in Firefly at the Plaza, which was actually very good and worth going there for the view alone.
Had drinks after and took an early night!
Wednesday
Some of the group played golf at Rio Secco, which was supposed to be good, we went to Town square, which was a bit of a waste of time. In the evening we went to Joe Stone Crab, which was really, really good!
Still feeling rough after previous night early to bed.
Thursday
Shopping in the morning.
Afternoon in the Qua Spa, which is probably the best spa I have ever been to and well worth a visit, people who read this, go when you are in vegas!
In the evening, we went to Lance Burton, who was quite disappointing (my brother wanted to go!) and dinner at Joel Robuchon. Thought the food was excellent, but for a *** Michelin rated restaurant, thought the service was quite poor.
Then drinks at Studio 54, which was a lot of fun!
Friday
We went to Cascata for golf and lunch. The course was magnificent. Evening was Love at the Mirage (again, the best seats) and then to a VIP booth in XS.
This was our first big night out after a couple of days there- I thought the club itself was lovely. Beautifully laid out, but the clientele was very mixed and it seemed to me that most of the ladies were working! But still a good night.
Saturday
Spent more time at Qua (really is THAT good). Went to Bette Midler, and met her afterwards for photos (Again, thank you Harrah’s total experiences), straight into Pure, no queue at all, on the stage with shaggy dancing away- and lovely ladies- one of the best nights ever!
Sunday
We chilled, played craps, shopped, wondered around Vegas and ate in Paris, which was a lovely way to end the trip.
Trip Highlights:
• The Qua Spa is among the best in the world. I was so relaxed, I didn’t want to leave. Robin, my brother rather effusively noted, “Spa was the best I have ever been in. Absolutely amazing...10 out of 10.”
• The cooking at Bradley Ogden is amongst the finest I have ever experienced. Some restaurants have more Michelin Stars, but this is proper cooking for proper people, with the best service in Vegas. In my mind, better than Robuchon.
• It was a dream come true for my dad to meet Bette Midler and get his photo taken with her. Her show was a medley of songs, jokes, stories and dancing and only possible in Vegas. Three weeks later and the photo with Bette has replaced my mother’s picture on his office desk!
• I have a soft spot for old Las Vegas and the “neon flashin’ and one arm bandits crashin’”, so taking a wonder down Fremont Street ignited a feeling of nostalgia of a bygone era.
• On previous visits to Las Vegas, we just couldn’t get into Pure. This time we were VIPs, dancing and singing with Shaggy on stage.
• Having sushi at Ah Sin! in Paris in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and with the backdrop of the Bellagio Fountains was a perfect way to spend our last night.
I am not a gambler, so going to Vegas is not a high rolling experience for me, but like many visitors, I go for the spectacle and general fun. To give you some idea, my comps level on my total rewards card for this week was $1.40.
At no time was it expected that we have to play casino games or make big bets, just to have fun in Vegas.
I can’t complement Harrah’s any more and would recommend anyone who is thinking about taking a group to Vegas to do it through Total Experiences- and they have an office in London, not just the States.
They have a website. www.harrahs.com/totalexperiences/
but if in the UK make sure you speak to Dani. i don't have her number, but i am sure it is on the website.
Note: I am not employed by Harrah’s, nor do they pay me, I am just a grateful customer and think this is a really good service and made this trip to Vegas the best ever out of the 5 other times I have been, made my Dad's 60th really special and I want to share it with everyone!
Happy to take questions and comments!
and I would like to share my observations of the trip and the "Total Experiences" experience!here we go....
None of our party had ever stayed in a Harrah’s property before (we have been in the Mirage, Wynn, Venetian, THE Hotel and Bellagio, and I have organised group trips before) but as we were after a party weekend for my Dad’s 60th, he wanted to see Bette Midler and two of our party had not been to Vegas before, we thought Caesars would be the best place to be.
Having spent some time trying to organise the trip from the UK, making transatlantic phone calls and surfing a host websites trying to book, I was introduced to Harrah’s Total Experiences programme where we had a dedicated member of staff to assist in organising our trip, for free! This is a brand new programme and we were the pilot group from the UK.
Prior to departure we (me and Dani from Harrah's) met up in London and worked jointly to plan an itinerary, and when we arrived everything was sorted and reserved and although I am a low roller, we were treated like VIPs.
Forget $20 tricks and club hosts and all of that, as a group we wanted for nothing, just ask Danielle and she arranged it all- front of queues not just in Harrah’s properties, but everywhere.
So here is the brief trip report from the best week ever.
Tuesday.
Arrived from London to Vegas. Picked up by Limo (nice!)
Got into the room (Harrah’s upgraded us to a VIP rain man suite- see photos) which was the best!
Went up Stratosphere, which was ok, and then downtown. My brothers had never been to vegas before, so I always think downtown is a good place to start before the lack of sleep and cumulative alcohol intake catches up with you.
Wandered around Fremont St, ate in Firefly at the Plaza, which was actually very good and worth going there for the view alone.
Had drinks after and took an early night!
Wednesday
Some of the group played golf at Rio Secco, which was supposed to be good, we went to Town square, which was a bit of a waste of time. In the evening we went to Joe Stone Crab, which was really, really good!
Still feeling rough after previous night early to bed.
Thursday
Shopping in the morning.
Afternoon in the Qua Spa, which is probably the best spa I have ever been to and well worth a visit, people who read this, go when you are in vegas!
In the evening, we went to Lance Burton, who was quite disappointing (my brother wanted to go!) and dinner at Joel Robuchon. Thought the food was excellent, but for a *** Michelin rated restaurant, thought the service was quite poor.
Then drinks at Studio 54, which was a lot of fun!
Friday
We went to Cascata for golf and lunch. The course was magnificent. Evening was Love at the Mirage (again, the best seats) and then to a VIP booth in XS.
This was our first big night out after a couple of days there- I thought the club itself was lovely. Beautifully laid out, but the clientele was very mixed and it seemed to me that most of the ladies were working! But still a good night.
Saturday
Spent more time at Qua (really is THAT good). Went to Bette Midler, and met her afterwards for photos (Again, thank you Harrah’s total experiences), straight into Pure, no queue at all, on the stage with shaggy dancing away- and lovely ladies- one of the best nights ever!
Sunday
We chilled, played craps, shopped, wondered around Vegas and ate in Paris, which was a lovely way to end the trip.
Trip Highlights:
• The Qua Spa is among the best in the world. I was so relaxed, I didn’t want to leave. Robin, my brother rather effusively noted, “Spa was the best I have ever been in. Absolutely amazing...10 out of 10.”
• The cooking at Bradley Ogden is amongst the finest I have ever experienced. Some restaurants have more Michelin Stars, but this is proper cooking for proper people, with the best service in Vegas. In my mind, better than Robuchon.
• It was a dream come true for my dad to meet Bette Midler and get his photo taken with her. Her show was a medley of songs, jokes, stories and dancing and only possible in Vegas. Three weeks later and the photo with Bette has replaced my mother’s picture on his office desk!
• I have a soft spot for old Las Vegas and the “neon flashin’ and one arm bandits crashin’”, so taking a wonder down Fremont Street ignited a feeling of nostalgia of a bygone era.
• On previous visits to Las Vegas, we just couldn’t get into Pure. This time we were VIPs, dancing and singing with Shaggy on stage.
• Having sushi at Ah Sin! in Paris in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and with the backdrop of the Bellagio Fountains was a perfect way to spend our last night.
I am not a gambler, so going to Vegas is not a high rolling experience for me, but like many visitors, I go for the spectacle and general fun. To give you some idea, my comps level on my total rewards card for this week was $1.40.
At no time was it expected that we have to play casino games or make big bets, just to have fun in Vegas.
I can’t complement Harrah’s any more and would recommend anyone who is thinking about taking a group to Vegas to do it through Total Experiences- and they have an office in London, not just the States.
They have a website. www.harrahs.com/totalexperiences/
but if in the UK make sure you speak to Dani. i don't have her number, but i am sure it is on the website.
Note: I am not employed by Harrah’s, nor do they pay me, I am just a grateful customer and think this is a really good service and made this trip to Vegas the best ever out of the 5 other times I have been, made my Dad's 60th really special and I want to share it with everyone!
Happy to take questions and comments!
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