Las Vegas is one of those places most people either love or hate. Me? I’m in the love camp. But only because I looked past the seedy side and discovered it can be an excellent place to rest, recharge and pamper yourself. You can party 24-7 if that’s your thing, but if you’re exhausted and looking for a break it’s also an affordable destination to treat yourself to an amazing meal and catch up with your girlfriends. Planning a Las Vegas girlfriend getaway? Read on for my top tips and must dos, including recommendations from my most recent Las Vegas girlfriend getaway.
1. Like Luxury? Start Your Planning by Finding the Best Deal You Can at a Nice Hotel.
We went with a Bella Suite on the Prestige Club Level at the Palazzo. While at first glance it was a little pricier than some other options, the continental breakfast, weekend brunch, and evening cocktails included in club level pricing let us better estimate a number of our costs up front. I share more details in 10 Reasons Why Prestige at the Palazzo is Worth the Splurge, but know that the reserved pool chairs and surprise spa discount made the extra expense for the room (which was gorgeous), more than worthwhile. I highly recommend and would happily stay at the Palazzo again—it’s a great home base for a long weekend or Las Vegas girlfriend getaway.
2. Plan Your Days Around Where You are Staying.
While the Las Vegas strip is a fairly small area, there’s nothing relaxing about sitting in a cab to get from event to event. The costs add up quickly and the strip gets so crowded at times that it can take ages to travel a short distance. We stuck close by for two evenings and planned one big night out and it made all the difference.
3. Flexibility is Key.
In the end, we did even less than planned. Travel delays, illness, and exhaustion from work and babies at home meant that we were happy to sleep in and spend hours chatting over leisurely meals and relaxing by the pool. Be willing to go with the flow and your group will have a great time.
Interested in the agenda from our relaxing Las Vegas girlfriend getaway? Read on for a day by day recap.
Day 1: Las Vegas Girlfriend Getaway
On the Thursday afternoon I arrived, the club level lounge was quiet. I settled in at a corner table with access to power outlets (so essential!) and put in a few hours of remote work while waiting on our room. The staff was welcoming and accommodating. The club lounge included plenty of water and snacks and the concierge was full of recommendations when I was ready to pop out for a quick lunch.
Dinner Plans: Yardbird
By early evening my girlfriends had arrived we got dolled up and headed down to Yardbird for a late dinner. The restaurant has a great vibe and the staff is friendly and top notch. They serve classic southern food and its tough not to order one of everything on the menu! The Chicken ‘N’ Watermelon ‘N’ Waffles was a highlight and the Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade is divine. We lingered over dinner, chatting for ages and there was no pressure from the staff to move along. My girlfriend was celebrating her birthday and our waitress surprised her with a gigantic slice of cake.
Day 2: Las Vegas Girlfriend Getaway
Daytime Plans: Pool Day
Still on east coast time, I was up ages before my girlfriends and ducked out for an early walk along the strip. Morning is one of my favorite times in Las Vegas. The air is pleasantly crisp on a winter morning and the sidewalks are empty and newly cleaned. Plus, popping out for a brisk walk does wonders for jet lag.
My girlfriends texted when they woke and we headed up to the Prestige club level at Palazzo for continental breakfast. The food is great, especially for a hotel breakfast and they provide plenty of options for every dietary need. We all went back for seconds of one item or another.
We’d planned a pool day at the Venetian and it was deliciously relaxing. The club lounge concierge will help you reserved chairs, which definitely comes in handy. The pool staff helped us find a quiet but sunny corner right by one of the main pools. We settled in, ordered a pitcher of cocktails and quickly made friends with a few girls on a bachelorette trip. The Palazzo pool deck is perfect for lolling about until you hit peak relaxation and we made the most of the day, alternating between chatting, napping, and splashing about in the water.
Dinner Plans: Sushi Samba
Once we had our fill of the sun, we popped up to the room for naps and leisurely prepped for the evening. After we were decked out in our Vegas finest, we spun by the club lounge for complementary cocktail hour and appetizers. We arrived 30 minutes into the event and it was really crowded but most people cleared out soon after. It’s a great space to grab a table, chat and enjoy the music. The bartender remembered me from the night before and made sure our drinks stayed full.
We had dinner reservations at Sushi Samba at the Venetian. Having read great reviews, we were really looking forward to checking it out. The food was delicious, but the service was slow the evening we were there. We eventually gave up on ordering a second round of food and drinks. I’ll go back again, but recommend ordering more food than you think you’ll eat up front if it’s a busy night.
Late Night: Tao Nightclub
Next stop? Tao nightclub. Tao always has a fun vibe and the concierge had given us a heads up that ladies were free before midnight. The crowd was on the younger side and after a long day of relaxing decided to call it a night early. We popped down to the casino floor and tried our hand at the slot machines before turning in. Luck wasn’t with us, but it’s always fun to play a few rounds of video poker.
Day 3: Las Vegas Girlfriend Getaway
Daytime Plans: Spa Day
Saturday we slept in and it was glorious. With young kids at home, any time I sleep past 6am these days is a rare treat! Once we roused ourselves we padded down to the club level for a boozy brunch to kick off the day. Brunch got high marks all around and the mimosas were a lovely addition to the typical weekday fair.
Canyon Ranch Spa was our destination for the day and it more than lived up to expectations. Tip: ask the Prestige concierge staff to help book your appointments. A few of us had booked online in advance, but others booked through the concierge and received a nice discount on treatments. I’m not sure if this is standard practice, but it is worth a try.
We arrived early and enjoyed the spa amenities before and after our treatments. Canyon Ranch was a treat, but next visit we’ll schedule our spa day during the week. The spa got pretty crowded from late morning through early afternoon the Saturday we were there. The massage I received was good, but the body scrub received rave reviews from one of my girlfriends and is on my must do list for my next visit. And random fact, but we were surprised that most of the women in the spa were wearing swim suits.
Dinner Plans: Beauty & Essex
It took a lot of willpower to drag ourselves away from the spa, but we had big plans for the evening. After cocktails and party prep in the suite, we popped back up to visit our friends on the club level. This time we arrived late and enjoyed cocktails, apps and the live music after the crowd had died down before heading out to catch a cab.
It was our big night out and we were eager to check out Beauty & Essex at The Cosmopolitan. The food did not disappoint. There was a bit of a wait, so we stopped for cocktails at the bar and quizzed the bar staff on what dishes were must orders. We loved the atmosphere and everything was absolutely delicious.
The only negative to the evening was a large and rowdy bachelor party monopolizing the waitstaff, which interfered with timing. Despite reminding our waitress of our order, we managed to eat our entire multi-course meal before the bottle of wine we’d ordered arrived. Ultimately, we gave up on the wine and went back to the bar for another cocktail. It’s the first time I’ve ever had that happen!
Late Night: Marquee
Unexpected bonus? Dinner came with a hand stamp for Marquee. We’d planned to head there after dining and it was lovely to bypass the line. Plus, The Chandelier is conveniently located between the two, so you can stop for a leisurely round of bubbly before heading into the club.
Marquee attracts a lively crowd and typically has great music. We danced our hearts out before wandering the strip.
Day 4 : Las Vegas Girlfriend Getaway
Daytime Plans: Shopping
While we’d originally planned to check out brunch at Bouchon, it will have to wait for the next trip. The food in the club lounge was too good and too convenient.
Sunday was only a partial day for us, but we managed to squeeze in some shopping. I found the cutest work dress while wandering through the canal shops at Venetian. If shopping is your thing, you could easily spend days exploring the stores in and around the strip.
Before too long it was time to say our goodbyes and we vowed we wouldn’t wait another year for our next girl’s trip. Viva Las Vegas!
Interested in Learning More?
- 10 Reasons Why Prestige at the Palazzo is Worth the Splurge
- 6 Tips for Planning an Unforgettable (And Affordable) Girlfriend Getaway
What are your Las Vegas favorites? Do you have a Las Vegas girlfriend getaway planned? I’d love to check out some new places on my next trip!
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