Things to do — Las Vegas

In Las Vegas over 3 days:

Day 1 — Strip discovery: morning Strip walk or Monorail ($5/ride, 24h pass $13, MGM → SAHARA line) — Mandalay Bay (Shark Reef aquarium $36), Luxor (30-story pyramid, interior Atrium), Excalibur (kitsch medieval castle, M&M's World 4 floors), New York-New York (reproduced NYC skyline, $17 Big Apple Coaster rollercoaster), MGM Grand (5,000 rooms one of world's largest hotels), Park MGM, Aria (contemporary design, elegant casino). Lunch Bacchanal Buffet Caesars Palace ($60-80/person, considered best Strip buffet). Afternoon: Caesars Palace (Forum Shops luxury mall, Roman statues), Bellagio (free Conservatory & Botanical Garden seasonal decoration, $15 Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art), Paris Las Vegas (half-size Eiffel Tower, $24 climb), Planet Hollywood, Venetian-Palazzo ($39/2 person canal gondolas, Grand Canal Shoppes). Evening: Bellagio fountains (every 30 min until midnight, free, absolutely must see), Mirage volcano (free evening, eruption every hour until midnight), casino restaurant dinner + casino evening (slots or table games with reasonable bankroll).

Day 2 — Cirque du Soleil show + gastronomy: morning hotel pool (Bellagio Cabana Pool, MGM Grand Pool, Mandalay Bay Wave Pool or XS-Encore-Wet Republic pool party $30-80) or shopping (Fashion Show Mall Strip, Premium Outlets North and South 15 min taxi away with luxury brands at reduced prices -30/70%). Lunch Earl of Sandwich ($5-12, quick sandwich) or Eggslut. Afternoon: Stratosphere/STRAT SkyJump ($130 130 m tower jump, adrenaline experience) OR Madame Tussauds Venetian ($37) OR Mob Museum (downtown Fremont Street, $30, Vegas mafia history, recommended) OR Atomic Liquors (1952 downtown historic bar, where Sinatra Rat Pack came to watch Nevada Test Site nuclear tests until 1962). Evening: Cirque du Soleil (O at Bellagio $80-250 booking 2-3 months ahead, OR KÀ MGM Grand, OR Mystère Treasure Island cheaper $80-150, OR Michael Jackson One Mandalay Bay). Michelin starred dinner: Joël Robuchon (MGM Grand, 3 stars, $350-500/person tasting menu), Picasso (Bellagio, 2 stars, $200-300/person), Le Cirque (Bellagio, $150-250). More affordable: Bobby Flay Burger Palace $20-40, Holstein's Cosmopolitan $25-45.

Day 3 — Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam excursion: 3 options. (1) Helicopter Grand Canyon excursion from Vegas ($250-450/person, half day 3-4h round trip with Bottom of the Canyon West Rim landing with champagne and lunch, unforgettable experience, companies Maverick/Sundance/Papillon). (2) Grand Canyon plane + bus excursion Maverick Aviation $250 (Vegas-Grand Canyon Airport flight + bus in park + lunch + return flight, time/price compromise). (3) Hoover Dam + Red Rock Canyon day (car rental $50-80/day + entries) — Hoover Dam (45 min SE, $30 dam visit 1936 construction, Powerhouse Tour $15, Lake Mead view), Lake Mead (45 min, swimming, kayak, largest US reservoir), Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (35 min west, $15/vehicle, scenic drive 21 km, Mojave red canyons, Calico Tanks 4 km hike, Ice Box Canyon). (4) Valley of Fire State Park (1h NE, spectacular red formations, $10/vehicle). Evening return Vegas: Mexican La Casa de Don Pepe dinner or steakhouse Strip House (Cosmopolitan, $80-150), resident shows (Adele/U2 Sphere/Bruno Mars $200-1,500) or nightlife (Omnia Caesars, XS Encore, Hakkasan MGM $50-100 entry + drinks).