Las Vegas Trip Roundup
FEELING LUCKY? Let’s Go To Vegas!
Las Vegas is one place in the world that was never really on my bucket list. But after a few work trips there, I thought it’d be a fun place to bring BK. In the fall of 2019, our good friends moved out west to California, and we thought it would be a fun weekend place to meet up since it was an easy flight for them! Fast forward a few years, this is the third trip we’ve taken together to Vegas, and we love it!
One of the most unexpected things I love about Las Vegas is that what you see on the TV/movies is only a small fraction of what it is. It is TRULY an understatement when I tell you it is the most diverse mix of people from all ages, backgrounds, and body types. The overall vibe and energy there is fun, and everyone is there to have a good time and let loose! This was my fifth or sixth time traveling to Vegas and I finally felt like I packed appropriately so let’s dig into the details of our trip.
Outfit details can be found underneath each photo, click on the links to shop the looks.
WHAT TO WEAR AND WHAT I BROUGHT
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is “what to wear in Vegas?” But before you get there, cute and comfortable is what I strive for when traveling. When going from one extreme climate to another, layers are your friend. I always like to wear my bulkiest layer and shoe to maximize luggage space, especially when packing a carry-on. I have a post on some of my favorite travel outfit formulas on this post. If you’re not already using packing cubes, I can’t recommend them enough. However, you can pack/organize however feels right to you, but I like to roll my clothes and organize by type. So swimsuits and cover-ups are in one, undergarments are another, dresses in another, etc. I do the same for Brian’s stuff! I have more efficient packing tips on this post! We love our Away luggage; check out my previous review here. But for more luggage picks, check out my curated list here!
We intended to be gone for an extended weekend of Thursday-Tuesday before our flight got delayed, so we planned for five nights/four full days. We tend to hit the pool or walk around during the day and then change and refresh for dinner. I brought a few swimsuits, cover-ups, primarily dresses, pajamas/loungewear, sandals, jewelry, sunglasses, and undergarments. I like to create a list in my phone and think through the different events and things I’ll need before packing. When it comes to outfits, I tried to stay true to my classic style but elevated a bit (a bit fancier than I usually would be in Buffalo). But trust me, when I tell you that ANYTHING GOES, it’s true. If you post up at a hotel lobby or casino, you will see every type of outfit you could imagine within a five-minute time span. So what I’m trying to say is don’t overthink it, wear what you like and what feels good to you! For me, that’s dresses, so I brought many of them… with a few sequins splashed in.
ESPRESSO MARTINIS AT THE CHANDELIER BAR INSIDE THE COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL
WHERE WE STAYED
Welcome to
Las Vegas
The first two or three times I traveled to Las Vegas for work, I always stayed at Mandalay Bay. I didn't have much time to explore the properties, but it is massive. The hotel is at the end of the strip, so if you don't want to be right in the center of the action, that could be an excellent place to consider. However, the last three times we've stayed in Vegas, we've always stayed at The Cosmopolitan Hotel. We love it there. It's got such a fun, sexy vibe to it, and while there are parts of the property that can get a little wild, the hotel's overall vibe is pretty chill. It's also one of the few hotels with balconies in almost every room. It was also formerly a Marriott property (I believe it's in the process of becoming MGM), so we used to be able to cash in on our points. We love the Cosmo because it's right in the center of all the action and has some of the BEST restaurants on the strip, not to mention the iconic Chandelier bar. If you don't stay there, you have to walk around at least and scope it out. It's something to see.
WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS
WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS
OUTFIT DETAILS (MY EXACT DRESS IS SOLD OUT BUT SAME STYLE + OTHERS ARE LINKED)
WHAT WE DID
As soon as we arrived,
we took a nap. No, really! We took the early flight in (we woke up at 3am and arrived in Vegas by 9am), so we were happy to check into our room early and nap. Once our friends met us, we had drinks at the Chandelier Bar and dinner. During the day, we like to scope out some of the pools. Our favorite is the Boulevard Pool at the Cosmo. It's got a fun but not too wild vibe. We like to reserve a daybed for the four of us to split when we can. We also did the Moorea Beach Club, I did not realize it was a "toptional" club, so that was a unique experience and had a fun (not too wild) party atmosphere. If you're looking for a party vibe, we've also done Liquid at Aria, which was okay, we didn't have the best service or food there, but it was a party atmosphere. The Chelsea Pool at the Cosmo was also very relaxed if that's more your speed. If you don't plan on renting a cabana or a day bed, I highly recommend checking the individual pool/hotel's policies on whether or not non-guests can go and get there early to secure a spot. It fills up pretty quickly! One day we skipped the pool, got a bottomless brunch, and did some shopping at the shops at the Bellagio, a quick walk over from the Cosmopolitan.
For more swimsuit inspiration, check out the swim tab of my blog!
what we ate and Drank
And ate. And drank. and ate. and drank.
I'm lucky to travel with two guys that LOVE to research all the spots when we travel together. Each time we go to Vegas, we try to venture out and try new places! We had dinner at Superfrico (the table-side hand-pulled mozzarella was a must), dinner at Chica's (it was solid) and brunch at the Overlook Grill near the Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan. We also randomly found Lip-Smacking Food Tours on TikTok and decided to try them. It was a splurge but highly rated and recommended. We loved it! They took us by limo to three different steakhouses, and we did a tasting menu at each place, with explanations of everything we were enjoying. Overall, we had a fantastic experience, but I wish they were a little more transparent that we would be in a group at a table with other people. It was totally fine (we make friends easily), but I just wasn't expecting it. We also had to walk significantly between our second and third stop, which is not ideal if you're wearing heels. Overall I would recommend checking them out. They have a bunch of different tour options and even private options available. We also had dinner at China Poblano (good casual Mexican/Chinese fusion) and Beauty and Essex (a forever favorite). When Brian and I had to stay an extra night, we also ate at Momofuko (excellent). The Cosmopolitan also has a fantastic, casual dining hall with counter service so you can grab things easily. We didn’t make it to Secret Pizza (inside the Cosmo) this time, but that is also a great spot to grab a late night slice. Don’t forget to get an Espresso Martini at the Chandelier Bar too!
SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE:
WAKUDA, had fantastic sushi, and we had great service and food. Great overall vibe and atmosphere in there as well.
Red Plate, traditional Chinese. We had fantastic service, and the food was amazing, highly recommend getting the king crab.
Alexxa Kitchen for brunch, it was a solid meal and priced fairly
Bazaar Meat By José Andrés. We went there the last time we went on a foodie tour and knew we had to go back. We did the tasting menu, and it did not disappoint.
Overlook Grill, a great breakfast and friendly service
Beauty and Essex, we love going here on our last night because it’s always good and consistent.
MARCH 2023 UPDATE:
Giada’s - great Italian and excellent service
Javier’s - phenomenal Mexican cuisine inside the Aria hotel, great atmosphere, and reasonable prices. Great mocktails too!
Spago - inside the Bellagio, we were seated right by the windows and had a spectacular view. Food and service were excellent!
Din Tai Fung - solid dim sum inside the Aria, good service. It was very crowded but they kept the food coming and overall was a good experience, the spicy noodles were my favorite!
OUTFIT DETAILS, WEARING XL / 16
OUTFIT DETAILS - WEARING 16, USE CARALYN10
OUTFIT DETAILS - WEARING SIZE XL LONG IN SUIT, L IN PANTS USE CARALYN10
other things worth mentioning,
I always like to prepare for beach/pool trips with a spray tan. If interested, I have an outdated post of my routine and how I prep for it here! That way, I arrive tan (which helps me feel more confident in a swimsuit), and as it fades, my natural tan appears, so I maintain color throughout. If you’re looking to keep a suntan throughout your trip, I would highly recommend Luna Bronze or St. Tropez products.
If you’re not used to the desert heat, it is a DRY heat. I always try to make sure I bring extra moisturizer (for face and body) because my skin gets extremely dry and uncomfortable. I highly recommend this sunscreen which is super lightweight and ultra hydrating and perfect for the dry weather.
OUTFIT DETAILS - WEARING XL
We spent most of the weekend at the pool, taking it easy and getting dressed up for dinner. I’m not a big gambler but it’s still fun to walk through the casinos, grab a late night cocktail and just watch all of the fun people walking by.
If you’re looking for more outfit inspiration, be sure to check out the shop tab of my blog, which I update daily with my outfits. I also have a ton of options saved to my Amazon Storefront, which includes many inexpensive finds. I also have tons of outfit inspiration and resources on the fashion and travel tabs of my blog as well!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read through our latest adventure!
It was a fun-filled trip filled with a lot of indulgence and no regrets. Be sure to leave any questions below and check out the travel tab of my blog for more trip roundups and travel inspiration.
xx CMK
UPDATE: OUR TRIP FROM SEPTEMBER 2022
$45 PINK SET (XXL) | ORANGE BATHING SUIT (XL, LONG) | JEWELED SUNGLASSES | FULL OUTFIT DETAILS LINKED HERE
FULL POOL LOOK LINKED HERE
WEARING XL, LONG IN SWIMSUIT AND L/XL IN COVER UP
OUTFIT IS LINKED HERE
WEARING XL IN TOP AND 32R IN JEANS
DINNER OUTFIT LINKED HERE
WEARING SIZE 16 IN DRESS, STRAPLESS BRA REQUIRED
DINNER OUTFIT LINKED HERE | BAG | SHOES
WEARING XL IN DRESS
DINNER OUTFIT LINKED HERE
MY EXACT DRESS IS SOLD OUT, LINKED SIMILAR.
BLACK LACE IS MY BRA PEEKING THROUGH