My last work trip of the year was to Las Vegas. Vegas is one of my favorite cities in the country - sunshine, swimming pools, high end shopping, world class restaurants, entertaining shows and dance clubs open until morning - what more could a girl ask for?
On all of my past trips to Vegas we've stayed on the strip. This time we stayed in downtown Las Vegas, just steps from Fremont Street.
The name of our hotel was the Downtown Grand and it had just opened a few weeks prior. The lobby was completely decked out for the holidays, red ceiling and all!
The front desk glowed from the far wall, beckoning you to check in.
I thought the coolest part of the hotel was the lobby bar. It had this sophisticated study feel to it.
The most unique thing about the space was ceiling, which was covered in copy cats of famous works like the Mona Lisa.
Everything in Vegas is "go big or go home," even the lobby shop which had a giant chandelier over the front door.
We took the elevator up to our rooms on the 11th floor. Each floor is marked with a poker chip right when you get off the elevator.
The decor is simple. It's mostly black, white and gray.
My room was labeled with a poker chip of its own. The doors to the rooms don't have the usual slot for your key card. You just wave your key in front of the sensor and the door clicks open.
My room had a very beach vacation vibe to it. The wall behind the bed looked like a giant watercolor painting.
I had a little reading nook in the corner, though who has time to read in Vegas?
Opposite the bed was a desk, TV and dresser. The dresser had this strange shelf poking out of it which I deemed the accessories shelf (naturally). My jewelry, stockings and hair ties lived there all week.
The bathroom was long and narrow, with towels upon towels in every corner.
The shower had a glass wall that only covered half of the stall. What is it lately with hotels only having glass showers? I kind of hate it.
There were toiletries galore in this bathroom. They were all lemon scented which was a nice smell to encounter each morning.
I love that the hotel gives you ear plugs, anticipating you will need to block out the noise of everyone having the time of their life until all hours.
I've stayed in a lot of hotels in the past three years and I always love to see what funny expressions they put on their "Do not disturb" signs. The Downtown Grand writes, "Move on," to let the housekeepers know you are hungover and should not be bothered.
The best part of my room at the Downtown Grand was absolutely the view. At night I could see all of downtown Las Vegas.
If you are planning a trip to Vegas, the strip definitely has its allure, but don't overlook downtown. The Downtown Grand has a great bar, its own casino and it's just steps from the Fremont Street experience. It's also near the new container park and a great breakfast place we visited called Eat (the best pancakes in Las Vegas!).
Have you ever spent time in downtown Las Vegas?
