Cookie: Vegas Musts From Heathrow to “In-N-Out”

“Cookie” gives us little nibbles at what makes Vegas special for this Brit…

It always starts with over-egging it at Heathrow. I’d like to think in my older years that I can pace myself and not get too excited at the thought of going back to one of my favourite places on Earth. But I can’t…it’s like Christmas Eve as a five-year-old for me when I’m at the airport. Once on the plane, we settle into to a steady rhythm of beer and cards before gently retiring for a couple of hours of sleep. Vegas Must #1 done and we’re not even there yet.

Once we’ve cleared the airport, Vegas Must #2 is double edged – it’s not getting long-hauled at the airport. For the first part, it’s making sure that as many of my dollars possible are saved for enjoyment. For the second part it’s saying to the cabbie “While my accent clearly says I’m from out of town, this isn’t my first barn dance so don’t try it on!”.

Must #3 is to always stay at a different hotel. This next trip will take me into double digits and with a vast choice of places to stay, I always want to try somewhere different. Usually, we’d stay on the Strip…next time it’s our first stay in Downtown, which I’m pretty stoked about.

Our first point of call once we’ve washed the travel off us is Cabo Wabo Cantina. The participants of our group vary – there’s always me and a chum that are the core protagonists. Around us, we’ve been with groups of ten-plus to just the two of us. Cabo Wabo is perfect for that first stop. Unfussy food and newbies get the added benefit of the patio where you can see the Bellagio fountains. Two birds, one stone – and as we only usually go for three nights, time is of the essence.

From that meal on the rest of the trip is always pretty free-flowing. It’s not got the pure military planning that you would expect from the British. But equally, there is disappointment if we don’t tick off Fat Burger at some stage – although with an In-N-Out opening mid-Strip soon, there is a true contender to that Must.

O’Shea’s is still a must for us but a little part of me died with the original. I guess in time the carpets will get suitably sticky and the gloss will leave the place, but we persevere in homage to the past. Ditto with The Cromwell – RIP, Bill’s.

Depending on how the football (Soccer to you guys) season falls, a trip out to the Crown and Anchor is a must. You don’t realise quite how many Brits are out in the City of Sin until you go there on a match day. A 3pm kick off in the UK is around 7am LV time, so ideal to go over there after the nighttime activities are over. After all, sleeping is cheating.

The final must is NOT going to the Gun Store. Don’t get me wrong, I really, really want to go. Every trip we say that we’ve got to do it. Every trip we don’t do it. It is my Everest. But not going has an added benefit. Every time I come back, fully laden with the post-Vegas blues and a hangover (that never appears when we’re there because it hasn’t had the opportunity to fully form) I can say to my darling, long-suffering wife “Sweetheart, I’ve got to go back next year – we didn’t even get to the Gun Store this trip!”.

Photos: [Crown and Anchor, Cabo Wabo, O’Shea’s and The Gun Store via Facebook]

Vegas Bright