The spirit of the European City of Lights sparkles on right in the center of the Las Vegas Strip at Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.
With replicas of French landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, a weekend stay at one of the nearly 3000 guestrooms is truly a unique experience.
First off, it is centrally located on the Las Vegas Strip adjacent to Bally’s, within walking distance of the Flamingo Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, and Planet Hollywood resorts.
Surrounded by street scenes of Paris, the casino features a 40-foot ceiling painted to emulate the Parisian sky, radial cobblestone pathways, ornate street signs, and a replica of Le Pont Alexandre III.
This picturesque bridge overlooks the casino and shops and serves as the queue to the Eiffel Tower elevators (more on this later).
Looking to gamble? The casino offers 100 game tables, Race and Sports Book, more than 2,200 slot machines, and a high-limit slots and table game area.
Modeled after the famous Hôtel de Ville, Paris Las Vegas’ hotel tower is 34 stories high and offers 2,916 guestrooms including 295 suites.
The elegantly appointed guestrooms feature custom-designed furnishings, crown molding, and rich French fabrics.
In each room, a stately armoire serves as the closet, enhancing the European ambiance.
Spacious marble bathrooms offer a separate bathtub and shower with authentic European fixtures, linen hand towels, a large vanity with shelves, and a makeup mirror.
With its average price per night lower than many of its neighbors across the other side of the strip, Paris is certainly value for money.
Visit www.parislasvegas.com for nightly rates.
The Eiffel Tower Experience
For the most stunning, panoramic views of the Las Vegas strip and beyond, a ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower’s 46 story high (half the size of the real one in France) observation deck is a must.
The replica Eiffel Tower is an exact reproduction of one of Europe’s most famous landmarks.
As part of the Eiffel Tower experience an elevator operator points out landmarks and will happily answer any questions while being whisked up one of the four glass elevators.
There is no time limit once you step out onto the observation deck, which means there is no reason you can’t snap photos from every angle.
The tower is open daily from 9:30 am to 12:30 am (it stays open until 1 am on Saturdays and Sundays).
Day time tickets (until 7:15 pm) are $11.50 for adults and $7.50 for seniors/children under 12.
Night time tickets (after 7:15 pm) are $16.50 for adults and $11.50 for seniors/children under 12.
Express tickets where you bypass the line are $18.50 per person during the day and $24.50 at night.
Tickets are available for purchase at the Eiffel Tower Gift Shop inside Paris Las Vegas.
The ride is definitely something to do at least once while in Las Vegas.
For more information, visit www.parislasvegas.com and click on ‘Things To Do.’
Absinthe – A Show Not To Miss
Bold, bawdy, and below the belt – that’s the best way to describe the acro-cabaret variety show Absinthe, located across the road from Paris in the forecourt of Caesar’s Palace.
The hilarious show is not for the faint-hearted with host Gazillionaire leading the laughs with plenty of swearing (this isn’t the show for you if the use of crude four letter words offend you) and sexual jokes that will have you screaming with laughter in your seat.
Now in its second year with more than 1,000 performances, Absinthe features wild and outlandish acts in a theatre-in-the-round presentation.
Audiences are treated to a night of imagination and excess as the cast of eccentrics perform amazing feats of strength, balance, danger, and unfathomable flexibility within mere feet of the audience surrounding the intimate stage.
The acts are amazing and carried out with precision with the performers serving as eye-candy for the ladies in the audience.
The main character Gazillionaire doesn’t hold his tongue back, taking cracks at every minority in the audience from Hispanics, African-Americans, Jews, homosexuals, and Republicans just to list a few. You name it, he will make fun of everyone – you would be sure that he is Borat’s brother.
The intimate setting of a few hundred seats is only a handful of rows deep, so every seat is close enough to feel like you are part of the action.
A highlight of the show is the casting of Angel Porrino, who features on the reality TV show “Holly’s World” as Holly Madison’s personal assistant/best friend.
Be warned, if you do sit in the front row, there is no way you will survive the show without being picked on.
Tickets start at $89 plus tax. Shows are held Wednesday through Sunday at 8 pm and 10 pm.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.AbsintheVegas.com.
Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill
After a day at the pool or exploring the strip, there are hundreds of restaurants to choose from.
Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill is one worth trying for its great atmosphere and top food to match.
It opened at Caesar’s Palace in December, which follows the opening of Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas last May.
The neighborhood restaurant conceptualized by the host of “Hell’s Kitchen” and “MasterChef” provides an English pub experience.
The grill section of the restaurant features a relaxed and friendly setting with dishes including New Zealand red snapper, lamb T-bone, whole brick pressed Cornish chicken, and dry aged 30 oz. bone-in beef rib eye.
The pub section features elevated British pub food in a comfortable and lively setting showing sporting events from across the world on state of the art entertainment systems.
Paying homage to a true pub, the restaurant features a wide selection of craft and microbrews from around the world, offering beer enthusiasts 24 beers on tap in addition to 63 bottled beers, which you can browse on an iPad at your table (as well as cocktails and the wine list).
With an eye towards dishes that pair well with beer, the pub menu includes English ale onion soup, shepherd’s pie, a selection of sausages, fried egg sandwiches, and the classic pub fish and chips.
There are also some of Ramsay’s favorites like bone-in beef rib-eye prepared on a wood-burning grill and the mustard-basted hanger steak served up with red onion puree and Stilton cheese, which is all part of a rustic menu that will change seasonally.
The restaurant is open daily for lunch from 11 am to 3 pm; dinner is served 3 pm to close.
For more information, visit www.caesarspalace.com and click on ‘restaurants.’
