Vegas High ♠️❤️‍🔥🏩🎡🏰🎪

Today we made the smooth transfer from Palm Springs to Las Vegas aboard Southwest Airlines. Fantastic airline, by the way. Each passenger gets a little more legroom because they forfeit the higher-class seating cabins, and for a short flight it was perfect.

We departed from Palm Springs International Airport, formerly known as Sonny Bono Airport, named after Cher’s former husband and the much-loved former Mayor of Palm Springs. I found myself seated next to the lovely Jeanie, who was on her way home to Colorado after taking part in the Marilyn Monroe celebrations over the weekend. She was effervescent, friendly and great fun to chat with, making the short flight pass even quicker.

I rarely choose a window seat, but for a flight of just 39 minutes I thought I’d make an exception. It proved to be an excellent decision. Flying over the desert, the landscape looked remarkably like the surface of the moon, stretching endlessly beneath us. I was also fortunate enough to be seated on the right-hand side of the aircraft, giving me a spectacular first glimpse of the Las Vegas Strip in all its glory. Seeing it from the air only heightened the anticipation of seeing those famous lights after dark.

Our arrival at the iconic Flamingo was somewhat less glamorous. Mark summed up the check-in experience perfectly in a single word: chaotic. Guests were being corralled towards the reception desks like cattle at a country show. Thankfully, perseverance paid off and I was rewarded with a renovated Strip View room, exactly as requested. Complete with a flamingo lamp and floor-to-ceiling views, it felt as though the action of Las Vegas was unfolding right outside the picture window.

By this stage we were absolutely ravenous and set off in search of a buffet. Unfortunately, most had already finished lunch service, so we settled for Denny’s. It’s safe to say that one visit in a lifetime is probably enough for me! 🤮 It was satisfactory at best and certainly not the culinary highlight of the day.

Armed with our Strip Map, we tracked down a Happy Hour down at the LINQ Promenade and settled into the afternoon with a well-earned drink or two. There is something quite special about seeing famous hotels such as Excalibur and New York-New York again after 17 years. It’s a mixture of nostalgia and awe. They’re impressive during the day, but once darkness falls and the neon begins to glow, they transform into something entirely different.

To be honest, it almost brought a tear to my eye. This trip has been five months in the planning and, in many ways, thirty years in the dreaming. To see it all falling into place so beautifully was quite emotional. Las Vegas has always been my “Disneyland for adults” and it felt wonderful to be back.

Before heading to the RuPaul’s Drag Race Live show, I finally got to tick something off my American bucket list — my first In-N-Out Burger.

Service ✅

Value ✅

Taste 👅 ✅

I can absolutely see what all the fuss is about!

Then it was off to RuPaul’s Drag Race Live. The show exceeded expectations, packed with colour, energy, fabulous costumes and incredible movement. It was Vegas entertainment at its finest.

Afterwards I was far too wired to even think about sleep, so I decided to make a late-night pilgrimage to the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Standing there in front of such an iconic landmark genuinely sent spine-tingling chills through me.

From there I wandered back along the Strip, mixing walking with rides on the Deuce bus. What a brilliant way to experience Las Vegas. Like a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour, but with the city’s energy buzzing around you. The warm desert breeze was comforting, the bright lights dazzling, and everywhere I looked there was movement, colour and excitement.

Taking it all in — the neon, the music, the crowds and the sheer spectacle that Vegas is famous for — I couldn’t stop smiling.

What a brilliant first day in Las Vegas!Read more