Vacations Blog

The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas.

Looking for a certain je ne sais quoi for your next Las Vegas vacation? Luckily the era of themed resorts added a little French to the center of the Las Vegas Strip. Whether planning a risqué weekend with a partner or a rendezvous with family and friends, the centerpiece of a French inspired vacation is Paris Las Vegas. The resort, along with a variety of French restaurants and stage productions on The Strip, offer vacationers who can’t afford a trip to Paris a taste of the famed City of Light with the added excitement of Sin City, of course.

Upon arrival at the 2,915 room Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino the essence of Paris is overwhelming apparent as the front facade of the elaborate and luxurious structure is designed to emulate elements of the Paris Opera House and the Louvre. Its architecture also incorporates many of the famous sights of Paris, including a 540-foot tall replica of the Eiffel Tower, now a signature of the LasVegas Skyline, a neon sign in the shape of the Montgolfier balloon, a two-thirds size Arc de Triomphe and a La Fontaine des Mers. This picturesque resort is sure to make any vacationer utter “c’est magnifique!”

The Eiffel Tower
Start your vacation on a high note with a trip up the Eiffel Tower. Don’t forget your camera because the observation deck provides extraordinary views up and down the Las Vegas Strip and a 360° panorama of the entire Las Vegas Valley.

Tickets may be purchased at the Eiffel Tower Box Office located inside the casino. The cost is $10 for adults; $7 for seniors 65 and older and children 6-12; free for children younger than 5. From 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., when the Las Vegas Strip lights up, admission is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children. Family packages (two adults and two children) are available for $30 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Las Vegas Strip north from the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas

A Culinary Adventure
If you’re like me, you’re really into food. Paris Las Vegas’ restaurants turn vacationers into the bon vivant with an offering of everything from the classical French cuisine to the Pan Asian Parisian.

Popular for its al fresco dining, with an up close view of the impressive Fountains of Bellagio, Mon Ami Gabi French Bistro offers a simplistic French menu with everything from traditional Hors D’Oeuvres to Steak Frites. The restaurant’s desserts, including profiteroles and crème brûlée, are awe inspiring. A children’s menu offers a number of kid-friendly meals, including macaroni and cheese and burgers.

Reservations at Mon Ami Gabi are highly recommended for indoor seating. Unfortunately, seats on the patio are first-come, first-serve. Since they are highly sought by guests, a request may result in a long wait as guest tend to stay a while. Of course, who can blame them for enjoying a café au lait and the stunning view after their meal?

Another great restaurant with al fresco dining is Ah Sin, offering an Asian Fusion menu with a diverse collection of flavors and cooking techniques from the Pacific Rim. Reservations are recommended for both patio and indoor dining.

You’ll say “bon appetite” as you make a toast to the dazzling lights 100 feet below your table at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Located on the 11th floor of the iconic structure, the restaurant is fine dining with view. The restaurant serves the most acclaimed French cuisine available in the city, including a flawlessly seasoned lamb and foie gras that’s unrivaled. To ensure a seat with the best view, reservations are required.

It’s all about great food and ambiance at the two-story, art deco inspired Les Artistes Steakhouse. The restaurant’s à la carte menu offers a variety of specialties, including grilled rack of lamb, a 50-ounce porterhouse steak, and roasted whole Maine lobster and tasty poultry dishes. Reservations at Les Artiste Steakhouse are recommended.

In all, Paris Las Vegas offers 11 dining options, from the low-cost, no-frills to the epicurean experience. There are also a variety of French restaurants in the Las Vegas resort corridor, including Daniel Boulud Brasserie at Wynn, Alizé at the Palms, Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay, Joël Robuchon at the Mansion at MGM Grand, Le Cirque at Bellagio, and finally the famous Pamplemousse, located at 400 E. Sahara Avenue.

No matter your appetite, you’re sure to find the right French meal for the occasion.

Bring on the Night
After the sun sets behind the Spring Mountains to the west and the neon glows, Paris Las Vegas’ nighttime establishments come to life. From the ultra-chic Risqué Nightclub, to the charming Le Cabaret lounge to the lively Napoleon’s Bar, guests are sure to find the right setting for an all night vacation celebration.

Paris Las Vegas’ location at the center of the LasVegas Strip also provides for easy travel to city’s most popular nightclubs, including Pure at Caesar’s Palace, LAX at Luxor, Tao at the Venetian and Tryst at Wynn. Take a taxi, limo, the Las Vegas Monorail or a walk along the Strip to find your ultimate party spot.

And who can forget the shows of Cirque du Soleil. Okay, the shows are not a product of France, but Canada’s Quebec province, so they are still essentially French. There are now six Cirque du Soleil shows at various hotels in Las Vegas: O at Bellagio, Mystere at Treasure Island, Ka at MGM Grand, Zumanity at New York-New York, Love at the Mirage and the newest show, Criss Angel’s Believe. Tickets for these shows are expensive, but well worth the money.

From the street, the 540-foot Eiffel Tower extends into the clouds.

The Spa Treatment
After a night out, a spa treatment at Paris Las Vegas’ Spa by Mandara provides the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation. Massages and facials, as well as other beautification packages are available. For folks not willing to skip their fitness routine, the spa also features a fully equipped fitness center, personal training and steam and saunas rooms.

If a romantic getaway to the Dallas area is on your calendar, then this is the article for you.  Dallas is full of romance and passion, if you know where to look for it (and you have the right person with you). There are plenty of places to stay, but here are a few unique ones.

Hotel ZaZa, a magical, luxurious boutique hotel, offers an expensive but one of a kind romance package with a suite, half terrace, whirlpool bath, house champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, a couples massage and manicure or pedicure, dinner for two at Dragonfly with VIP seating, breakfast served in suite and complimentary covered, secure valet parking.  Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?

Another wonderfully romantic place to stay is the Hotel St. Germain, an old-fashioned hotel with European décor and genuine French and Creole antiques.  They have plenty of great ideas for love birds, such as a lover’s treasure hunt, scented bath with rose petals and rose petal turndown service.  Every evening the Parisian Champagne Bar service is offered, exuding a sophisticated ambiance and they offer amazing arrays of chocolate in their boutique.

A couple of great restaurants to start off your romantic evening are Nana and The Grape.  Nana Restaurant is on the 27th floor of the Hilton Anatole building in downtown Dallas with a spectacular view of the city.  They offer live jazz music nightly and an enlarged dance floor.  With critically acclaimed food, a priceless Asian art collection and an elegant interior, this is an experience that will feed your senses.  The Grape Restaurant is a Dallas original neighborhood wine bistro inspired by New York and European bistros and wine bars.  Quality food and wine at affordable prices continue the long-standing tradition and charm of this local favorite.

Now that you have a place to stay and eat, you need the option of romantic things to do.  How about a ride on the McKinney Avenue Trolley where the streetcar route allows couples to explore Uptown where there are outstanding theaters, historical tours, sidewalk cages, art galleries and antique stores full of unexpected treasures, museums and live music venues.  Another nice idea is a leisurely stroll through the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 66 acres of gardens and fountains with a view of the lake and the downtown Dallas skyline. It’s a popular spot for outdoor concerts, picnics, and photography sessions.  The perfect place for private conversations and I bet you could even get someone to take a picture of you two for the scrapbook.

Romance starts with the hotel.  We first discovered Madrona Manor on a bike ride through the valley and I always thought it would make a great place to celebrate an anniversary or promote romance. It offers perfectly landscaped grounds, colorful flower border along manicured lawns, beautifully appointed rooms and the service to match.  It also offers a world class & romantic dining experience.

We arrived on Friday night for the weekend, had breakfast in the town of Healdsburg the next day, shopped a bit around the town square, bought a picnic lunch and rented two bikes to tour the wineries and get some exercise.  The ride is easy on relatively flat roads, there are few cars and the wineries are within a short ride from each other.  We then returned to the hotel for a lazy afternoon and then went to dinner at Madrona Manor.  A perfect day. The next day we toured a few more wineries, picnicked along the river and then drove back to the bay area.

If you wish to go wine tasting, there are too many wineries to recommend.  I would suggest you ask the desk staff to recommend a few wineries.  Personally, we like the family vineyards of  Bella and  Zichichi.

Plan your next romantic getaway in Healdsburg and the Dry Creek Valley. It offers sunny skies, great food, flavorful wine and a beautiful hotel to make it  memorable.