…and one with one leg!
When I was 8 my mums took me and my brother (9) to Venice. Everyone asked why they’d travel somewhere more fitting for romantic adults, but I remember it being one of our best trips, simply wandering the alleyways and canals, spending hours feeding the pigeons in St Mark’s Square.
Likewise, taking two teenagers to Las Vegas raised some questions. But again, it was one of my favourite trips. We continued the ‘questionable travel’ Venice theme by staying in The Venetian, and having visited every single hotel on the strip, I can categorically say The Venetian is the best hotel in Las Vegas.
The Venetian was so plush. I honestly felt like a Queen wandering the hallways and open spaces.
As an amputee you have to have the confidence to walk long distances on your leg as the hotel is massive. They do have mobility scooters for hire at the concierge desk, and many people, including lots of perfectly fit men on stag dos, can be seen whizzing around the casinos on them. But if you’re shattered after a long day and can’t face the walk to a restaurant, I highly recommend the room service. Absolutely delicious, and massive portion sizes!
A good few hours can be spent in most hotels as each one is so different. Obviously they all have the casinos but there are some incredible attractions for teenagers dotted around the strip. For us in the Venetian it was the Gondola ride. There’s an indoor and outdoor canal, and even though it’s expensive you can’t come to The Venetian and not go on a gondola. You pass the rialto bridge and The Campanile di San Marco, and it’s just so much fun in a really bizarre way!
Another hotel worth a visit is the New York New York where my brother went on the Big Apple Rollercoaster – it was 42 degrees and I didn’t want my leg flying off mid loop! (That’s my excuse anyway!)
Here’s a great link to other rides on the strip: Rollercoasters in Las Vegas. And here’s a fantastic link of things to do in Las Vegas with kids: Las Vegas for families. My video of us walking the strip should give you a flavour of how similar the trip was to Venice, simply wandering around without a care in the world, taking in the sights and marvelling at what an incredible place Las Vegas truly is.
There was absolutely no issue with children and teenagers walking through the casinos, the only rule was that we weren’t allowed to ‘loiter.’ However there didn’t seem to be anyone really checking for loiterers so I managed to have the odd quick go on the 1 dollar machines and roulette. Fun for about two minutes until my 5 dollars ran out and that was my gambling allowance spent.
The absolute best thing you have to do in Las Vegas is a trip to the Grand Canyon. We went with Papillon as they’re the only company who have an agreement with the Hualapai Indian tribe who own the land at Grand Canyon West, meaning they’ll let your helicopter land in the basin and a member of the tribe will take you on a pontoon boat down the Colorado River. This video doesn’t do it justice, but it will give an idea of just how magical the whole experience was.
Papillon also do the helicopter rides down the Vegas strip. Definitely book the nighttime flight and only book the 15 minute trip – again truly magical.
When I think about where I was this time last year I can’t quite believe the adventures I’m currently having. Travel is my favourite thing to do. Meeting new people. Seeing new sights. Living life to the absolute max.
Vegas was wild. It’s so much more than gambling and I’d highly recommend to absolutely everybody of all ages!
