Dallas to Las Vegas for a Long Weekend

If you know me, you know that I am fully aware that my closest casino with a poker room is a 43 minute drive. This is valuable information!   A girl has to play a little poker now and then. 43 minutes is great for an afternoon Hold ’em Tournament, but what about a long weekend? If you are looking to escape DFW for a weekend of gambling, let’s go to Vegas!

DFW to Vegas for the weekend

Photo from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

My husband and I have been going to Las Vegas for years.   When we were first married 19 years ago, we were in graduate school in Southern California.   We didn’t have money for travel, but found that a quick drive to Vegas was cheap entertainment.   It cost nothing to walk around and gawk at the ever growing city.   We aren’t big gamblers, but love a spectacle and Las Vegas delivers that guaranteed every time.   We would find a cheap inexpensive hotel room and head to what was the largest arcade we had ever seen…remember, this was the early 90s!

Through the years we have returned regularly.   Thankfully, we weren’t seeking the cheapest room and could find a nice place to vacation.   The last 4 or 5 years have found us returning to what had become our favorite hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas.   Lake Las Vegas is a quiet little community with a cute town 20 miles from the strip.   It was a beautiful property with break-taking views, grand food and over-the-top service.

I say “was” with great sadness because it was closed last year. We have to find a new favorite place to stay. We have tried most the major hotels in town and on our next trip will try the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

images from American Express Travel

I can’t wait to try it.   I have heard really good things about the hotel from friends who have stayed there.   The crazy, over-the-top Vegas qualities seem to have a really modern design.

I checked into flight and hotel prices for the weekend of October 13-16, 2011 and this is what I found on American Express’ Pay with Points Travel website if purchased today:

• Flight for two (non-stop) from DFW to Las Vegas McCarran round trip
• 3 night stay at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in a Terrace Studio room
• Flight and hotel = $1,220.78 or 122,078 AmEx Membership Rewards Points

Photo courtesy of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

While in Las Vegas, you need to see a show.   We enjoyed LOVE by Cirque du Soleil.   It is a huge production with great music (obviously).

We also love to see quirky magicians and have a favorite magician, Mac King.   It is a family matinee show.   Mac is funny and very entertaining.

On my must see list for our next visit is O, also performed by Cirque du Soleil.

There are great restaurants in Las Vegas.   Too many to mention.   Choose a few to visit and eat yourself silly…that is usually our plan.

There is a ton do to in Vegas.   Each and every time we visit we find something new.

Go!

She is Dallas info:   I am working with American Express Membership Rewards to get the word out about using MR points for travel.   All opinions expressed are my own.   You can catch up on this Dallas travel series with where my readers told me to go and Holly recommends a trip to Vail.   American Express can be followed on Twitter as @AmericanExpress or on FB.