Wanderlust: Las Vegas

Introducing guest blogger and travel journalist Madhu Puri

Even if you rarely read gossip rags, it’s likely you’ve come across an image of Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian tabletop dancing at one of Vegas’ many clubs. For my one and only bachelorette party this past weekend, I decided to channel the celebutantes and see for myself what Vegas, beyond the gaming tables and Cirque shows, is all about.

Much more a spa-on-the-beach kind of gal, this was me venturing into my last days of singledom with a “when in Rome” mentality. You only get married once right? (At least we all hope so). Staying at The Palazzo, the centrally located sister hotel to Strip standby, The Venetian, afforded us easy access to the town’s best clubs. We started our first night out at Tao Beach, located on the hotels’ property. The sprawling four-floor nightclub’s Asian aesthetic is dark, exotic and Zen in contrast to all the activity happening within. It took two elevator rides to reach our reserved cabana, but once there, it all made sense. Partying with palm trees, a pool and a bevy of good-looking people all around you definitely has its perks. Not to mention, the cabana afforded a private perch from where we could people watch and maintain that feeling of exclusivity. The best part, when it was time to leave, home was just another elevator ride away.

XS Party Scene – Photographed by Barbara Kraft

Our daytime excursion was into the Vegas pool party scene. Having already got our feet wet at Tao, we opted for something smaller and tamer. Azure, The Palazzo’s pool club, was the perfect balance of party and pampering (minus the unexplained morning techno music that really didn’t jive with our hangover-ridden selves). We tried the cabana here, a light, airy room with walls, where our smiling waitress brought us whatever we craved and where a flatscreen even allowed us the luxury of keeping track of the Derby, which we all had bet on. At night, we headed to two more top spots, LAVO, a “restauclub” with delicious Italian food, and XS, where another gorgeous pool scene awaited. Located in the Encore at The Wynn hotel, just next door to The Palazzo, XS was gilt, slick, classy and buzzing with people worth getting to know. It’s enormity and indoor/outdoor space made for one singular experience. A club girl, I am not, but if I had to do it all over again, poolside clubbing in the desert is one perfect way to party.

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