I recently had the Privilege of joining a 5-night educational trip to Las Vegas hosted by JTA travel.
Our journey began with direct Virgin Atlantic flight from Manchester airport which provided a comfortable and convenient start to the trip. We spent the first 3 nights at the New York, New York Hotel & Casino, which offers an energetic atmosphere in the heart of Las Vegas strip. It’s Iconic New York skyline theme, lively casino, restaurants and excellent location make it a fantastic choice for couples, groups of friends and first-time visitors wanting to be close to the action.
The final two nights were spent at the Virgin Hotel Las Vegas, A stylish and contemporary hotel located just off the strip. The hotel provides a more relaxed environment while still offering easy access to all the city’s attractions. The rooms were spacious , contemporary and well designed , with comfortable beds, modern technology and thoughtful toucher that create a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere.
As part of our educational visit, we had the opportunity to inspect both Wynn Hotel Las Vegas and it’s sister property, Encore Las Vegas. The neighboring luxury hotels are renowned for their exceptional service, elegant design and premium guest experience. During this inspection, we explored a selection of the spacious guest rooms and suites, which future contemporary décor, floor to ceiling windows and high-end amenities. We enjoyed lunch at Charlies sports bar, located within the Wynn hotel this has more than 20 LED screens, immersive sounds and an electric atmosphere showing live sporting events.
Throughout the trip, we experienced many of Las Vegas’ world-famous attractions. The highlight of the trip for me was the breathtaking night-time helicopter flight over the Las Vegas strip, offering spectacular view of the city’s famous illuminated skylines. It was an unforgettable experience and one that would make a memorable addition to any special occasion or itinerary.
We also visited the incredible Sphere where we watched the Wizard of OZ. The Sphere’s innovative technology and immersive entertainment have created one of the city’s newest must-see attractions.
A gondola ride through the Venetian, showcasing the hotel’s stunning architecture and attention to detail while offering a taste of Venice whilst in the heart of Nevada.
Entertainment is one of Las Vegas’ biggest draws, and we were fortunate enough to experience performances by Cirque Du Soleil as well as New Kids on the Block with their Vegas residency for 2026.
We hopped on the hop on hop off bus which is a great way of ticketing many of the most iconic sites Las Vegas has to offer. No visit to Las Vegas would be complete without stopping at the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
One evening we also spent time exploring the vibrant Fremont street experience in Downtown Las Vegas, where we also joined the Lip-smacking downtown foodie tour. This was an excellent way to discover the city’s culinary scene while learning about the history and character of old last Vegas, demonstrating that the destination offers far more than casinos alone.
The last evening, we dinned at Carmines restaurant located in Ceasers palace, a family style Italian restaurant which offers huge portions each catering for four people and the food was out of this world. After dinner we headed to the world-famous Bellagio Fountains. The spectacular display combines beautifully-cheographed water jets, music and lighting, creating a captivating performance that changed throughout the day and evening. Watching the fountains come to life against the backdrop of the Bellagio really was magical and was the perfect end to the most amazing trip.
I am beyond grateful to JTA for inviting me to experience this incredible destination firsthand. I have made memories to last a lifetime and found my new favourite holiday destination!
