Recently, I had the great pleasure of being a guest at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino for three eventful nights and four days! Representing BELLO Magazine, I embarked on my journey to The City That Never Sleeps on an early Thursday morning…The sun was getting hotter and the buildings were getting taller, more extravagant…Finally, I was here!

Making my way down E Elvis Presley Blvd and onto Paradise Road, there was no way I could miss the entrance as its grand sign hovered over the hotel and city. Greeted with a warm welcome at the valet and much needed AC in the lobby, I could not wait to get to my room. The man who checked us in had a great sense of humor and immediately made us feel right at home. To my surprise, in my room there were little goodies set up on the desk including a very cute stuffed animal which I would soon discover is Sir Winston of Westgate, the hotel’s mascot.

Having a little downtime before the welcome dinner, I ventured down to the lobby where I discovered a variety of stores that offered souvenirs, crystals, clothes, and more! You could hear the slot machines in the background and people screaming as they counted their wins and losses. An everlasting abundance of sound and movement, you were never alone… Next thing I knew, it was dinner time. After all, there are so many options when it comes to  Westgate’s Las Vegas dining. From fine dining to fast food, whatever you are craving, they have!

We met in front of the Benihana which is located in the Casino (oh yes, right there!) and were escorted to the private room where two chefs would give us the infamous cooking show! The appetizers were just a preview of what was to come. Of course, the chef had our hearts as he cracked jokes, turned the food into shapes, and of course, the jumping shrimp! Bellies full and smiles bright, everyone had a chance to get to know each other a little more and off to Karaoke, we went!

This was no ordinary karaoke. Named “Super Karaoke” located in the Super Book, if you were singing, you were also projected onto the big screen for everyone to see, and hear you! * Cue celebration music * What a welcome! Couldn’t wait to see what the next day would hold…

As we all gathered around the Elvis Presley statue located in the main lobby, next on the agenda was a visit of the beautiful Sky Villas located on the very top floor. Luckily, we had a great guide who brought the tour to life with his wit and charisma, VP of Public & Communication Relations, Gordon Prouty! Transported to Italy and France, it felt as though I were a queen entering her Château. For anyone looking for a luxury getaway, definitely take a look at these villas which include multiple rooms, dining areas, private pools, unbelievable views, and more! And the splendor continued as we made our way to a backstage experience like no other of The International Theater.

Back in the day, the Hotel’s theater was where Elvis Presley would perform and we had the opportunity to retrace his steps before getting on stage! Even the elevator remained the same one from back then…Talk about going back to the future! Standing there, looking out to the empty crowd, you could feel the history whispering,… And currently, continuing the line of great talents, Barry Manilow can be seen performing there throughout 2021! And speaking of performances…. We were in for not one but two amazing ones!

After strolling through Old Town and getting some rest before the second big night, what came next was something I had not seen in so long: a magic show! The beautiful and talented Jen Kramer put on a great show filled with magic, laughter, and of course, audience participation! It truly was “The Magic of Jen Kramer”! Following the show, we had a family size table waiting for us at the infamous Italian restaurant, “Fresco Italiano.”

As the waiters brought us almost everything on the menu, every bite burst of flavors. Our waiter, Michael Baker, brought the dinner to life as he sang classics in an angelic voice. The whole restaurant was filled with cheer, laughter, and song making it a very unique dining experience. It was clear that at Westgate Vegas, everyone feels like family from the staff to visitors. Bellies full, as we made our way back to the casino there was a live band taking us back! And the fun continued!

Waking up Saturday morning was met with great anticipation as not only did we have a cabana waiting for us by the pool… I also had my massage scheduled for that afternoon! Music blasting, water splashing, and drinks coming, we soaked up the hot summer sun while also enjoying fresh fruit and a quick bite. Serenity Spa is located about 200 feet from the pool which made my travel quick and easy! With a warm welcome, I got ready for my massage which was so refreshing! I walked out of there a whole new person!

I couldn’t believe it was already our last day of the trip… And oh boy did we end with a bang! The last restaurant experience was at Edge Steakhouse which exceeded all expectations. Steak, truffle fries,  mac and cheese, wine… You name it, they had it and it was delicious! All those years of dinner etiquette definitely came in handy. Thanks, mom! Oh, how could I forget! The desserts there will also blow you away…and my favorite, the cheesecake!

After dinner, it was time to get dancing with the “Soul of Motown.” A high-energy concert-style musical tribute show honoring Motown legends such as The Temptations, The Platters, The Drifters, Smokey Robinson and so much more! Bringing together humor, passion, and amazing performances, you won’t want to miss this!

Staying at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, was definitely an experience to remember!  If you are looking to vacation in sin city make sure to check out Westgate’s Vegas hotel deals. Their rates are some of the best in Vegas and will leave you wanting more vacation days! 

Special Thanks to The Zimmerman Agency for putting together such a beautiful weekend and to Westgate for hosting us!

Publication BELLOmag @bellomag
Written By Alexandra Bonnet @alexbonnetwrites
Photo Courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort @westgatevegas @westgateresorts
Special Thanks To The Zimmerman Agency @thezimmermanagency