Once a desert gambling town with little to offer for luxury travelers, Las Vegas is now one of the world’s best luxury destinations, with gourmet dining, over-the-top resorts, and relaxing spas. There’s no better time for a luxurious escape there than during the Autumn months when you can luxuriate by the pool, spend your time being pampered at the spa, enjoy fine dining, sip great cocktails, and catch a show—all in air-conditioned comfort. Here are my favorite ways to savor the fall in Las Vegas.

Book a Suite View in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has plenty of wow moments with its glittering lights and non-stop action. I find the best wow moments are views of The Strip—that legendary 4-mile-long drive lined with some of the world’s most elaborate themed hotels and casinos. Nothing is better than combining those views with a luxury hotel suite in Las Vegas. One of our favorite suites with a view of the Las Vegas Strip was the Corner Suite we had in ARIA’s Tower Suites.

ARIA exterior. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

We kicked off the experience when our driver met us at baggage claim at the Las Vegas airport. He gathered our bags, and then we slipped into the complimentary limo and headed out for ARIA Resort & Casino where we checked in at the exclusive Tower Suites Lounge. It makes you feel “special” to have the concierge escort you past the other waiting hotel guests and into the lounge.

Our ARIA corner suite tower room was just less than 1,000 square feet with nonstop views over The Strip. The very best part was the massive corner bathtub with views all the way across Las Vegas.

ARIA Corner Suite. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

Savor Meals of a Lifetime in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one place where you can get decadent meals. I will confess that I almost always eat too much in Las Vegas, but I just tell myself that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” and I think that goes for calories!

Discover a Las Vegas Steakhouse

One of my favorite foods is truffles. Both the chocolate kind and the savory kind. And you can get plenty of both in Las Vegas. I fell in love with the Truffle Parm Chips at Delmonico Steakhouse inside the Venetian Las Vegas. Chef Emeril Lagasse’s take on a great American steakhouse serves up these amazing chips—which I nibbled on throughout my entire meal and really enjoyed with my champagne—but is also known for its steaks.

Truffle Parm Chips at Delmonico Steakhouse Bar in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy Delmonico Steakhouse

I recommend that you start with the apple cured Kurobuta bone-in bacon and Emeril’s New Orleans barbecue shrimp. These are signature Emeril flavors and they pair perfectly with those parm chips.

Bone-in Bacon at Delmonico Steakhouse. Photo courtesy Delmonico Steakhouse

The steaks are dry-aged on the premises. While the ribeye is spectacular, I would suggest the chateaubriand for two that is carved tableside.

Delmonico Ribeye. Photo courtesy Delmonico Steakhouse Las Vegas

French Food in Las Vegas

I love French food and wine. I’ve had two amazing French dinners in Las Vegas, one at the more casual BARDOT Brasserie by Michael Mina, located in ARIA and the other at Restaurant Guy Savoy at MGM Resorts. BARDOT Brasserie doesn’t serve up fancy French food. Instead, it specializes in bold, country French food. Restaurant Guy Savoy, on the other hand, focuses on a high-end, Parisian dining experience. Both are exceptional dining opportunities.

BARDOT Brasserie at ARIA. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

Dinner at BARDOT Brasseries starts with a champagne cart. How can you go wrong when you start with options from a champagne cart? The meal included bread that took me back to French cafés, sauces that would make a French chef swoon, and meats cooked to perfection—the oak-smoked pork chop with bacon lardons was exquisite. The dessert—described as a chocolate macaron—is France meets Vegas in a big way. This version of a macaron, traditionally delicate little French pastries, is a massive chocolate cookie filled with dark chocolate mousse. Pour the dark chocolate ganache over the top and indulge! There’s plenty to share for two, and a great way to start a Las Vegas fall escape.

Macaron at BARDOT Brasserie. Photo courtesy MGM Grand

One of my top moments of all time in Las Vegas was dining at Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Even though the restaurant serves up classic French dishes and some cutting-edge French cuisine, it doesn’t feel intimidating.

Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Photo courtesy Caesars Palace

While dinner in the dining room is amazing, I also suggest trying the Caviar Room in the lounge with its exclusive menu of unique caviar dishes. You can either order individual items and drinks or choose the tasting menu that includes oysters, caviar, and a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée.

Flavors of Caviar at Restaurant Guy Savoy. Photo courtesy Caesars Las Vegas

My favorite dish was called octopus-like a “Pot au Feu”. This goes down as not just one of my favorite tastes with tender octopus and Royal Osetra caviar but is super creative. Cold steam creates a beautiful display making it a fun and playful dish—completely different from the image most people have of traditional French cuisine.

Octopus-like a “Pot au Feu” with cold steam at Restaurant Guy Savoy. Photo courtesy Caesars Las Vegas

How about dinner and drinks with a view? If you really want to soak up those Las Vegas lights, head to Delano Las Vegas for dinner and cocktails. Start the evening at Rivea on the 64th floor of Delano. Chef Alain Ducasse has other locations of his lovely Rivea in St. Tropez and London. The meals here at the Las Vegas restaurant are a modern, international take on Mediterranean flavors—transporting me to one of my favorite places in the world—Provence.

The pasta at Rivea is homemade and the sauces velvety smooth, true to the French style. We started off with little treasures called barbajuan—small fritters stuffed with spinach and ricotta. My lamb entrée was cooked to perfection. Tastes were fresh and service impeccable. But the setting may even be better than the food if that is even possible. There are 180-degree views of the Las Vegas Strip, creating one of my most unforgettable wow moments.

Rivea Dining Room. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

Skyfall Lounge is adjacent to Rivea and an ideal place to sip a pre-dinner drink while watching the sunset or cap off the night with drinks on the patio. DJs spin tunes almost every evening starting at 9 p.m.

Outdoor Patio at Skyfall Lounge. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

The drinks are a great fit for the magnificent views, with a cocktail menu that gives a nod to classic cocktails but with a modern twist. The Compass Course is a delicious and refreshing sip with vodka, watermelon, lillet blanc, lemon juice, mint, and seltzer. My husband is a bourbon fan, so he found the Cowboy Hunting to be intriguing, with a blend of Elijah Craig 12-year bourbon, amaretto, lemon juice, and a spicy Thai chili. Cheers to fall escapes in Las Vegas!

Daytime Eating in Las Vegas

Of course, there are plenty of places ideal for breakfast and lunch. I love brunch and, since folks always seem to get a late start while in Vegas, there are some great options for brunch in Las Vegas.

One of my favorite brunch spots is Giada, the first and only restaurant of celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis. Giada is located inside The Cromwell and serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. I recommend the tasting menu that includes a pastry basket, antipasti platter, choice of entree (try the salmon cake Benedict), and dessert. The Limoncello Souffle with Buttermilk Gelato is my personal favorite. I thought I was full, but this was so light, fluffy and delicious, I couldn’t resist! That hot, perfectly cooked center, with the ice cream added, was about as close to perfection as you get.

Limoncello Souffle with Buttermilk Gelato at Giada. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

The restaurant is charming, which I find refreshing for celebrity chef establishments and for Las Vegas. It’s not about glitz, or glitter or being big, although, with large windows that open up to The Strip, you do end up with some pretty big views. The menu is undeniably Giada—family-style, Italian but with California influences. Of course, in pure Vegas style, there are limitless La Marca Mimosas available as well.

Inside Giada at Delano Las Vegas. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

So, what about lunch? Only in the minds of Hollywood producers—or Las Vegas developers—is it possible to feel as if you’re dining on the banks of the Seine in the middle of the Nevada desert. This comes to life, along with great bites and sips, when you enjoy lunch at Lago by Julian Serrano. Chef Serrano opened this fine dining restaurant for dinner, but lunches are equally popular. We enjoyed sipping drinks and relaxing, with a nearly life-size replica of the Eiffel Tower on one side and the Las Vegas Strip on the other. forgetting there was a real world.

Our table was situated along the Fountains of Bellagio, the ideal spot for toasting our stay in Las Vegas. We nibbled on some of the signature Lago dishes, such as ahi tuna crudo with citrus and housemade agnolotti pasta stuffed with veal ricotta and served with roasted garlic porcini.

Drinks at Lago by Julian Serrano with Strip Views. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Dessert Time with a Twist

If you’re looking for a local chocolate experience, paired with views to remember, climb aboard the High Roller at The LINQ. At an amazing 550 feet above the Las Vegas Strip, it is the world’s tallest observation wheel and the perfect spot for a pretty impressive chocolate experience. I was impressed with the handcrafted Ethel M Chocolates and wine pairing as I slowly revolved around The LINQ and gazed out over the Vegas lights. The chocolate experience—definitely a wow moment in this city that serves up plenty of wow moments—lasts 30 minutes and is available Thursdays from 5 to 8:30 pm.

Chocolate Tasting on the High Roller. Photo courtesy Vox Solid Communications

Escape to the Spa During Fall in Las Vegas

I visit spas around the world and one of the most relaxing and unique of those was in Las Vegas at BATHHOUSE Spa at Delano Las Vegas. Delano, tucked inside Mandalay Bay, is an inviting quiet spot away from the glitz and glamour of Vegas.

BATHHOUSE Spa at Delano Las Vegas. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

The Zen vibe was so inviting that I didn’t want to leave after my massage. And you really don’t have to—at least not for the day. If you book a massage, you can spend all day at the spa—relaxing in the redwood sauna, trying the hot and cold plunge pools, soaking in the hot whirlpool, and refreshing in the eucalyptus steam room. Personally, I enjoyed simply napping in the quiet sanctuary.

You won’t remember that The Strip is outside once you enter the oasis of Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. I suggest booking a massage for both of you in this luxurious sanctuary.

Roman Baths at Qua Baths at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Photo courtesy Caesars Entertainment

Qua is built around the theme of the ancient Roman baths and it provides a soothing escape. I recommend booking the Twin Souls Couples Massage, where you’ll relax in your own private suite. Treatments include a body scrub, massage with oils that you select for each other, and breathwork. If you’re looking to start or expand your family, the “Goddess of Willendorf” will bless you with fertility and abundance.

Another favorite escape is the spa at Bellagio Las Vegas. I enjoy visiting this spa especially when I’m staying at ARIA. You can hop on the free tram at ARIA for a day of spa and pampering without ever getting overheated.

Pedicure Area at the Salon at Bellagio. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

Take a few minutes to amble through the gorgeous Bellagio Conservatory, then make your way to the Spa, Salon and Fitness Center. The mani/pedi chairs are super comfy and I appreciate that each area is draped for privacy, making it easy to relax. There are a variety of services, but there are always seasonal specials that let you sit back, relax, and sip a specialty cocktail while you are pampered.

Discover Las Vegas Entertainment this Fall

Las Vegas is a town of constant entertainment and it’s known for the breathtaking stage shows. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience several shows in Las Vegas.

I have enjoyed a number of the Cirque du Soleil performances over the years and they all provide some memorable “wow moments”. I really enjoyed “O” at Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Zumanity at New York New York (this one is for adults only and includes erotic content), and Michael Jackson: ONE at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

Michael Jackson ONE. Photo courtesy Cirque du Soleil

I think my favorite performance was La Rêve – The Dream at Wynn Las Vegas. You have a chance to transport yourself to another world during this performance in the round.

La Rêve – The Dream at Wynn Las Vegas. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

My husband and I booked the “Indulgence Package” for La Rêve, which included champagne, chocolates, a souvenir program and seats with monitors that showed us backstage and up-close views throughout the performance.

I really enjoyed the unique La Rêve show, watching the drama unfold on the massive pool that serves as the stage for the domed theater. Every seat in the theater is good. We were both mesmerized by all of the colors, acrobatics, music, and lights throughout the show.

There’s nothing quite so romantic in Vegas as a private gondola ride through the Grand Canal at The Venetian. You can select either indoor or outdoor rides, depending on the weather, but my favorites are the indoor rides—it transports you to Venice.

Gondolas at The Venetian. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Las Vegas has one of the country’s most unique histories as it relates to organized crime—the Mob. Now you will have a chance to experience that unusual history at The Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. Located in a restored 1933 former courthouse and post office building, this interactive experience gives you artifacts, photos, and videos from both The Mob and law enforcement.

The newest feature is The Underground at The Mob Museum. Travel back to the Prohibition era when speakeasies were the place to go for forbidden spirits. This is the ideal place to get a feel for the era and enjoy some hand-crafted cocktails. You can enjoy the Distillery exhibit along with it, which tells the stories of those long-ago bootleggers and rum runners—and the Feds who spent a career trying to track them down.

Mob Museum in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy LVCVA

After you finish at The Mob Museum, you can get one last feel for that Las Vegas cocktail scene with a stop by Velveteen Rabbit in the Las Vegas Arts District. Owned by two sisters, this eclectic bar features boutique spirits, vintage design, and a cocktail menu that changes with each season.

Death Becomes Her is one of the custom seasonal cocktails at Velveteen Rabbit in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy Velveteen Rabbit

When You Go to Las Vegas This Fall

Las Vegas can be a dream destination and give you a chance to escape without needing your passport. There are so many ways to experience fall in Las Vegas, while the days are still warm and the nights are exciting! Be sure to visit Las Vegas online to discover what’s happening right now. You can also find more on Wander about visiting Las Vegas.