During the 2024 summer, I took a weekend trip to Las Vegas (9/13/24 – 9/15/24).
I was meeting up with a mentor of mine and enjoying the city. Fine dining, whiskey, scotch, cigars, and great conversation.
The initial plan was to attend a cigar smoking event.
Unfortunately, the cigar event was canceled, but we just had our own cigar smoking event at a lounge in Caesars Palace.
This post has been in the to-do list way too long and should’ve been posted 2 months ago!
Taking some time during the thanksgiving holiday week and finally getting this done.
November 26, 2024 by Kazu Fujimoto
Flight
Took at Uber from home to LAX. The Uber ride was about 15 minutes. Check in was a breeze and hung around in the terminal, drank a club soda, and caught up on some work I had to do.
The flight back was also pretty straight forward. Uber’ed back from the hotel which took about 20 minutes or so. The weekend we went was an extremely busy weekend, with Formula, Sporting Events, Holidays, but the ride back wasn’t bad at all. Left in the afternoon and got to the airport at about 12 or so. Quick lunch at the airport terminal and some walking around at the airport before the flight.
Took an Uber Black from the Airport to home. Overall pretty smooth getting back. Made it in time just to be able to catch a quick steam room sesh at Equinox before it closes at 7 PM on Sunday evening. Best way to unwind after a weekend trip.
This was my first time flying Southwest and it was interesting to see how they board passengers. Boarding is split by lettered groups (A,B,C,D…) and seats are first come first serve. I tended to prefer the aisle seat so that I can have space and get out of my seat easily.
Hotel
Stayed at Marriot’s Grand Chateau, just a block off the strip. The Marriot’s Grand Chateau offers very comfortable guest room that makes you feel as if you were home, away from home. Very simple, sleek, and comfortable.
The Marriot’s Grand Chateau Hotel also comes with a rooftop pool and the SkyBar 38 cocktail lounge, which provides amazing views of the Las Vegas strip.
Great place to stay if you’re looking to stay close to the strip, but are looking for something a little more quiet.
No casinos at this hotel.
Things to do in Vegas
Vegas has much to offer – gambling, shooting, fine dining, cigar lounges, walking around, and tons of other stuff, but the former is what was mostly done on this trip.
Gambling
Similar to my Morongo Trip, initially played a little bit of roulette. I found that systematic gambling (playing the same numbers over a long period of time) vs. random numbers at chance is what works for me. Keep in mind, at the end of the day, the house always wins, no matter how much any of us try to make sense of it.
Shooting Range
Whether you’re into guns or never shot a gun, The Range 702 is a great place to experience the thrill of shooting machine guns. There’s something really powerful about the feeling of shooting guns.
Did the “Couples Therapy” experience which includes:
- Glock
- 1911
- Glock Roni
- MP5
- AK47
- M4
Solid rush of adrenaline for a few hours after. The staff was friendly and it’s a great experience for beginners or for those who have never shot a gun.
Walking Around the Strip in Vegas
Walking is one of my favorite things to do.
The strip on Vegas is a great place to walk with tons of sights like the Bellagio Water Fountain, vast arrangement of hotels, along with stellar people watching.
You won’t get bored walking around.
It’s a great way to get some exercise and enjoy what the city has to offer.
One of the more interesting sights to see were the Spiral Escalators inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
It was like a real life culmination of MC Escher’s work.
Cigar Lounge
Instead of The Cigar smoking event that my mentor and I were supposed to attend, we just had our own.
Monte Cristo Cigar Lounge located in Caesar’s palace provides premium cigar, whiskey, wine, and small plates in a contemporary environment.
Great place for business, networking, sports, or even dates.
I enjoyed 2 Arturo Fuente Reserva Don Carlos Cigars paired with a couple glasses of Yamazaki 12 year.
Restaurants
Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar – Las Vegas
My mentor and I had a very elegant evening over at Bavette’s Steakhouse located in the Park MGM Hotel.
We took an Uber ride from our hotel and was dropped off in front of the Park MGM lobby.
From there, it was a short 10 minute walk or so through the casino into the restaurant.
The restaurant had an artful blend of sophisticated French ambiance and the warmth of a traditional steakhouse.
For drinks we did three rounds consisting of Grand Rose Gosset Champagne, Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon, and finished with a glass of Macallan 12 year.
For food we had their fresh hand baked sourdough bread, signature mixed greens and apple salad (one of the best salads I’ve had in a long time), buttery mashed potatoes, and a petit Filet Mignon. Despite opting for the petit version, this dinner was more than enough to be filling.
It was a very elegant evening with great conversation.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re looking for a fun weekend, Vegas has it all. Pool parties, gambling, alcohol, smoking, fine dining, sightseeing, the list goes on. There’s a ton going on in Vegas that you won’t be bored. If you work too hard like I do then time to time you’ll need a break. From Los Angeles, it’s a pretty quick flight.
Traveling is pretty fun and should be done every so often to take a break from your existing surroundings and be around something new. The unfortunate thing is that traveling does get expensive, which is why you need to set yourself up financially.
Land a higher paying job, start a business, or do some investing – in fact, do all three!