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    Limo Rides, Celebrity Restaurants And 12 Other Fun Ways To Live Like A VIP In Las Vegas

    What happens in Vegas... winds up on BuzzFeed for everyone to read.

    Kyle Richmond
    by Kyle Richmond

    BuzzFeed Staff

    If you've ever been to Las Vegas you'll know it's the city of sin and excess. It's pretty much a given you'll leave dehydrated, over stimulated, and probably a little broke.

    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed

    And since we're in a cost of living crisis, you might think blowing a bunch of money in Vegas is not something you can really afford right now... and you'd be right.

    IFC/Giphy / Via giphy.com

    But if you've ever needed a sign that life is too short not to live like a VIP in Vegas – this is it.

    a sign outside stanton social prime that says invited guests
    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed

    Look... it's an actual sign.

    Recently, I took a trip to Vegas on a fact-finding mission (in the name of science) to find out which VIP experiences are worth your time and hard earned money. Because you may have done all of those classic Vegas things before, but what if you had unlimited funds and got to live like a true VIP for a couple of days? Here are some of my tips to upgrade your Vegas experience:

    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed

    Editor's Note: BuzzFeed was provided this trip free of charge; however, we were under no obligation to give a positive review.

    1. Before you even get there – upgrade your seat on the airplane.

    a photo of a first class airplane ride with a stick figure on top of it
    Air Canada / Getty Images / Via mraircanada.mediaroom.com

    You can be a real VIP by paying for first class or business fare. Some airlines will even let you bid on an upgrade closer to departure. Me? I just chose a preferred seat that gave me a bit more leg room. I'm a simple man.

    2. When you land, upgrade your ground transportation to a limousine!

    pov view of the author sitting in a limo
    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed

    The Vegas strip is a stones throw from the airport, so it won't cost you an arm and a leg to be whisked away to your hotel like a VIP (plus if you split with friends, it'll be even cheaper). Pro Tip: You'll likely get a driver that'll meet you at baggage claim with your name on a sign, which is very VIP. 

    3. Check into your hotel early for a nominal fee.

    Warner Bros./Giphy / Via giphy.com, Kyle Richmond/BuzzFeed

    Depending on when you land, checking in before 3pm is worth it. You'll need to pay a small fee ranging anywhere between $20-40 bucks, but it gets you on the road to vacay even sooner.

    Or simply drop your bags off with the valet and then call down to have them delivered to your room after 3pm. All it'll cost you is a few bucks in tips.

    4. Call ahead and have a bottle of your favourite boozy drink chilling in the room when you arrive.

    Kim Crawford/Giphy / Via giphy.com

    Most hotels are game usually just for the price of the bottle. If you're hitting up Vegas for a birthday with a group, or travelling with someone you want to impress, this will definitely do it. 

    5. Get a room with a view in Paris or Caesars Palace.

    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed

    Now this might sound pretty pedestrian but I feel like some of us cheap out when it comes to our hotel rooms. You might think "I'm not gonna spend time in my room why do I need a view?" but trust me, it makes all the difference. It's just one of those things that makes you feel like you're a wealthy billionaire from the South of France... when in reality you're a broke a 20-something living in a basement apartment in Toronto.

    6. Make reservations at a celebrity chef restaurant like Bedford by Martha Stewart, Amalfi by Bobby Flay or GIADA by Giada de Laurentiis.

    Kyle Richmond/BuzzFeed

    There is literally no shortage of celebrity restaurants in Las Vegas, so make a reservation at some of your faves. On this trip I had the privilege of checking out a number of them and they were all incredible. Food in Vegas just hits differently. Make sure you check out the Beef Wellington by Chef Gordon Ramsay at Ramsay's Kitchen, the Roast Chicken at The Bedford by Martha Stewart, and even choose your own whole fish at Amalfi by Bobby Flay.

    Fun fact: Caesars Palace actually launched the celebrity restaurant craze in Vegas in 1992 with Wolfgang Puck's Spago!

    7. Splurge on a cocktail at Vanderpump à Paris... in Paris.

    Kyle Richmond/BuzzFeed

    People in the office have been talking non-stop about all the Vanderpump Rules drama lately and to be honest with you, it all goes over my head.

    But luckily I do know a good cocktail when I see one – so grab a cocktail at Vanderpump à Paris located inside Paris Las Vegas. Drinks can be a bit on the pricier side, but remember you're living like a VIP here, treat yoself! Book a table in advance though, this place is super popular.

    8. Book yourself a pool cabana at Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace.

    a poolside shot at caesars palace
    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed

    If your trip to Vegas isn't complete without a visit to the pool – booking a cabana is exactly what you need to do. Cabanas start at $150 and go up to $350 and will house 8 of your nearest and dearest. Plus, they come with a dedicated host too. 

    9. Get a hot stone massage at Qua Baths & Spa.

    photo of massage table with a stick figure on top
    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed / Getty Images

    I love a good deep tissue massage, but since I was in Vegas I decided to try something new which was a hot stone massage at Qua Baths & Spa in Caesars Palace. I've truly never left a massage so relaxed. I didn't have a lot of time to hang out after my massage, but the spa had a variety of hot and cold rooms, baths and relaxation areas. It was very VIP and a must try.

    10. Experience the tableside theatrics at Stanton Social Prime.

    Kyle Richmond/BuzzFeed

    New to the Las Vegas strip is Stanton Social Prime by Chopped judge Chris Santos. I was lucky enough to have an exclusive preview of this brand new addition to Caesars Palace where Santos walked us through over 18 dishes (very VIP).

    Not everyone can dine with the Chef like this, but you can enjoy the highlife by ordering the Super Tomahawk! It's a Tomahawk Steak that's wheeled to your table hanging from a lit up apparatus that's then set on fire. You'll feel like a true VIP with dinner and a show.

    11. Book a table at OMNIA nightclub.

    Kyle Richmond/BuzzFeed

    On my trip, we had an exclusive invite to OMNIA nightclub to see Steve Aoki. Now before you start roasting me in the comments – I'm not saying booking a table is completely necessary. 

    But for someone who doesn't frequent nightclubs (and swore to never visit a Vegas nightclub), getting a table was a helluva experience. The lights, the music, the air compressors blasting off. You gotta do it at least once. 

    Tables can range anywhere from $1500 to $10,000 (which is insane) but if you're splitting it up between 8 friends, maybe it makes sense? I don't know. You do you. But even standing room just to experience it once is worth it. My ears are still ringing!

    12. Take a happy half hour ride on the High Roller Wheel at the LINQ.

    a photo of the high roller wheel from afar
    Caesars Entertainment

    The regular ride on the High Roller is fine and all – but why not do it VIP style with an open bar and cocktail in hand? Our bartender was very knowledgable about Vegas and the surrounding areas, while making one mean vodka soda. I suggest a night ticket because the view is incredible.

    13. Go see Keith Urban at Planet Hollywood.

    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed, John Shearer / Caesars Entertainment

    I didn't have going to see Keith Urban on my bucket list and yet I still had such an incredible time! If you're looking for a VIP concert experience, Keith is offering up the "Making Memories Duo Table Package" which comes complete with a dedicated table and free glass of champagne. But an easy way to feel like a VIP is upgrading your tickets from the nosebleeds. It'll still be a fraction of the cost of some of those bigger headliners on the strip.

    14. Request late check out if your flight doesn't depart till later.

    photo of the author next to a screen with giada delaurentis on it
    Kyle Richmond / BuzzFeed

    This is another simple tip that probably slips the mind of a majority of travellers. Most hotels will allow you to late check out for a small fee. I was booked on the red eye back to Toronto, but late check out let me grab a casual breakfast with a friend, hang out around the hotel, and walk the strip a while longer. You'll feel like you've extended your vacation. 

    That's it! Now that I've had a taste of the VIP life, I've become insufferable to my friend group and have ruined my bank account for every single trip moving forward. Thanks Vegas!

    SNL / Giphy

    This is me every time I wrote "very VIP" in this post.

    We'll be posting some more Vegas-esque content from the trip on our BuzzFeed Canada TikTok and Instagram pages so make sure you give us a follow!