Last updated: 7:05 AM ET, Mon November 11, 2024
Special collaboration: Marjorie Dumoulin-Lafond
On November 2, Porter Airlines launched a new route between Montréal-Trudeau and Las Vegas, with three weekly flights. To celebrate this new service, TravelPulse Québec participated in a press trip organized by Visit Las Vegas (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority | LVCVA), which took place from November 2 to 5.
Porter’s new service to Las Vegas is in addition to its current two daily flights from Toronto Pearson Airport. Since November 1, Porter has also been providing non-stop service between Ottawa and Las Vegas four times a week.
On board, all passengers are treated to premium snacks, and some welcome freebies like beer and wine in real glasses. The flights, operated by 132-seat Embraer E195-E2s, feature a two-by-two seating configuration, as well as fast, free Wi-Fi, which is great for getting work done in-flight.
Our Vegas itinerary included several must-see experiences.
Visit the Sphere
On November 3rd, we visited a new Vegas must-see. Imposing and impossible to miss, the Sphere, an architectural and technological feat created by Madison Square Garden Entertainment for more than $2 billion, was inaugurated in September 2023 by the group U2. It is a huge domed room that offers a breathtaking spectacle, both outside and inside. The outdoor screen, visible from space when illuminated, gives the Sphere a status as a unique place in the world.
We attended the touching and grandiose film Postcard From Earth. But it is not just a film: it is a real immersive experience, with various integrated elements like vibrations in the seats, visual effects, powerful sounds, and atmospheric simulations including fog, smells and wind.
The Sphere Experience, which lasts approximately 90 minutes, takes place in two parts. It begins in the Atrium, where visitors are immersed in a technological universe with fascinating decor and robots. The experience then continues in the main auditorium with the multi-sensory film.
Magic Mike Live Experience, Las Vegas
Magic Mike Live VIP Experience
On the evening of November 3rd, we made everyone jealous when we attended Magic Mike Live at SAHARA Las Vegas, a show designed by Channing Tatum, which is inspired by the famous films. For 90 minutes, thirteen talented dancers and acrobats offer breathtaking performances that unfold all around the audience, in an atmosphere that is both electrifying and sensual.
We tested out Mike’s Ultimate Experience package, which includes dinner before the show, a prime spot in the venue, three complimentary drinks during the show and a VIP meet-and-greet with the performers.
For dinner, we ate at Chef Shawn McClain’s Balla Italian Soul, an Italian restaurant also located in the SAHARA, where we enjoyed a delicious exclusive menu before the show.
After the show, our venue manager escorted us upstairs to a VIP lounge for about a 15-minute meet-and-greet with the dancers. We were able to have a glass of bubbly with them, chat with them, and take pictures.
Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas
Red Rock Canyon Pink Jeep Tour
The next day, we left the hustle and bustle of the Strip behind for a nature getaway to Red Rock Canyon, located just 30 minutes from Las Vegas. On the 4-hour Red Rock Canyon Rocky Gap Off-Road tour , we hopped into an open-air—and very Instagrammable!—pink Wrangler 4×4 and drove along the rocky Rocky Gap Road. The drive offered spectacular views of the majestic Spring Mountains, Calico Hills, and fossilized dunes. This guided adventure through the wilderness was punctuated by plenty of photo stops. Round-trip transportation from our hotel, park entrance fees, and bottled water were included.
Dinner at Momofuku
In the evening, we returned to the Strip to discover Momofuku, a restaurant located in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a very chic hotel-casino that we enjoyed exploring. Momofuku restaurant offers inventive and refined cuisine signed by chef David Chang, founder of the establishment and one of the most influential chefs of our time. We enjoyed several signature dishes, all with a magnificent view of the Paris Las Vegas.
Park MGM Las Vegas
During our stay, we stayed at the Park MGM Las Vegas, a hotel and casino ideally located on the Strip, surrounded by shops and restaurants such as Best Friend, La La Noodle and Eataly, a very trendy and friendly food and bar area. Park MGM is an urban hotel with 2,992 rooms spread over 32 floors, including 246 suites.
The hotel also offers facilities such as a playground, a supermarket, cafes, a hairdresser, and a business center, as well as parking and car rental options.
TravelPulse Québec would like to warmly thank Visit Las Vegas and Porter Airlines for this press trip to the entertainment capital of the world. Thanks to their collaboration, we were able to discover some captivating new attractions as well as must-sees such as the Bellagio and its famous fountain, Caesars Palace and the Venetian, the Paris Hotel, as well as recent high-end hotels, such as the splendid Wynn. We were also able to take advantage of Porter’s new direct service from Montreal, offering travelers a convenient connection to this dynamic and iconic destination that is Las Vegas.