Hotel Highlight: The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas

Disney World is to children what Vegas is to adults, and no, that is not an understatement by any means. It is literally an adult f*cking playground where rules don’t exist and time is an abstract concept, especially when you can’t tell if it’s day or night from inside your hotel. Now usually, when you’re planning a trip, your hotel might not be your first priority because you figure you can pass out anywhere if you’re drunk, right? Well, you’re going to want to put some thought into where you stay in Vegas, because the hotels there are just made differently. They are destinations in and of themselves, and if you choose to, you could spend the entire weekend without stepping foot outside the property (which we wouldn’t judge you for).

The Cosmopolitan is no exception, and if you’re planning a group trip of any kind, you’re going to want to heavily consider staying here. Here are a few reasons why:

The Rooms

The suite options at The Cosmo are essentially created for large parties, especially the Wraparound Terrace Suite. The suite can also connect to the room next door, allowing your entire group to share accommodations without being squished. The Terrace Suite’s balcony doors open to a huge terrace that offers insane views of the Vegas skyline—the perfect place for all your Instagram photos-to-be.

Prices def vary by season and weekend, but chances are you’re only going to Vegas for 3-4 nights anyway and if you split that up by a few people, you’re likely spending $100 each night. If you’re really trying to ball out you can book the Bungalow,  a three-level room (is this a room? a house?) with a private patio, outdoor kitchen and bar, rooftop plunge pool, and a prime view of Marquee Dayclub.

The Restaurants

You could eat every meal, plus two snacks, at this hotel during your entire trip and not even get halfway through their options. There’s a dining option for every mood, hungover included (looking at you, The Henry and The Juice Standard). To kick off your weekend you need to make a reservation at Rose. Rabbit. Lie., a supper club where the entertainment is so authentically fun (and not cheesy), you’ll forget you’re even supposed to be eating dinner. If you’re celebrating a birthday or a bachelorette party, this is your spot, plus the drinks make for the most IG worthy cocktails. Other dinner spots we’d recommend are Beauty & Essex, Scarpetta, STK, Blue Ribbon, and Zuma.

Breakfast and lunch are usually more chill in Vegas, just grabbing food when you have a chance as you’re running from hotel room to pool party to bar. You also won’t have to deal with everyone’s dietary restrictions if you go to Block 16 Urban Food Hall, which has six different restaurants within the space including Hattie B’s Hot Chicken (the famous one from Nashville), Tekka Bar: Handroll & Sake, and Ghost Donkey. This is def the fanciest food court you’ve ever seen.

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When it comes to finding a hotel in Vegas, you’ll want to consider a few v important things: location, where to get the best bang for your buck, where to find the most ideal sleeping arrangements for as many people as possible, and where you can d̶r̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶o̶u̶r̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶ create memories that will last a lifetime. You’re def going to want to stay at a hotel that has a day club, a night club, and a ton of restaurants and bars. This will just makes your life that much easier, and the chance of getting lost coming home at 5am that much smaller. Swipe through to see why @cosmopolitan_lv is one of our fav spots to stay at in Vegas & link in bio for our bach guide @betchesbrides

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The Bars/Clubs

Clubs, restaurants, supper clubs, and bars—there are tons of places to grab a cocktail at The Cosmo. Honestly one of my fav pastimes at a hotel is going on a bar crawl without ever leaving the property. Your options here are plentiful but also offer variety. If you want a fancy yet interesting spin on a classic cocktail, hit up Vesper Bar (they also have a neon sign), for a tastebud-altering drink (and a bomb IG photo), go to The Chandelier bar, and if you want to slip away from the crowd, go to The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktail for prohibition-era speakeasy vibes. There are a few others dispersed throughout the hotel, but these are def our top favs.

Marquee Nightclub needs separate recognition because this super club is a monument in and of itself. This 60,000-square-foot club has three main rooms, the Main Room, the Library, and the Boom Box Room, and all make for an epic night out. There are always a ton of rotating DJs, plus it’s operated by the TAO Group so you know it’s legit.

Sahra Spa, Salon & Hammam

I honestly don’t know what I was more impressed with: the size of Marquee or the size of the spa. The spa has 30 treatment rooms, two workout areas, a salon with hairstylists and women who have done Britney Spears’ makeup. Yes, seriously. It also offers one of the country’s few authentic Hammam experiences and you can even reserve the Sahra Spa Penthouse Suite, which is exactly what it sounds like—an insane private room for you and your friends to get a bunch of spa treatments.

The Pools

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Stoked for Grand Opening Weekend! 🌊 ⠀ ⠀ Who's ready to party under the sun?! ☀️ ⠀ ⠀ MAR 20: @CheatCodes⠀ MAR 21: @Mustard⠀ MAR 22: @Robin__Schulz

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There are not one, not two, but three different pools at The Cosmopolitan to choose from. If you, like most people who head to Vegas this time of year, are looking to party allll day, you’ll be spending your time at Marquee Dayclub. This place gets WILD and is the epitome of a Vegas pool party. Trust us, you need to spend an afternoon here. Check the events calendar before going so you can plan which day to go based on what DJ is performing. Each tower at the hotel also has a much more low-key but still impressive pool. You can see right down the strip from the Boulevard pool (the bigger and more lively of the two) and the Chelsea pool is more of a chill little oasis.

The Casino

We all have that one friend who somehow knows how to gamble (like actually gamble, not just play the slots), so make them happy and take them to the 100,000-square-foot casino. If you want to tag along and try your luck, you can play one of their 1,300 slot machines or 120 individual gaming tables.

Everything Else

Treat yourself to a blowout from Drybar, a new bathing suit (because you didn’t pack 15 for a 3-day trip) from Molly Brown’s Swimwear, or a beyond-necessary IV from REVIV IV Wellness Spa all while never leaving your hotel (or taking off your pajamas, because yes we did that). And if you’re one of those people who work out on vacation (don’t understand you, never will), there are massive gyms in each hotel tower. This place is literally a mecca of everything entertainment and the reason why I’ve stayed here four out of the five times I’ve been to Vegas.

All images credit to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

The Betches’ Bachelorette Guide To Las Vegas

Planning sucks, and bachelorette parties are a ton of work. So we’re taking all the guesswork out of planning a bachelorette party by breaking down top bachelorette destinations. Our guides will tell you where to stay, eat, party, how to get around, and give you a sample itinerary that you can follow. You’re welcome.

Las Vegas is synonymous with bachelorette parties, so it only makes sense that this is our first of many bachelorette party guides. No one goes to Sin City to relax so this itinerary is for the girls who like to party all day and night only to pass out go to sleep and do it all over again the next day. The Vegas strip offers four miles of nonstop partying options, which is probably why so many people flock to the city to pregame their nuptials. But in a city with so many options, how TF do you know what to do to maximize your time? No need to reach for your essential oils—we got you. Here is your official Betches Bachelorette Guide to Las Vegas.

Where To Stay: The Cosmopolitan

 

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When it comes to lodging in Vegas, you’ll want to consider a few factors: where to get the best bang for your buck, where to find the most ideal sleeping arrangements, and where you can get f*cked up create memories that will last a lifetime. You’re definitely going to want to stay at a hotel that has both a day club and night club as well as one that has a ton of restaurant and bar options. This will just makes your life that much easier, and the chance of getting lost coming home at 5am that much smaller.

The Cosmopolitan is my go-to spot for staying in Vegas for a variety of reasons. The Cosmo is considered one of the smaller hotels, which is crazy to even fathom considering it has two towers of hotel rooms, a huge casino, over 25 food establishments, a spa, a night club, and a day club. But size does matter because the layouts of these hotels is extremely confusing and since you’ll only be there for a short time, you don’t want to waste time walking in circles when you have a pool party to get to. Plus you won’t have to deal with flocks of tourists that are spending the day aimlessly shopping while you’re just trying to find the nearest exit.

The suite options at The Cosmo are essentially created for large parties, specifically the Wraparound Terrace Suite. The suite can also connect to the room next door, allowing your entire group to share accommodations without being squished. The Terrace Suite’s balcony doors open to a huge terrace that offers insane views of the Vegas skyline—the perfect place for all your Instagram photos-to-be.

How To Get There

Unless you live in Los Angeles the thought of driving to Vegas will never cross your mind. But lucky for you there are a ton of direct fights from the east coast that will cost you around $500. $500?! Yup… we would say this is the average cost for what a bachelorette flight will cost someone, however there are a few ways to make paying for this less painful.

Download the Hopper app that lets you track flight prices for dates of your choosing. The app will send updates right to your phone when flight prices start to fluctuate and when the optimal time is to book is. The other way to soften the blow of this financial burden is to pay with credit card points. Literally put anything and everything on your credit card to get as many points as possible in anticipation of your trip. Most cards offer double points for travel and dining so get ready to justify those excessive Uber rides and weekday Seamless orders.

How To Get Around

We highly encourage you to take full advantage of the limos and party buses that wait outside the hotels at night and during the day. For roughly $10/person, you can get into the party vibe and IG story the experience and really rub it in the face’s of those who didn’t make the cut to join the trip.

We definitely do not suggest walking home unless the last stop of your night happens to be within your hotel. Uber is plentiful in Vegas and a majority of hotels have designated Uber/Lyft pick up areas, making it really easy to get from point A to point B. Even if it says its a 10 minute walk to your hotel, err on the side of caution and request a car. Plus, your feet are going to be on fire from wearing heels all night.

Where To Eat

If there’s anything more plentiful than nightclubs in this city, it’s got to be restaurants. Since people will be suffering at varying degrees of hungoverness, we suggest just finding someplace low-key in your hotel for breakfast, with the exception being the buffet at the Wynn. This $32 all-you-can eat option was voted best Vegas buffet, and with damn good reason. Soak up all the alcohol with more than 120 dishes and 15 live-action cooking stations.

Vegas is meant for group dinners, with endless options scattered throughout the strip. Since ordering à la carte can get pricey, we suggest setting up a prix-fix menu option in advance so your friends know upfront what they’re expected to pay. We suggest picking a restaurant within the hotel that you plan on going out at. For example, if you’re heading to Marquee, then opt for dinner at STK. Plus, these restaurants are well aware bachelorettes are in town and will offer customizable options like putting the bride’s name on the menu for no additional cost. Some of our fav nighttime spots include: Beauty & Essex, Sage, SUSHISAMBA, and Hakkasan Restaurant.

Where To Party

While there are tons of pool party options in Las Vegas, three remain at the top when compared to the rest: Marquee Day Club, Encore Beach Club, and Wet Republic. But which pool to go to on which day? DJs like The Chainsmokers, Tiësto, and Calvin Harris will be taking the stage, so make sure to check the events calendar on each club’s website a couple months before your trip and decide from there.

Promoters are prevalent in Vegas and are highly recommended since working with them will basically alleviate any financial burden of going out. (It’s how we make up for the pay gap, ladies.) Here’s how to find a promoter: literally go to the explore page of Instagram and type in “Vegas Promoter”. You will be greeted with 100+ options of people to choose from. Some are more legit than others, so sift through and find the one who’s working the parties you want to attend. Look at for people who have some semblance of a social life mixed into their promotional materials. From there start sliding into their DMs—we promise this isn’t weird.

Also, you’ll start to notice the second you post a picture on IG in Vegas, the promoters will come and find you. Seriously—they check geotags and find people they can work with to get into their partner venues. And don’t be too alarmed if they request pictures of the girls in your parties—that happens and is definitely off-putting, but it’s not like, a sign you should call the cops. If you’re not feeling that vibe, just find another promoter. TAKE ADVANTAGE!! Proof below:

The benefit of working with a day promoter in Vegas is that they also work night parties. The lines get crazy regardless if you bought a ticket for that night, so having someone who works with the venue is always helpful. Unlike in other cities, the venues in Vegas encourage the use of promoters because they help fill their clubs with girls. Once you meet up with your promoter in the lobby of the hotel, they will escort you to a designated table area with varying degrees of comped service. Yes, really. You’re welcome.

Nighttime Entertainment

If you’re looking to entertain yourselves in ways  that don’t involve getting completely obliterated, congrats on being a better person than me Vegas offers a ton of nighttime live entertainment options. Rose Rabbit Lie and Spiegelworld are two interactive shows at The Cosmopolitan that mix fantasy and reality in a slightly more refined atmosphere. So if you aren’t into getting pushed around a club fighting to get a blurry picture of Calvin Harris, we suggest opting for a show. Plus some of our fave artists are known for their Vegas residencies like The Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Gwen Stefani.

But if you’re still unsure of exactly what to do and when to do it, here is our Betches approved itinerary for your partying pleasure.

Thursday, Day 1:

Pro Tip: If you’re traveling from the east coast, take advantage of the time difference and aim to arrive as early as possible to allow for an entire day of debauchery

  1. Check into the hotel, unpack, and claim your bed
  2. Change as fast as humanly possible into your bathing suits, rip a few shots in the room, then hit a pool party stat (Marquee, Encore Beach Club, or Wet Republic depending on which DJ you like that’s playing that day)
  3. NAP!!!!!! Even if you “don’t nap”, lay your ass in bed and attempt to relax for AT LEAST an hour and a half. You’ll thank us later when your friends want to go out after dinner.
  4. Head to dinner at TAO in The Venetian Hotel
  5. Either get tickets to see a live show or hit up Hakkasan Nightclub for the Tiësto residency

Friday, Day 2:

Pro Tip: Slow and steady wins the race halfway through a Vegas bender. Listen to your body and don’t force yourself to do something you’re not feeling. After all, if you’re heading to Vegas any time soon, temperatures are well above 85 degrees, and dehydration will knock you out.

  1. Sleep in and grab breakfast casually somewhere in the hotel
  2. Lay out at the hotel’s chill pool (yes, there are raging pool parties and relaxing pools—take advantage and rest halfway through your trip)
  3. Get dressed up and head to dinner at Sushi Roku, a trendy sushi spot with awesome views of the Strip in Caesar’s Palace
  4. Check out Calvin Harris’ residency at Omnia Nightclub (also located in Caesar’s Palace)

Saturday, Day 3:

Pro Tip: Food is your friend; you’re likely hungover and are going to need sustenance to soak up that alcohol. Plus, you’re going to need to fill up before your last pool party and night out!

  1. Indulge in the famous breakfast buffet at The Wynn
  2. Pick a pool from Marquee, Encore Beach Club, or Wet Republic that you haven’t gone to yet
  3. TAKE A NAP!!!!!!
  4. Head to STK for your last dinner out
  5. End your epic weekend at XS Nightclub that has DJs like Steve Angello, Diplo, Alesso and Drake performing on a frequent basis

Sunday, Day 4:

  1. GET THE F*CK HOME WHERE YOU BELONG!!!