Five fab experiences to enjoy when in Vegas to see The Wizard of Oz
The refined luxury of Las Vegas
Mark
Las Vegas has built its reputation on neon lights, gaming tables, and luxury.
But “luxury” is more than just the glitz and glamour that is for sale on the Las Vegas strip. True luxury is a level of quality, a graciousness of service, and the ease of living in the moment, all based on a lifestyle, not just a shiny exterior. Is the most oversized, flashiest hotel room really the most “luxurious”? Absolutely not.
For seasoned travelers who crave sophistication over slot machines, Las Vegas also offers a quietly luxurious side. With fabulous restaurants, world-class entertainment, and chic hideaways, this city can be the ultimate indulgence, no slot machines required.
Here are some ways to visit Las Vegas for a truly luxurious experience.
1. Check Into Luxury At A Hidden Oasis
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
Las Vegas casino hotels have thousands of guest rooms, and the vibe can be somewhat overwhelming due to the crowds, noise, and flashing lights. Just checking in can take hours—yes, hours—as the long line of guests winds through the lobby. (Casino hotels offer separate VIP check-in for upper-tier suites, which makes the process much faster.)
The best way to not get lost in the crowds? Stay at the smaller hotel-within-a-casino properties along The Strip. With the escalated service of a boutique hotel and direct access to the restaurants and shops of the larger hotel and casino property, these hotels are a luxurious turn for the typical Las Vegas experience. Plus, thankfully, they are usually relatively peaceful.
For example, the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas occupies several upper floors of the Mandalay Bay building, offering a rare kind of calm and excellent service that is the backbone of any luxury hotel experience. The Four Seasons has a separate outdoor entrance and its own lobby. There’s no casino, no smoking, no all-night noise, just understated elegance, 5-star service that is often lacking in Las Vegas, and an excellent restaurant and bar in the lobby. The minimalist rooms, serene spa, and private pool area make it feel like your own little sanctuary, but most notably is the service—the gracious, polite hotel staff create another world away from the tourist grind of typical Las Vegas. When you’re ready to dip into the action, the buzz of the Strip is just an elevator ride away, with a private entrance into the Mandalay Bay casino.
2. Savor a World-Class Omakase at Ito in the Fontainebleau
For a dining experience that feels both exclusive and unforgettable, head to Ito at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. With only a handful of seats at the chef’s counter, this omakase-only sushi experience showcases seasonal fish flown in from Japan and plated with precision. It’s elegant, intimate, and ideal for a special night out. Book your table as soon as you know when you want to go, because reservations can be hard to get. The 18-course dining experience is $400 per person, and an “elevated” dress code enforced, which for Las Vegas means no army pants and flip flops.
3. Follow the Yellow Brick Road with The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere
Seeing a show in The Sphere is a must when visiting Las Vegas, especially a show with such a strong LGBTQ fanbase as The Wizard of Oz. This enhanced version of The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere blends reimagined, expanded visuals, 360-degree sound, and cutting-edge effects to transport you over the rainbow. The movie plays on the bottom portion of the viewing surface, with CGI visuals expanding up and overhead on the dome.
In an indoor amphitheater like The Sphere, which has approximately 18,000 seats, your seat makes a big difference in the experience. For the best views, choose either the higher seats in the 200 section or the lower seats in the 300 section. With the steep incline of the seating, there are no problems with anyone’s views being obstructed by people in front of them, and the view from these centrally-located seats is perfect.
The Sphere offers premium private suites, with seating to watch the show and couches arranged like a conversation pit, where hosts can provide food and drink as requested (and paid for, at high prices). But this production of The Wizard of Oz has been shortened to only an hour and 15 minutes, which is typical for Las Vegas, so there wouldn’t be much time to enjoy the spacious suite’s amenities. Instead, it might be more fun to sit in general admission and fully experience the winds of the tornado, the snow on the poppy fields, and the general good energy of the enthusiastic audience, especially those fans who are dressed up in costumes.
This production is somewhat interactive, bringing the special effects on the screen into the audience: for example, in the famous tornado scene, high-powered fans blow leaves around the audience, so guard your eyes if you don’t wear glasses. The entire production is a vivid journey to Oz and back again. Even those superfan gays who know every word and every musical note will find this version to be a new experience and a good dose of Technicolor wonder.
As a fun little surprise, if you are staying at the Four Seasons, tell them when you make the reservation that you have plans to see The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere, and they will create this amenity for you and put it in your room when you check in:
White chocolate cards for Las Vegas, an assortment of fantastic macarons and bonbons just to be fancy, and of course, Dorothy’s ruby slippers made out of white chocolate. It is little details like this that elevate hotels like the Four Seasons into the luxury category.
4. Choose Your Views On A Helicopter Tour
There are several helicopter charter operators (including Papillon, Maverick, and 5 Star Helicopter Tours) that offer aerial tours out of Las Vegas. These tours range from a quick up-and-down to see the Las Vegas skyline to a magnificent journey all the way over to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon tours are particularly popular. The West Rim is the closest destination, but the canyons there are more shallow and less colorful than those at the South Rim, which has the most dynamic scenery.
It should be noted that the journey to the South Rim can take 45 minutes each way, so those tours sometimes land in a canyon basin for a break, with a light picnic lunch or a glass of champagne. But ask the tour operators what is actually provided before committing to that time-consuming choice, because the aerial views really are reason enough to take the trip.
Every helicopter tour company claims that they offer a “luxury” experience, with value-added details like champagne toasts, limousine rides from your hotel, and other similar amenities. But these additions are typical “luxury” in Las Vegas. (…and what “champagne” do they serve?) The choice really is about how the trip would be customized to your preferences. When booking the excursion, ask for photos of what you’ll see, because there are lots of other destinations that are fantastic: there are wonderful flights that aren’t as long as the Grand Canyon trips, to nearby Red Rock State Park (which is gorgeous and underrated), Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead.
5. Brunch Beautifully at Sadelle’s in the Bellagio
Sleep in the next morning, but make time for brunch, and is it even a vacation if you don’t brunch? Tucked behind the Bellagio’s famous flower conservatory, Sadelle’s is the perfect spot for a luxurious morning, serving up lox towers, sticky buns, and sips of mimosas. As a special treat, diners can reserve The Garden Table, which is literally the table in the conservatory gazebo, surrounded by (fabric) florals all around. Don’t be surprised if tour groups stop and take pics of you enjoying your meal, as if you are part of the display.
Pro tips for any visit to Las Vegas:
- Don’t try walking anywhere in Las Vegas. Getting from Point A to Point B on The Strip involves long winding paths that go. Also, there is the unfortunate presence of street performers in Elmo costumes and not-authentic showgirl costumes, who pose for photos in exchange for absurdly expensive fees. Why would anyone pose for a picture on the Las Vegas Strip with these people anyway? This is not aligned with the concept of “luxury.”
- Taxis are the best bet when traveling to/from the airport, as they are always available curbside, while the rideshare area is a longer walk away and can be cluttered with traffic. Prices are comparable to rideshares, and taxis have credit card machines in the back seat area for riders to use.
- Ride shares are a great way to travel to The Sphere, but when leaving after a show, walk over to the line of taxis waiting for riders, which is far faster and more convenient than trying to request a ride share at the same time as several hundred other people leaving the show at the same time.
Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.
