So… you (or one of your best friends) are turning 21… congratulations and let’s plan the perfect 21st birthday in Vegas!
Las Vegas is world renowned as one of the best spots to eat, drink, and have fun with your friends. After just coming home from a fabulous weekend trip celebrating my roommate’s 21st birthday in the city that never sleeps, I wanted to write about everything we loved and would recommend to another girls trip here in the future.
So without any further introduction, let’s chat all about how to plan the perfect 21st birthday in Vegas where you do a little bit of everything, but still enjoy all the fun with the people you love the most.
21st Birthday In Vegas Itinerary Considerations:
- Location
- Budget
- Transportation
- Nightlife and Entertainment
- Dining
Location
Stay on the Strip for convenience and to be in the heart of the action. Popular hotels include The Venetian, Bellagio, and Caesars Palace. We stayed at the Wynn and had a blast! The casino was lively, and we loved having access to some great restaurants and the Encore Beach Club for daytime fun. Since the Wynn is at the northern end of the Strip, we did end up doing a long walk from end to end on Friday night, but it was totally worth it. Walking through all the lights and sights was an adventure in itself.
If you want to be more central, places like the Bellagio, Paris Paris, or Caesars might be better, but honestly, we didn’t mind the walk. It gave us a chance to soak in the Vegas vibe. Wherever you stay, being on the Strip puts you right in the middle of everything, making it easy to enjoy all the excitement.
Budget
Las Vegas offers a range of options from budget-friendly to luxurious. Look for deals and packages, especially if you book in advance. You can find amazing deals at places like Excalibur or Luxor if you’re on a budget, but if you want to splurge, check out hotels like The Venetian or Bellagio. For us, the Wynn included some dining credits, which was a nice bonus. No matter your budget, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Transportation
We exclusively used Uber and Lyft or just walked around, which all was super convenient. However, the Las Vegas Monorail is supposed to be really great too. It runs along the east side of the Strip with stops at major hotels and attractions, making it a quick and easy way to get around without worrying about traffic.
If you’re planning to visit multiple spots on the Strip, a day pass for the Monorail might be worth it, but walking is cheaper and is just as fun. If your feet get tired (ours did), you can always have an Uber pick you up at a hotel nearby.
Nightlife and Entertainment
When it comes to Vegas fun, there are a MILLION things you can do. For a 21st birthday in Vegas, I recommend hitting up day clubs, nightclubs, bars, shows, and even trying a bit of gambling. It might sound like a lot, but we did it all and had an amazing time!
Dayclubs / Nightclubs
First, let’s talk clubs. There is a HUGE difference between day and nightclubs and depending on the club you choose, you’ll get a very different vibe. For my group of four, we loved the day club and absolutely hated the nightclub. It was just a bit too loud and dark for us; the day club felt like an actually fun place to dance. That being said, give both a try and see what happens!
Clubs I recommend looking into are: Omnia, XS, Marquee, Encore Beach Club, Wet Republic, and LIV Beach Club.
Shows
Las Vegas is renowned for its endless entertainment options, so take the time to explore what’s available. There is genuinely something for everyone here, but shows often sell out, so book ahead if you see something you like.
For example, our birthday girl had an amazing time celebrating with her parents at an Adele concert. They got a great deal on tickets months ago and said it was incredible. While I personally didn’t see any shows, Cirque de Soleil almost got us.
Gambling
Gambling is apart of the Vegas experience, so I highly recommend giving it a try! Please remember to bring cash because I forgot and had to pay a $10 ATM fee. If you walk into the casino and feel overwhelmed, so did we. The goal is to find the cheap section (typically in the less popular area, but still near a walkway) and make sure it has a low buy-in.
I’d recommend going in with $10 – $20 in cash only and with a mindset that you’re more than likely going to lose it. It’s the price you pay for a little bit of fun, but not too much.
For us, we did $1 bets on only Roulette (betting on only red or black) and Derby Deluxe (a fake horse racing game). We loved seeing the horses run around and stayed there for about an hour. Pardon the brag, but I did win $50 betting on a horse named “Fairy’s Wish” and immediately cashed out.
Dining
With so many restaurants in Vegas, finding a spot that’s fun, affordable, and has a great vibe can feel overwhelming. The best way to discover top dining options is by scrolling through Yelp, filtering by food type or price range.
For my group of friends, we were all dying to try some fun Asian-fusion food with an exciting cocktail menu. Tao turned out to be the perfect choice. The drinks were strong, the food was delicious, and the vibe was incredible. Make sure to book a reservation in advance – you won’t regret it.
As for a great lunch spot, Happy Camper is a gorgeous outdoor backyard bar that’s food and drink menus really hit the spot. The four of us split a MASSIVE plate of nachos with zero regrets.
Lastly, don’t sleep on UberEats. We had so much fun looking at the mom and pop shops right off the strip and eating in the hotel room gave us some much-needed girl time. We ate pizza and salad on the floor (ask for utensils or you’ll eat with your hands) and set up decorations to surprise our birthday girl. It was one of my favorite memories of the weekend.
21st Birthday In Vegas Wrap Up
Vegas can feel overwhelming with everything it has to offer, but the most important thing to remember is that it’s not about what you’re doing, it’s about who you’re with. We had an amazing weekend trip, even with mishaps and losing multiple $5 bills to the Derby Deluxe horse race. If you plan ahead in advance (but also let yourself be flexible) your 21st birthday in Vegas will be one to remember!
Do you have any Vegas must-do’s? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest on HIGHSTRUNG, check out my recent posts: