I Stayed At The Westin Lake Las Vegas – Here Are My Honest Thoughts
Over the weekend, my family and I stayed at The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa to celebrate my son turning 8-years-old. I don’t know any other kids my son’s age that love hotels as much as he does, but I think it’s sweet. He’s always had a fascination with hotels, ever since the first time we stayed in one as a family and I can’t even begin to tell you how often he asks if we can stay at one. So it came as no surprise when my wife told me she booked a night at The Westin at Lake Las Vegas as one of his birthday gifts. Let me just say, our whole experience was pretty incredible and I’d like to tell you all about it in case you’re thinking about having a staycation out there!
The Location of The Westin Lake Las Vegas
For those of you unfamiliar with Lake Las Vegas, it’s nestled near the end of East Lake Mead Parkway, in Henderson. Once you make that turn off Lake Mead, you’re greeted by some of the most beautiful scenery the valley has to offer. The homes out there are gorgeous and once you get to The Westin, it almost feels like you’re in a different state.
This was our first time staying at the resort and we were welcomed by a very nice staff. They even offered my wife and I some complimentary cocktail vouchers, just for choosing The Westin.
We were also pleased with our room. It was spacious, clean, and the lake side view was out of this world! The beds were a little bit firmer than I prefer, but my wife and son thought they felt great. My favorite thing about the room was the shower. It was huge! The water pressure was perfect and the shower head covered everything! I’ll be thinking about doing some bathroom renovations because of that shower, it was that good!
Dining At The Westin Lake Las Vegas
During our stay, we got the chance to check out two of the resort’s restaurants. The first one was my favorite, “Marssa Steak and Sushi.” A Japanese restaurant that showcases fresh sushi and steaks. However, I ended up ordering some pineapple chicken curry and it was delicious! I do wish they had an AYCE option for the sushi, because it does add up when ordering a la carte, but the portions were huge and everything tasted fresh!
In the morning, we had breakfast at “Rick’s Café.” It was a buffet style breakfast, so it wasn’t anything super special. In fact, if it weren’t for the omelet bar, I’d say to skip “Rick’s” all together.
The Activities and Amenities At The Westin Lake Las Vegas
Whenever we weren’t in our room, we were at one of the two outdoor swimming pools at the resort! My son’s favorite pool was the one with the giant water slide. I should warn you that the slide isn’t very “swim trunk friendly.” Whenever I’d try to go down the slide on my butt, I’d come to a complete stop because of the fabric of my trunks. However, the lifeguard gave me a tip to put all my weight on whatever exposed skin I had. So once I started putting the weight on my shoulder blades and heels, I was ripping through that slide and it was a lot of fun!
Unfortunately, the private beach was closed during our stay. I wish it was open, because we were able to see it from our room and it looked really beautiful.
And since we were in Lake Las Vegas, we made it over to all the shops near the old (now closed) Casino Montelago. The shops have definitely seen better days, but it was nice to see the ones that were still open, doing well. We grabbed some ice cream and enjoyed some live music near the water.
Our Overall Experience At The Westin Lake Las Vegas
Honestly, this weekend in one that I’ll remember for a very long time. The Westin was the perfect setting to celebrate our son’s 8th birthday. We made some wonderful memories and we left feeling refreshed. I’d absolutely recommend The Westin to anyone looking to get away for the weekend.
Tips to Maximize Your Vacation
1. Save Money
One great way to maximize your vacation is simply to save money. You’ll feel so much better on vacation knowing that you’re saving cash by doing things the right way. One major way to save money is to travel during an off season. Every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, look at the cheapest time to visit your destination, and go then. Find more tips on saving money on vacation, too.
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2. Don't Plan Every Minute of Your Vacation
Sure, you want to do some planning so that you don’t miss the big tourist stops in your destination. But, don’t book every blasted minute. Maximize your vacay by saving some time to be spontaneous. Take a day to just figure out what to do when you’re there. Maybe some locals will recommend a secret spot for you to visit during your “day off.”
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3. Do Plan Ahead, Though
While you don’t want to overbook your trip so that you’re always running from spot to spot, you do want to plan a bit. It’s not a good idea to do zero planning and just feel things out when you get there. Plan some big activities ahead of time so that you aren’t scrambling last-minute.
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4. Plan Regular Mini-Vacations
If you only have one big vacation every year, you might feel under a lot of pressure to make it the most amazing experience ever. So, take away that stress. Plan mini-vacations throughout the year, so you aren’t under as much pressure to make your big trip the best thing that’s ever happened to you and your family. For example, in the fall, if you live in an area with beautiful colors, make an annual fall color tour trip and just drive around the state.
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5. Stay an Extra Day
If time and money allows, adding just one day to your vacation can open up a world of possibilities. Many people plan too short a trip, not realizing just how much they’ll want to do in their destination. So, add an extra day. You’ll be glad you did at the end of your stay.
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6. Take Time to Sleep
Sure, you’re on vacation. You want to soak up every minute of your trip. But, if you’re up late every night partying in the clubs and then up early to enjoy the sunrise, pretty soon, you’ll be too tired to enjoy your vacation. So, take time to get some sleep and feel rested.
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7. Let the Small Stuff Go
They say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” That’s certainly true on vacation. Nothing is going to go totally as planned. So, expect the unexpected, and roll with it.
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8. Plan Some Recoup Time
When you get back from your vacation, don’t plan to start work the very next day. Take an extra day or two off after your vacation to recuperate, so that you hit the ground running when you’re back at work. The extra time at home will also give you a chance to savor your vacation.
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9. Pick an Experience
People often find experiencing more rewarding that physical things. So, make sure to plan an experience with your trip. Maybe there’s a huge concert you want to see on vacation. Perhaps it’s a sporting event. Whatever it is, plan an awesome experience.
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10. Learn for Next Time
Finally, when you’re home from your trip, decompress and look back on your vacation. What went wrong? What went right? Take notes and learn from your vacation, so you’ll know what to do better next time.
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