7 Ways to Chill in Las Vegas This Summer

Las Vegas has transformed over the years from a gambling town filled with interesting characters to a world-class tourism destination filled with fine dining, luxury resorts, shopping, spas, glittering pools — along with the still-popular gambling. This summer is a great time to experience Las Vegas when summer heat leads to great deals. We’ve partnered with Susan Lanier-Graham of Wander With Wonder, based out of nearby Phoenix, to get her tips on the best ways to chill out in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is a hot destination with its gourmet dining, over-the-top resorts, and luxury spas along with its famous casinos. I’m not much of a gambler, but I love a romantic escape with my husband. We find plenty of romance in Vegas, along with some great deals during the summer months. Here are some of our favorite things to do as a couple in Las Vegas during the hot summer months.

Book a Suite With a View

There is something electric about Las Vegas, with its glittering lights and non-stop action. The best way to take in those views of The Strip, a 4-mile-long drive lined with some of the world’s most elaborate themed hotels and casinos, is to book a room with a view. One of my favorites is a Corner Suite in ARIA’s Tower Suites.

ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Sliding into the complimentary limo at the airport is such a great way to kick off a Vegas getaway, followed by check-in at the exclusive Tower Suites Lounge. We felt oh-so-important as the concierge escorted us past the waiting hotel check-in lines to the lounge. The ARIA corner suite tower room is just under 1,000 square feet with nonstop views over The Strip. And there’s a massive corner bathtub perfect for a romantic escape.

Get a Taste of France

I happen to love all things French. Especially the food and wine. I was thrilled to discover authentic French flavors at BARDOT Brasserie by Michael Mina, located in ARIA. This isn’t fancy French food with tiny little bites. It’s country French food with tastes as big as the distance between Nevada and France.

Dinner at BARDOT starts with a champagne cart. How can you go wrong when you start with options from a champagne cart? The meal included breads that took me back to French cafés, sauces that would make a French chef swoon, and meats cooked to perfection — the oak-smoked pork chop with bacon lardons was exquisite. But the dessert. The dessert was described as a chocolate macaron. This is definitely a Vegas-style macaron.

Chocolate Macaron at BARDOT Brasserie. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

Macarons are little French pastries that are delicate. This is a playful take on that — a massive French chocolate cookie filled with dark chocolate mousse. They serve a dark ganache on the side, which I poured over the top in gleeful indulgence. What a great end to a dinner, plenty to share for two, and a great way to start a Las Vegas summer escape.

Relax with a Mani/Pedi at Bellagio

Summer is hot in Vegas, but fortunately you don’t have to venture outside for a day of pampering. From ARIA, take the free tram for a quick ride to neighboring Bellagio Las Vegas and some spa time.

Pedicure Area at the Salon at Bellagio. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

The Spa, Salon and Fitness Center is just off the Bellagio Conservatory and the mani/pedi chairs are divine. I liked that there were drapes for privacy, which makes it even easier to relax. There are a variety of services, but this summer you can opt for the Island Guava Getaway, which includes lovely island fragrances of guava, coconut, and macadamia — and you can sip on a guava martini while you soak your toes.

Lakeside Lunch on The Strip

It sounds like something out of a fairytale — lunch on a lake, with the Eiffel Tower, and the Las Vegas Strip in the distance. But in Las Vegas, fairytales come true. You can enjoy all of that and some great bites and sips with lunch at Lago by Julian Serrano. Chef Serrano opened this fine dining restaurant for dinner, but lunches are now equally popular. We enjoyed sipping drinks and relaxing, forgetting there was a real world.

Drinks at Lago by Julian Serraon with Strip Views. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Our table was alongside the Fountains of Bellagio, the ideal spot for toasting our stay in Las Vegas. We were able to taste some of the signature Lago dishes, such as ahi tuna crudo with citrus and housemade agnolotti pasta stuffed with veal ricotta and served with roasted garlic porcini. Save room for dessert. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is whether to opt for a lovely Italian cannoli or go with something chocolate.

Book a Cabana at The Pools at ARIA

No visit to Las Vegas in the summer is complete without time at the pool. The Pools at ARIA provide the perfect oasis for a summer visit to the desert. There are umbrellas around the three infinity pools, but for the best respite during your stay, book one of ARIA’s 34 private cabanas. Each one comes with a fridge stocked with non-alcoholic beverages, a television, Wi-Fi, mister, reserved chaise lounges, ceiling fan, two pool rafts, settee, dining table, safe, and amenities basket. Of course, the attentive wait staff is ready to take your order for drinks or food.

ARIA LIQUID Pool Lounge. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

For an adults-only party, be sure to visit LIQUID Pool Lounge near the edge of The Pools at ARIA. DJs spin electric beats and you can order up a tall cool drink while the party kicks into high gear.

Relax Body, Mind and Soul at BATHHOUSE Spa

I see a lot of spas around the world and few are more relaxing and inviting than BATHHOUSE Spa at Delano Las Vegas. Tucked inside Mandalay Bay, Delano is an inviting quiet spot amid the bustle of Las Vegas and nowhere is that more obvious than at BATHHOUSE Spa. The Zen vibe was so inviting that I didn’t want to leave after my massage.

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BATHHOUSE Spa at Delano Las Vegas. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

Book a massage and you can luxuriate all day at the spa, enjoying the redwood sauna, experimenting with the hot and cold plunge pools, soaking in the hot whirlpool, letting your worries float away in the eucalyptus steam room, or simply relaxing in the quiet sanctuary.

Toast the Summer on Top of the World

The perfect way to cap off a visit to Las Vegas is with dinner and drinks at Delano Las Vegas. Start the evening at Rivea on the 64th floor of Delano. Chef Alain Ducasse previously opened Rivea in St. Tropez and London, so the meals here are a modern, international take on Mediterranean flavors you would find in France and Italy. The food took me back to Provence, perhaps my favorite place in the world.

The pastas at Rivea are homemade and the sauces are velvety smooth. We started off with little treasures called barbajuan — small fritters stuffed with spinach and ricotta. My lamb entrée was cooked to perfection. Tastes were fresh and service impeccable. But the views stole the show. It was one of those “pinch me” moments when I wondered if I could be imagining such a gorgeous location. There are 180-degree views of the Las Vegas strip and I literally felt as if we were sitting on top of the world.

Rivea Dining Room. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

Adjacent to Rivea is Skyfall Lounge where you can sip a pre-dinner drink while watching the sunset or stop by after dinner and cap off the night with drinks either on the patio. DJs spin tunes almost every evening starting at 9 p.m.

Outdoor Patio at Skyfall Lounge. Photo courtesy MGM Resorts

The drinks here are a great fit for the magnificent views, with a cocktail menu that gives a nod to classic cocktails but with a modern twist. The Compass Course is a delicious summer sip with vodka, watermelon, lillet blanc, lemon juice, mint, and seltzer. My husband is a bourbon fan, so he found the to be intriguing, with a blend of Elijah Craig 12-year bourbon, amaretto, lemon juice, and a spicy Thai chili. Cheers to summer escapes in Las Vegas!