Things I Wish I Knew- Surviving Vegas

We're back at it again with my "Things I wish I knew" series! I was having a hard time deciding what to write about and since I just turned 22, I reminisced about what I did for my 21st. Thinking back to my 21st birthday in Vegas, I realized that there were a lot of things I wish I knew ahead of time so I thought it would be a great addition to my series.

Going to Vegas for your 21st birthday is kind of like a right of passage in the U.S. Basically it's an excuse to go get shitfaced and party your ass off. Getting lost in the glitz and glamour is all part of the Vegas charm. Here are some tips I suggest if you're ever heading over there!

1. Have a good meal.
The whole weekend will go by and you'll realize that you only had one meal the entire time. Take the time to actually get some food in your belly. It'll definitely help with the massive hangover you're about to take on. If you can't hit the endless buffets, check out one of Gordan Ramsay's restaurants. It's worth the trip!

2. Speaking of hangover..
Drink lots and lots of water! The weather is insanely hot, especially in the summer- don't be fool trying to act cool at the day club. The deadly combo of alcohol+hot sun-water = you not getting out of bed.

3. Have a promoter handy
It's hard to get into clubs without a promoter in Vegas.

4. Budget yourself!
It's extremely tempting to spend loads of cash in Vegas. Your dolla bills will be gone in seconds so watch yourself! Those slot machines are evil. Once you're kind of buzz, you'll want to keep buying drinks so save yourself and only bring a certain amount of cash with you.

5. Heels are the worst 

Target.com

I know those stilettos are super cute but you'll die in them if you go clubbing with them. There's absolutely no way you'll survive the night- let alone 2 hours dancing in those. The bloodstains are real people. The blisters are no joke. No bandaid in the world will help you. If you know you're going to be dancing your ass off, I advise you to get some wedges but if you're like me and kind of hate the look of wedges.. I would get platforms like the one above. Don't be that girl who walks barefoot back to your hotel. It's not cute and it's a bit sad. Don't be that girl! The floor is disgusting! Keep a pair of small foldable flats in your purse/clutch.

6. Don't waste your time seeing a super popular DJ. 
I went to go see Zedd perform at XS and it was basically the worst night ever. It was insanely crowded! It took us 30 mins to get to the bar and the dance floor was closed off. We ended up sitting around the pool and we couldn't even see Zedd from where we were. Save yourself the few bucks and go to a smaller club. It'll be more fun with a smaller crowd and less crowded bar.

7. Don't wear a black outfit
There are literally thousands of other girls wearing the exact same color. Set yourself apart and wear something colorful like a red or blue dress. If you're brave enough- a white one.

Lulu's 

8. Experience it all 

Don't just drink and go to the club all weekend. Go catch one of Vegas's popular shows! There are tons of concerts and shows you can see. If you don't want to see a show, walk around the strip and casinos. At Caesar's palace there's a huge mall that you can walk around and shop in. 

And.. that's all the advice I can think of! Good luck to you- have fun and be safe! 

Until next time..

x 

Missing the obvious

Traveling can be extremely daunting especially if you're traveling alone or going somewhere new for the first time! I've been traveling a lot this summer (new posts coming soon!) and I realized that I've missed A LOT of the obvious travel tips that people don't normally share and I thought that probably majority of us have miss this too! I've separated this according to the travel styles I experienced this summer. 

Airport / Airplane

1. Don't put your charger in your checked in baggage! 

You'll definitely regret this especially if you have your boarding pass on your smartphone. You won't realize how quickly your phone dies until you're almost dead. You'll be trying to pass time by being on your phone and before you know it, you're down to 30%. Always bring a charger with you in your personal bag or carry-on! 

2. Bring snacks 

This feels like a no brainer- but honestly, we forget most of the time. You don't want to spend $6 getting a protein bar and some chips at the airport. Trust me. It's not worth it. Bring your own snacks and save yourself a few bucks. Also they're super handy during 3-5 hour flights. 

3. Have a pair of headphones

A lot of airlines have entertainment on their planes but they don't always provide you with headphones. Be sure to bring your own so you can enjoy what they have to offer! 

4. Do not overpack your carry-on 

If you're a girl, DO NOT overpack your carry on luggage. It's a total hassle to shove it in the compartment above your head. If you overpack, it's extremely heavy and annoying to lug around. Travel lightly! You don't want to bother other people to help you lift it! For some reason, people in airplanes are super cranky. 

5. Have your ID and Boarding pass in hand

Have your ID and boarding pass out while checking in your luggage and for TSA. It's a trivial tip but it's important. You don't want to stand there awkwardly digging into your bag for it. Save yourself time and have it ready. 

6. TSA

Make sure you're wearing shoes that are easy to slip on and off. This will help make your experience much faster. You can wear tennis shoes.. but make sure the laces are loose enough to slip offAlso, try avoid wearing anything with metal! 

7. Find your gate, then do your business 

There are a million different gates and signs at the airport. It can be super confusing so make sure you find your gate number before you head off to the restroom or snack bar. 

8. Figure out how you're going to get there and who is picking you up. 

Don't wait last minute to find someone to give you a ride to the airport. A lot of flights are during the weekdays and many people have work. Plan ahead! Also figure out what you're going to do when you land. Is someone picking you up? Download Lyft and Uber as a backup just in case if your ride backs out. 

9. Be sure to check in! 

A lot of airlines let you check in by mobile phones now. Be sure to check your email 24hours before your flight! 

10. Print your boarding pass!

Nowadays, you can put your boarding pass on your smartphone but it's always good to have a backup. My phone was being super weird and glitchy right when I got to the airport and believe me.. I panicked! So I definitely recommend printing! 

Car Rides / Road Trips

1.  Bring a pillow! 

You'll be snoozing a lot during the ride so be sure to have something comfy to lean on! 

2.  Wear socks

We all know you're going to take off your shoes so keep them toes warm with some comfy socks! 

3. Bring snacks 

It'll be a while till you actually stop for gas so stock up on snacks to cure your hunger on the road.. my favorite is a tube of pringles! 

4. Have car games ready

You'll be in the car for a long time and most likely you won't get reception or your battery will die on your cellphone so play some fun games with your car mates! One game I played with my friends is "entertainment" (I couldn't remember the name so I renamed it :P ) How you play is one person names an Actor and the next person has to say a movie/show they were in- then the next person has to name someone else from that movie and the next person has to name a movie they were in. It gets fun! 

5. Download a podcast or playlist. 

Most likely you won't get reception so have something that's already on your phone. Podcasts are fun to listen to! I've been listening to the Nerdist podcast. They have a lot of celebrities and musicians that come on the podcast and it's pretty much candid. You get to hear them in a super casual environment and it makes them seem more down to earth. 

And.. That's all the tips I can think of now! If I missed any, feel free to comment below! 

Until next time 

x