Vegas rolls out red carpet for LGBT travelers
Searching for sex, sun, and fun, gay travelers? Set your sights on Sin City, where good times are a sure thing. Book yourself into one of the many luxury hotels or the gay Blue Moon Hotel Resort, and prepare to be indulged by the Las Vegas experience-fine dining, nightclubs, casinos, and of course, tickets to the top shows, from Bette Midler to Chelsea Handler. Or, make your trip even more special with one of Vegas’ most cherished traditions-blessed nuptials officiated by an Elvis impersonator.
Gay men can find paradise right off the Strip in one of the 45 professionally designed rooms and suites at
If you’d rather stay in the thick of it all, Paris Las Vegas (3655 Las Vegas Blvd.) is considered to be the most gay-friendly resort on the Strip. They also offer a full LGBT honeymoon package, if you’re tempted to tie the knot. Although marriage for gays and lesbians is not legal in Nevada, the state’s domestic partnership registration took effect on Oct. 1.
Fans of camp and the King should head to the Graceland Marriage Chapel to exchange vows before one of Vegas’ best Elvis impersonators. Those opting for a more serious commitment ceremony should head to the breathtaking Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire. The nearby amenities of the Red Rock Resort make it an ideal place for a wedding reception.
New to Vegas? So is their shiny new monorail, an elevated transit system running behind resorts that offers a convenient way to navigate between attractions. Hop on and get a quick overview of the city for only five dollars, or spring for an unlimited day pass for $13.
Set your sights on the casino of your choice, and shoot your wad. But save some cash to drown your sorrows at 8 1/2 Ultra Lounge (4633 Paradise Rd., (702) 791-0100) a stunning nightclub in a squat, stone-encrusted building at the south end of the Fruit Loop. Enjoy the swanky lodge feel of the lounge, blissfully devoid of video poker, or navigate over to the attached Piranha nightclub, complete with red columns and a winding staircase. Nothing says class quite like crystal chandeliers, boys!
Once you’ve got your drinks on, stagger over to the Caesar’s Palace Coliseum on the Strip and catch your favorite divas in action. With shows five days a week for the next two years, chances are you won’t have a problem getting tickets to see Bette Midler. Tickets start at $150. If you miss the Divine Miss M, you can always snap out of it with tickets to Cher in Vegas, featuring elaborate costumes, sets, and the hits we have come to love. And say hello to Lady Luck! Fans of comic sarcasm will want to catch the saucy Chelsea Handler on Saturday, Nov. 14. If you prefer the acrobatic stylings of Cirque du Soleil, Vegas offers six productions to choose from, the best being Zumanity at New York-New York, O at Bellagio, and Love at Mirage.
Now that you’re feeling fabulous, set your sights on Krave, the Strip’s original gay nightclub. Located in the Desert Passage at the Aladdin Hotel Casino across from Planet Hollywood, Krave features one of the largest dance floors on the Strip, a show produced by John Stagliano, and the city’s most fantastic fashionistas. Show up with friends and have a blast; show up alone, and be assured you won’t leave that way. Enjoy "So You Think You Can Strip," amateur booty shakers contest on Wednesdays; and Saturday evenings Candy Bar party in the lounge caters to ladies who like ladies. ($20 cover, 3663 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 836-0830.)
And anything goes on the sunken dance floor of Gipsy, (4605 Paradise Rd.) Vegas’ longest-running gay dance party. The club, located near the Hard Rock Café, offers theme parties nightly, including Flamboyance, a Sunday drag show. Also on Sundays, the Mirage offers Closet Sundays at the Beatles Revolution Lounge, for "boys who like boys and their girlfriends."
House of Blues is also getting in on the action with the new Elevated Tuesdays parties in their Foundation Room, a weekly event sponsored by QVegas. If your gold lamé is in mothballs, catch the neighborhood pub feel any day of the week with drinks at the Backdoor Lounge (1415 E. Charleston) where you’ll find a mixed crowd enjoying dancing, cocktails, and games. Whether you plan to stay for the weekend or for a week, Las Vegas offers countless diversions for the gay traveler. Just head for the bright lights, and prepare to set your soul on fire.
