From Trade Shows to Light Shows: The Ultimate Vegas Work-Play Balance Trip

Join host Nicky Omohundro as she welcomes travel expert Jenn Coleman of Coleman Concierge to the Untethered and Wanderwise podcast. In this episode, Jenn shares how she and Nicky transformed a recent business trip to Las Vegas into an unforgettable girls' getaway packed with extraordinary experiences. Discover the inside scoop on seeing Dead and Company at the revolutionary Sphere venue (with tips from Jenn's popular MSN article), soaring over the neon-lit Strip in a nighttime helicopter tour, and enjoying the glamorous Dita Von Teese Burlesque show at the Venetian.

Beyond their recent adventure, Jenn reveals insights from her previous Vegas explorations, including the mind-bending Meow Wolf experience. Whether you're a business traveler looking to maximize your time in Sin City or planning a dedicated vacation, this episode delivers practical advice on scoring great show tickets, booking the right excursions, finding late-night dining deals, and creating the perfect work-play balance in a city known for excess. Learn how two Gen X travel experts approach Vegas with an eye for transformational experiences while staying true to their values of sustainable and ethical tourism. It's everything you need to know about making the most of Las Vegas—no matter what brings you there!

Transcript

From Trade Shows to Light Shows: The Ultimate Vegas Work-Play Balance - Guest Jenn Coleman

[00:00:00] Nicky Omohundro: Hello Adventurers and welcome to another exciting episode of Untethered and Wander Wise. I'm your host, Nicky Omohundro. Heidi is out traveling in Georgia, the state, not the country this week. So I'm thrilled to introduce today's very special guest.

My friend and fellow world traveler, Jenn Coleman. Jenn and her partner Ed are the creative force behind Coleman Concierge, a travel platform built on a refreshing philosophy that amazing adventures are for ordinary people. As a nationally syndicated travel writer and award-winning landscape photographer, Jenn's work has been featured in Explore, the San Francisco Examiner, Wealth of Geeks and numerous state tourism boards.

She and Ed are brand ambassadors for All Star Liveaboards, Visit North Alabama, and Rails to Trails Conservancy. What I love about Jenn's approach is that she and Ed deeply believe in the transformational power of travel while advocating for sustainable and ethical tourism.

Their content shows that you don't need to be super rich, super fit, or super anything really to have incredible adventures.

Let's welcome Jenn to the podcast.

[00:01:20] Jenn Coleman: Hi. Thank you so much for having me.

[00:01:23] Nicky Omohundro: Today's episode is extra special 'cause Jenn and I are going to take you behind the scenes of our recent girls getaway to Las Vegas, which we tagged onto the end of a business trip.

Whether you're headed to Vegas for work, play, or even a little bit of both, we've got practical advice on everything from scoring great concert tickets and same day show deals to finding affordable late night eats. So sit back, maybe grab a cocktail. We won't tell anyone it's before 5:00 PM and join us for an inside look at how to make the most of Sin City, whether you're there for business or pleasure.

Let's get started.

It's been a couple weeks since we've got back from this Vegas trip. Have you recovered?

[00:02:11] Jenn Coleman: Oh yeah. Finally recovered and ready to get out on the road again.

[00:02:15] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah, that was a lot of fun. Before we dive into our Las Vegas adventure, could you tell our listeners a little bit about Coleman Concierge and your philosophy of amazing adventures for ordinary people?

[00:02:27] Jenn Coleman: When my husband and I met, we were in our low forties. And when we were thinking about retirement, we thought that we'd like to have a vehicle that could help to teach travelers to use their money in a smart way to use their travel dollars for good, basically. And we wanted something that could give us a vehicle to be able to travel the world, have really cool adventures, and also have passive income into retirement.

So when we heard about this whole travel writing blogging thing, we jumped right in. And being at the age that we were, we noticed that there was a bit of a gap. There's a lot of people selling travel to younger people or older people with the bus tours, and there wasn't a lot for kind of that tweener range that late thirties to mid fifties.

A lot of people are at that point deep in family, deep in school, that sort of thing. So we thought we wanna have something that we can teach people, that they can have amazing adventures no matter how old they are, no matter how fit. No matter how much money they have, it doesn't take a lot of money, strong fitness, or being of any certain age to have an amazing adventure. Adventure could be just trying a new restaurant in your town.

Our philosophy is that any ordinary person can have an amazing adventure anywhere that they choose, depending on their barometer for adventure.

[00:03:52] Nicky Omohundro: That's true and you guys do a great job of promoting that, whether 'cause you live in northern Alabama in Huntsville, which is one of my favorite towns and you do a lot of things with trails there for mountain biking, all the way to talking about the safari you took in Africa last year. So that's really a great segment. Adventure can happen anywhere.

So as a nationally syndicated travel writer and an award-winning photographer, what unique perspective do you bring to travel content that differs from other creators?

[00:04:24] Jenn Coleman: Well, my perspective is really grounded in visual storytelling, capturing those real moments that make a place feel alive. I do a bit of writing as well, but my partner in life and business Ed is the main writer. He's actually a lot better at it than I am, but that gives me space to focus on the imagery, to get the feel of a destination while helping to shape the story overall. That said, Ed does have a really excellent eye for photography and he'll shoot back up on his phone and will suggest angles. Together we aim to create content that's not just pretty and inspiring, but also real and useful. We want something that people can connect to and actually use to help plan their own adventures.

[00:05:06] Nicky Omohundro: That's a great point. I think a lot of time people will look at Instagram or TikTok and they'll see a pretty picture, but that isn't necessarily representative of the destination and the two of you together do a great job of bringing it all together.

[00:05:20] Jenn Coleman: Well, thank you. We definitely try every day.

[00:05:24] Nicky Omohundro: And we've traveled together quite a bit too, and we look forward to doing it again very soon. We recently went to Las Vegas for the Travel Goods Association show, and it was a couple of days. We decided to kind of team up together. We would do the show and then we decided to tack on a few extra days for a little bit of fun.

I know many of our listeners travel for work just like we do. So tell people how you and I transformed this business trip into an unforgettable girls getaway in Las Vegas.

[00:06:00] Jenn Coleman: Well, first off, the trip itself was so much fun. Really loved attending the Travel Goods Association Show. This is a show that historically has been more for providers of travel goods, the vendors, and stores that wanna buy it. But recently they've gotten new ownership and they're working on a complete rebrand where they're working towards becoming an all-encompassing travel conference.

So not only buyers and sellers of travel goods, but they're working on getting influencers, creators, travel writers, that sort of thing in there, as well as destinations to really have this nice, cohesive travel conference.

Every conference gives a great itinerary. The first thing that I always like to say if you're going for a conference or an event, is make sure that you go through the itinerary and get an idea of the lay of the land, where you'll be, as well as when your breaks are, when you'll be done for the day, that sort of thing.

One thing that both of us were reminded of, but learned again, a lot of the best lessons are ones you already know, but you get reminded of and that's that you gotta make sure that you give yourself grace and space for being tired. These events, you're peopling every day meeting new people, making contacts, and Vegas is the land of walking. So you're also gonna be doing a lot of walking.

Even if you try to not plan for walking, you're still gonna be doing a lot of walking. So the biggest thing I say is pace yourself. Get a good idea of what you're doing and just make sure that you give yourself grace. Because you might be pretty tired at the end of the day and that's absolutely okay.

[00:07:37] Nicky Omohundro: That's definitely true. I was wearing my Apple Watch and so I walked over a marathon, which is 26 miles within the five days we were there. I remember that first night of the trade show. I think it was like nine o'clock. I'm like, Jenn, I'm out. I can't do anything. We literally went to dinner in the hotel.

I ate, I couldn't even tell you what we had. I was so tired and just passed out and slept for a good nine hours. So yeah, it's a lot. I mean,

[00:08:04] Jenn Coleman: It counts.

[00:08:05] Nicky Omohundro: I was and too, and people don't think about even you're doing a trade show or a conference, you're usually walking on concrete. If you're in the city and you're walking on streets, again, it's concrete. If you're not used to that, that takes a big toll on your body.

[00:08:19] Jenn Coleman: Definitely.

[00:08:21] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah, you've made a great point about doing your homework, looking at the itinerary, when you're doing a conference, like the trade show, we were trying to find something relatively easy to walk to from the Las Vegas Convention Center, and there wasn't anything.

We had a good amount of walking to get to someplace where we could have lunch, and then we ended up Ubering back. That was a little unexpected.

So for those who might be extending a business trip in Vegas, what's your advice on transitioning from work mode to vacation mode?

[00:08:56] Jenn Coleman: Honestly, I kind of feel like it's the same advice that you would have in any kind of a show business world, which is, you do a set change, you leave the conference, you go back to your hotel. Then you gotta do a costume change. You gotta get out of those work clothes and take some time for yourself, maybe get onto the pool. Just maybe just lay on the bed. Just take that time to change your set, change your costume, and then roll from there.

[00:09:24] Nicky Omohundro: That's great advice and I'm firmly in the opinion that a nap is perfectly acceptable these days. It helps you reset like nothing else.

[00:09:34] Jenn Coleman: Absolutely, especially if it's a place like Vegas that doesn't sleep, and you can always do the coffee trick where you get something caffeinated. You drink it, and then you lay down and take a nap for 15, 20 minutes about the time it takes the caffeine to hit you, you wake up and you're in full mode and ready to go.

[00:09:52] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah, it's one of my favorite tricks. It works almost every time, so it's perfect. All you need is a 20 minute nap for a good reset.

[00:09:59] Jenn Coleman: [00:10:00] Definitely.

[00:10:00] Nicky Omohundro: So when we were on vacation mode for this trip, one of the big things we wanted to do was to see Dead and Company at the Sphere. And I know that you wrote a great article on MSN about things people should know before seeing a show at the Sphere.

What inspired you to write that piece? Was it something that most surprised you that we discovered?

[00:10:22] Jenn Coleman: Well, the first thing was that when we got there and saw our seats, we realized that we should have looked more carefully and maybe dove into some YouTubes or articles about what the best seating is, because I just assumed it being a dome that you'd have good 360 views everywhere.

And I did not even think about or account for the big ceiling that was over us in our seats, nor the fact that where we were sitting was actually the wheelchair section.

[00:10:52] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah.

[00:10:53] Jenn Coleman: That made me think, maybe we should have looked at this and researched it a little bit deeper. That was something that was really surprising.

And then the other thing that was surprising was honestly the price point for everything. Concerts in general are getting more expensive, but the price tag really was a bit of sticker shock at first, not only for the show itself, but the concessions.

Since you're not allowed to bring outside water and have to bring a small purse, I did not bring a water bottle. When I bought us our two bottles of water, it was $15 just for two small plastic bottles.

[00:11:28] Nicky Omohundro: That was really high.

I will say I'm the one that chose the seats. I went to SeatGeek and they showed a picture of what our seats look like. I remember looking at it. We were in 200 sections, which is basically floor, but underneath the upper section.

So when I looked at the picture, I was like, that's a great view of the stage, which the two hundreds are a great view of the stage. But when I saw dark above, I was thinking, oh, it's just the ceiling. I didn't comprehend that that was the upper section. So we had limited visibility and I chose the seats based on price.

Each of those tickets, after fees and everything else, was $260 per seat. That's the most I have ever paid for a ticket. I was like, that's good enough. That'll work. But, I agree with you. If you wanna be able to see everything, the stage and the dome, you really should dish out the money and either be on the floor or in that upper level in sections 300 or 400.

[00:12:29] Jenn Coleman: Definitely.

[00:12:30] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah. But it was an amazing show.

[00:12:33] Jenn Coleman: It was, even with the obstructed view, amazing. But with my old school hippie roots I was hoping to get down to the floor. What surprised me actually, was how strictly policed every single section was. I mean, you are not getting into a section if you do not have a ticket for that section.

End of story. For those of us that have grown up going to hippie jam bands, Dead and Company, Phish, String Cheese, those kinda shows, it's free for all. You go wherever, it doesn't matter. But, it doesn't roll like that in the Sphere.

[00:13:04] Nicky Omohundro: No it doesn't. Yeah. In order to get into the mosh pit or the floor section, you had to have a wristband in addition to your ticket. And they were checking that rather militantly.

[00:13:14] Jenn Coleman: Yes.

[00:13:15] Nicky Omohundro: For visitors considering seeing a concert at the Sphere, what two or three key tips do you have for them to enhance their experience?

[00:13:25] Jenn Coleman: We've touched on two of them already. Make sure that you really familiarize yourself with the seating chart when purchasing tickets. I have found some really good YouTube videos where people have been showing exactly, you know, from different sections what your view is like.

[00:13:39] Nicky Omohundro: Mm-hmm.

[00:13:40] Jenn Coleman: Take the time to do that. Definitely mentally prepare yourself for some sticker shock. And then the last one is a lot of walking just to get to and from the venue, even doing a ride share drop off, it was still a lot of walking. So really make sure that you wear some really comfortable shoes.

I remember that day looking at my mileage, and I'd clocked somewhere between 13 and 15 miles, not to mention stairs on top of it.

[00:14:06] Nicky Omohundro: Oof.

[00:14:06] Jenn Coleman: Stairs on top of it.

[00:14:08] Nicky Omohundro: That's quite a bit and I appreciate we took an Uber to the Sphere for that concert and I appreciated what he said, you know, 'cause it's a huge facility and as soon as that concert lets out, you're gonna have a surge if you're doing ride share. And he recommended for us to walk over to the LINQ Promenade, grab a bite to eat, see what there was to see, and then eventually, once that surge had let out, the prices were gonna be cheaper at the LINQ than they were gonna be at the Sphere, and that was a great deal.

[00:14:38] Jenn Coleman: Definitely, the Uber drivers in and of themselves tend to be a wealth of knowledge and resources for people traveling. So, it's always great to ask your Uber driver, what are some good places to eat, or for local tips because they typically have some really great advice.

[00:14:54] Nicky Omohundro: Oh, definitely. Now you've been to several different concerts and other things in your travels. How do you think the Sphere compares to other entertainment venues you've been to?

[00:15:05] Jenn Coleman: I would say that, if you're looking for really cool visuals and a fully immersive experience, the Sphere is definitely the coolest I've ever been to. But that being said, it does lack a certain freedom. I tend to like to go to shows that are big kind of outdoor venues.

I've gone to lots of them. Red Rocks in Denver, Colorado, which is amazing. And then there's another venue in Washington State called the Gorge in George. I also really like Cal Expo in California. All those venues, they've got a big grassy section, where the floor section would be. And for me, if I'm going to a live show, I wanna be dancing and spinning and running around. So venues like that make it a lot more fun when you're just out, you can feel the wind in your hair and it breaks up the claustrophobia and the crowdedness when you've got nature around you and open air above you.

[00:15:57] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah, the Sphere was definitely, you're gonna get to know your neighbors.

[00:16:00] Jenn Coleman: Very.

[00:16:01] Nicky Omohundro: So yes. And actually the neighbor we had to my left, she was a fantastic woman. And she's like, here, would you like a sucker? Would you like this? Would you like that? She was great.

[00:16:11] Jenn Coleman: Yeah, she was very sweet.

[00:16:12] Nicky Omohundro: Yes, so going from the floor of the Sphere up, we ended up doing a nighttime helicopter ride over the Strip and that was surprisingly one of my favorite things outside of the Sphere.

It was more incredible than I ever imagined. What photo opportunities did this experience offer that you can't get any other way?

[00:16:35] Jenn Coleman: Well, yeah, I fully agree with you. The experience was way better than I would've thought and I've taken several helicopter tours, and, you know, taking photography from a helicopter, it's totally different than shooting from the ground. From up in the helicopter, you get these sweeping cinematic views of the Strip that just are not possible any other way. The lights just stretch out like a neon river and you really can capture full scale Vegas. The fountains at Bellagio, the High Roller glowing, the whole city is just sparkling beneath you. The thing that actually really struck me about the perspective shift was when you're actually above the energy and above the crowd seeing it all, it's like this beautiful electric landscape.

I mean, it's honestly kind of surreal. And as a photographer, getting to capture a place in a unique way that most people never see, that's where the magic is.

[00:17:29] Nicky Omohundro: Definitely, and I loved the idea that we came very close to the Stratosphere. So amazing 'cause we got really close and you really just came over where the peak was and you got to look down and see the Strip from that angle. And then I remember getting really close to the MGM Grand.

[00:17:47] Jenn Coleman: Yeah, we got real.

[00:17:48] Nicky Omohundro: It's like, okay, that's interesting. But then too, what's really funny is we had absolutely no plans to see any other shows while we were there.

But while we were on that helicopter ride, there was a billboard lit up for the Dita Von Teese show at the Venetian. That helicopter ride led into the burlesque show that we saw immediately after. It was a very unique experience. I don't think you could get that any other place. It's just nice to see everything and see how compact the Strip is.

[00:18:19] Jenn Coleman: Mm-hmm.

[00:18:20] Nicky Omohundro: And it's also nice to be above it and be out of the crowd.

[00:18:23] Jenn Coleman: Absolutely. And it was honestly beautiful from above, just seeing how everything is interconnected and the designs.

[00:18:31] Nicky Omohundro: Definitely so, but speaking of that burlesque show, you know that show itself has quite the reputation. This wasn't on our radar, but we booked tickets last minute online after our helicopter tour, and then Ubered over to the Venetian. What would you tell listeners who might be hesitant but interested in seeing a show like that, maybe a little bit more adult?

[00:18:53] Jenn Coleman: Well, first off, I mean Dita Von Teese, she's an icon and I'm of the school of thought that if you have a chance to see an icon perform, you just gotta take it.

[00:19:03] Nicky Omohundro: Agreed.

[00:19:04] Jenn Coleman: Her show at the Venetian, it's elegant, cheeky, and incredibly well produced. It really is a true throwback to classic Vegas glamor, but with a modern and empowered twist. If you're even a little bit curious, go for it. It's not risqué in a way that feels uncomfortable. It's more like watching a living piece of performance art. The costumes are beautiful. The staging is stunning, and Dita really does own the stage. It's classic, fun and makes for a memorable Vegas night out.

[00:19:37] Nicky Omohundro: Oh, I completely agree. The cocktails were on point that night.

[00:19:40] Jenn Coleman: They were. They were really fun, really good, and I really liked that old school loungey vibe they had in the venue.

[00:19:48] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah. And also people think of Vegas as being Sin City, and this is kind of tame if you're looking at on that scale, but there were a lot of women, like girl groups [00:20:00] and women in the audience. I remember you said one time that, a burlesque show is kind of a strip tease for women.

[00:20:06] Jenn Coleman: Yep.

[00:20:08] Nicky Omohundro: You've got the elegance, the art, and the visual.

[00:20:13] Jenn Coleman: Definitely. And it's very classy with the assy.

[00:20:20] Nicky Omohundro: That's a great way to put it.

You visited places like Meow Wolf's Omega Mart in Las Vegas on a previous trip. I've done Meow Wolf in Grapevine, and it was a great experience. How would you describe the interactive art experience to someone who's never been?

[00:20:37] Jenn Coleman: I went on a previous trip with Ed and honestly, it blew our minds. One thing to know is that every single Meow Wolf location is completely different, and that's part of the fun. You do not know what the heck you're walking into.

Omega Mart is kinda like a psychedelic cross between an art exhibit, an escape room, and probably the most surreal grocery store you've ever seen. The immersiveness is really next level. If you dive into the hidden storyline and start solving the puzzles, you'll look at your watch and realize that you've literally been there forever hours. It is that engaging. I'd say it's perfect for adults and older kids, probably 10 and up, who really want something out of the box and interactive. I mean, it's really weird, but in the best possible way, and honestly, just a lot of fun.

[00:21:23] Nicky Omohundro: Definitely. I know when I went to the one in Grapevine, we were there about two and a half hours, and I think we covered the entire space. But there was so much more that we could have seen, and I know that Omega Mart is actually larger than the one in Grapevine. You can really get in and it's like you said, it's like an escape room and a scavenger hunt all rolled into one. It's a great way to spend the day, especially in the Las Vegas heat. If we're going during the summer months.

[00:21:53] Jenn Coleman: Definitely.

[00:21:54] Nicky Omohundro: Cool off.

[00:21:55] Jenn Coleman: Bad weather as well. It's a good one.

[00:21:57] Nicky Omohundro: Exactly. What other unique Vegas attractions have you experienced on previous trips that might be off a typical tourist radar?

[00:22:06] Jenn Coleman: One place I always recommend that's a little off the typical tourist radar is the Fremont Street Experience, and really the downtown Las Vegas area in general. It's got this gritty, artsy vibe that's totally different than the Strip. There's great music, wild and crazy street performers, and some seriously cool bars and restaurants. The Thai restaurant we went to, Le Thai, really was a standout with bold flavors, a casual energy, and a like the price point was so reasonable, it blew my mind. It was amazing. If you're downtown in the Las Vegas area, I definitely recommend spending an evening over there.

If you're down for something a little more adventurous and you've got the time, I'd say get out of town a bit. Kayaking the Black Canyon is absolutely amazing, especially if you do it in a clear kayak. There is a company that does that, and it was an amazing experience. You can also hit the trails at Red Rock Canyon for some epic desert hiking. And if you want a real bucket list moment, Grand Canyon West is totally doable from Vegas, either by car, helicopter, or a combination of both. It's a different kind of thrill, but it really does round out a trip beyond the neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip.

[00:23:20] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah, that's a great point. And a lot of people think about extending the trip and just staying in Vegas. It's an easy drive to go to the Grand Canyon West or even Hoover Dam.

[00:23:29] Jenn Coleman: Definitely.

[00:23:30] Nicky Omohundro: While we were in Vegas, we met with Dolev with Base Camp Outdoor Gear, and she's got a great service where if you wanna go camping or hiking in the area, you can rent all of the gear you need from her. You'd simply drive in, pick it up and go, which is a nice thing.

[00:23:47] Jenn Coleman: Definitely. And she actually is right by the airport. So if you flew in, you don't have to worry about trying to fly with camping gear. I mean, who wants to do that? So, when you get your car at the airport, you can just head right over there and get everything that you need. We went and personally checked out the store. All of her gear is extremely well maintained. It's really high quality, really high end. Loved all the brands that she carried.

She also had a cool little thing in the rental area where folks, if they didn't use certain things, would just leave them and you could just come and take it if you needed it.

It had a give and receive type thing with some of the extra camping gear that people didn't wanna fly home with.

[00:24:26] Nicky Omohundro: It reminded me of a place I visited along the Appalachian Trail where people would leave things that they didn't need 'cause it'd be overweight and didn't wanna have to pack it around with them. It's a great system where you just take what you need, leave what you don't, and leave it for the next person.

[00:24:40] Jenn Coleman: Definitely.

[00:24:41] Nicky Omohundro: It's a great service. Let's talk about the practical Vegas tips that we can offer our listeners. I talked a little bit about the concert tickets we got for Dead and Co. We used SeatGeek, which was nice because they offer that little icon where you could see what the view would be from each of those sections.

What tips do you have for getting good seats at popular Vegas shows without breaking the bank?

[00:25:07] Jenn Coleman: I typically tend to be a little bit more on the spontaneous side when it comes to shows, and so I'm a really big fan of two services: Tickets for Tonight and then the other one is Tickets for Vegas, or they actually are both spelled TIX. For Tonight, or TIX for Vegas.

[00:25:26] Nicky Omohundro: Okay.

[00:25:26] Jenn Coleman: Both of those have got really great deals on last minute tickets for shows and even some of the higher end restaurants and buffets and so forth.

And I would say if you're going to something like that, you can go online. They also have locations scattered around the Strip. If you go early, that's when you're gonna tend to have the best chance to get good seats at these kind of places.

[00:25:49] Nicky Omohundro: In New York City, you get same day tickets and you can get really cheap tickets for that night. That's a great way to do it if you don't have a show that you don't want or like adamant that you have to be at.

What excursions would you recommend booking ahead of time versus what can travelers plan last minute in Vegas?

[00:26:07] Jenn Coleman: Well in Vegas, there are definitely some things that you can let wing last minute, but others are definitely important to book ahead. For instance, things like helicopter tours, a really big name show, especially a residency or a day trip to places like the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon, I'd be sure to lock those in early.

They fill up fast and you don't wanna miss out or pay a premium. But that said, Vegas also thrives on spontaneity, and you can grab same day tickets for comedy shows, lounge acts, or some of the more offbeat experiences like the Pinball Hall of Fame or a cool museum downtown. Dining can be hit or miss.

If it's a specific celebrity chef spot you're dying to try, I definitely recommend booking ahead. But there's also plenty of gems as you walk around. It's important to stay flexible. And I would say so, basically to kind of sum it up in a pretty little box, plan your must-dos, but leave space for surprises because it's that balance that really makes Vegas so much fun.

[00:27:12] Nicky Omohundro: Oh, I completely agree. Vegas used to be the land of kind of show up. Everything is cheap. It was like the $10 steak dinner buffet, but that's not the case anymore. Like the celebrity chef-driven restaurants and other residencies have made it a lot more expensive. But you and I both found some great late night dinner options.

One of those was a sushi restaurant that was adjacent to the Fashion Show, which is the mall there on the main Strip. It was late at night and it was $5 sushi rolls. It was fantastic. It was an unexpected find.

[00:27:48] Jenn Coleman: Definitely. It was Raw Sushi and I'd actually had them when I used to live in Tucson and they have great food for sure.

[00:27:56] Nicky Omohundro: So what are some of your top recommendations for affordable eats when you're on the Strip?

[00:28:02] Jenn Coleman: Well, the big thing is there's some really great late night food deals, especially if you're looking to eat after a show or a concert. As Nicky mentioned, we love the late night happy hour at Raw Sushi. But that being said, there are a lot of restaurants, especially the hotel casino properties that run a late night happy hour, starting around 10 or 11:00 PM. It's worth checking the menus ahead of time or asking your server, and you'll find solid eats. Places like Secret Pizza in the Cosmopolitan, it's no fuss, just good New York style slices late at night. Vegas is a 24-hour town, so don't be afraid to eat on your own schedule. Some of the best meals happen after midnight.

[00:28:45] Nicky Omohundro: Oh, definitely. One of the places I found, we stayed at the Westgate for this trip 'cause it was adjacent to the convention center. The day that you came in, I found the taco shop that was all the way at the far end of the property, on the way to the parking lot. They had some really cheap street tacos.

If you look and see what you can find, especially in some of the hotels, you can find great eats for not too much money.

[00:29:10] Jenn Coleman: Definitely.

[00:29:12] Nicky Omohundro: So now, both Coleman Concierge and Untethered and Wander Wise value transformative travel experiences, how did our Vegas trip transform you or surprise you in unexpected ways?

[00:29:26] Jenn Coleman: Well, first off, the trip was so much fun and honestly it was only my second ever like real girls trip, so it left me thinking that I seriously need a lot more of those in my life. There's just something about being with your girlfriends, saying yes to random adventures and pretty much laughing until late night that just hits differently.

[00:29:47] Nicky Omohundro: Yes.

[00:29:48] Jenn Coleman: I've been to Vegas plenty of times, and this one really did have its own individual flavor. When it's a girl's trip, instead of a full on work trip or something with your partner, you just find yourself getting [00:30:00] into a different kind of trouble. But the fun kind, as I'm winking over the airwaves.

We did the helicopter ride. We saw Dita Von Teese, and we just really let the evening unfold, which was so much fun. That's what I love about travel like this. It does shake you out of your routine. It reminds you to play a little, and lets you reconnect with yourself and your friends in the best possible way.

[00:30:23] Nicky Omohundro: Definitely. The two of us traveled together for this trip, but then we also had friends that were part of attending the travel show that we had gone to. And so we had also gone out with them and you had friends that were in town. I ended up having family that came up from California.

So the trip kind of took some twists and it took some turns, but it was fantastic. I think having the flexibility to kind of adjust and go with it really helped and it was the trip we were supposed to have. We just didn't know it.

[00:30:55] Jenn Coleman: Yep, exactly.

[00:30:56] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah, so that was a lot of fun. As advocates for sustainable and ethical tourism, how would you approach a destination like Las Vegas that's known for excess?

[00:31:09] Jenn Coleman: Well, you nailed that. Vegas definitely has a reputation for excess.

[00:31:12] Nicky Omohundro: Yeah.

[00:31:13] Jenn Coleman: And yeah, it definitely lives up to it, but that does not mean that you can't approach it with a little intention. For us, it was about making mindful choices. We tried to eat at locally owned restaurants. We opted for experiences that celebrate creativity and culture, and it's important to carve out time for the quieter side of Vegas, like hiking in Red Rock, or visiting the Neon Museum for the love of all things sparkly.

Please bring yourself a reusable water bottle. It's dry as heck out there. Staying hydrated will make absolutely everything better. You're gonna feel more energized, you're gonna recover faster from those late nights, and your skin will definitely thank you. I mean, sustainable travel can start with the simple stuff, even in a place like Vegas.

[00:32:02] Nicky Omohundro: I completely agree. Then transportation options, you have options there too. You can rent a car, you can do ride share, but there are several hotels that are on the Las Vegas monorail. Westgate being one of them at the convention center that will help alleviate traffic on the road.

But you can take that quite a few places and we did, for a couple of days and that was really nice to be able to do that.

[00:32:26] Jenn Coleman: Definitely. I'm finding more and more these days it's better to visit Vegas without a car, unless you're really planning on driving a lot of places, because parking has gotten to be really challenging and it's really expensive. If you are planning on a Vegas trip and you wanna take one day out to go, maybe go out to Red Rock Canyon or the dam, just rent a car for the day instead of the whole time, it's gonna actually save you quite a bit of money and quite a bit of headaches.

[00:32:52] Nicky Omohundro: Exactly, and the Strip is very walkable. Depending on where you are, find a hotel that's located near where you wanna be and you can just walk everywhere for the most part.

[00:33:02] Jenn Coleman: Definitely.

[00:33:03] Nicky Omohundro: For our listeners who are planning a trip to Las Vegas, what would be your starter itinerary for the first time?

[00:33:11] Jenn Coleman: Well, we've kind of touched on a little bit of it already in our conversation. But when you're picking your hotel, first and foremost, it really depends on why you're actually traveling to Vegas. If you're coming for a conference or a trade show like we were, we did stay at the Westgate, which was super convenient.

It was reasonably priced, and it was right by the convention center. But that said, when I come back for another conference, I think I'd probably choose to stay somewhere else. I, like the Fontainebleau, it's still really close to everything, but I've been hearing that it's really beautiful. It has really incredible restaurants and gives you that somewhat elevated experience over what we got in the Westgate, so that way you can feel a little more pampered even if you are in town for work. But no matter where you stay, most Vegas hotels do charge a resort fee. So that's one important thing to keep in mind when booking. So be sure to factor that into your budget. As Nicky mentioned, staying near the light rail station can make getting around so much easier. If you're not planning on renting a car, Ubering all over the place, then it's also important to be really honest with yourself about how much time you're actually gonna be spending in your room when booking the hotel.

If you're gonna be going nonstop, go with something more budget friendly, 'cause you're not gonna be in the room that much. But if your trip is more of one of those relaxing and indulgent type trips, the upgrade can be absolutely worth it. I mean, Vegas has something for every vibe. I mean, you've got old school classics like The Flamingo to really sleek upscale stays like the Aria or the Cosmopolitan. If you're staying during the time when the weather's more mild to hot, so spring, summer, fall, I'd say a really good starter itinerary could look something like, you come in day one.

Settle in, maybe kick off with a good dinner. Stroll around and look at the lights. Maybe check out the Bellagio Fountain, Caesars Forum Shops. Catch a last minute lounge show. Hit a rooftop bar. Just kind of enjoy the evening.

The next day, you can wander the Strip a bit more if you choose or if it's hot, maybe just have a sleep in. Go to brunch, have some pool time. Maybe have a little fun in the casino and then a big night, maybe like a helicopter ride, or go to a headliner show.

And then the next day, day three, that's the one where you can get off the Strip if you so choose, go for a kayak in the Black Canyon, see nature and then freshen up and head over to Fremont Street.

Check out all the craziness there. Go to dinner downtown. Have some fun people watching. And then day four, if you're heading out, long weekend, indulge beforehand, sneak in a spa treatment. That way you can leave feeling completely relaxed and recharged.

[00:36:00] Nicky Omohundro: Maybe even an IV to recharge on everything that you've put out the last few days. Yeah.

[00:36:05] Jenn Coleman: If you can do needles. Yes.

[00:36:10] Nicky Omohundro: Or even if you do a little oxygen bar, that might help refresh you as well.

[00:36:14] Jenn Coleman: Absolutely.

[00:36:15] Nicky Omohundro: It's really one of those things where Las Vegas can be anything you want it to be. You can do the day pool parties, you can do the brunch, you can do the spa day, you can gamble and win big, you know it. It's really up to you.

We had a great time and I know our next trip will look very different with everything that we didn't get accomplished on this trip. Let me ask while we're wrapping this up. What's one experience in Las Vegas that didn't make it on your itinerary this time, but is on your list for next time?

[00:36:48] Jenn Coleman: Ooh. I would say, first off, I would've loved to have hit up that celebrity food hall in Caesars Palace.

[00:36:54] Nicky Omohundro: Mm-hmm.

[00:36:55] Jenn Coleman: It's a dining experience with lots of different restaurants featuring all of the top celebrity chefs that have restaurants in Vegas all in one spot. So I really love the idea of being able to sample a little bit of everything without committing to a big reservation or a big price tag, especially in a city like Vegas, where really, part of the fun is the food scene. So that would be one for sure I would wanna do.

Then I also wanna hit up one of those hidden speakeasies that you told me about Nicky. I mean, there's just something really cool about discovering these secret spots and it makes you feel like you're in on a Vegas secret, so I'm always down for that kind of experience.

[00:37:34] Nicky Omohundro: Exactly, yeah, on my list, the speakeasies were at the top of my list, but I was just so tired. I just didn't have the energy to go out and enjoy that. So that would definitely be mine. And then go to a club, just to see some live music. That was something that I really wanted to do. And I will say for the speakeasies, I actually found more on TikTok.

Now it's just serving me all of the speakeasies and places to eat. So I'm like, save, save, save. So my list is growing for our next trip, so I'm so excited for that. So where can our listeners find you at Coleman Concierge to follow your future adventures?

[00:38:15] Jenn Coleman: We are everywhere. We do all the things. You can, of course come visit us on our website, colemanconcierge.com. We've actually got two Instagram accounts. We've got Coleman Concierge, which is kind of more nature, big, gorgeous pictures, wildlife, that sort of thing. And then for more of our hotels, food activities, we have Concierge Corner. We're on X, formerly Twitter as @Colemanconcierg, missing the E because they wouldn't let us have the E. It was too long. Pinterest we're the same. We're on Threads with Coleman Concierge. We're on LinkedIn. We're in all the places.

[00:38:55] Nicky Omohundro: All the places. Well, fantastic. So our listeners will definitely have to go check you out so they can plan their next adventure and reach out to you directly if they have any questions.

And with that we're gonna wrap up today's episode on Las Vegas after a work trip. I wanna thank Jenn for coming on today to rehash all the fun that we had.

And if you have a friend that's going to Las Vegas in the near future, or just someone you want to go to Las Vegas with, be sure and share this podcast with them and give us a like and follow wherever you find your podcast.

With that, I'm going to thank everyone for listening. Heidi will be back next week when she gets back from Georgia, but then again, we're gonna end up in Mexico when she gets back.

We'll have another fun adventure for you then. Until then, happy adventuring and take that trip.