My wife and I just returned from our 3rd annual Vegas pilgrimage, which is apparently becoming a thing for us.
We weren't sure we would enjoy Vegas the first time we went, however we have come to enjoy our time there.
There are a ton of different things to do and see and you can cater your experience to exactly what you want to do.
We just made the trek to Zion this time and are planning on returning next November.
We have stayed at the Cosmopolitan, Aria, Vdara, and the Park MGM. I prefer to stay at the Vdara, there is no casino attached to it and it's generally quieter, plus it's non smoking.
Here's my list of things you definitely have to do:
Tour the Bellagio gardens, it's free. Go during the day and night, two different experiences. Go watch the fountain show from the strip.
Go to the Chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan and people watch.
Take a free class on Craps, Blackjack, or Roulette at one of the casinos.
Sign up for a MLife rewards card and use it at the MGM properties when you buy anything, you'll run up rewards points and generally they give you $10 to gamble with free. Caesers Palace and the Cosmopolitan have their own rewards cards.
Rent a car and drive to Red Rock for the day.
Drive to the Valley of Fire and time it so you are there for the sunset
Same for Lake Mead and the Hoover dam, the tour into the dam is interesting, but not really worth it IMO.
Don't keep the rental car for multiple days, return it each night and skip having to pay for parking at the hotel, save yourself like $50.
We gamble very little, however have come to fancy ourselves as "culinary gamblers". Vegas has some phenomenal restaurants.
Have had some of the best steaks ever at Scotch 80, Bavettes, and Ghallagers.
We prefer the buffet at the Aria and the Cosmopolitan, however for the price of the buffet, you can get a decent meal at one of the other restaurants. Lemongrass in the Aria has some of the best Asian fare I've ever had.
Lotus of Siam was phenomenal if you like Thai food, you can walk over to the Atomic Testing museum after.
The mob museum was cool as well, we didn't care for Freemont street. When we went there were a significant amount of panhandling, addicts, and homeless milling around.
Don't get suckered into the hustlers on the strip or inside the casinos trying to lure you into their scams, just keep walking.
If you want tickets to shows, make friends with the hotel concierge.
@bigfelipe Spearmint Rhino is decent, however way overrated..... Sapphire and Treasures are better, at least that's what my wife says.