Hollie’s USA trip!

I have recently returned from a USA 3 centre trip to Memphis, New Orleans & Las Vegas! I was lucky enough to spend some time in these 3 great but very different destinations courtesy of our travel partners Gold Medal, Travel2 and  Virgin Atlantic & Delta Airlines.

The trip started with flights on Virgin & Delta from Manchester via Atlanta to Memphis. I spent 2 nights in Memphis experiencing the music history of this famous Tennessee city. I also visited Graceland, the home and hub of everything Elvis Presley which was a definite highlight and something to tick off the bucket list. We also visited the Rock and Soul Museum and Stax Museum to learn about how the soul music of the 60’s and 70’s started and originated in Memphis. If you like Blues music, these are for you and don’t miss a trip to the famous Beale Street and BB Kings blues bar. For me personally the highlight of Memphis was going to the Martin Luther King Civil Rights Museum. Located and built at the Lorraine Motel which was where MLK was assassinated. It is a very poignant and well organised museum taking you through the history of the civil rights movement from slavery to present day – a definite must!

After Memphis we took a 6 hour drive to our next stop which was New Orleans, Louisiana where we received a warm welcome into the deep south. We stayed at the Wyndham New Orleans which was a 5 minute walk to the famous Bourbon Street and is in the heart of the French Quarter which is very pretty and you can see the influence from both French and Spanish settlers. Bourbon street is very lively through the day & night and is the centre of music and Jazz. Jazz is BIG in New Orleans and you will find amazing bands playing in the clubs and on the streets at all hours of the day! New Orleans celebrated its 300 years of existence this year and they celebrated in style as only you can do in the south! You need to try the famous oysters, gumbo & jumbalaya when visiting which are specialities of the area and very yummy!. Other highlights include a river steam boat cruise down the famous Mississippi river, walk around Jackson Square and see all the street artists and visit the Mardi Gras Museum where they display the floats, costumes and masks from the famous Mardi Gras parade. A top tip for breakfast (or any time of day actually) is a visit to the famous Café Du Monde where there world famous beignet’s are made and served fresh…truly delicious!

Leaving New Orleans we had 2 more flights to arrive into the city that never sleeps – Las Vegas, and it truly is Viva Las Vegas! The city that never sleeps was such a great experience that I truly loved. The famous Las Vegas strip is a sight to walk with all the famous and well known hotels that you can go in to see. The majority of the hotels have casinos, shops, restaurants, entertainment shows along with bars & nightlife which visitors can enjoy throughout most of the day or night. Freemont Street, known as ‘old Las Vegas’ from the rat pack era is worth a visit.

If you like sun, shopping, entertainment, nightlife and maybe a bit of a flutter then Vegas is your place. I stayed at the 5* Vdara Hotel which is connected to its sister hotels with MGM Resorts the Aria Hotel and the Bellagio. I loved the Vdara as it is one of the few hotels on the strip that does NOT have a casino or multiple restaurant and bars. It has a well renowned spa and is a definite haven away from the hustle and bustle which is perfect for people wanting the best of both worlds. A highlight was seeing the fountain show at the front of the Bellagio Hotel.  You feel like you’ve stepped into a movie!. Caesars Palace was a treat for me as I had grown up seeing it on my favourite movies & TV shows as a child. I can’t wait to go back on my own holiday.

To finish the holiday a great direct flight from Las Vegas back to Manchester with Virgin topped off what was a true American dream!

If you are interested in visiting any of these areas please don’t hesitate to contact me further on hollie@spa-travel.com or ring 01937 845678.