Take a gamble

Maria Breslin finds Vegas a heady mix with glitz and a cracking canyon

- Maria Breslin

Man, I really like Vegas," said Elvis about the Nevada bolthole he made his home away from home.

And having spent a whirlwind 72 hours in "Sin City" I have to concur with the King. Bright, brash and bathed in neon, Las Vegas assaults the senses, it dazzles and promises visitors a glitzy good time.

The famous Las Vegas Strip is the beating heart of this desert oasis, and home to some of the biggest and best-known hotels and casinos. Outlandish, ostentatious and totally over-the-top, you'll find a 541ft replica Eiffel Tower in the grounds of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, gondolas gliding on the Venetian's "Grand Canal" and a 30-storey pyramid at the Luxor. It's a lot to take in but I love it.

And while Vegas may be synonymous with gambling - though I'm afraid to say this skinflint didn't spend a single penny on the slot machines - it's also celebrated for its big name productions with Celine Dion, Britney Spears and Adele all playing residencies in the city.

Seeing a show is very much part of the Vegas experience, so we head to the legendary Caesars Palace to watch Absinthe - billed as a "fantastical blend of carnival and spectacle, featuring wild, outlandish acts performed on an intimate circular stage where the audience is as close to the action as you can possibly get".

Critics also say it is "as provocative as it is unforgettable", and they are not wrong.

The party gets started with cocktails and light bites at the Pier 17 Yacht Club speakeasy in the hotel's Green Fairy Garden. But, as we take our seats in the tent, someone whispers to me, "I wouldn't want to be sat there". We're on the end, three rows from the front and my heart is already in my mouth.