Date:  May 29th

TYPE:  Contrast

RE:  Las Vegas

If your looking for a great gift for that person turning 21, may I suggest what we did....take em to Vegas!!!  Here's a perspective from LeeAnne Barnett (Toni Barnett, Manager of James TravelPOINTS, daughter):

Q: What did you think of the Mandalay Bay Hotel?
A: It was a classy hotel with an Indonesian flare; a nice ambiance without all of the heavy Vegas glitz.  The pool area was amazing-it had huge wave pool with a sandy beach surrounded by several smaller, quieter pools.  I enjoyed my half day in the Mandalay Bay's world-class spa, the eucalyptus wrap was so rejuvenating, the perfect way to start the evening.  

Q:  Tell us about the shows you saw?
A:  I had the pleasure of viewing both Cirque du Soleil shows that regularly run in Vegas.  Their newest show "O" has an amazing stage set around water.  One moment there is an entire pool with millions of gallons of water and the next moment there is a solid floor with no sign of the pool below.  The show was thoroughly entertaining, even at $110 per ticket (!!!!!) we walked away feeling we got a great value for our money.  The level of acrobatic difficulty seen in the show "Mystere", I felt, surpassed that of "O" which was hard to imagine.  These were definitely a highlight of our vacation, a must for anyone.

Q:  Did you experience any culinary delights?
A:  We dined in a classy American cuisine restaurant Aureole's (in the Mandalay Bay Hotel).  The dinner and service were impeccable-the desserts were extraordinary.  We also enjoyed a great breakfast in Paris (just can't beat those French delights).  Stopped by Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace a delicious portabella mushroom and pine nut pizza.   

Q: Did you get a chance to check out any Las Vegas lounges?
A:  We stopped in at the Voodoo Lounge on the 51st floor of the Rio Hotel.  The view of the strip was awesome and we helped ourselves to some crazy cocktails, certainly a fun place to hang out.  

Q:  Did you win the "Big One"?
A:  As much as I enjoyed the gambling experience, I certainly didn't come back with any extra money in my pocket.  There's always next time.

Q: Would you recommend a trip to Vegas for someone's twenty-first birthday?
A: Yes, it is a very memorable way to celebrate a monumental birthday.