Vegas Girls Trip: School Friends Reunion
Six of us went to school together in Kolkata, India. Now we all live in different parts of the US, so getting everyone in one place takes some serious calendar coordination. Vegas was the obvious choice — three days of catching up, good food, and sightseeing.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at The Cosmopolitan on the Strip. It's right in the middle of everything — easy walking distance to Bellagio, Aria, Planet Hollywood, and The Venetian. For a group trip, this location was perfect.
The hotel has a lot of restaurants and bars inside, plus a good pool area if you want to hang out during the day. The vibe is more modern and less over-the-top than some of the other Strip hotels, which we liked. Also, there's a Starbucks right inside the hotel.
Airport Tip: Do not take an Uber from the Vegas airport. The lines are ridiculous, and it's a mess. Just take a taxi and ask for the flat rate to the Strip.
The Eagles at The Sphere
We saw the Eagles at The Sphere — the second show of their residency and their first time playing this venue. They played all the classics: "Hotel California," "Take It Easy," "Desperado," "Life in the Fast Lane." But honestly, the Sphere itself is the experience.
The LED screen wraps all around you — behind, above, on the sides. It's the highest resolution screen in the world, and you can tell. The images are sharp, and the colors are intense. One minute you're surrounded by desert landscapes, the next you're underwater or floating through clouds. It's immersive in a way that's hard to describe until you're sitting in it.
The sound system is called Sphere Immersive Sound, and it delivers audio to every seat individually. It's loud but crystal clear — you hear every instrument, every note. The seats also have haptics built in, so you feel the bass in your body.
Tickets aren't cheap, but it's worth seeing a show here at least once.
Antelope Canyon Day Trip
We did the Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend tour, a small group tour from Vegas. It's a full day — they pick you up early from the Strip, and it's over 4 hours each way to get to Arizona.
Antelope Canyon is on Navajo Nation land, so you can only visit with a Navajo guide. They take you through the slot canyon and share the history and stories behind it. The walls have these amazing swirling patterns from years of water and wind erosion, and the way the light comes through the narrow openings is unreal. Definitely one of the most photogenic places I've been.
We also stopped at Horseshoe Bend, which is that famous overlook of the Colorado River shaped like a horseshoe. There's about a 1.5 mile round-trip walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint — wear good shoes and bring water, especially if it's hot. The view is worth it, though.
We got back to Vegas late, but it was one of the highlights of the trip. If you're in Vegas for a few days and want to see something outside the casinos, this is a good one.
Where We Ate
We hit some great dinner and lunch spots: LPM for French Mediterranean, Michael Mina for a fancier night, and Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas — the patio has great views of the Bellagio fountains.
Until Next Time
We had a blast. Three days went by way too fast, but we packed in a lot — good food, an unforgettable concert, and a day trip that got us out of the city. Most importantly, six friends who grew up together in Kolkata got to spend time together again.
