Las Vegas is well-known as a place for wild, spur-of-the-moment weddings. But it’s also rated among the top honeymoon spots, with good reason: Thanks to the money spent by gamblers, Las Vegas room rates and food prices are kept relatively low in relation to the city’s high quality of accommodations and dining.

Hiking and (yes!) Skiing in Las Vegas

If you’re not big on glitz and crowds, with a rental car, you can drive to places of quiet repose. Twenty miles west of town, Red Rocks is a 13-mile drive through scenic vistas of incredible beauty. Not so long ago, wild burros would graze alongside the highway.

You can park at the Red Rocks Visitors Center and learn about the desert environment, then enjoy a picnic lunch at designated spots and do some hiking.

Depending on the time of year you go, Las Vegas weather can be very hot. To escape the broiling temperatures, head to the Mount Charleston ski resort area, about a half hour’s drive from the Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard). It’s a beautiful drive up to the timber line. When we got married in Las Vegas in May, it was 100 degrees on the Strip — and 60 degrees atop Mt. Charleston.

Come winter, honeymoon couples can actually ski and snowboard right outside of Vegas. Close to Mount Charleston, Lee Peak rises to an elevation of 11,289 feet and has a base lodge. Ski season stretches from November to April.

Las Vegas Entertainment

The Strip is a crowded, happy, raucous, and safe place. Volcanoes erupt before your eyes outside the Mirage Hotel, and waters perform an original ballet at Bellagio. In addition, there’s the fun of people-watching and many free attractions nearby.

If you love nightlife, there’s no better option. From the gravity-defying Cirque du Soleil performances (Zumanity is the sexiest) to top-name stars and free lounge acts all over town, you’ll be entertained to your heart’s content. Play for a little while at a table or even the slots, and it’s likely you’ll be offered a free drink.

Las Vegas Lodging

Where are the best hotel values? Generally, the further you go from the Strip, the cheaper the rooms. Since this is your honeymoon, you’ll want to stay in a decent place. These are among the most wonderful Las Vegas hotels for romance:

• SLS Las Vegas – for my money, SLS Las Vegas has the sexiest guest rooms in town, featuring a mirror over the bed and a white-leather sofa lining an entire wall. A huge shower, a great bed, and easy access to the Las Vegas Monorail make this a top choice.
• The Venetian – This faux city in the desert offers some of the largest guest rooms in town with nice baths as well. Don’t miss the opportunity to spring for a gondola ride.
• The Cromwell – Boasting the best location in Vegas where you may get to see Bellagio’s dancing waters from your guest room. Plus, celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis’ only restaurant located here is a delicious culinary experience.
• Caesars Palace – While it’s known for being gaudy and possibly expensive, Caesars has recently added numerous new rooms. The resort also contains an Omnimax theater, the tony Forum Shops area, and a variety of dining options.

Places I Wouldn’t Send Friends To

• Circus Circus – This place attracts hordes of families, resulting in a chaotic atmosphere.
• Excalibur – Rooms are inexpensive, but the Middle Ages theme can feel cheesy at this enormous property located on the far end of the Strip.

Las Vegas Dining

Las Vegas is a city known for its grand buffets as well as high-end restaurants, catering to a wide range of tastes. You can’t go wrong with any of these dining spots:

• Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace – Almost anything you like to eat can be found here, and in impressive quantities.
• Pamplemousse – A cozy yet elegant French restaurant just off the Strip.
• Twist in the Mandarin Oriental hotel features exceptional dishes created by Michelin-award-winning chef Pierre Gagnaire.

The Bottom Line

Will you be happy with a Las Vegas honeymoon? If you enjoy swimming outdoors in warm weather, playing golf, enjoying tennis, gambling, and immersing yourself in entertainment while not overspending, the answer is yes.