Galvantier Itinerary: A Day In The Life

Quite often I’ll have a conversation at a Las Vegas Nightclub with a member of the opposite sex and the discussion almost always turns to what I do for a living.

“Why are you at this nightclub?”

My usual answer? “It’s my job. I have to visit all the nightclubs. All the bars. All the restaurants. My muscles will be stretched, rubbed, warmed and soothed with every possible type of massage treatment. I’ll try a vodka cocktail, followed by a bourbon cocktail and then wash it down with both a gin cocktail and a tequila cocktail. I’ll laugh at every comedian and fidget in every showroom. I’ll have steak, seafood, pasta, soup, salad, bread, desserts and everything else simply to write about it. I’ll read a book by a pool, stick my toes in the water and make small talk with servers. I’ll even toss myself off a tower, drive super fast or hold my breath underwater.” I’ll pause and then end with, “I do this for you.”

The last part always makes them think I’m a little creepy. Of course the response is almost always the same. “ Do you need an assistant? I would love your job!”

So while it all sounds like fun and games to be the travel writer who gets to experience everything I thought I would share what a typical day is like for me. I want to let you into my world so that you can catch a glimpse of what I do in order for you to have the vacation you always dream about.

This is my sacrifice. This is my daily journey to the salt mines. My struggle.

• 6:05am - Waking up to see the sunrise from my balcony at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. You would think some loud alarm must wake me but the truth is after you sleep in so many hotel rooms you get real accustomed to knowing that you are on the clock. Start your day with the warm sun changing the colors down Las Vegas Blvd. and there is very little chance you won’t get excited about tossing off the blankets and taking on the day.
• 6:45am – Coffee and a croissant at Jean Philippe Patisserie at Bellagio – Yeah, I should shower before I leave my room for coffee but it’s very typical that the previous late night excursion at a spot like Marquee will force to me on a quest for coffee. I love the crepe’s at Jean Philippe but I usually have a flaky pastry and coffee with a view of the Bellagio pool.
• 7:30am - I’ll finish my coffee with a walk back to the Cosmopolitan by way of Vdara. I have to walk past Nancy Rubins’ “Big Edge” inside CityCenter. This piece is part of the City Center Fine Art Collection and it is one very impressive public art display.
  
• 8:00 – 8:45am Soak in the tub with a view of the strip. You need a room with a tub that has a view of the Las Vegas strip. You’re in Vegas and frankly how often do you get this opportunity? The Cosmopolitan offers rooms with the perfect spot to soak with a view.
• 9:00am – Breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris. Yes, I already had a snack but the truth is a little more coffee on the patio at Mon Ami Gabi with a view of the Las Vegas strip is how everyone should start their Las Vegas day. Fluffy eggs, simple potatoes and a pastry. That is all you need.
• 10:30am – Spa Treatment at Qua Spa at Caesars Palace. The Emperors Treatment at QUA has your body rubbed with dark coffee grounds. Yes, you read that right. The room will fill with the rich aroma of coffee and for the coffee lover this is how Utopia is defined.
• 11:45am – Lunch at KGB at Harrah’s. The burger of the month is always good but the waffle fry nachos and a thick milkshake help me recover from my spa treatment. If you walk in and do not have something spicy you’ll be missing out. Try jalapeno on your burger or in your milkshake. Trust me on this one.
• 1:00 pm – See Mac King at Harrah’s. I always have to stop in to see Mac King. Best afternoon show in Las Vegas. This might be a job but Mac King always makes me feel like a kid.
• 3:00 pm – Half way through the day and now I’m really getting adventurous. Fly the skies with Sky Combat Ace. They zip through the air and you hold onto the controls and realize that flying a plane is not all that difficult. Well, it is very easy because you have a trained pilot directing you.
• 5:30 pm – Cocktails at Sage at ARIA – You’ll need to come off the high of flying an airplane and attempting plenty of acrobatics over the Southern Nevada desert. The cocktail program at Sage is almost as good as the food and worth a visit. I should warn you that if you decide to try the Absinthe you might want to plan a little more time into your visit.
• 6:00 pm - Dinner at Tetsu. This is the show kitchen dinner for the person who doesn’t enjoy a show kitchen. You get an unforgettable meal while watching the precision of a very talented chef who does not impress you with a smoking volcano of onions but instead creates a dining experience that is very Las Vegas.
• 9:00 pm - Race over the Las Vegas strip with Maverick Helicopters – Like you really need more adrenaline after your day you’ll jump into a helicopter and fly over the Las Vegas strip. The Fountains of Bellagio are impressive from a helicopter your camera phone should capture a decent shot of the lights all the way down the strip.
• 10:00 pm – This late in the day you might be tired so getting hypnotized with Marc Savard Comedy Hypnosis will probably be fun. Just don’t spit or use any bad language. How will you know if you did? People will walk by and pat you on the back and give you a funny look as they say, ‘good job on stage, buddy.”
• 11:15pm - Your night is almost over and when you settle into your VIP booth at Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace you’ll actually feel your feet throbbing. Don’t get too comfortable because you’ll still have to dance.
• 4:15am – My own walk of shame as I’m too tired to keep the night going. This is what usually happens as my body rejects the notion that I cannot do this very much longer. I thought I would see the sun come up but instead I want to take my shoes off and walk barefoot back to my room.
• 6:30am – Wake up and do it all over again. Yeah, it’s a fun job.

Do you still want to be my assistant?