A Much-Needed Mom & Dad Getaway to Las Vegas

With three little kids, busy nursing jobs, and the never-ending juggling act that comes with everyday life, my husband and I were definitely ready for a few days away. With his 40th birthday coming up this fall, we decided to celebrate with a couples trip to Las Vegas with two other couples.

Our moms tag-teamed babysitting the kids so we could enjoy a few nights away together, and we were so grateful to have that time to relax, have fun, and celebrate.

We found some amazing deals, packed a lot of fun into just a few days, and made some pretty unforgettable memories along the way—including a Backstreet Boys concert, a stay at the Flamingo, time by the pool, drinks and golf, plenty of walking around the Strip, and even a little Vegas luck. 😉

If you’re planning a Las Vegas getaway of your own, I’m sharing all the details from our trip, including where we stayed, what we did, and what was absolutely worth it!

Where We Stayed: Flamingo Las Vegas

When our friends first invited us to Las Vegas, we were honestly a little on the fence. Traveling can get expensive quickly, and with a big birthday party coming up, the holidays around the corner, and all the other expenses that come with having three kids, we weren’t sure if a Vegas getaway was in the budget.

Then we found an amazing deal at the Flamingo Las Vegas—just $48 per night for our stay! The Flamingo is right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, so the location was perfect for everything we wanted to do.

Once we saw that price, we couldn’t pass it up. It made the idea of a few nights away feel much more doable, and it ended up being the perfect home base for our trip.

Flamingo Las Vegas Review

I’ve stayed at quite a few different hotels in Las Vegas, from the Excalibur, which is definitely on the budget end, to the Venetian, which is absolutely stunning. For this trip, the Flamingo felt like the perfect middle ground.

It’s not a luxury resort, but it also didn’t feel like a budget dive. For us, it was exactly the right compromise—especially because we wanted a great location without spending a ton of money on our hotel.

The location was one of our favorite things about the Flamingo. It’s right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip, directly across from Caesars Palace, which made it incredibly convenient for walking to everything we wanted to do.

And our room had an amazing view of the Strip. We arrived super early, so we paid a $60 early check-in fee, but being able to get into our room early was worth it for us. Plus, the view we ended up with was incredible.

We were literally right above the Strip, and it was so cool to watch everything happening below us.

Here’s a quick look at our room and what our stay at the Flamingo was like:

One Thing to Know: Saturday Nights Are Loud

Since our room faced Omnia at Caesars Palace, Saturday night was definitely loud. The club was absolutely blasting, and we could hear the music from our room.

It didn’t bother me at all—I was exhausted and figured, it’s Vegas! 😂 But if you’re a light sleeper, I’d bring earplugs or a small noise machine. This is more about being in the heart of the Strip on a Saturday night than an issue with the Flamingo itself.

Dinner and Drinks at Pinky’s

To kick off our first night in Vegas, we headed downstairs to Pinky’s by Lisa Vanderpump, right inside the Flamingo. And if you’ve been to one of Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants or lounges, you know she does things differently.

Pinky’s is absolutely stunning. The interior is sophisticated, elegant, and timeless, with that immersive Vanderpump atmosphere that makes you feel instantly fancy. 😂

We had cocktails and shared several small plates, and the drinks were just as fun as the setting. My friend even ordered a cocktail served inside a birdcage!

I’ve been to Pinky’s before, and it definitely remains one of my favorite spots for a fun Vegas drink. Lisa Vanderpump somehow makes every one of her places feel like an experience, not just somewhere you go for food and drinks.

And now I’m determined to try more of her Vegas spots—including the hotel right next door to the Flamingo, which I definitely want to stay at on our next trip!

📹 A little look inside Pinky’s:
The atmosphere is even better in person!

Backstreet Boys at the Sphere

After dinner at Pinky’s, the girls headed to the Sphere for the Backstreet Boys concert, while the boys went to a sports bar over by the Venetian.

The Backstreet Boys concert was absolutely incredible. This was actually my second time seeing the show, because I loved it so much the first time that I just had to go again—and honestly, I already want to go back!

The Sphere itself makes the experience even more incredible. The visuals, sound, and immersive screens make you feel completely surrounded by the show. If you’re considering seeing Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, do it. You will not regret it!

Relaxing at the Flamingo Pool

The next day, we spent some time relaxing at the Flamingo pool, which was such a fun way to slow down and enjoy the Vegas sunshine. The pool area has recently been renovated, and it’s gorgeous!

They also have some really nice cabanas, and honestly, I wish I had planned ahead and rented one. If you’re planning a pool day at the Flamingo, a cabana would definitely be something I’d consider.

The only downside? Vegas pool drink prices are no joke. 😂 Drinks were around $20–$40 each, so we didn’t stay too long. But for a few hours of lounging by the pool, it was a really fun part of our trip.

An Afternoon at Atomic Golf

After the pool, we headed over to Atomic Golf for an afternoon of golf, food, and drinks. We booked the all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink experience for two hours, which was $69 per person.

And let me tell you—we got our money’s worth! 😂 We ate so much food and had plenty of drinks, and it was such a fun way to spend a couple of hours together.

The one downside was the August heat. It was HOT. They had misting systems to help cool everyone down, but it was still pretty intense.

I’ve also been to Topgolf in Las Vegas, and personally, I preferred Topgolf for the overall experience because it felt more comfortable and had better air conditioning. But when it comes to value, it’s hard to beat Atomic Golf’s $69 all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink package.

If you’re looking for a fun Vegas activity that includes plenty of food and drinks, I’d definitely consider Atomic Golf—just maybe not in the middle of a Vegas summer! 😂

A Little Vegas Luck 🎰

We’re not big gamblers, so we didn’t spend a ton of time gambling—but I did have a little Vegas luck!

I asked my husband for $20, but the only cash he had was a $100 bill. So he handed it to me, I took it to the slot machines…and somehow turned that $100 into $1,600! 😂

Once I hit that $1,600, I was way too afraid to lose it, so I immediately put it in my purse and left it there for the rest of the trip. Smartest gambling decision I’ve ever made!

The guys did some more gambling throughout the trip, but nobody else had a huge win or a huge loss. It was just fun to play a little and enjoy the Vegas experience.

Walking the Las Vegas Strip

We also did a LOT of walking. Honestly, walking around the Strip was one of my favorite parts of the trip because there’s always something to see.

We walked over to Caesars Palace, wandered through the shops, checked out the Cosmopolitan, and explored whatever caught our attention along the way. Since the Flamingo is so centrally located, it was really easy to walk to so many different hotels and attractions without needing a car.

Sometimes just wandering around the Strip, people-watching, popping into different hotels, and seeing all the sights is half the fun of being in Vegas!

Exploring Fremont Street

We also made our way downtown to Fremont Street, which is such a different vibe from the Strip. It’s the more classic, old-school side of Las Vegas, with live music, dancing, drinks, casinos, and plenty of people watching.

Our friends even went ziplining over Fremont Street and had a blast!

The only challenge for me was the August heat. It was HOT, and I definitely got overheated walking around outside. Thankfully, all of the casinos are air-conditioned, so you can easily pop inside, grab a drink, cool off for a bit, and then head back out to explore.

Even with the heat, I’m glad we made the trip downtown. Fremont Street has such a fun, energetic atmosphere, and it was a completely different Vegas experience from spending time along the Strip.

Final Thoughts: Would We Do This Vegas Trip Again?

This trip was such a fun change of pace for us because we really didn’t have much planned. It was a pretty spontaneous getaway, and other than the Backstreet Boys concert, we mostly just went with the flow.

And honestly, that worked out really well! We were able to walk into restaurants without reservations, explore different hotels, wander the Strip, and decide what we wanted to do as we went. It never felt overly crowded or difficult to get around, which made the whole trip feel really easy and relaxing.

For us, this was exactly what we needed—a few nights away from the kids, some time with friends, and a chance to celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday. We packed a lot into a short trip, found some great deals, and made some pretty unforgettable memories. ❤️

If you’re planning your own Las Vegas getaway, be sure to check out my Ultimate Mom’s Trip to Las Vegas for even more Vegas tips, restaurant recommendations, and things to do from my previous trip!

Not sure what to wear to a Backstreet Boys concert?

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Want to know where to sit at the Sphere?

If you’re planning to see the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, choosing your seats can make a big difference. I compared the sections and views from my own experiences to help you decide where to sit.