How to do Las Vegas at Home

The COVID-19 pandemic has chased away many carefully planned trips and if you’re like me, you’re missing the thrill of a weekend (or more) in Las Vegas. The sights, sounds, smells, okay, let’s face it, the sensory overload of Las Vegas is all part of the excitement and experience.

So, if you’re sitting at home during quarantine, dreaming of your next Las Vegas getaway, we may have a cure for your casino-withdrawal blues. It may seem impossible to recreate the atmosphere of Sin City — after all, it’s a world-famous landmark for a reason — but with a few tricks, you might start thinking you’ve arrived in no time.

Get ready!

If you’re ready to get the good times rolling, start by grabbing a few friends (the ones you’d take to Vegas, obviously) or video conference with them if you’re still in quarantine. Make a list of your favorite vices (it’s Sin City, after all) and run to the store for supplies. We’re talking: cigars, cocktails, and maybe even a snazzy new outfit.

Bring home the best of the Vegas bar scene

To get into the spirit of things, pick your favorite Vegas hotspots for some great cocktail inspiration. We recommend:

Mayfair Supper Club at the Bellagio for Old Fashioneds and Lemon Drop martinis.
Mama Rabbit at the Park MGM for some Mexican-inspired cocktails and top-shelf tequila.
The Dorsey at the Venetian for “Disco Punch Bowls” (definitely for sharing).
The Chandelier at the Cosmopolitan for the Verbena, an off-menu creation of ginger, lemon, and tequila.
The Golden Gate Hotel in the heart of downtown that still holds on to its Prohibition roots for a Bootlegger cocktail, a mix of rum, banana liqueur, and fruit juice.

Once you’ve dressed and had a few sips of your favorite aperitif, it’s time to work on the ambiance.

Not quite the same, but it will do

The sights

Since you can’t fill your house with neon signs and flashing lights, the next best thing is to bring a little bit of Vegas home through your television screen. Put on a classic Vegas film or TV show that brings the Vegas vibe alive. If you need inspiration, the best of the best are:

Martin Scorsese’s Casino (1995) with Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone
Ocean’s Eleven (1960/2001) the original with the Rat Pack (including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr) or the reboot, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts
Las Vegas (TV, 2003) with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Hopper, and Alec Baldwin

Although Vegas has transformed its old-school mafia image to a more wholesome, family-style vacation hotspot, the good ol’ days can’t be denied. And what better way to relive Sin City’s heyday than through the best cinematic classics of the era.

The sounds

Enjoying the sounds of Vegas is, admittedly, a bit difficult to replicate at home. The best options are to either make a super cool playlist of your favorite songs to jam to, or to go back in time with the classics of Vegas’s golden age.

Frank Sinatra in the 1960s is the natural go-to for the veritable gold standard of Sin City soundtracks. Whether you’re feeling the sweet sounds of jazz or Sinatra at the Sands, you’re well on your way to recreating your very own Vegas holiday. You just need one more thing…

The casino games

Okay, so obviously you can’t bring the Las Vegas Strip into your living room (or even a small casino, for that matter). But what you can do is jump on one of the many outstanding online casinos out there and start playing your favorite games.

If you aren’t feeling like risking it all, there are many sites you can use to find the best online casino bonus, NoDepositWorld is a great example of one. With a no deposit bonus, you can play your favorite casino games like slots, poker, Blackjack, roulette, and baccarat without spending any money.

Make sure you light up your cigar, order another drink, and put on your poker face for this one because now you’re in Vegas, baby.

There’s no place like home

If we’re being honest, we’ll leave the tastes and smells of Vegas completely up to you. The cuisine of Las Vegas is as varied as it gets, from low to haute, and everything in between. The specialty, however, tends to be Italian-American style cuisine (think Caesar’s Palace and really big meatballs).

Now that your senses are taken care of, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the virtual trip. You may not eat as well or party as late, but you will get to enjoy some of the best that Vegas has to offer, and you won’t have to spend a dime on airfare.

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.