Most people go on vacation to relax and switch off. DJ goes on vacation to optimize.
He doesn’t just plan trips, he plots them with acute precision. At the mere mention of a group getaway, he’s color-coding a spreadsheet and making reservations faster than you can say ‘Vegas baby’!
We caught up with him to uncover his ninja-like planning secrets and unpack his latest masterpiece: a Las Vegas blitz featuring no less than 13 attractions. Efficient? Yes. Chilled? Absolutely not.
Stacking the deck early
We get an inkling of DJ’s personality before we meet. The rapid-fire emails, the interview locked in at the crack of dawn (his choice, not ours), and his ultra-punctual arrival on a Teams call, not a second too soon.. The vibes are ‘means business’ and when he tells us his profession, it all makes sense. ‘I’m an engineering manager.' Of course. And it turns out his approach to travel isn’t all that different to the day job.
‘I map out my trips first and then build a proposal,’ he says, making it sound like a product launch with deliverables. We picture pie charts, comparison tables, the works. Do you have a spreadsheet? we ask, thinking the answer is obvious.
‘Actually, the Go City app helped me organise my itinerary so I could ditch the spreadsheets.’ Well that’s a win for us!
‘I liked being able to plot attractions for each day, move things around, make bookings and discover other things to do nearby. The app means you can be organised and flexible at the same time.’ Not to mention it’s much cuter than Excel.
When a spreadsheet-devotee goes to bat for your app, you know it’s got to be good.
I’ve used Go City's passes before and they've been consistently good, I’ve never had a bad experience.'
Playing to win
DJ’s Las Vegas itinerary was as bold and ambitious as the city itself. The challenge? Squeeze maximum value out of every waking minute without missing a beat (or a strategically timed margarita).
The mere thought of running around in the sweltering Vegas heat makes us feel flustered. So, was it a bit... rushed, perhaps? ‘No, everything on The Strip is easily accessible. And we did some things just because they were nearby and we could. The All-Inclusive Pass gives you the push to do more – it’s so easy to say yes.’
Case in point being The Big Apple Rollercoaster: ‘I’d seen it before on other trips, but it was never my number one thing to do. This time, there were no excuses, and it turned out to be one of my favorite experiences.’
Any other unexpected attraction visits? ‘Yeah, the Princess Diana exhibition’ he says to our surprise. We’ve only known him for about 20 minutes, but we can’t picture him hopping off the Big Apple coaster to peruse Diana’s dresses. But then he clarifies, ‘that was my friends’ choice, and it was included so not a big deal to tag along.’
And that, it seems, is the magic of having a pass to everything: even the wild cards make the cut.
Only Vegas could make this eclectic line-up happen
High stakes, no breaks
With so much packed in, we’re wondering what stood out the most.
‘Just the frantic vibe of the whole trip and how fun that was. We were screaming on the rides, laughing on the party bus, rushing to make time slots. It was intense in the best way.’
Sure enough, DJ’s lucky 13 is a mix of adrenaline-fuelled activities and... even more adrenaline. ‘The Fly LINQ Zipline and the SAW Escape Room were the two biggest highlights for me. And the Rockstar Nightclub Tour was such a fun way to experience the Vegas nightlife.’
🎲 DJs mega Vegas Blitz 🎲
Day 1
Princess Diana & The Royals: The Exhibition
Hop-On, Hop-Off Big Bus Classic Daytime Tour
The Official "Saw" Escape Room
WOW - The Vegas Spectacular
The Big Apple Rollercoaster
Rockstar Nightclub Tour
Day 2
Illuminarium Experiences at AREA15 Las Vegas
Madame Tussauds Admission + MARVEL Universe 4D
Fly LINQ Zipline
High Roller Observation Wheel: Daytime Ticket
Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas
The Tower at the STRAT
ROUGE – The Sexiest Show in Vegas
We wonder if they even had time to eat but DJ assures us they indulged in a full Vegas buffet (does this guy have the ability to stop time?) ‘Wicked Spoon is one of my favorites. If you go around brunch, you get amazing value. We also loved finding big deli sandwiches or steak specials that were affordable.’
And the tips keep coming. ‘Compare Uber and Lyft every time you catch a cab – one can be extremely high while the other is lower. And buy water at a CVS (the local pharmacy) as soon as you land – the hotel prices are outrageous.’
One last roll of the dice
So, where’s next for the man who thrives on travelling to the max?
‘I used to have a bucket list,’ DJ says nonchalantly, ‘now there’s just one destination left – Iceland. I’ve been everywhere else.’
It figures. Despite the world being conquered, we ask if a re-do would be in order and if so, would he use the pass again?
‘Absolutely. I’ve used Go City's passes before and they've been consistently good, I’ve never had a bad experience.'
And for us, that’s a full house of approval.
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Check out our Las Vegas itinerary for first-timers or things to do in Las Vegas at night.
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