Time flies when you're having fun, particularly in Las Vegas.

My first day in Nevada's gambling haven was a whirlwind of sights and sounds, from a steak and eggs breakfast at Avenue Cafe, to a pool party at Wet Republic and dinner at MGM Grand's Michelin-starred L'atelier de Joel Robuchon. And the evening didn't end there for my friend Matt and I, as we joined the thousands paying homage to the biggest name in world dance music - Calvin Harris - at prestigious nightclub, Hakkasan.

Those opening 24 hours in Vegas summed up perfectly what Sin City is all about these days.

Granted, many tourists still gamble all day, breaking occasionally for a refuel at the cheap buffets or to take in a show. However, Vegas has become a more sophisticated and refined place during the 21st century, though thankfully, its hedonistic spirit is still there for all to see.

Sure, New York is known as 'the city that never sleeps', but I reckon Vegas deserves a similar moniker.

With some of the world's best restaurants, clubs and attractions springing up in the desert oasis, there is so much temptation on offer, even for those with discerning and expensive tastes.

Take the cuisine for instance - Michelin-starred establishments, such as Joel Robuchon's, are now commonplace.

However, what seems to have taken over from the aforementioned dirt-cheap all-you-can-eat buffets as the staple of tourists' diets are the family-style restaurants which cater for big parties.

Sugar Factory at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel is the best on the Strip, and after one taste of their delicious bacon waffles with buttermilk fried chicken and maple syrup, washed down with liquid nitrogen lollipop goblet cocktails, life seems sweet.

Italians famously know how to cater for families and large parties, and New York chain Carmine's, at Caesar's Palace's Forum Shops, serves us up enough pizza, pasta, meatballs and salad to satisfy a Roman Emperor.

Nevertheless, buffets remain popular in Vegas, especially in some of the older hotels which have evolved over time.

Take the Fountains Brunch at Jasmine, in the Bellagio resort, for example. Fresh seafood is combined with an array of breakfast specials, such as lobster potato cake Eggs Benedict, to create a memorable Sunday brunch experience. And the breathtaking view of the iconic fountains is one we'll never forget.

Las Vegas likes to bill itself as the new "entertainment capital of the world", and its nightclub roster is the best on the planet.

Each hotel houses at least one lavish club and in order to compete in a saturated market, they know they have pull out all the stops to get the punters in.

LIGHT at Mandalay Bay certainly did that for us - putting on a Cirque du Soleil show inside a superclub, with acrobats swinging down from the ceiling and bouncing off the massive LED walls. However, it's not just after the sun has set that parties go on in Vegas - dayclubs are also a massive phenomenon.

MGM Grand's Wet Republic (Prince Harry's favourite) along with Liquid at Aria (as seen in the 2013 comedy Last Vegas) have proved a big pull for those with a taste for all-day drinking and dancing, against a backdrop of bikini-clad babes and muscle-bound hunks.

But the longest running and best of all the pool parties can be found at Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Contrary to its name, Rehab is not a place designed to put your Sin City sinning behind you and tone down your alcohol intake. Here, we had 'treasure chests' of beer delivered to our cabana by glamorous waitresses, before dipping our toes in the water and dancing the afternoon away to pumping music.

After a week of partying, detox can be found at Las Vegas' newest and most intimate spa at the smoke-free and gambling-free Vdara resort.

And for those who want extended respite from the demon booze, Vegas' planners have constructed a number of new attractions aimed at making folks part with their hard-earned dollars in alternative ways from the bars, casinos and shops.

The High Roller opened in March 2014 as part of the new LINQ development, and at 550ft-tall, the structure succeeded the Singapore Flyer to claim the title of 'biggest ferris wheel in the world'. A 30-minute ride in one of the 28 glass bubbles looks down on the awe-inspiring Strip and Nevada scenery.

Over at the Motor Speedway, is Dream Racing. I silently squeal with excitement at the option of getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, or virtually any other luxury supercar I can think of. We pick out a Lamborghini Aventador, and the sound of the 6.5L V12 engine nearly bursts our eardrums as we burn rubber around the dusty racetrack.

Another popular attraction with Vegas stag parties is Gun Garage on Dean Martin Drive.

We're told to choose our weapons - with AK-47s, Uzis, tommy guns, and even a grenade launcher on the menu. Shooting holes in our souvenir t-shirts seemed a good idea at the time. However, with the state of my aim, the shirt may have to stay in the closet!

But despite all that's new in this ever-evolving city, locals never forget their past.

The historic Downtown area is where it all began at the start of the 20th century, and heavy investment into the Fremont Street Experience over the last two decades has changed this district beyond all recognition.

The vibe is different here, with people heading Downtown for a grittier and more authentic Vegas experience.

We found it easier (and cheaper) to share cases of beer from the liquor stores and walk up and down 'Glitter Gulch', while watching the live entertainment.

The newest arrival in Downtown is SlotZilla - a zipline that launches riders from a 12-storey slot machine over a distance of 1,800 feet at speeds of 35mph, under a dazzling canopy lights.

It's often said that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

But that is a cliche. From my experience, not much stays there for long - certainly not the decrepit, under-performing hotels which are pulled down in the blink of an eye.

However, time is a great healer, and a few blocks from Fremont, near the famous drive-thru wedding chapels, is the Neon Museum 'boneyard' - an homage to Vegas' past, with retired signs from demolished hotels, such as Stardust and Sahara, providing a reminder of how the city has no qualms about moving on and starting over.

After sleeping for about 20 hours (at most) during my seven nights there, I could have given Rip Van Winkle a run for his money when I returned home.

But taking inspiration from so many of the long-gone, demolished casinos on and off the Strip, I figure you only live once.

TRAVEL FACTS

Richard Jones was a guest of Virgin Holidays, who offer seven nights in Las Vegas from £859pp (based on two sharing, room-only accommodation), including flights from London Gatwick or Manchester direct to Las Vegas, two nights at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, two nights at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino and three nights at the Aria Resort & Casino. Price based on a June 9, 2015 departure.

For more information, visit www.virginholidays.co.uk, call 0844 557 3859 or visit one of Virgin's 126 stores located in Debenhams, House of Fraser, Tesco and Sainsbury's stores nationwide.