I planned a fabulous girls' weekend in Las Vegas. Our perfect 48-hour itinerary checked all the boxes.

• For a recent girls' trip, I created an itinerary for spending a perfect 48 hours in Las Vegas.
• We got a great hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, went to an adults-only pool club, and rented cabanas.
• Other highlights included the Bacchanal Buffet, Liquid Pool Lounge, and Vanderpump a Paris.

I've been planning girls' trips to Las Vegas since I hit the legal gambling age about two decades ago.

These epic getaways have taken many forms, including my own raging bachelorette party 15 years ago.

Recently, though, I planned a girls' trip to celebrate both my birthday and the divorce of one of my best friends (yes, she wore a sash for the occasion).

Our group has been traveling to Sin City for decades, and now that we're in our mid-40s, we have different requirements — specifically, more comfort, better food, and a well-balanced schedule.

On this trip, I'd say I nailed the exact right itinerary for our 48 hours in Las Vegas.

On Friday, we checked into our hotel on the Strip

When we arrived in Vegas on Friday, we checked right into MGM Resorts' ARIA. It's one of my favorite places to stay on the Strip because it's centrally located, chic, and stocked with amenities — including a massive pool complex.

We wasted no time heading downstairs for a dip and spending the rest of the afternoon in the water with drinks.

As the sun started to dip, we headed upstairs to shower and get dressed before walking over to The Cosmopolitan's Boulevard pool for sunset cocktails and live music.

I love a spot that offers a view of the Strip in the evening as the lights start to pop. (Skyfall Lounge at the Delano is another great option with a view.)

Then, it was time for a spectacular meal to cap off our first night in town. We went to the buzzy French-Mediterranean restaurant Cathédrale, which felt perfect for a special occasion with its beautiful dining room and upscale menu.

Afterward, we called it a night to prepare for the busy Saturday ahead.

Our second day of the trip was packed with fun and food

After a solid first night of sleep, we were ready for a busy Saturday lineup.

The main event for the day was hanging out at the Liquid Pool Lounge, an adults-only pool club. We got a cabana with a bottle of vodka and a spread of munchies for the group.

We had a blast drinking and pool dancing the afternoon away until around 5 p.m. Afterward, some of us took a nap to regroup before we put on our party clothes.

Then, we hopped in an Uber to the first stop on our itinerary for the night: the immersive, interactive art installation Fantasy Lab Las Vegas. The walk-through experience was trippy with lots of fun photo opportunities.

When we left, we were ready to chow down at Lisa Vanderpump's cocktail lounge Vanderpump a Paris.

It offered the kind of indulgent shared dishes we were craving, including a birdcage packed with cheese and a truffle-stuffed baguette. By the time we wrapped up there, it was about 11:30 p.m.

Our group then headed to Encore Beach Club, where Shaquille O'Neal spun a DJ set that began around 1:30 a.m. After that, I sleepily headed back to the hotel, though some of the other girls partied until 5 a.m.

We ended the trip with a big brunch and lots of relaxation

The last day's agenda was simple and filled with food — just what the doctor ordered.

We headed for an over-the-top Sunday brunch at Caesars Palace's Bacchanal Buffet, the largest buffet in Vegas with hundreds of different dishes. It was truly epic, and we got enough food to last us hours.

After brunch, we were stuffed but made time for one last highlight: We'd reserved a pool cabana at Caesars' Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis, where we could cool off and enjoy the swim-up poker bar on the main level.

Finally, a few hours before our flight, we tossed coverups on top of our swimsuits, retrieved the bags we'd checked with the bellhop, and headed straight to the airport.