Things YOU need to know before you travel to Las Vegas Nevada. Las Vegas is Big, so is the Strip. Things are much further away than they seem from looking on a map. it will take you at least a 15-30 minute walk to get to a different hotel than your own. The Las Vegas strip is 4 miles. Find the shortcuts between hotels (Bally’s to Paris). Bring Comfortable Footwear. Leave the 4 inch heels at home, or have a second pair. Use the free trams (Luxor to Excalibur) (Monte Carlo to Bellagio). The monorail is pretty convenient too. Don’t try to hail Taxis on the strip, they won’t stop, it’s illegal. Go to a hotel taxi stand to get a taxi, be prepared to wait in line. And traffic at 6pm is awful
2. Downtown Las Vegas
Is really far. $30 cab ride
But the Freemont Street Experience is cool
And it’s neat to see “old” vegas
People say the best slot machine odds are downtown (worst at the airport)
3. Hotels
Don’t pick the cheapest hotels… You’ll regret that $25/night rate.
If you want to be in the “middle” stay around Caesars Palace
Resort fees… ugh!
Many strip hotels are charging for parking, loyalty program might get it for free
If you like “peace and quiet” pick a non-casino hotel. I usually stay at Marriott properties a block or two off the strip, no resort or parking fees.
4. Gambling
Learn the games, lots of free classes at Casinos
Join the Player’s Clubs
Lots of free perks
Front of line, free parking, discounts on shows, food, etc
5. It’s the desert
Drink plenty of water, it’s dry all the time
Buy the water at a supermarket. Can be $6 a bottle at the casino
In the summer its really hot!
Wear suncreen
In the winter it can be really cold and windy! Bring a jacket Nov-Feb.
The casinos are always super cold… so bring a light jacket or sweater even in summer
6. When to go?
When there isn’t a convention in town… check the convention calendars
Mid-week and Christmas is also a slow time
Vegas doesn’t close… ever it’s 24/7
7. Food
Is awesome
Do some research before you go — there are lots of good restaurants, but they aren’t the obvious ones
For example, Bouchon is hidden up some random elevator in the Venetian
If there’s a famous restaurant somewhere else in the world that you’ve wanted to eat at, it might very well have a location in Vegas
For Example HofBrauHaus from Munich
Can be expensive
But can be cheap. You can still find a T-bone steak for $4.95
Cheapest is usually downtown
Chinatown has good eats too
Breakfast is available 24/7
7.1. Buffets are great,
But just once a day
Twice a day is overdoing it!
The time at the end of lunch right before dinner is the best deal
IF you time it perfectly with the line
But the lines can be LONG, think hours, 1, 2, 3 hours even.
Eat dinner at 5pm or 8:30pm to avoid the rush.
7.2. You can drink alcohol anywhere
Leaving a hotel? Ask for a to-go cup and drink on the sidewalk
8. ATMs are super expensive
Standard Vegas ATM fee is like $6
Bring Cash
Bank ATMS are hard to find
9. Smoking
Seems to be allowed everywhere
larger megaresorts have higher ceilings and good filtration systems,
but the smaller, older casinos can get quite smoky.
10. Tipping
Everybody wants a tip in Vegas
15-20% for restaurants
Costumed people on the streets want money for photos