
Author:
Ashley
Last Updated:
24/01/2025
Experiences:
CA born, casino expert
Experiences:
CA born, casino expert
Loading ...
Planning a Las Vegas vacation for the first time can be challenging, especially for those who want to get the best experience possible. The city has something unique to offer each visitor, regardless of their budget. Whether you’re the average Joe or a millionaire, everyone is bound to have a great time. Vegas is a city that never goes to sleep, making it important to come up with a detailed trip Las Vegas guide.
We have prepared this traveling Las Vegas guide as a way of helping anyone looking to visit the city. It’s a no-nonsense guide that captures everything you need to know about proper planning. This Las Vegas travel guide includes tips on budgeting for the trip, the best time, and places to visit.
There’s a ton of information every person planning their first Las Vegas vacation ought to know if they’re to make the most of it. Below are our top tips on how to go about your trip to Las Vegas.
The first thing you need to know before boarding a plane for your trip Las Vegas is that the city has two main areas: The Strip and Old Vegas/Downtown.
It’s hard to miss the Strip when traveling through the McCarran airport to Las Vegas.
When going through a Las Vegas travel guide, the first thing to check is the distance between one point to another. For example, the Strip stretches for 4.2 miles, so maybe you want to take a cab to get around Las Vegas.
When observed on a map, it appears like a short distance, which you can cover on foot. However, walking from Mandalay Bay to Stratosphere can take several hours.
The Strip is ever busy, which means there’re loads of things to see along the way. Please don’t take things at face value; assume it will take a few minutes to move from point A to B.
As any Las Vegas guide worth its salt will inform you, you need to check the estimated times it will take for you to walk to various places. A general rule of thumb is to allow yourself more time when planning your movements.
Pro Tip: Have you gotten lost while strolling on the Strip? Use the tall tower (Stratosphere) located on the northern end of the Strip to correct your bearings.
Going on a Las Vegas vacation is about having as much fun as possible while in the city of lights. The only way to achieve this goal is to stay on the Strip or within its boundaries. All the best action revolves around the Las Vegas Strip.
Ensuring you remain within its perimeters will save you lots of time and energy. Here’s where you’ll find the best sights and attractions of Las Vegas. Moreover, there’s no better way to heighten your first visit experience than by residing at one of its iconic casino hotels.
When looking for accommodation options for your trip to Las Vegas, consider the various centrally located hotels. They include:
When planning, note that the casino hotels don’t allow unaccompanied visitors under 21.
Pro Tip: If you have a limited budget or prefer to reside in a much quieter place, consider the hotels outside the Strip. Such hotels are cheap and quiet, ensuring you don’t get too far from the action. A good example is The Signature at MGM. Its rooms offer exceptional views of the Las Vegas Strip.
Always ensure you know the resort fees charged by any hotel you’d like to stay at when traveling to Las Vegas. A daily fee is included in the total, which may add up quite fast if you are not careful.
Read the fine print to familiarize yourself with the fees. You can use the rates charged by the hotel to get an understanding of the resort fees charged. The more expensive the hotel, the higher the resort fees.
Pro Tip: Consider making your reservations through platforms such as Booking.com. Often, the rates quoted on the platform will include the resort fees and any other applicable taxes. It’s the easiest way to prevent unpleasant surprises when checking out.
A cursory look at any Las Vegas travel guide will reveal that Sin City is among the most popular weekend getaways in the country. The city is ever crowded during the weekend nights and on public holidays.
Peak times in Sin City include New Year, Labor Day, Memorial Day Weekend, and the 4th of July. Visiting during peak times means you have to queue at all locations. Furthermore, certain activities may sell out, making accommodation options scarce and expensive. However, we all know that celebrating the holidays in Las Vegas is one of the most dreamy things to do with your partner, family, or peers.
Pro Tip: Travelers looking to save money and avoid crowds should plan their visits between Monday and Thursday night. The period offers a quieter and more delightful stay. Moreover, you and your traveling party will enjoy significantly reduced rates and tons of midweek deals.
While a typical Las Vegas guide will recommend using buses, Ubers, and trams when traveling in the city, there’re times when you’ll need to walk from one point to another. Any person who has been to Vegas will tell you there’s no better way to enjoy the city than by walking.
Don’t spend all your time holed up in your hotel room! Get out and stroll through the casino floors. Grab a snack or cold drink along the way and take in the Vegas atmosphere in all its glory.
Walking will enable you to enjoy all the Free attractions scattered throughout the city, including:
Apart from the physical attractions, Las Vegas offers you a chance to watch people as they let loose and enjoy their best lives. It’s a city filled with people from all corners of the world, all looking to have a great time.
Pro Tip: The Flamingo Margaritaville Bar provides you the best opportunity to watch people. Its tables are designed to hang over the Las Vegas Strip. Here, you can watch varying character casts, enjoy a tasty margarita, and take in the Vegas atmosphere.
At all costs, don’t forget to pack or carry with you a pair of comfortable shoes when traveling to Las Vegas. Let no one fool you into believing you’ll look glamorous, strutting along the Strip in a pair of the latest designer high heels.
Packing the wrong pair of shoes can easily ruin your Vegas holiday. A simple look at what visitors to the Strip are wearing can help you discern the rookies from the regular visitors. It’s common to find women walking barefoot, with their shoes tucked in their arms.
Pro Tip: Pick a pair of comfortable shoes that fits well with the season you want to vacation in the city. Packing the wrong type of shoes will soon lead to sore feet and a ruined vacation.
The Las Vegas travel guide you have been thumbing through probably mentioned that the city is in a desert. Deserts are characterized by harsh weather conditions, requiring carrying a sun hat, pair of sunglasses, and sunscreen on your visit.
While at it, consider packing a reusable water bottle to carry with you as you explore the city. Preparing for the sunny conditions calls for you also to be ready for the cold AC indoors. There’s a huge temperature difference between the indoors and the outdoors.
The difference becomes noticeable immediately after you enter a restaurant, shop, or casino. Use the shawl, light jacket, or light sweater we mentioned earlier to cover up when indoors.
Sin City never sleeps, which means it runs 24/7. It’s one of the few cities globally with so much for visitors to see and activities to do that most businesses remain open throughout. The lack of windows and visible wall clocks in casinos means you can quickly lose track of time.
Casinos want you to get lost in their offerings, which explains the lack of windows and clocks. Getting lost in space and time can be good or bad for you, depending on how well you perform on the slot machines or blackjack table.
Consider adjusting your routine if you intend to get the most out of your vacation. The city comes alive at night, so consider extending your sleeping hours to allow you to stay out later at night.
Pro Tip: Keep a schedule to prevent you from losing track of time. It also pays to beware of all the decisions you’re making. Don’t make any important or life-changing decisions when the body is tired or sleepy.
As mentioned above, Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps, so it’s always busy. If you have set your mind on seeing a specific show, eating at a given restaurant in Las Vegas, or visiting an attraction, make sure to book early.
Making a reservation before visiting provides ample time to get the experience you hoped to get at the said facility. Online bookings are cheaper and easier to make than physical ones.
Moreover, it gives you ample time to enjoy the said attraction as you won’t have to queue at the ticket office. Popular trips and tours to consider for your trip include:
Las Vegas is a city worth visiting by every person. Whether you’re rich or just trying to make your way in this world doesn’t matter. With proper budgeting and a well-detailed itinerary, you can have the time of your life in the city.
Adequate planning and adherence to the ten tips listed above will ensure you enjoy all the city’s offerings. Remember the weather when packing to make sure you pack the proper attire, depending on the places you intend to visit and the activities you want to engage in.