Knowing some insider tips about how to plan and enjoy a Las Vegas vacation can help make the trip a happier, more memorable experience. Going to Las Vegas can be a fun and exciting vacation, but for people who have never visited there before, it helps to know a few insider travel tips to make the experience more enjoyable.
Las Vegas Travel Tips for the Best Vacation Experience
Before Booking a Las Vegas Vacation
Before booking a trip to Las Vegas, or before leaving if heading there by car, look online at the many hotels available both on and off the Las Vegas Strip. Even though the majority of the vacation will be spent visiting all the surrounding casinos and attractions, it is still important to be comfortable in the hotel where you are staying. Some hotels cater to families while others are definitely more adult-orientated. Location of the hotel is another important consideration.
If the plan is to walk the strip to see as many of the casinos as possible, then it is important to stay at a hotel that is centralized on the strip. Staying at either end of the strip, Mandalay Bay or the Stratosphere, means long walks or using public transportation to visit the other casinos. While the public transportation is excellent in Vegas, if the plan is to walk from casino to casino, you may want to be closer to the middle of the strip.
Next, consider how many days and which days of the week to visit Las Vegas. Weekends in Vegas are crowded, so if the plan is to visit attractions, it may be better to plan the vacation during the middle of the week. Also, hotel room prices usually drop during the week as opposed to weekends. The best time to fly in or out of Vegas is on a Tuesday or Saturday. Most people fly in on Friday and out on Sunday or Monday, so avoid those days if possible. Also, remember it can take days to see the many attractions and casinos in Vegas, so book the trip for enough days to see the sights.
Other things to consider before taking a Las Vegas trip are:
- Pack comfortable shoes. Looking great is nice but Vegas hotels and casinos are so large there is a long walking distance between them. Plan on walking miles every day, even when using public transportation.
- Be prepared for changing temperatures. Vegas is a desert town so that means warm days and possibly cold evenings. Bring tank tops and T-shirts but also bring sweatshirts and jackets.
- Think twice about renting a car unless you plan on traveling outside of Las Vegas. Traffic on the strip is always busy and parking is expensive. Most people spend a week in Vegas either walking or using public transportation and don’t miss having a car.
- Consider booking a shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel and back as part of the vacation package. It is generally less expensive to buy these tickets in advance and there is less waiting time upon arrival.
Tips to Enjoy Las Vegas
While checking into the hotel, ask the desk clerk for any coupons, free show tickets, and maps of Las Vegas that are available. A map is an important tool in planning how to spend each day of the vacation. It can save miles of walking. Since many of the hotels in Vegas are owned by the same corporation, they give out coupons and show tickets for their sister hotels. Coupon books may also be in the hotel room.
Tentatively plan out each day of the trip if there are certain tourist sites that you wish to visit. There are many free shows in Vegas and all are on schedules so it is important to know where to be at the right time. The best time to visit attractions is during the day before 3:00 PM while everyone is sleeping off the night before. For free shows, it is recommended to show up at least 30 minutes before show time to get a good spot. Showing up early is a good practice for any free show.
There are several good options to choose from for transportation between casinos. There is the Las Vegas Monorail system that runs between the MGM Grand and the Sahara, making several stops in-between. Tickets for this monorail can be purchased at ticket machines at any of the monorail stations. The monorail is a good choice because it is rarely crowded during the day and easy to access. There is also another monorail that runs between Mandalay Bay and Excalibur which is free to use. There are also several trams that run between many of the casinos. City busses are also a good form of transportation.
Free Sights and Shows to See
Las Vegas is a Mecca of entertainment and there is always something to see or do. Some free shows and sites that shouldnít be missed are:
- The volcano at the Mirage. The shows are every night, once every hour.
- The fountains at the Bellagio. The fountains put on a show to music every fifteen minutes throughout the day and night.
- The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens inside the Bellagio. The conservatory is filled with a display of fresh flowers that are arranged in different themes five times a year. Open daily.
- “Big Elvis” show at Bill’s Gambling Hall & Saloon. Daily shows, check for times.
Visiting Las Vegas is an experience like no other and can be fun for anyone, even those who do not enjoy gambling. With so much to do and see, you are sure to come home with many new stores to tell friends and family!
I don’t know whether it’s still the same but when we drove to Las Vegas we went to the visitor’s centre as soon as we crossed the border into Nevada and got a lot of coupons for hotels and restaurants, definitely worth checking out.
I do have Las Vegas on my list of places to visit.
We haven’t been to Vegas in a while so reading this post is really making me miss it! Vegas can be so fun but also very overwhelming to these are good tip[s to keep in mind.
I haven’t been in a while too! Glad you like my tips!