Las Vegas is an exciting city, with attractions for every interest. You can visit this city numerous times and never have the same experience because there is so much to see and do. But if it’s your first visit, there are a few things you might want to know to help you have a better Vegas experience. If it’s been a few years since your last Vegas adventure, you might need some reminders. Here are 13 Las Vegas tips to help you plan and enjoy an amazing trip to sin city. I’ve also shared these on my YouTube channel, so if you’d like to watch that video, it’s embedded below!
1. Best time to Visit Las Vegas
The first of my Las Vegas tips is when to visit the city. Well, I’m happy to say there really is no bad time to go to Vegas, it all depends on your weather preferences.
- If you like moderate/warm weather: You might want to visit between March to May or September to November. Temperatures during these periods range from 21 to 39 degrees Celsius (and in Fahrenheit that’s between 70 – 102 degrees).
- If you like it hot: The Summer months – June to August – can get extremely hot, so this might work for you. Our last trip was in August and it was over 108 degrees! Aside from it being a little sweaty, the summer is still a great time to visit to take advantage of the resort pools and air-conditioned attractions indoors.
- If you like cooler temperatures: You might prefer the winter months from December to February. These months are cooler, but you can still have a great time exploring the city.
2. Stay on the Strip
Next on my list of Las Vegas tips is to stay on the strip. I’ve heard lots of tips focused on saving money that tell you to stay off the strip. I completely disagree! The main highlight of going to Las Vegas is to stay on the strip – it’s where the majority of the entertainment, dining, shopping and attractions are. Plus, you could waste a lot of time and money getting to and from your hotel if you stay off the strip, but plan to spend your time on the strip. If you’re trying to stick to a budget, look for deals when you are booking your hotel and try to find the best price-point for you. I highly suggest booking something on the strip, especially if it’s your first time in the city.
3. The Vegas Strip is Massive
This is probably obvious for many travellers, but if you’ve never been to Vegas before, you might be surprised how big the hotels are and the distance between. You can save yourself some walking by taking the free trams or pay for a monorail pass. Or you can pay for an Uber if you’re planning to go somewhere further – just know that hotels each have designated ride-share spots, so make sure you find this first before you call your ride.
4. Open Container Laws
This is a 2-part tip. If you’ve never been to Las Vegas before and don’t already know – Las Vegas has an open container law. This basically means you can drink alcohol on the strip and in public areas. And the law also includes the Fremont Street area north of the Strip, but don’t get caught with a glass bottle – alcoholic or not! Glass bottles apparently aren’t allowed and you could get a fine. Along the strip you will find plenty of souvenir and novelty drinks to chose from and these can set you back anywhere from $10 to 25 USD or more!
Part 2 of this tip is to save you some money! If you like beer, wine, coolers or canned mixed drinks you can save yourself some money if you stop at a CVS or Walgreen’s and buy something from their fridge section. It will be just as refreshing at a fraction of the cost.
5. Hydrate or die
If you visit Vegas during the summer months, it is so important that you stay hydrated. The summer weather can get extremely hot, and if you’re out on the Vegas strip, you can get dehydrated very quickly. Plus, if you’re enjoying some alcoholic beverages while you walk the strip, you could end up getting heat stroke and potentially ruin your vacation. So always remember to stay hydrated in Vegas!
6. Beware of Timeshares and Street Hustlers
When you’re walking the strip, people may come up to you and ask you a seemingly innocent question… “How long are you in town”. Do. Not. Answer. It’s probably best to not talk to anyone who comes up to you on the strip. They are probably trying to get you to attend a timeshare presentation, hustle you, or sell you something you don’t want or need. They will try to get you with “hey you want free show tickets” or “hey take one of my free CDs.”
Let me say this loud and clear – none of these are free.
To get those tickets or free drinks you need to sit through a few hours of a timeshare presentation, you might even get completely fake tickets. That “free CD” isn’t free – the person is going to want a tip for it. Save yourself the time and money and beware of timeshares and street hustlers in Vegas. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
7. Enjoy Free Entertainment
If you do want something that is legitimately free in Vegas, you can check out numerous free attractions along the strip and throughout town. Some of these include Fremont Street, the Bellagio Fountain Shows, the Bellagio Conservatory, the Fall of Atlantis Show – there are so many free things to do right on the strip and you don’t have to pay a cent. Check out my 11 Free Activities to do in Las Vegas for more ideas.
8. Use Vegas.com
This website and app has so many details and information to help you have a great stay in Vegas. I purchased all of my tickets on Vegas.com for my trips before we left and we got fantastic seats for much lower prices. The best part about this site is that you get to select your specific seats. Make you you check it out before you leave for your Vegas trip!
9. Gambling
Vegas casinos are a big draw for many people who like to gamble. Make sure if you’re gambling you set a daily limit or budget how much you’ll spend. If you do win big – you’re laughing! But just remember the casinos aren’t there to make you money – so be prepared to lose everything you plan on spending. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but just remember to gamble responsibly.
10. Pick Up Grocery Items
Food and drink costs certainly do add up in Vegas. If you’re trying to be budget friendly or cut down on costs you can pick up some groceries. There are grocery delivery services or you can buy some essentials at CVS or Walgreens on the strip. Better yet, if you have a car during your stay, drive to Target or a grocery store to pick up some supplies like wine, beer, water, snacks and breakfast items. Some hotels have mini-fridges you can use for your own stuff, but most resorts will have it stocked full of way overpriced items. If you can’t use the mini fridge you can always fill up your ice bucket and chill some drinks the old fashioned way. We liked having snacks and drinks on hand so that we could save some cash on buying overpriced items at the hotel
11. Rent a Car
Many people travel to Vegas and never leave the Strip. Next on my Las Vegas tips is to rent a car. There are so many attractions nearby that would be easier to if you had your own vehicle. Some of these are the 7 Magic Mountains, Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Fremont Street and more! The cost of a daily car rental will probably be less than taking a cab or Uber to each of these locations. Many hotels have small car rentals right in the parking garage, so you don’t even need to go far to pick up a car.
12. Comfortable Shoes
I can’t stress enough how important it is to wear comfortable shoes. The strip is huge. On Google Maps the distance from Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere it is over 4 miles and would take you almost 2 hours of walking. And the best way to see the attractions on the strip is to walk… so save your feet and wear some comfortable shoes. Or plan to take some of the free trams, the monorail or Ubers to get between your destinations.
13. Be Safe
I’m going to sound like my mom here, but I’m saying it anyway. Make smart choices! Whether you’re in Vegas with friends, family, or solo – be safe. Travel in groups, watch your drinks, don’t flash money around, have a cell plan so you can call people if you get separated, use your in-room safe, don’t use sketchy bank machines, watch for pick pockets – especially around street performances. Spend the money to take an Uber or cab instead of walking through a sketchy part of town. Generally, just use common sense so you can have a great vacation with only positive stories to tell.
Notable Mention Tips
There are certain things that should go without say, but here are some friendly reminders of additional tips you might want to know if it is your first time visit.
- Bring sunscreen and carry it with you on the strip to reapply.
- Make dinner reservations in advance, or avoid peak dinner hours to reduce your wait time.
- If you’re gambling in the casino, drinks are free. Wait for a waitress to come take your drink order – don’t buy an over-priced drink at the casino bar.
- Sign up for the hotel reward/players programs – if you’re a gambler or not – using these cards helps the casinos track your purchases and offer you future deals and discounts based on your spending habits.
- If you’re visiting from another country with a drinking age of 18 or 19 (like Canada), remember the legal drinking and gambling age in the US is 21.
Las Vegas Tips Summary
Overall, no matter what your interests or budget, there are plenty of sights and activities in Las Vegas to keep you busy. I hope these Las Vegas tips can be helpful to you if you’re heading to Sin City for the first time. And as always, if you have tips of your own let me know in the comments below.
