Top 10 Things To Know Before You Visit Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip at night
When many people think of Las Vegas, they immediately think of enormous hotels, unique shows, and endless gambling opportunities. Although the city offers these things, people who travel to this amazing city will realize that there are many things to do in Las Vegas than meets the eye.
Casino in Las Vegas
1. Getting to Las Vegas Is Easy
The central airport for Las Vegas is McCarran International Airport [LAS], which is located very close to the south end of The Strip.
This airport is served by nearly every major airline, with flights connecting to nearly every major city in North America as well as direct flights from a number of overseas destinations.
Over two million passengers from California alone pass through this airport each year, and altogether there are about 40 million passengers annually making it one of the busiest airports in the world.
Welcome To Las Vegas Sign
2. Getting Around Las Vegas Is Also Easy
Visitors who are only interested in the Strip may be able to get away with just walking and the occasional cab ride in the cooler months, but this isn’t the best choice in the summer when heat is regularly in excess of 100 degrees.
Public transit is best in the Strip area. The Las Vegas Monorail runs between the MGM Grand and the north end of the Strip, stopping at the Las Vegas Convention Center along the way.
Las Vegas RTC offers bus service out to the rest of the city, with two high-speed lines that run up and down the Strip.
Las Vegas Strip
Some of the casino-hotels on the Strip also offer free shuttle service to guests. Some pick up and drop off at McCarran International, and the casinos frequently have free shuttles that circulate between their different properties as well.
Las Vegas Tram
3. IT Is Easy To Find A Place To Stay In Las Vegas
The major casinos usually have large attached hotels, and often offer attractive rates to get people in the door and spending money on their gaming, food and nightlife. MGM and Caesar’s are the two major casino-hotel brands in the city.
New York-New York Hotel and Casino
MGM owns many of the themed casino-hotels on the Strip such as Luxor, New York-New York and Excalibur, as well as the swanky Bellagio and ARIA.
The famous Las Vegas water fountain at the Bellagio Hotel
Caeasar’s dominates the center area of the Strip with properties that range from upscale (Caesar’s Palace) to midscale (Harrah’s and The Quad).
Statues in Forum Shops at Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Those looking for a quieter stay will also find all the major upscale and mid-scale hotel chains at various locations around the city that are removed from most of the gaming and partying, however. Just about every brand in every price range imaginable, from the Marriott to Motel 6, can be found off the Strip.
Adventurous budget travellers also sometimes enjoy staying in one of the city’s numerous hostels, which are mostly concentrated near the downtown area.
4. Las Vegas is an Entertainment Capital
While Las Vegas has always been the world’s gambling mecca, a major downturn in gaming revenue has forced the city to diversify in recent years.
Roulette gaming table at MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas
Vegas has reinvented itself as an entertainment capital, a culinary center and one of the country’s top destinations for shopping and nightlife.
Neon Lights in Las Vegas at night
Eat at the restaurants, and enjoy incredible attractions that will thrill you. Enjoy the dazzling performances of Broadway shows like Jersey Boys.
Eiffel Tower Experience, Las Vegas
Entertainment events and nightlife now rival gaming as the biggest draw to Las Vegas. The Palace is a popular place for musicians to perform, like Rod Stewart or Barry Manilow.
Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a consistent showcase of talent. During the 1970s it was frequently the top artists of Motown that would perform on the strip. Today it draws performers from all corners of the globe.
Show girls in Las Vegas
5. The Casinos offer Much More Than Gambling
Start your adventure in Las Vegas off with a visit to the city’s top casinos, such as Caesar’s Palace. Casinos such as the MGM Grand are regularly home to major sporting events.
Caesars Palace Casino Las Vegas
These Casinos have also emphasized the addition of nightclubs and bars designed to appeal to a younger audience.
MGM Grand for example, has a Lion Habitat right on the floor of the casino, as well as some of the hottest clubs in town, Tabu and Studio 54. It also boasts many world class restaurants and eateries.
MGM Grand, Las Vegas
6. Home To The World’s Hotels
Las Vegas is home to at least 6 of the World’s top 10 largest hotels.
The Casinos and hotels in Las Vegas can be an amazing experience in itself, as they are often packed with a plethora of attractions, activities, restaurants and clubs.
Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas
7. There is More To Do Off The Strip
Of course, there’s still plenty of gambling, for those who are so inclined. The city’s most elaborate and glamorous casinos are located on the Strip, but off-Strip properties often offer better odds.
Ferris wheel in Las Vegas
No matter what the desire or budget, Las Vegas manages to have something available to please every visitor.
8. Las Vegas Has Real Attractions
Las Vegas is home to some pretty amazing attractions, which does not necessarily involve gambling or even casinos.
Outdoor Gondola Rides, Las Vegas
Watch mind-blowing water shows at the famed Bellagio Fountains.
The Las Vegas Water Fountain
Fountains of Bellagio, Las Vegas
The Bellagio Water Show at night
At Paris Las Vegas casino, visitors zip up this half-size replica of Paris’ Eiffel Tower, which offers spectacular views of Las Vegas.
Bellagio’s lakefront dancing fountains in Las Vegas, with the Eiffel Tower Experience in background
Sphinx statue at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada
There are decent museums to visit such as the National Atomic Testing Museum and the Springs Reserve, which is home to the Nevada State Museum.
9. Downtown Las Vegas Carries Its Own Weight
Downtown Las Vegas is the next most popular attraction in the city after the Strip. It is home to older casino properties that capture the feel of old-time Vegas.
Downtown Las Vegas sign
Downtown Las Vegas is also home to the Fremont Street Experience, a huge covered mall that turns into a nightlife hotspot when the sun goes down.
Downtown Las Vegas
10. Do Not Miss Out On The Day Trips
From Las Vegas, you can go on day trips to spectacular attractions such as the Red Rock Canyon, the Hoover Dam, Mount Charleston and Valley of Fire State Park.
Hoover Dam, Nevada
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers travellers a respite from the unnatural Las Vegas cityscape. Red Rock Canyon is located 17 miles southwest of Las Vegas.
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA
Red Rock offers natural enticements in contrast to the entertainment and gaming in Las Vegas. These include a 13-mile scenic drive, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, miles of hiking trails, road biking, picnic areas, nature observing and visitor center with indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as a book store.
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Near Las Vegas
Red Rock Canyon, near Las Vegas, Nevada
