Geographically the city sits in a basin within the Mojave Desert and the area surrounding it is dominated by desert vegetation and dry mountain ranges. An oasis of luxury and indulgence in the Nevada desert, Las Vegas is no stranger to the party, the glitz, the expensive resorts, and the fancy ‘see and be seen’ atmosphere. The city of sin is located in Clark County in southern Nevada and has a thumping nightlife scene that slips into day and unparalleled dining options. The strip of Las Vegas is one of the best tourist-friendly places in the world but things can go wrong if you don’t plan well. If you’re traveling to Las Vegas and not sure where to start, then you are at the right place! All the information provided here will ensure your visit is safe so that you can have the best time in Las Vegas.
How To Reach Las Vegas
By Air
The nearest airport, the McCarran International Airport is located 8 km south of downtown Las Vegas, in Paradise.
By Road
Las Vegas is well-connected to other cities in the state of Nevada and also to other states in America, via bus routes. As everyone makes spontaneous weekend trips to have good times, there are regular buses from most cities of Las Vegas. Tickets can be bought online, by phone or at the terminal. A few casinos also arrange bus services at discounted prices ((or free) to their casinos from some cities.
By Rail
While there are no direct rail services coming into Las Vegas, Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach shuttles passengers between major cities and the nearest Amtrak stations. Amtrak’s Southwest Chief operates a daily service from California, Albuquerque and Los Angeles to Kingman in Arizona which is located 179 km south of Las Vegas.
Best Time To Visit Las Vegas
Las Vegas doesn’t have well-defined high and low seasons as it attracts crowds year-round, but still, there can be slight differences that can help you decide when to go. While you’ll find plenty of travel deals throughout the year, the spring and fall shoulder seasons offer the most moderate weather in Las Vegas. So the best time in Las Vegas is in the spring which falls from March to May and from September to November. With an average high of 106°F (41°C), July is the hottest month in Vegas and with an average high of 58°F (14°C), December is the coldest month.
Some Interesting Facts About Las Vegas That You Didn’t Know
· From space, The Las Vegas Strip looks like the brightest place on Earth.
· The Las Vegas Strip is 4.2 miles long that’s approximately around 61,597 football fields put together.
· Part of the Las Vegas strip is not actually in the city, it falls into the neighbouring town of Paradise.
· Only 15% of tourists to Las Vegas come planning to gamble but 71% of tourists end up gambling.
· Out of the 10 largest hotels (by a number of rooms) in the world, six of them are in Las Vegas.
· The capital of Nevada is not Las Vegas but Carson City.
· The famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign isn’t actually in Vegas, it’s four miles outside of the border of the city.
· Before 1929 gambling in Las Vegas was illegal but today literally for every eight Las Vegas residents there is one slot machine.
· Las Vegas, also known as Sin City, has over 150,000 hotel rooms.
· Sin City’s recreation of the Great Sphinx of Giza is bigger than the real one.
· Las Vegas has a ‘black book’ that has a list of people banned from entering any casino in the city.
· People in Las Vegas consume 60,000 pounds (about 30 tons) of shrimp each day.
· The dancing fountains at Bellagio use “gray water”, which means water that’s previously used but not sanitised.
· Las Vegas casinos do not have any clocks or windows. It’s very easy for visitors to lose track of time.
· Most of the Casinos in Las Vegas don’t have the 4th floor as number four is considered to be much more unlucky than number 13.
· Las Vegas may sound like the last place to bring kids, however, you will be surprised to find this place has much more family fun than you might expect.
What Las Vegas Is Famous For?
Las Vegas is not just about glamour and glitz. Here’s a list of some natural and cultural attractions in Sin City that you can add to your itinerary.
Attraction Of Las Vegas – Natural
Lake Mead
This man-made lake lies on the Colorado River, just southeast of the city of Las Vegas. It is the largest reservoir in the United States in terms of water capacity. Do visit this place to experience a good time in Las Vegas.
Hoover Dam
Originally known as Boulder Dam, this concrete arch-gravity dam was constructed between 1931 and 1936. Hoover dam is located in Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. It is just 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas.
Mount Charleston
Situated just 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Mount Charleston is part of the Spring Mountain Range and Toiyabe National Forest and ranges from 3,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Visit Nevada’s eighth-highest mountain peak and enjoy hiking, camping, sightseeing, and winter sports activities here.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Lying in Nevada’s Mojave Desert, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is just 15 – 20 miles away from Las Vegas. It is known for geological features such as towering red sandstone peaks, the Keystone Thrust Fault, and Native American petroglyphs.
Death Valley National Park
Known to be America’s lowest, hottest, and driest national park, Death Valley National Park straddles eastern California and Nevada. It is only about a two-hour drive from the Strip (approximately 130 miles).
Zion National Park
Have a great time in Las Vegas by visiting the colourful landscapes of Zion National Park. Located in Utah, the park is about two and a half hours from Las Vegas and is known for its unique geological features and variety of plants and animals. A perfect place for a day trip!
Bryce Canyon National Park
This Park is close to Zion National Park, so you can visit this gorgeous destination for its crimson-coloured hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations. It is located about four hours northeast of Las Vegas.
Attraction Of Las Vegas – Cultural
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
Experience refined side of Las Vegas at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, an extraordinary collection of works gathered from private collections and museums from around the world. Come here to experience a great time in Las Vegas.
Smith Center for the Performing Arts
Located in Downtown Las Vegas’ 61-acre Symphony Park, Smith Center for the Performing Arts is a five-acre performing arts center that features both visiting art installations and commissioned pieces from local and international artists.
Neon Museum Boneyard
The Neon Museum was founded in 1996 and is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment. A great way to send time in Las Vegas!
The Mob Museum
Another non-profit organization, The Mob Museum’s mission is to advance the public understanding of organized crime’s history and impact on American society. Located in Downtown Las Vegas, this history museum offers a bold and authentic view of organized crime from vintage Las Vegas to the back alleys of American cities and—increasingly—across the borders and networks of the entire world.
The National Atomic Testing Museum
The National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas documents the history of nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site in the desert north of Las Vegas. It houses artifacts from the Nevada Test Site through interactive modules, timelines, films and actual equipment and gadgets.
Pinball Hall of Fame
Only opened a decade ago, this museum for pinball machines is an attempt by the members of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club to house and display the world’s largest pinball collection to the public. It features over 200 different pinball games, including some classic video arcade games and other novelty machines of the past and present.
Also Read: Places To Stay & Have Best Time In Las Vegas
Twelve Tips Every Visitor Should Know To Have A Great Time In Las Vegas
1. As the buildings are so close together they may appear near but distances are further than they appear.
2. To reach places quickly use trams, and walkways inside and outside the casino.
3. Don’t order drinks in the casino, wait until the waitress offers free cocktails. Most casinos give away free cocktails to keep their customers gambling.
4. Las Vegas can get very dry and hot, so it is recommended to carry a bottle of water and sunscreen everywhere.
5. Do carry a light sweater or jacket as indoor establishments can be freezing with intense air conditioning systems.
6. Keep an eye out for discount vouchers and always book your tickets in advance to avoid the long queue.
7. Make sure to keep your fluids up so you can make the most of your day and night.
8. If you stop to take a photo with someone dressed up as Elmo, Bumblebee or Minion at various points, they expect you to pay for it.
9. Carry backup batteries, power cords, chargers and memory cards.
10. Make sure that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
11. The legal age for gambling and drinking in Las Vegas is 21. One can be arrested for engaging in either of them if underage.
12. The service fees at the casino ATM are very high; carry enough cash before you leave.
What Should One Pack For A Las Vegas Trip
– Good and comfortable walking shoes.
– Toiletries like toothbrush, paste, deodorant, body cream, lip balm and perfume.
– Pair of flip-flops or sandals is essential pool wear.
– Carry a light jacket or sweater to protect from the blasting air conditioners.
– Sunscreen, Sunglasses and Hat to protect from the desert Sun.
– Carry a valid ID card to enter casinos, bars, and nightclubs in Las Vegas.
– Pack a couple of casual and cool day outfits that work well with the plans on your itinerary.
– With so many summer pool parties around, don’t forget to carry your bathing suits.
– You’re regular medicines and a mini first aid kit.
– Camera and Phone to capture all the wonderful moments.
Woohoo! All this information will help you make the most of your time in Las Vegas. The land of money, lights, gambling, drinks, flash cars and rock stars awaits you. So plan your trip beyond the strip and do let us know about your unforgettable travel experiences in the comments below!
The south end of the strip is more flashy and gaudy with tons of accommodation options.
January, August and October are the best times to fly to Las Vegas. During these months one can save a lot on the price of the tickets.
Stay off the East side of Las Vegas (Boulder Hwy and Nellis Blvd). These places can put you in trouble in a matter of seconds.
Rides in a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or bus is the best way to get around the Las Vegas Strip. One can also take the Regional Transportation which offers bus routes 24 hours a day.
For those who serve free drinks to casino players a tip of $1 to $2 is considered good enough.
The Las Vegas Strip is 4.2 miles long which takes approximately 90 minutes to get across without stopping along the way.
