Things You Should Know Before Visiting Las Vegas

There are a million ways to describe Las Vegas. Glitzy, glamorous, fun, abundant, expensive, tacky, extravagant, chaotic, exhilarating. It’s a “Disneyland for adults”, “sin city”, “party central”, and the list goes on.

Vegas can be whatever you want it to be, but here are some things you should know before visiting Las Vegas.

It is so, so hot.

At least it is in the summer months between May and September. Remember Vegas is in the middle of the Nevada desert. Don’t underestimate the heat.

The Strip is a 10 minute taxi ride from the airport.

McCarran airport is so close to the Vegas Strip you can see it from the airport. A taxi from McCarran Airport should cost around $20 plus tip. If a taxi driver asks if it’s your first time in Vegas, say no to avoid being taken on a detour and charged double the price.

The Strip is much longer than you think.

The Vegas Strip is around 4 miles (7km) long. You can walk it, but it takes ages.

Don’t underestimate how long it takes to get anywhere.

Around 50 hotels line the Vegas Strip. Most of them are huge beyond your imagination. Fourteen of them are on the top 25 largest hotels in the world list, and each and every one is as flamboyant as it is unique.

They are designed to get you in, and keep you there. And that’s exactly what they do.

You can’t walk from hotel to hotel and see them all in a few days, yet equally you can’t walk the Vegas Strip without being enticed inside to experience the sheer extravagance of the many themed hotels in all their lavish glory.

The point is it’s really difficult to walk anywhere in Vegas without getting distracted, in a good way. But that’s part of the reason you go to Vegas, right?

The Deuce is a good way to get around.

If you do need to get somewhere without distraction, there is a fantastic 24 hour bus service called ‘The Deuce’ which runs the length of the strip and into Downtown Vegas. They are frequent (every 15 – 20 minutes) and cheap (you can get a 24 hour pass for $8, or a 3 day pass for $20).

Gambling is addictive. 

Even for non-gambling types like me. If you are staying on the Vegas Strip, your hotel will have a Casino. Everywhere you go, there will be Casino’s. I’m not a gambler. I don’t know how to gamble and that makes me really bad at it. But, it’s really, really, really hard to resist the temptation to gamble every day.  For this reason I set myself a daily budget of around $20.

Two cent slot machines are fantastic.

The majority of my gambling was done on 2 cent slot machines. The most I won was around $20. The machines make a pinging noise for every $1 you win. Seriously, the rush of excitement you get when the machine pings 20 or more times before issuing you with your winning coupon, is ridiculous. It feels like you’re winning millions.

Did I mention gambling is addictive?

In Downtown Vegas you get coins not coupons.

Wandering around a small casino in Downtown Vegas with a bucket full of coins (just like you see in old movies) is bizarrely entertaining in itself. At least it was for me.

Downtown Vegas is run-down (but still worth visiting).

Downtown Vegas is about a mile North of the famous Vegas Strip. It’s pretty run-down, a stark contrast to the glitz and glamour you’ll experience on the Strip. But it’s still worth a visit, not least for a glimpse of the Vegas of old.

You may be surprised to know there are plenty of things to do and see in Downtown Vegas. From the Fremont Street Experience, where you can ride the zip line, ‘Slotzilla’, or see the free light show, to the Neon Museum or Mob Museum. You can even get your photo taken with a million dollars in Downtown Vegas!

There are no clocks inside Casino’s.

You will never know if it’s day or night when you’re in a Casino.

You can drink in the street any time of the day or night.

And most people do. Usually weird colourful cocktails from various shaped enormous plastic containers like these.

Plan shows in advance or you will be disappointed.

Everyone knows that there are lots of amazing shows to see in Vegas. Sure, there are some that you can rock up to on the day, or you can buy tickets from vendors scattered along the strip, but if there’s a particular show you want to see, book it in advance to avoid disappointment.

It’s cheaper to buy spirits by the bottle.

When we arrived at Caeser’s Palace to see Matt Goss, we asked for a table right at the front. This, we were told, would only be possible if we spent $100 on a litre bottle of any spirit. That came with unlimited mixers and got us up close and personal with Mr Goss himself. At first we were a bit dubious but remembering we’d just spent $40 on a round of 4 drinks, for us it was a no brainer.

There’s a good chance you’ll see a wedding.

Vegas is the wedding capital of the world. Around 2000 people get married there every week. So, if you spend some time hanging around the Little White Chapel you have every chance of seeing a wedding. I witnessed a drive-through wedding. The bride even gave me her bouquet.

You will be offered sex.

You will be given flyers selling sex. It doesn’t matter your gender, whether you are a couple, in a group or alone, you will be offered sex.

A trip to the Grand Canyon is a must.

You have to get up at around 5am (that’s not even bed time in Vegas, right?), it can take between 2 – 6 hours to get there (depending which side of the Grand Canyon you visit, and the means by which you get there) and it can be expensive, again depending on which option you choose. But believe me, a trip to the Grand Canyon is so worth it.

Taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon was an incredible experience. But nothing could prepare me for the feeling of being in the Canyon, looking up and all around and realising how small and insignificant I am in a huge and utterly amazing world.

For many, visiting The Grand Canyon is a once in a lifetime experience so while in Vegas it’s definitely worth the time, effort and expense.

You will have THE BEST TIME EVER!

Vegas is like nowhere else in the world. I caveat that by saying I haven’t been everywhere in the world, but I can’t imagine there’s anywhere else like this fantasy land for grown-ups. Seriously, Vegas is absolutely awesome. It genuinely has something for everyone (over the age of 18). I don’t know anyone who’s been to Vegas and hasn’t had the time of their life.

A weekend is not long enough.

I’ve heard many people say that a weekend is long enough to spend in Vegas. Some of my friends and family gasped in despair at the very idea of me spending a full week there. I guess if you spend the whole time in Vegas getting drunk and gambling, a weekend probably is long enough. But whilst gambling and partying opportunities in Vegas are plentiful, and indeed fun…

…There’s more to Vegas than gambling and partying.