Las Vegas Holidays

Several factors should be considered when traveling to Las Vegas, including the weather, holidays, and major entertainment. Las Vegas is located in the desert and receives little precipitation. The summer can be quite warm: the average temperature is 37ºC or higher from June to August. More mild temperatures can be expected between October and April, when temperatures range between 15ºC and 28ºC. Las Vegas doesn't really have an off-season, but you may want to avoid taking your holiday during July 4th (Independence Day), holiday weekends, and Valentine's Day. Most major entertainment such as celebrity performers are year round, but a specific performer may take a break, so it's recommended that you check their schedule.

From the Airport

It’s probably no coincidence that the McCarran International Airport is near the Southern point of The Strip, making it easy to go straight from plane to game once you land. For $5, a shuttle service will run you up the main boulevard.

Getting Around the City

Monorails will take you up and down The Strip quickly and comfortably. The LV Monorail ($5) runs until the early hours of the morning, stopping at most of the major spots. All-day passes are also available from $12.

Shorter monorail shuttles are run by the companies that own several casinos on The Strip and will whisk you from one resort to the other for free.

The local bus network provides access to the downtown area, which is a short journey from The Strip. The ‘Deuce’ service ($2) connects the two areas and runs continuously all through the day and night.

To cruise the main drag your own way, consider one of many Las Vegas car hire options. This also provides the freedom to take a break from the bright lights and visit other areas of the city and surrounding area, including the breathtaking Grand Canyon.

An alternative is to act like a big player, hire a limousine, and be chauffeur-driven for a night. Bear in mind that traffic on The Strip and surrounding areas can be torturous at certain times of the day.

• The top of the Stratosphere Tower: at 1,149 feet, you will see Las Vegas' beauty in its entirety.
• The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art has an extensive collection of exquisite art from around the world.
• Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum has an impressive collection of wax sculptures of celebrities past and present.
• The Shark Reef Aquarium, located at Mandalay Bay, has numerous sharks and other ocean creatures to enjoy, plus a walk-through tunnel.
• Fremont Street is located downtown and is home to famous old casinos, such as The Golden Nugget, Binions, and Fitzgerald's.

For style and elegance, try the Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas. Each of the nearly 3,000 rooms has a private terrace with commanding views of the neon madness below. Studios with kitchenettes are available for those who want more freedom, while plasma televisions come as standard.

The name says it all at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. The sprawling complex includes a concert arena, a 740-seat theatre, and a lion habitat. Special upgrades include ‘Celebrity Spa’ suites—featuring a whirlpool bath—and the hi-tech ‘West Wing’ room. Reserve this one well in advance: the hotel is so popular that the maximum stay is 14 days.

The iconic Bellagio Hotel is one of the most recognised resorts in the world. Once you check in, there will be very few reasons to leave—there is even a fine-art gallery and shopping centre inside. Rooms start at deluxe and get increasingly luxurious. Big spenders might consider the Penthouse Suite on a private floor.

Soak up the opulence of ancient Rome at Caesars Palace Hotel. All rooms are decked out in marble, but come with all the amenities a modern emperor could want. The spectacular ‘Garden of the Gods’ swimming area includes eight pools—and even a swim-up blackjack table for those who can’t wait to get gaming.

You can get above it all at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower, the tallest building in Western USA. From the upper deck, you can see beyond The Strip out into the Nevada valley. For the ultimate thrill, the amusement park rides are over 100 floors up.

Arguably the best chef on the planet, Joël Robuchon owns two eateries in Las Vegas. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (MGM Grand) is the smaller, less fancy version, but gives diners the opportunity to sit and watch how things should be done in the kitchen.

Consider your wine choice carefully at Aureole (Mandalay Bay Resort): suspended stewards called ‘wine angels’ will pluck your selection from a four-floor glass tower holding nearly 10,000 bottles. Renowned chef Charlie Palmer adds a personal touch to classic American dishes.

It might not be quite as romantic as Paris, but dinner at the Eiffel Tower restaurant (Paris Hotel) is still well worth a visit. It has a great vantage point perched at the top of the replica structure, and the twisted metal bars poking through the walls give the whole place an arty edge. If you find it hard to choose from the list of mouth-watering French dishes, leave it up to chef Jojo and opt for the tasting menu.

It’s a bit out of town and located in a typical US shopping centre (strip mall), but Rosemary’s Restaurant (8125 West Sahara Avenue) is a big local favourite for delicious southern-style food, extensive wine list, and homely service.

The In-N-Out Burger (2900 West Sahara Avenue) is a typical Californian no-nonsense, fast-food outlet. It’s a good option if you are looking to fill up quickly before heading to a show or back to the gaming floor.

Most of the hotels in Las Vegas also include at least one reasonably-priced all-you-can-eat buffet, allowing gamblers to save their money for other things.

Vaccinations

As with most US destinations, there are no requirements for specific vaccinations for entry. Before you travel, check that you are up-to-date with your general booster schedule.

Health and Hygiene

Temperatures can soar in summer, so try to avoid sun exposure from 11a.m. to 3p.m. Also make sure you remain well hydrated—tap water is drinkable but generally doesn’t taste good. Bottled water is on sale everywhere and inexpensive.
Medical care is first class here, but also costly.

Safety

The vast number of tourists means that Las Vegas is largely well policed and safe, particularly on The Strip. That said, you should not be complacent: always follow basic safety rules about not walking alone into unknown areas and keeping valuables well hidden.

Las Vegas is a place to go wild, but law enforcement is strict so always be careful to respect local rules and regulations. This particular applies to the possession of drugs and local speed limits.

While there have been efforts to make The Strip safer for pedestrians, be careful when walking, and especially when crossing the road.

General Advice

In a place that never sleeps and where every desire can be fulfilled, it is important to be aware of your limits. Casinos purposely don’t have clocks, so keep track of time and make sure you take regular breaks from gaming to eat and rest.

Also never forget that the house is almost certain to win in the long run – don’t lose count of how much money you are gambling.