Las Vegas A collection of contradictions. A labyrinthine casino; an oasis of hospitality A cabana by the pool; heatstroke in a public place. A jackpot, a bank account that’s empty. It was the best night of your entire life, but it was also the worst mistake. Many people still come to the club in search of a good time.
In 2015, I relocated from the woods to the city. Montana As one would expect, I moved into an apartment right behind a Las Vegas Casino. I had been working in the national parks and wanted to live in the real world—in retrospect, Las Vegas was an odd choice for that. Since then, I have learned how to navigate through this beautiful and strange city. I’m familiar with its many secrets and countless hustles. I’ve learned the secrets of a great Vegas vacation from my decade-long stay in Vegas. Las Vegas can be a great experience if you have the right combination of spontaneity, planning, and insider knowledge.
Please read our entire article Las Vegas travel guide hereThe following is a list of:
1. Respect the Tipping Culture
This Las Vegas etiquette book is written in dollar and cent figures. Here, we tip everybody, so bring cash—and take it out of your account in advance to avoid the astronomical casino ATM fees. You can tip your bellman or housekeeper as well as your tour guide and the dancers of the stripclub. Also, you can tip the cocktail server at the slots who gives you free drinks. Sometimes tipping gets you upgrades—slipping a $20 to the front desk agent occasionally results in a better room—and even if it doesn’t, it’s what we do.
2. Hydrate
Fake news is not welcome Venetian Canals can fool you. Las Vegas is situated in the Mojave Dessert, so you should drink water. It’s best to drink it in between drinks. Bring a bottle that has a time stamp. Drink the tap water—even other locals judge me for this but I will die on the hill that it is fine to drink the Vegas tap water! When it is 115 degrees outside, your life will depend on how well you hydrate.
3. The Strip is not a walkable place.
This casino might seem to be close, but it is a mirage. (Side note: RIP to the locally beloved Mirage Hotel & Casino, which closed in 2024; we miss you every day.) Many casino facades use design techniques, such as grouping the windows together, to make the buildings seem smaller. Las Vegas Strip measures 4.2 miles and isn’t as pedestrian friendly as it could be. Walk if you can—and wear comfortable shoes—but don’t be afraid to take an Uber if you need to.
4. What happens (necessarily), does not stay here
I am sorry to tell you that “what happens here stays here” is a slogan created by advertising firm R&R Partners, not an official declaration about how Las Vegas responds to crime. Cameras, security and police are everywhere. In the light of day there are consequences.
5. Nature is calling.
You can do everything from hiking on Mt. Charleston is a desert wilderness that’s closer than you might think. You can even day-trip to Zion National Park You can also find out more about the following: Utah You can also find out more about Death Valley National Park You can also find out more about the following: California Be sure to arrive in time for dinner.
6. Take a bite in Chinatown
Chinatown is home to some of the best Las Vegas dining options. The neighborhood less than 10 minutes from the Strip is home to some truly life changing Asian food—everything from hand-pulled noodles to soup dumplings to late-night izakayas. Try Chengdu Taste James Beard has nominated Sichuan for a James Beard Award Shanghai Taste Soup dumplings are a great way to enjoy soup. Lamaii Thai food and a great wine list is a winning combination. Trattoria Nakamura-Ya Tokyo-style Italian (misocarbonara) is a dish that is popular in the city.).
7. Arts District: Check it out!
Downtown Las Vegas has a lot to offer. Fremont Street And the Arts District. The Arts District has galleries, theaters shops and restaurants. In the Arts District, you can sit in a bar with no video poker screens.
8. You can’t expect to swim in the pool all year.
Las Vegas is awash with tourists every winter who are shivering and wearing shorts, saying “No one warned me it would get this cold.” You know what? In January the daytime temperature can reach 50 degrees and the nighttime temperature can drop below zero. In 2019, there was even some snow. (And we had no idea of how to drive on it). Wear layers and other protective clothing. winter essentials If you are visiting between November and February.
9. Nevada is pronounced incorrectly by the locals.
It’s “Neh Vad-uh,” rather than “Neh VAH Duh.” Please don’t call Downtown Las Vegas Old Vegas or add an extra The e-mail address you entered is not valid. Fremont Street
10. Avoid mobile check-in
It’s convenient to use mobile check-in, but you are unlikely to get an upgrade or special requests met if you do. The lines at the front desk to check-in can be long. But those frozen cocktail foot-longs are there for a reason.
11. There are no 24 hour shops
Las Vegas was known for its 24-hour openness. Covid-19 changed all that. Businesses that were open 24/7 in the past reopened, but with a limited schedule. Most of them have kept this. While there are plenty of options for late night dining, you’ll have to work harder to find a pizza when you leave a nightclub around 4 a.m.
12. Avoid fake dispensaries
In 2017, Nevada legalized recreational marijuana. Since then, the number of dispensaries has ballooned from a handful to…well, let’s just say they’ve probably opened three new ones in the time it took to read this sentence. Fake dispensaries are also on the rise. Fake dispensaries sell hemp and CBD, but they advertise themselves as if it was selling real weed. How can you avoid being scammed? You should keep in mind that casinos are at least 1,500 feet away from dispensaries. If you leave the casino, this scam will not occur. the Golden Nugget If you see one, do not believe it.
13. Hire a nightclub Promoter
Use a promoter to avoid the expensive cover charge in nightclubs. Promoters work for venues and are paid by them to fill their clubs. You can find them on Instagram. It’s fine as long as the weekend is not busy. Memorial DayThey can usually get you into the event for free. It’s likely that you will still pay $25 for a vodka-flavored soda.
14. Talk to the concierge for difficult to obtain reservations
Hotel concierges aren’t magicians—Las Vegas has enough of those already—but their ability to get you a last minute reservation at a popular restaurant is an impressive sleight of hand. The concierge can offer you personalized advice and recommendations, such as where to find the best views. Fourth of July fireworks Which shows are worth the price of the tickets?
15. You don’t have to do Vegas like a local—at least not the entire time
There’s no harm in being a tourist in Las Vegas. It’s a city that is all about hospitality, and the people are eager to make your stay memorable. Las Vegas Boulevard is for you. While it’s important to get off the Strip and explore a nearby neighborhood or natural area, there’s no harm in embracing this.
