In this video, we’ll cover all you need
to know before traveling to Las Vegas including maps, transportation, where to stay,
best apps, best city views, Vegas specifics, and much more. Here are our 12 essentials tips: NUMBER 12: THE MAP OF LAS VEGAS Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world,
lies in the greater Mojave Desert. Let’s start with the Strip, stretching approx. 4.2 mi or 6.8 km, filled with famous
resort hotels and casinos. Downtown Las Vegas, which is located in the
northern part of the city includes: The Neon Museum with iconic neon signs,
The mob museum, Downtown Container Park, built from shopping
containers, featuring shopping center, and galleries, and Fremont Street Experience, an incredible entertainment and gaming destination with
SlotZilla Zip Line. If you continue south, you’ll find Art district,
a place for the city's thriving culture, housing, indie art galleries,
and warehouses for performances, Adventuredome Theme Park, with
fun rides, and arcades, AREA15, an area dedicated to retail and
entertainment events such as immersive art installations, is located in the northern
part of Las Vegas. If you continue south, you’ll find The Linq
Promenade with great dining and entertainment options, FLY LINQ Zipline Las Vegas and High
Roller, the world’s tallest Ferris Wheel. Across the street, there is the VooDoo Zipline. Continue down the Strip,
and you'll find The Park, an engaging experience for dining and entertainment, and T-Mobile Arena. If you’re in the mood for a coffee and tasty
dessert, don’t miss Hard Rock Café right next to the Coca-Cola Store, where you can
taste different flavors of Coca-Cola from all over the world. Hershey's Chocolate World, housing a number
of sweets, chocolates, and gifts, and is located right across the street. The famous Las Vegas Sign is located in the
Southern part of the city. Also, don't miss
Ethel M. Botanical Cactus Garden and Ethel M Chocolate Factory
right next to it. Korean and Chinatown are located off the Strip
and offer great restaurants. Vegas is known for its glamorous
hotels and casinos. Check our travel guide for more information
and the maps to easily locate them. Here are just some of the
most interesting ones. Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower with
observation deck, Encore and Wynn, The Mirage with erupting volcanoes
and an indoor rainforest, Flamingo, home of a tropical oasis
with flamingos, Caesars palace with
Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen, The Bellagio hotel and its famous fountains
with lights and music shows, Cosmopolitan with
Block 16 Urban Food Hall, Vdara Hotel & Spa and across the street
Aria Resort & Casino, Park MGM with Eataly, a food hall serving
Italian food and groceries, MGM Grand - a huge casino resorts
with trendy clubs, New York New York with famous
Replica Statue of Liberty, Luxor with famous pyramids, Mandalay bay with Shark Reef Aquarium
and Polar Journey. And finally, there are other interesting attractions worth visiting just outside Vegas. The world-famous Hoover Dam
bordering Nevada and Arizona and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area,
as well as many other places to discover. Las Vegas is spread out. To get a better sense of the distances,
a seven mile or approximately 12 km walk from Downtown Las Vegas to New York New York Hotel
takes about 2 hours or about 15 min by car or taxi/Uber, depending on the traffic. A 1.5 mile or 2.5 km walk from the Venetian Hotel
to New York New York hotel takes about 30 minutes or a little over
10 minutes if you take an Uber. The main airport is McCarran International
Airport, located just 3 miles or five km from Mirage Hotel or about
eight miles or 13 km from downtown Las Vegas. NUMBER 11: WEATHER & CLIMATE Las Vegas has a desert climate with mild and
cold winters and very hot summers. Temperatures in winter are mild during the
day, while nights are cold, with minimum temperatures often around freezing, and ranging between
41 °F and 50 °F or 4 °C and 17 °C. There’s a lot of sunshine during the day with cold
nights, and snow is very rare. The coldest month is January
with 39 °F or 4°C. In the spring, the weather can often change
from relatively mild to cold. The temperatures range between 44 °F and
88 °F or 7 °C and 30 °C. Summer is very hot with the dry wind, although
short thunderstorms can occur. Temperatures range between 69 °F
and 106 °F or 21 °C and 41 °C. The hottest month is July with an average of 104 °F or 40°C, but the temperature can go beyond that, especially in July and August. Weather in the fall is still sunny and warm
in October and November, but it then quickly becomes colder in November. Temperatures range between 43 °F
and 95 °F or 6 °C and 35 °C. Of course, these are all just averages. The weather and temperatures can be different
when you visit, so remember always to check the weather forecast before you travel. NUMBER 10: BEST TIME TO VISIT The best time to visit Las Vegas is
from March to May in the spring and in September to November in the fall
when the weather is warm, and you can avoid the summer heat. Vegas gets lots of tourists all year round. The cheapest time to visit Las Vegas is in
the summer and before and after holidays when there are a few tourists and the prices of
accommodation are lower. However, be prepared for some hot weather,
often for a long period of time during the summer. And how can you figure out the best days and
hours to see the attractions? Just check Google to see how crowded a specific
location is at a particular time of day. Of course, we recommend going early during
the week and/or in the morning. If you can, don’t go to Vegas when it’s
the holiday season or when there is a big convention in town. For example, the largest convention is the
Consumer Electronics Show, with 180,000 visitors. Check the convention calendar online to make
sure you are not there on those dates. The room prices will be much higher, sometimes
even three-time the normal price. Many travelers stay in Las Vegas
for three days. It depends on what you want to do since there
are many places to explore in the city. And if you want a more relaxed experience,
you can stay an extra day or two. NUMBER 9: WHERE TO STAY & PRICES If this is your first time in Las Vegas, choose to stay on the Strip where you’ll have many
of the best sights, casinos, bars, and restaurants just minutes away. You’ll be able to save some money since
the sights are walking distance from each other, and there are many free activities
to do in the Strip. Staying at the Vegas Strip also means
you’re close to the nightlife - where everything happens. If you’re on a budget, you can stay at the
budget hotels near the end of the Strip or in Downtown Las Vegas. If you’re traveling with the family, you
can stay at the West end of the Strip where it’s quieter. You can also find kid-friendly hotels such
as The Mirage, Circus Circus, and Excalibur. A mid-range hotel double room in Las Vegas
cost about $100 to $150 on average. For budget hotels, the cost range
from $50 to $100. And hostels cost
from $50 to $70. Staying in Vegas usually includes resort fees,
which aren’t included in the room rate. The resort fees can range from $10 to $40
per night, so be sure to always check what the resort fee is on top of the room rate. Again, the prices we covered here are just
average prices, and the ranges for different hotel categories are quite extensive. However, with a little research online, you
can get better deals, especially if your dates are flexible and you
don’t travel in high season. Check out our video on the best apps
for booking your stay. NUMBER 8: TRANSPORTATION FROM AND TO THE AIRPORT To get to and from McCarran International
Airport, you can use: Bus: From Terminal 1 you can take the route 108, 109, and Westcliff Airport Express route. And from Terminal 3 you can take
the Westcliff Airport Express or the Centennial Express route. Shuttles: the Airport Shuttle. The following companies
have shuttle services from the airport to hotels and resorts. Taxi or limousines, Uber or Lyft, or a car rental. ARRIVING BY CAR You can use Google Maps to get
driving directions to Las Vegas. There are many parking garages available in the city
and most of them have parking fees. There are still some free parking spots
and some hotels and resorts allow validation. Parking is usually free for the first hour
and then gets quickly very expensive about $9 on average for one to two hours. By the way, there’s currently no train that
goes directly to Las Vegas. GETTING AROUND THE CITY While sights on the Strip all located
next to each other, the Strip itself is very long, and while
exploring the Strip is great on foot, here's what you can do to get
from A to B more easily: Know your shortcuts between the hotels. There are internal corridors between different casinos such as Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. Use Las Vegas Monorail. A ticket for one ride cost $5 and passes from one day
to one week range from $13 to $56. There are also free trams operating
in the West side of the Strip: From Mandalay Bay to Luxor to Excalibur. From Bellagio to Crystal Mall
to Monte Carlo And from Mirage to Treasure Island. You can also use a bus. Deuce passes along the Las Vegas Boulevard, Downtown Express passes from the
Strip to Downtown Las Vegas. And of course, you can also use
Ubers, Lyfts, or taxis. By the way, if you can't hail a cab,
you can go in front of the hotels. It's important to know there are some taxi scams,
but more on that later. Limousine: You can easily rent a limo
in Vegas and it will cost you almost the same as a taxi. Of course, you can use a rental car and other transportation such as bikes. If you use public transportation such as bus,
you will pay $6 for two hours, $8 for a 24-hour pass, and $20 for a three-day pass. The rush hours in the city are usually between
7 to 9 am and 4 to 7 pm. Check out our travel guide for more useful
information on transportation and prices. NUMBER 7: VEGAS SPECIFICS Resort fees: As we already mentioned most hotels charge resort fees upon checkout, so don't forget to calculate
the fees. There might be some hotels that
don't charge the fees. There are tons of clubs, pool parties,
concerts and other interesting experiences in Vegas. Check out our travel guide for more information. By the way, our travel guide is a mobile-friendly
.pdf document covering all the things in this video, plus the Top 20 things to do in
Vegas including multiple maps. If you’re driving to Vegas, avoid a
trip from LA to Vegas on Friday or Vegas to LA on Sunday afternoon
since it will take you 7 hours instead of 4. Gambling downtown: The casinos are cheaper,
and the odds of winning are better downtown as opposed to the Strip. Also, try to avoid gambling at the airport
as the payouts are one of the worst. And s peaking of gambling, some casinos
offer free gaming lessons on blackjack, roulette, poker, etc. Get a player’s club card and get benefits such as discounts, free shows,
and membership-only events. Vegas is the city that never sleeps. Most establishments are open 24/7, even for holidays. You can drink alcohol in the streets as
long as it’s in a plastic cup. No glass is allowed on the street, even if
it’s a nonalcoholic beverage. Avoid casino ATMs: they charge a fee for
$3 to $8 on average along with bank charges. Instead, just bring the cash with you. Smoking: Smoking and e-cigarettes are
now banned in Nevada, and only select areas allow smoking. Time/share sales pitches: avoid these
since they take too much time. Loyalty programs like Ceasars reward you
for playing games or staying in their hotels. Taxis are expensive: drivers often use
tricks like long hauling or taking the longer route to get more money out of you. For a buffet, you will usually have to
wait in a line, so it's best to go on a buffet during lunchtime or the weekdays. There are some scams in Vegas like rip-off
free tickets to see the shows and others. Check out our travel guide for more information
on Vegas scams. NUMBER 6: GENERAL INFORMATION Here are some other things you should know for a pleasant and smooth
experience in Las Vegas. DRINKING WATER It is perfectly safe to drink tap water in Vegas. While some drinking water fountains are available
in hotels, if you can’t find one, just buy bottled water in a store. TOILETS There are many public toilets in Las Vegas,
located in hotels and casinos. If you want to see where public restrooms
are located, you can use an app on your phone. More about that later. FREE WiFi You can get free WiFi at plenty of outdoor and indoor hotspots all over the city, including
restaurants, hotels, and casinos. Some casinos, like those that are part
of the MGM Resorts, allow free internet access in public areas. CROWDS & LINES Las Vegas is a popular tourist destination, so be prepared to wait in line, especially
during the weekends, holidays, major events, etc. The same goes for restaurants
and other public places. Even if you can't avoid all the crowds, you
can do some things to make your trip to Vegas more pleasant. You can, for example, avoid peak seasons, avoid traveling during rush hours, make reservations or book in advance
to skip the line, use Google Maps or similar apps to check how crowded a specific location is at a particular time of day SAFETY Las Vegas is generally
a very safe place for tourists. A few areas are better avoided by night, and
it's better to stay on the Strip, since there's more security and it is well lit. Typical for all major cities around the world,
beware of pickpockets, especially around significant attractions and areas with crowds. Watch your valuables and use common sense. For emergency services, dial 911. NUMBER 5: FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS TRAVEL ADAPTERS If you’re coming from outside the US, you will probably need a special US travel adapter
to charge your phone and other devices. We recommend purchasing a travel adapter before
traveling to Las Vegas. In fact, it is worth buying a universal adapter
so you can use it in other countries too. CURRENCY Las Vegas uses US Dollars. At the time of making of this video
1 USD equals approximately 0.92 EUR or 0.77 GBP. Don’t forget to check the exchange rate
before traveling. It’s better to exchange your money
before traveling. Most hotels, stores, and restaurants in the
city accept major credit cards like MasterCard. But it is always wise to have some cash with
you, especially if you plan to gamble. ATMs AND MONEY EXCHANGE In Vegas, ATMs typically
charge a fee for $3-$8. There may also be a limit on how much
you can withdraw in a day. There are a lot of ATMs along the Strip,
and it's better to avoid the ATMs inside the casinos. Also, try to withdraw as few times as
possible to avoid multiple ATM fees. You can choose to exchange your foreign cash
at currency exchange offices, but commissions varies widely, so always compare the exchange
rate on your phone to the board displayed in the exchange office. Exchanging money at the airport can cost you
more than 25% in fees. You can also exchange at casinos
or any bank in the city. Some banks are open 24/7. PREPAID SIM CARDS AND POCKET WIFI You can purchase a prepaid SIM card to access the internet on your phone. Some options provided by local carriers are
T-Mobile, Verizon, WorldSIM, and AT&T. You can buy one that includes the internet
before you get to the city and have it delivered. to you. Alternatively, you can consider renting a
pocket WiFi or a mobile hotspot. See our travel guide for more information. NUMBER 4: BEST APPS Here is a list of useful apps: Vegas.com: an insider guide to what to
do and where to go when you’re in the city. VegasMate: where you can plan your trip with
all the information you need on hotels, restaurants, and attractions. SmarterVegas.com to get
the best deals and offers in Vegas. InMapz Indoor navigation Apps which helps you find casinos and malls with maps
and other information. Groupon: For promo codes and savings alerts
for nearby dining and other deals. TripAdvisor and Yelp for reviews of restaurants,
hotels, museums, tours, etc. Uber or Lyft for getting around the city. Google Maps or Apple Maps for walking, public transportation, driving, etc. Google Maps also lets you download maps, which
is a great option if you don’t want to use roaming. NUMBER 3: FOOD PRICES & TIPPING Las Vegas has plenty of dining options and
offers a great variety of international and traditional dining options. We suggest using Yelp or TripAdvisor to find
nearby places with good reviews. Las Vegas also offers numerous amazing buffets. An inexpensive restaurant meal ranges from
$25 to $50, and a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant is about $50 to $100. The very popular buffets cost about $30 to
$60, depending on the day. Cheaper buffets can go as low as $10, and
the price is usually lower during brunch or lunchtime. You can get a slice of pizza from 5 to 10 USD. As for drinks in bars, a coffee costs around
$5, a bottle of water about $3, a bottle of soda about $2 to $3, a pint of beer about
$4 to $8, a glass of wine costs up to $10, and cocktails go for about $15 to $20 in clubs. A popular yard drink at Fat Tuesday costs
$18, and if you get a refill, you can pay a couple of dollars less. If you want to save some money, you can get
discounted drinks during happy hours. Bottled water can be expensive in casinos ,
but you can buy it at supermarkets at a much more reasonable price. Of course, prices are higher in more famous
restaurants and hotels. There are plenty of great cheap eats in
Vegas, especially in Downtown and Chinatown. Check out our guide for maps with the best
cheap eats. NUMBER 2: CITY PASSES & EXPLORING THE CITY If you want to save on attractions, you can choose to buy a Las Vegas Pass, a Go Las Vegas
Card, or a Las Vegas Sightseeing Pass. All options offer free entry to some
top attractions and shows, and various kinds of discounts, and more. You can also opt to include guided tours with
your city passes. Check our travel guide for current prices
and links. There are also many different
tours organized in Vegas. See our travel guide for links to websites
of other exciting tours of Las Vegas. NUMBER 1: BEST VIEWS OF LAS VEGAS Vegas has one of the most
unique skylines in the world. You can enjoy amazing views of this fascinating
city from one of the following places: The High Roller Ferris wheel, The Foundation Room in Mandalay Bay, The VooDoo Rooftop Nightclub at Rio Las Vegas, Wraparound Terrace Suite at The Cosmopolitan, from Stratosphere Observation Deck, from Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, and much more. Don’t miss our video on Top 10 Things to
do in Vegas, just click here.
