In the words of Elvis Presley, Viva Las Vegas. It’s one city that features on almost everyone’s bucket list. It is the setting of some of the most iconic Hollywood films and it creates the idea that anything can happen there. Las Vegas has something to offer everyone – with world-renowned casinos and a vibrant nightlife. If you’re thinking of visiting Las Vegas, then this travel guide is for you. I’m going to cover all the basics that you need to know, from how to get to Las Vegas to the best places to stay.
About Las Vegas
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Las Vegas is the Strip. It’s one of the world’s most famous streets and houses some of the most luxurious hotels in America. You can find everything from musicals to bars and casinos on the Strip. When it’s all lit up at night, it’s a beautiful sight that you’ll never forget.
Vegas is a resort city that is every tourist’s dream. It calls itself the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ with its famous casinos and nightlight. You can discover the unique story of it by walking along its streets and experiencing its nightlife.
When Is The Best Time to Visit Las Vegas?
Is there ever a bad time to visit Las Vegas? Not particularly. It depends on what your budget is and your tolerance for crowds. You can expect temperatures to skyrocket during the summer months to well over 110 degrees. Most of the hotel pools turn into day clubs with music, cocktails, and dancing. Even during the winter, you can walk around Las Vegas without worrying about catching a chill.
The best time to grab a deal on a Vegas vacation is either in the Spring or Autumn. Visiting during March to May, or from September to early November can save you a pretty penny. In May, you can enjoy the Billboard Music Awards, while the World Series of Poker runs from May to June. September sees the iHeartRadio Music Festival, while November is the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon.
There’s also no better place to spend New Year’s Eve, but you’ll need to be prepared for the crowds.
How To Get to Las Vegas
You can fly from any major city to Las Vegas, and you can find cheaper routes by taking a connecting flight if you’re flying internationally. The flight from Los Angeles is just over an hour, and 5 and a half hours from New York.
Las Vegas is one city that should feature in every US road trip. It’s easy to drive around with plenty of freeways and parking options. You can travel down the Freeway 15 from Salt Lake City and California. If you’re travelling from Chicago, you can take the Amtrak Southwest Chief and then travel down from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
Greyhound offers a bus route to and from Las Vegas and Los Angeles. There isn’t an Amtrak service for Las Vegas, and the nearest stations are in California and Arizona.
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is famous for its hotels along the Strip. If you can budget for one, it’s well worth the price tag to experience the heart of Las Vegas up close and personal. While Airbnb is a cheaper option, Las Vegas is one city where you want to save you to have a luxury experience.
Bellagio
The Bellagio offers 5 outdoor pools, designer shops, a fitness centre. and a full-service spa. Their transportation services can help you explore Vegas with ease. You can control everything about your stay from their app on your smart phone, including ordering food to your room. If you get lucky at a casino, you’ll want to spend your winnings at the shops at the Bellagio. The stores include Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Harry Winston. Pack lightly!
The Palazzo at The Venetian
The Palazzo is linked to both the Fashion Show Mall and the Premium Outlets, making it the perfect choice for any looking to visit Vegas for shopping. It’s located on the Las Vegas Strip, with it’s own casino. The resort offers 19 restaurants, 7 outdoor pools, 2 poolside bars and a nightclub. The Palazzo has so much to offer that you won’t want to leave your hotel!
Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel and Casino
The Golden Nugget offers 9 restaurants, its own full-service spa and 2 outdoor pools. Like most hotels in Vegas, it has its own casino and nightclub. You can explore the hotel’s shops, poolside bars and fitness centre. Vic & Anthony’s is one of the best steakhouses in the US and is worth a visit even if you’re not staying at the Golden Nugget.
ARIA Resort and Casino
If you’re searching for a hotel with spa facilities, look no further. The ARIA resort has a spa with 50 treatment rooms that offers every kind of massage and treatment that you could ever need. The hotel also has three outdoor pools that are family friendly. The ARIA has its own casino and nightlife, with restaurants to suit any palette.
Caesars Palace
Is any hotel in Las Vegas as famous as Caesars Palace? The hotel has played host to the likes of Celine Dion, Frank Sinatra, Elton John and Cher. Its casino has a 4,500 square-foot 24-hour poker room and is a must-visit attraction in Vegas. As the name suggests, Caesars Palace is styled off the Roman Empire, with columns and iconography throughout the hotel. The hotel plays host to several celebrity restaurants, including Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. Fans of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will want to visit Vanderpump Cocktail Garden, which is owned by reality star Lisa Vanderpump.
The Best Places to Eat in Las Vegas
You can have any type of cuisine in Las Vegas. The world is your oyster and you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food choices. Las Vegas is famous for being the home of celebrity chefs. Nobu Matsuhisa, a famous Japanese chef, has a restaurant in Caesars Palace, and another opening in the new Virgin Hotel.
Caesars Palace also plays host to Guy Savoy’s restaurant, which has two Michelin stars and a AAA Five Diamond Award. The restaurant is a recreation of his Paris restaurant, with Vegas’ own Eiffel Tower visible from the balcony. If you really want to indulge, you can book the Krug Chef’s Table which gives you an intimate view of the kitchen while sampling the menu.
Twist at the Waldorf Astoria is Pierre Gagnaire’s only US restaurant. You get to enjoy breath-taking views on the 23rd floor of the hotel, along with one-of-a-kind French cuisine.
As it’s Las Vegas, you’ll find no shortage of places that bring together dinning and live entertainment. The Mayfair Supper Club will remind you of an intimate roaring-twenties inspired Art Deco restaurant. It’s located in the Bellagio with stunning views over their foundation features. You can listen to jazz music while enjoying classic American cuisine. ‘Jazz Sundays’ are a speciality at The Mayfair Supper Club.
Everyone loves a steakhouse. Almost every hotel offers one in Las Vegas. The Bazaar by Jose Andres has a menu that focuses on bold choices and flavours. You start your meal with a cocktail at the Bar Centro before being led into the dining room for a next-level steakhouse experience. The Bazaar is the kind of steakhouse that you can only find in Las Vegas.
Over at the Wynn, you can explore the SW Steakhouse. Uniquely, this restaurant does have vegan options available on its menu. Their steaks included a selection of certified Japanese and domestic Wagyu, which is considered to some of the best cuts you can eat.
On the Linq Promenade, you can grab a fish and chips from Gordon Ramsay’s quick service restaurant. You can try traditional English desserts like sticky toffee pudding an even a Biscoff shake.
The Must-Visit Places in Las Vegas
You will be spoilt for choice with entertainment in Las Vegas. The city never sleeps and there’s something to enjoy at every hour of the day and night. Along with its exciting nightlife and endless casinos, there are so many other things to explore in Las Vegas.
Cirque de Soleil is an experience like no other. It’s a contemporary circus act that has found its home in Las Vegas. The group plays to thousands of visitors every night and have a permanent residence in Vegas. They run multiple shows at once, with revolutionary set design that includes a 360 degrees stage. You can also watch tribute shows dedicated to the music of stars like Michael Jackson and The Beatles.
The Strip of Las Vegas is one of the most stunning sights in the US. Why not experience it from above with a private night-time helicopter ride? If you’re not a fan of helicopters, you can experience the sights of Las Vegas from the viewing deck of the Eiffel Tower that sits on top of the Paris Las Vegas hotel. I recommend heading up to the viewing deck just before night fall to catch some stunning views over the Las Vegas strip.
Las Vegas is one way to explore the world. The High Roller takes its inspiration from the London Eye and Singapore Flyer – although it is taller than both. It sits on the Las Vegas Boulevard with 28 glass-enclosed capsules. Each cycle takes around 30 minutes, long enough to enjoy the sights of Las Vegas from above. Keep an eye out for their half price happy hour offers!
If you’re taking a family holiday to Las Vegas, then Madame Tussauds is a must-visit attraction. You can meet the life-like statues of your favourite celebrities and fill your Instagram feed of photos with you and the look-alike statues.
When you visit the Bellagio for some reality therapy, you can enjoy its stunning Botanical Gardens. No details have been overlooked in this glorious location, which takes its inspiration from around the world. It makes the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll when you are need in some air conditioning to cool down.
Speaking of the Bellagio, you won’t want to miss the fountains. They reach over 200-feet and the fountain show is choregraphed to music. I recommend grabbing a drink to-go and watching the show on your way out to a restaurant or night club. The fountains at the Bellagio are one of the few things that you can enjoy for free in Las Vegas. If you’re a fan of Ocean’s Eleven, you will want to experience the fountain for yourself.
Don’t forget to take a picture next to the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign that greets you on your way into Vegas.
When Are You Going to Visit Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is a once in a lifetime experience. You can experience cuisine from all over the world from the restaurants of celebrity chefs. Although a lot of focus is paid to the casinos, Las Vegas has so much more to offer than the possibility of winning big at the roulette table. Visiting the Las Vegas Strip is a vacation that is on most people’s bucket list. It’s definitely a vacation that you want to save up for. Vegas makes the perfect birthday trip, bachelorette party and honeymoon destination. I recommend trying to book at least three or four nights so that you can try out a variety of restaurants and shows.
The lifestyle in Las Vegas is fast pace and always moving. Don’t expect to be getting to bed until the small hours of the morning. People tend to party all night and sleep until lunch. Vegas is one of the most fun vacations that you can take, and if you plan to stay around the Strip, then you can stay in a bubble throughout your vacation. I hope this travel guide helps you to start planning your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Las Vegas.
