You are planning your first, frivolous escapade from work, hoping that this timeout from a monotonous routine will help you relax and unwind. You find yourself booking a flight to Sin City, knowing that the infamous Las Vegas Strip might do you anything but enjoyable. You grew up watching Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher getting married randomly in the popular chick flick, wondering if there is any truth to, ‘What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas‘ at all! So, here are some tips to make planning a trip to Las Vegas easy!
Notorious for its minted casinos and the never-ending fountains of utterly expensive drinks, Las Vegas is everything you imagined your Spring Break to be back when you were a teenager. Also known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas might be hip, raunchy, and risqué, but it has its own set of rules or customs that set it straight. Given that Las Vegas is always on the hit list for holding honeymoons, conventions, and destination weddings, finding decent hotels and restaurants might be a costly feat.
But in case you don’t like partying or gambling, I have a post with many things to do in Las Vegas besides gambling, make sure you read it!
Related Read: 6 Food Challenges Around Vegas for the Competitive Eater in You
Mentioned below are six things we think are necessary for anyone who is planning a getaway to Sin City!
Tips for Planning a Trip to Las Vegas
1) Stay off The-Strip
Staying at The Strip can become pretty expensive, especially for newbies who prefer staying close to the notorious action. But here’s a tip – consider staying on the Gold Coast or Downtown as their resorts are slightly more inexpensive than the ones with casinos on The Strip.
West Gates Las Vegas Resort allows you to book a room online so that you can stay at a resort complete with Sin City’s gaming perks and make millions on your lucky day! Plus, the resort is situated quite conveniently at a distance close to The Strip, so you can stop worrying about missing out on all the fun!
2) Midweek Stays are Reasonable!
Las Vegas is wheeling and dealing – pun intended – in over 150,000 resort and hotel rooms that can go anywhere from mid-range reasonable to extremely pricey! Conventions, Patriotic Holidays such as Thanksgiving or Memorials, and Annual Spring Breaks can be a hard time to gather around in Las Vegas for deals or discounts for the stay. Consider flying in between January and April or during the stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas, as you can find pretty affordable deals and land your spot in a 4-star hotel!
Plus, booking a flight to Las Vegas during the start of the weekend, such as on Fridays, can be extra pricey. While you might get yourself a cozy room to stay in for the weekend, the chances are that all the reasonable ones will already get booked out! You will not only fly premium, but also remain at an uber-expensive hotel that you might have missed had you booked a flight on Saturday or any weekday instead!
If you’re thinking something out of loop and really need some relaxation, you can visit Dr. Timothy Francis Las Vegas. Too much fun can do some damage sometimes.
Recommended Read: 6 Things To Avoid In Las Vegas
3) You can drink to your heart’s content!
Las Vegas is pretty strict when it comes to poor conduct, littering, or vandalism. While you can drink novelty cocktails almost anywhere on the streets, it is a crime to mistake this privilege for an advantage. Las Vegas is open to elders who are 21 years or above – so the authorities are always on the lookout to make sure you act like it. Owing to Vegas’ Drunk Tank, the police can keep a thorough check on people who are passed out on the street or marking corners with their barfs and pukes.
If you can drink responsibly, then you might enjoy the Mercato Della Pescheria as it offers $6 cocktails and highly exclusive deals from 3 to 6 pm every day! You can also head over to The Bird Bar on the Strip inside The Flamingo and enjoy the daily happy hour specials from 4 to 7 pm. With 50-cent beers and $5 margaritas named after birds, you can head over to the Bird Bar in a flock and enjoy getting highly intoxicated for the rest of your night!
4) Walk instead of looking for transportation!
On-Strip resorts and casinos usually charge for parking, making you lose precious money that you can double or triple while gambling. There are ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber, as well as taxis and cabs that you can hail from designated areas such as casinos or resorts. But, to do so, you will have to either wait in line for 30 minutes to get a decent ride or drive around for 2 miles on congested streets to get across Downtown.
Pro-tip: You came to Las Vegas to cut loose. What is the harm in waiting for a cab or riding a shared car with five other tourists new to Sin City? We highly recommend keeping a pair of flip-flops or sneakers so that you can walk across Downtown and explore the Strip while sightseeing! You can enjoy the novelty bars on the streets, eat hot dogs, or join an all-you-can-eat buffet while you are at it!
5) All-you-can-eat-buffets!
Las Vegas is known for its extensive stretch of all-you-can-buffet restaurants that brings you food from all four corners of the world. Bellagio Buffet is a smorgasbord of international cuisine that will leave you smacking your lips at all times. EAT, on the other hand, is an ideal choice for tourists who are looking for vegan and organic options. Giada at the Cromwell excels in Italian buffets, while Bloody Marys at Yardbird is the restaurant-to-go to for Southern cuisine!
6) The Nightlife!
Las Vegas is a haven for clubs, concierges, casinos, and festivals that exhibit the liveliest art, culinary exhibits, and loud music in all of the States. From partying all night at The Marquee in your heels to listening to The Beatles all day at the Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas never runs out of music! If you want to tone it down a bit, you can head over to the Bellagio Fountains and take picturesque photos or watch the Absinthe at the Caesars Palace if you are up for a classic, inventive show!
Related post: Top 8 Indoor and Outdoor Rock Climbing Places in Las Vegas
The Final Verdict
Planning a trip to Las Vegas is never an impromptu one. You have to save months in advance before you can splurge on liquor or deal in Black Jack in one of the casinos. Spending your hard-earned cash on a vacation, you rightfully deserve more than an account full of money. Las Vega requires you to get out of your comfort zone, which cannot be done if you haven’t planned enough!
