Las Vegas 101 (The Basics) | Newbie Guide to Sin City

First trip to Las Vegas?  Or, has it been awhile since your last visit?  Here are a few tips and basic suggestions to help ensure your visit is enjoyable and FUN!

When to Visit Las Vegas

Determine what kind of vacation you are looking for before you book your trip.  If you are looking for a wild time to party and are willing to pay top dollar, then New Year’s Eve, any week in March for Spring Break, Fourth of July, Memorial day weekend, and Labor day weekend are the best.  The long-weekend exception is Thanksgiving, since most people want to eat turkey at home with the family, Vegas is less expensive, less crowded, fewer families, and super fun.  

If you are like me, and you would rather a better value for your accommodations & prefer to avoid the crowds and lines, then I suggest weekday visits, off-season (when kids are in school, both college kids and younger kids since some families insist on bringing children to the city of SIN).  Double-check for large conventions in town during your visit.  It is probably better to avoid the Vegas Porn convention if you do want to bring your children, or parents for that matter!

Or, if you are really spontaneous (and you are reading this on the flight), unless there is a big convention, you can walk into any hotel and book a room.  This is not a good suggestion for a frugal trip, but, hey – this is Vegas!  I strongly recommend booking hotel/resort accommodations before you arrive, however.

Gambling and More

Now that you know when you will be in Vegas, think about what you want to do.

It sounds silly, but there is so much to do in Vegas beyond gambling.  

If you are looking forward to a relaxing vacation with trips to the spa, then near, or better at, the resort with great spa packages. High-end shopping is abundant at Caesars Forum Shops, Bellagio, Venetain/Palazzo, and more shops are added all the time.  

There is plenty to keep you entertained with magic shows, musicals, Bellagio foundain shows, concerts, and more.  Many of the resorts have art galleries with permanent and travelling exhibits.  And Vegas is known for weddings!  You can get a quick drive-thru, elegant garden, themed weddings, and anything else you can imagine.

Sign-up for the rewards program and use it!  The casino will tie future offers to your reward card usage.  It is a free card that often comes with a free gift and/or slot credit just for signing up.  Certain resorts (like the Venetian) will tie your rewards card to your gambling, dining, shopping, and room fees for added incentives.

View of the Strip from McCarran Airport 2008
View of the Strip from McCarran Airport 2008

Always Changing

Las Vegas is constantly changing.  Older and small hotels are demolished for bigger and newer ones.  If it has been a few years since your last visit, your old favorite place may be replaced by something completely different.

Vegas Neon Cowboy on Fremont Street
Vegas Neon Cowboy on Fremont Street

Fremont Street is the iconic area of neon in downtown Las Vegas, home of Glitter Gluch and many classics.  In 1995 five blocks were covered and converted to a LED light show experience, free for everyone to enjoy.  Light and sounds shows start at dusk, vary through the evening and are updated for holidays and events.

The strip and Fremont Street are pedestrian friendly, and you can walk up and down these areas.  However, it is too far to walk anywhere from the strip or Fremont Street.  Taxi cabs are plentiful, but due to traffic and crowds, the fare can be quite expensive despite a relative short distance.

If you consider staying off-strip (the strip of hotels parallel to I-15), you can get great room deals.  Frequent taxi rides may off-set a cheap hotel, so have a basic plan of what the hotel offers and where you will want to go.  The Orleans is a great value, not too far off-strip with delicious dining and nice amenities.

Viva Las Vegas!

Vegas can be expensive.  Shows and entertainment are expensive (prices comparable to New York’s Broadway, but not always that good).  Food and dining are more expensive, even if you go for the cheap buffets.  The days of $1.99 prime rib are gone.  Only bring money that you are willing and able to donate to the Vegas Gods (your gambling losses are what pay for those big, beautiful resorts & casinos).  If you use your rewards cards, then you will receive better offers that bring down the cost of future visits.

Las Vegas (101)

Table limits are the minimum and maximum bet for the table or game that you are playing (gambling).  If you are on a budget, a beginner, or just want to ease into betting, then low table limits can make a huge difference.  Unless you are a High Roller with tons of money, do not worry about the maximum table limits, if you start betting enough to worry about the max, the casino will offer you the High Limit room (or so I have been told).  Table limits are lower at smaller casinos, off-strip, during the week, etc.

Las Vegas offers something for almost everyone, so if you have not been, or it has been awhile, what are you waiting for?

12 thoughts on “Las Vegas 101 (The Basics) | Newbie Guide to Sin City”

  1. Amazing guide.. Thanks for sharing, really interesting to read. Vegas is a dream city of many, the colourful nights and the vibrant environment makes this place a special one, This is still a dream destination to me.

  2. The only thing I picture when I think about Vegas is going batshit crazy and getting belligerently drunk and gambling a kidney away. Good to know there’s more to it than meets the eye 🙂

  3. A great little guide to Vegas! I’ve never been and never been hugeely interested in visiting, but that’s just because it’s so far from me (England). I’ll be in America next year for wedding, though, so perhaps I’ll give it a visit!

  4. Thanks for the tips! I am working on a project to visit all 50 states in 5 years, so I know when I do Nevada that I will visit Las Vegas. I personally don’t like gambling, but I know I will love the shows. And there’s supposed to be many wonderful restaurants, even though they are expensive.

  5. I’ve never been to The US. But Vegas has always been on my “have to visit” places list. Definitely worth a good read this post. Very informational and resourceful. Bookmarked this page for future reference whenever I decide to visit this place.

  6. Been to LA and SF, but Vegas no, and I guess now I have to visit! It’s kind of amazing and such a city that came from nowhere! Thanks for the recommendations Jen! x

  7. My friend went there for her 21 birthday. I so like to see Las Vegas! Maybe try a bit of gambling as well 😀 are you actually allowed the o tak pictures inside the casinos? Great pictures!

    1. You are not allowed to take pictures inside the casino of any gaming activity. I do not take any chances, no photos in the casino at all!

  8. Its our dream to visit Vegas, Thanks for all the tips bookmarked for future hopefully near future 😉 We would love to visit the magic and musical shows and some concerts.

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