🇺🇸Las Vegas
Neon, casinos, and round-the-clock spectacle in the middle of the Mojave Desert — a city built entirely to make time disappear, for better or worse.
In photos
Quick facts
Money & what things cost
Cards and phone tap-to-pay are accepted everywhere on the Strip and Downtown, including at slot machines and table games via casino cage transactions. Hotel resort fees (a mandatory nightly charge separate from the room rate, often $35–55) catch first-timers off guard — always check the total price including resort fees and taxes before booking. Sales tax runs around 8.375%, and tipping is expected across the board: dealers, bartenders, valets, and housekeeping.
What locals earn
| Average monthly salary (Las Vegas metro) | ≈ $3,900 | gross; the local economy runs heavily on hospitality and gaming wages plus tips |
| Minimum wage (Nevada) | $12/hour | tipped workers can be paid slightly less depending on whether health benefits are offered |
Food & drink
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Casino buffet (off-peak) | $25–40 | $25–40 |
| Casual sit-down meal, per person (before tip) | $18–30 | $18–30 |
| Celebrity-chef restaurant dinner, per person | $80–150+ | $80–150+ |
| Coffee | $5.00–7.00 | $5–7 |
| Cocktail at a Strip casino bar | $16–22 | $16–22 |
| Free drinks while actively gambling | tip $1.00–2.00/drink | tip $1–2/drink |
Transport
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Monorail, single ride | $6.00 | $6 |
| The Deuce double-decker bus (Strip/Downtown) | $6.00 (2-hour pass) | $6 |
| Rideshare across the Strip | $10–20 | $10–20 |
| Harry Reid Airport (LAS) → Strip, rideshare/taxi | $20–30 | $20–30 |
| Hotel self-parking (many now charge) | $15–25/day | $15–25/day |
Where to sleep & what it costs
| Tier | Per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget/off-Strip hotel | $50–90 + resort fee | Downtown and off-Strip properties skip some of the extra fees |
| Mid-range Strip casino hotel | $90–180 + resort fee | Rates swing enormously by day of week and convention schedule |
| Nicer Strip resort | $180–350 + resort fee | Always check the total price including the mandatory resort fee |
| Luxury/high-roller suite | $500+ | Bellagio, Wynn, and similar top-tier Strip properties |
Getting around
- From the airport
- Harry Reid International (LAS) is unusually close to the Strip — a rideshare or taxi typically takes 15–20 minutes and costs $20–30. Many Strip hotels are walkable from the airport in theory but not practically, given the distances and heat.
- Walking the Strip
- The Strip looks compact on a map but individual resorts are enormous — walking from one end to the other can take well over an hour, and summer heat makes this genuinely risky without water and breaks. Pedestrian bridges connect major intersections.
- The Deuce & monorail
- The Deuce double-decker bus runs the length of the Strip and into Downtown; the Las Vegas Monorail runs behind several Strip resorts. Both are useful for longer hops when walking isn't practical.
- Rideshare/taxi
- The easiest way to get between the Strip and Downtown/Fremont Street, or to avoid the heat — pickup points at big resorts are well marked but can involve a walk through the casino floor first.
- Renting a car
- Useful mainly for day trips outside the city (Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon) — not necessary for a Strip-focused visit, and parking fees at some resorts add up.
Neighborhoods to stay in
- The Strip (center)
- Between Bellagio and Caesars Palace — walking distance to the most famous fountains, shows, and casinos, but the busiest and priciest stretch.
- North Strip
- Newer resorts (Resorts World, The Venetian), slightly quieter, still connected by monorail and The Deuce.
- Downtown / Fremont Street
- A different, more retro-Vegas atmosphere with the Fremont Street Experience light canopy, generally cheaper than the Strip.
- Off-Strip (near the convention center)
- Better value and less crowded, a short rideshare from the action, popular with repeat visitors.
Tipping & etiquette
- Casino floors are open 24/7 with no clocks or windows by design — set a phone alarm or budget limit before you start gambling, since it's genuinely easy to lose track of time.
- Smoking is still permitted on many casino floors (unlike most US indoor spaces) — if that matters to you, check a specific property's policy or seek out designated non-smoking casino areas.
- Dress codes exist at upscale nightclubs and some restaurants — collared shirts and no athletic wear/flip-flops for men at nicer venues.
- Free drinks while actively gambling are a real Vegas tradition, but a tip per drink is expected even though the drink itself is 'free.'
- Street performers and costumed characters on the Strip expect payment for photos — same dynamic as other major US tourist strips.
Safety & common scams
Las Vegas is generally safe for visitors in the Strip and Downtown tourist corridors, which are heavily patrolled and monitored. The bigger practical risks are financial (gambling losses, resort fees, and surge-priced everything) and heat exhaustion in summer, rather than crime — though standard big-city caution applies at night away from the main tourist areas.
Scams to know
- Unlicensed 'club promoters' handing out flyers on the Strip promising free entry or drinks — often lead to inflated bills or pressure tactics; stick to booking through the hotel or official venue websites.
- Street 'CD' or comedy-show ticket hawkers using high-pressure tactics — walk on, or book shows through the official box office/Vegas.com instead.
- Hidden resort fees not disclosed until checkout — always check the total price including resort fees and taxes before booking a room, not just the advertised nightly rate.
- 'Casino comps' pressure from hosts pushing you to gamble more to 'earn' free perks — comps are real but calculate the actual math before chasing them.
Emergency numbers: 911 (police/fire/ambulance) — hotel security and casino staff are also a fast resource for anything happening on-property
Phone & internet
Most major US carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon) offer tourist eSIMs, or set one up in advance via Airalo or similar before you land — pay-as-you-go physical SIMs are also available at Harry Reid Airport and phone shops. Wi-Fi is available at most hotels (sometimes as a paid add-on bundled with the resort fee), and coverage is strong throughout the Strip and Downtown.
First-timer FAQs
Do I need a visa?
Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries (UK, most of the EU, Australia, and others) can apply for ESTA authorization online instead of a visa, valid for stays up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries need a standard US tourist visa — check current requirements for your passport well before booking.
Do I need to gamble to enjoy Las Vegas?
Not at all — world-class shows, restaurants, pools, and the free Fountains of Bellagio and Fremont Street Experience are all worthwhile without placing a single bet, and it's an increasingly popular non-gambling destination.
What is a resort fee, and can I avoid it?
It's a mandatory nightly charge (typically $35–55) added on top of the room rate by most Strip and Downtown hotels, covering things like Wi-Fi and pool access whether you use them or not. It's rarely avoidable at major resorts — always factor it into your total budget when comparing room rates.
How many days do I need?
Two to three days covers the Strip's highlights (a few casinos, the Bellagio fountains, a show) at a comfortable pace. Longer trips often add a day trip to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, or Red Rock Canyon, all within a few hours' drive.
Is it worth renting a car?
Not for a Strip-focused trip — walking, rideshare, and the monorail/Deuce cover it well, and parking fees at some resorts add up. A car becomes worthwhile only if you're planning day trips outside the city.