Las Vegas Vacation Tips
Written by VacationIdea.com Travel Editors.
Taxis are available at the airport, but if you are arriving in the afternoon you may have to wait in line with other visitors. Cab fare from the airport to a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip is about $15. If you are going Downtown, cab fare is about $25.
Alternatively, you can rent a car at the airport. Having a car in Las Vegas is convenient because Las Vegas hotels and casinos are quite spread out. Traffic is heavy at night along the Strip, but hotels offer free valet parking so at least you won't be circling around the block looking for parking on the street.
Driving and Walking Distances in Las Vegas
Hotels in Las Vegas are located along the Las Vegas Boulevard (also known as the Strip), a few blocks off the Strip, or in Downtown Las Vegas. If there is no traffic, you can drive from the Stratosphere on the northern end of the Strip to Mandalay Bay in the south in 15 minutes. During rush hour, the trip may take 45 minutes or more.
If you were to walk down the length of the Strip, it would take around three hours at a fast pace (from the Stratosphere to Mandalay Bay). In some areas, especially in the middle of the Strip, walkers cannot simply follow the road, but are lead over bridges and walkways so you end up traveling a longer distance on foot than you would in a car.
Public transportation is available in Las Vegas in the form of two monorail lines, bus and trolley service. If you want to see the whole length of the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas on your vacation, take the Bus 301.
Where to Go for Free Shows
Save money on your Las Vegas vacation by knowing where to go for free entertainment. In the center of the Strip, watch the Fountains of Bellagio and then head north toward the Mirage volcano (about a 15-minute walk). See a free circus performance at Circus Circus Las Vegas on the northern end of the Strip and visit the lions on the casino floor at the MGM Grand on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip.
Bottled Water
On a vacation in the desert you'll need a lot of water. It seems that every business on the Strip is trying to take advantage of that. Hotels and casinos have their own branded bottled water which costs $3 for a small bottle.
Avoid paying such prices by knowing where to find a local drugstore. There are two places along the Strip: a drugstore across the street from the Sturdust hotel on the northern end and a drugstore near the MGM Grand. If you are in Downtown Las Vegas, there is a drugstore near the entrance to the Fremont Street Experience.
Bring Your Sunglasses
Don't leave your home without a good pair of sunglasses. The sun is very strong in Nevada and you'll need a good pair if you plan to do any sightseeing.
Las Vegas Vacation Ideas
Written By the Travel Editors at VacationIdea.com, Last Update: Mar 16, 2005