Las Vegas (NV) holidays

How to get to Las Vegas

Flights to Las Vegas land at McCarran International Airport. From here, shuttle buses and taxis make the short journey into town. Some hotels have check-in desks here and their own shuttle services. You can also pick up a hire car at the airport. Get to Las Vegas as well on long-distance Greyhound buses from Reno, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. These terminate at the central Las Vegas Bus Station.

Weather and climate in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has an arid desert climate of hot summers and warm winters. July temperatures average at 40°C (104°F) although low humidity and air-conditioning everywhere make hot days bearable. Snowfall is rare in Las Vegas but covers the surrounding mountains in winter. The best times for Las Vegas holidays are spring and autumn when daytime temperatures reach a comfortable 25°C (80°F). Las Vegas has very little rain but it does peak from July to early September. When it rains, it does so with a monsoon vengeance.

Visa and migration information

UK nationals with electronic passports don't need a visa to visit Las Vegas. Simply, make an ESTA application for the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This can be done at the US Department of Homeland Security website and costs $14. It's valid for two years or the life of your passport whichever is shorter.

Nightlife in Las Vegas

Las Vegas never sleeps and party time focuses on the Strip where you'll find the trendiest clubs and bars. The ultra-lounge culture is a big part of the Las Vegas nightlife scene. Discs spinning, attentive staff, sofas grouped around tiny dance floors and mouth-watering cocktails make these the perfect venues for kickstarting an evening out. Of course, the best way to enjoy free drink and food during the evening is to play the tables.

Food and Gastronomy in Las Vegas

Buffets piled high with burgers and steak have long been the staple fare of Las Vegas menus but Las Vegas gastronomy is becoming more sophisticated as celebrity chefs weave their magic with dishes from Paris, London, Shanghai and New York City. These menus come at a price though so stretch your budget further on cheap holidays to Las Vegas by venturing off the Strip and into the districts of Summerlin and Henderson. Here you'll find Thai street food, Italian pizzas and Mexican food trucks selling tacos.

Party with the stars

Las Vegas has become the perfect place for celebrities to unwind. The city caters for every genre of music and has a large number of spectacular bars and nightclubs. Choose between partying with an English Prince at the famous XS Nightclub, experiencing DJs sampling ground-breaking new collaborations and mixes at the Marquee, or relax with a spot of Jazz and Blues at the Mandarin Bar.

Viva Las Vegas

If you’re looking for entertainment on your cheap holiday to Las Vegas, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the theatre. Be prepared to gasp in awe as circus acts perform death defying feats, magicians break the laws of physics, comedians have you chuckling for a week, and cabarets whisk you away on an adventure.

Best hotels on the Strip in Las Vegas:

• Bellagio

• The Cosmopolitan

• MGM Grand Hotel

• The Venetian

• Luxor Hotel

• Caesar's Palace

• Planet Hollywood

• New York - New York

• Mirage hotel and casino

• Wynn Las Vegas

Things to do in Las Vegas for a holiday

‘Sin City’ is a gamblers’ paradise but don’t worry you don’t have to place any bets. The atmosphere this city conjures is an inspiring experience all by itself. Discover the flashing lights of the slot machine rows at Caesars Palace or the enticing personality of a blackjack dealer at El Cortez. Visit The Bellagio if you’re looking to try your luck at a more expensive casino.

Relaxing and thrilling

Las Vegas has an array of activities that provide both exhilarating fun and relaxing escapes. If you don’t suffer from vertigo, take a plunge off the Stratosphere Tower and free-fall over 100 storeys, or glide at 50mph along a series of zip-lines above Bootleg Canyon. For those not looking for an adrenaline rush, try relaxing with a spot of golf at one of Las Vegas’ prime putting locations.

Delightful Landscape

From high in the sky to low on the ground the Grand Canyon lives up to inflated expectations. The desert sands in the Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon are famous escapes from the artificial city. Take a short scenic drive into the national conservation park to discover some of the canyons most idyllic sites. Under the glaze of the sun explore Lake Mead and the art-deco Hoover Dam. These colourful hotspots contrast perfectly against the shining sun to create a picturesque view like no other.

Las Vegas landmarks are, of course, its casinos and the most iconic of these is Caesar's Palace on the Strip. Other landmarks to look out for on Las Vegas holidays are:

• The Cosmopolitan casino and hotel is chic and contemporary with some of the coolest design in town. It's a place where celebrities and their entourage go to mingle and be seen.

• Long established in Las Vegas, the Bellagio has over 2,000 slot machines to play so the odds may be against you but the Botanical Gardens are definitely a winner. Look out as well for the Fountains of Bellagio and the hand-blown glass flowers decorating the lobby.

• Neon is a renowned characteristic of Las Vegas and the Strip. Older examples have been collected together in the outdoor Neon Museum on Las Vegas Boulevard.

• Shows are as much a part of Las Vegas culture as the casinos. Catch everything from world-famous headliners such as Celine Dion and Elton John to awe-inspiring Cirque du Soleil shows and magic spectacles.

• Take a day trip or two during your Las Vegas package holidays. The charming resort of Mesquite is just an hour's drive away or join a guided tour to Death Valley. View Nevada's only glacier at the Great Basin National Park.