The first timer's guide to Las Vegas

What's it like? |  Essential Information | Useful tips | Things To Do

What's Las Vegas like?

It's the party capital of the world. And there really isn't anywhere else like it. As it's one of the most visited destinations on the planet, they've got hotels, bars and casinos to spare.

• Size wise - it's not that big. But they pack the entertainment into every square foot.
• More than 43 million people visited in 2015. That many people can't be wrong.
• The "Strip" is four miles long. It's an entertaining stroll (or taxi ride if you want to go top to bottom and back).
• You will lose track of time. It's impossible not to. You may even forget what natural light is.
• You probably haven't seen hotels like this - they're like mini-amusement parks, with casinos. Please try and leave yours. At least once.
• It's brash, neon, noisy and fun. It's really fun. We can't stress this point enough.

When to go to Las Vegas

What’s the weather like in Las Vegas?

It doesn't rain much, makes a nice change.

• You're in the desert, so summer temperatures soar and hit the mid 30s to early 40s. Thank goodness for air conditioning.
• In the winter months it can get a bit nippy, but you can still expect a good amount of sunshine.
• Spring and autumn are warm and mild - a good time to go

How long do you need?

A better question might be "How long have you got?"

Which airlines fly to Las Vegas from the UK?

Good news. There's really good competition among the airlines taking you across the pond.

• British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Norwegian are among the carriers flying directly to Las Vegas.
• Flights depart from UK cities including London, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
• The average price of a Las Vegas flight is around £400 - there is seasonal variation of course

Find flights to Las Vegas

Which is the best airport to fly to?

How long's the flight to Las Vegas?

How to get from the airport to the city

Be aware that on the way back, US international check-in times are around three hours - so leave plenty of time to get to the airport.

Is there a time difference?

Where to stay

If you're going for a short break, you'll probably want to stay close to the main action. Las Vegas has nearly 150,000 rooms, so you're going to have plenty of choice. However check if there's any major conventions in town as it can mean hotel prices might be a little higher. Luxury These iconic hotels are almost as much tourist attractions as places to stay. Even if you've never been to Las Vegas you've heard of them or see them in the movies (Ocean's Eleven has a lot to answer for). They have everything inside. Bars, restaurants, clubs, shows, hairdressers, shops, spas, casinos.

• The Bellagio: You've got to watch the fountain show at the hotel. It's ace. There are some special hotel bars here too - you'll feel pretty swish sipping a cocktail.
• Caesar's Palace: 2016 is the hotel's 50th birthday. One of the oldest and most famous hotels in Las Vegas - they've had Celine Dion, Elton John, Mariah and Rod Stewart appearing at their shows to celebrate.
• MGM Grand Hotel and Casino: Made up of four 30-story, 280 feet towers - this place is massive. It's got more than 5,000 rooms and 750 suites, Michelin-starred restaurants and a 45-foot-tall Lion statue at the entrance (the biggest bronze in the USA).
• The Venetian: One word: Gondolas. There's canals. In the hotel. We're not making this up.
• Wynn Las Vegas: Pool parties. They have great pool parties in the warmer months.

Mid range If you ever wanted to stay in a hotel that's got an interesting take on English history - mashing up the legend of Robin Hood with that of King Arthur - then Excalibur Hotel and Casino is brilliant. It looks like a fairy-tale castle. Though you might get a bit confused when you look out of your window and see the Eiffel Tower - that'll be the Paris Las Vegas hotel then. Downtown It can be cheaper to stay off The Strip - and with transport being cheap, and running for 24-hours, it's not a bad place to stay and save some dollars for the casino.

Getting around Las Vegas

  As we mentioned - this isn't a huge city so it's not going to cost you much if you want to do something other than walking. Buses

• They're really cheap and run 24 hours.
• It's cheaper off the Strip than on the Strip to travel.

Taxis

• You can hail them in the street - just wave your arm and shout "taxi!" (you've seen it in films).
• It's paid for by the meter with a small initial charge - remember to tip.

Limousine 

• Well, if you're going for glitz and glamour you may as well go all out. You can hire them for around $35 an hour.

Monorail

• Well, it's different. See the Strip from an unusual angle on the Las Vegas Monorail. It's around $5 for one trip - but you can buy passes from one to seven days if you think you'll use it more.

By car

• If you want to so some exploring - or cruise up and down the strip with the top down - there are loads of car hire places to choose from. Just don't buy your petrol (gas) on The Strip - it's more expensive.

Useful tips

Tipping: this is probably the most important thing to get to grips with - it's a huge part of the American culture - here's some suggested tipping scenarios. Money: So how much money should you take? Well, visitors who stayed three nights in Las Vegas spent an average of $292.00 for food and drink and $73 on transport in total. If you're gambling, the average person's budget is around $400. To save money, book in advance for shows (always cheaper online even if you're already there) and make the most out of the food buffets and food courts. Hotels will have discount codes for local restaurants so check with them for deals. Culture: It's not exactly high-brow. You come here to see the big names and the even bigger shows. Having started with Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack (the original Ocean's Eleven) back in the 1950s, Elvis, Liberace, Wayne Newton (30,000 shows) and Elton John have been some of the headliners. Celine Dion and Penn & Teller are two of the biggest names in music and magic appearing in long-running shows in 2016.

Sightseeing

You've probably seen so many films and TV shows about Las Vegas, you'll be familiar with some of the major sights. But of course it's different seeing them for yourself.

• The Grand Canyon: One of the natural wonders of the world. You could easily spend a few days out here hiking, climbing or biking. There are campsites and lodges if you want to base yourself there instead of Las Vegas, or just do a day trip. We recommend flying so you get the full aerial view. The National Park Service has put together a useful trip planner to visiting the Grand Canyon.

• Stratosphere: The tallest freestanding observation tower in the USA. It's 1,149 feet high and you can walk around it (enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass). A rooftop pool opens in the summer and there's the Sky Jump. You dive off the 108th floor. Gulp.
• CSI: The Experience:  Whooooo are yooooouuu... It's one of the most recognisable  TV theme tunes and one of US TV's biggest shows. And at the MGM Grand, you can have a go at being a crime scene investigator in the city where the show was set.

Gambling

The majority of the hotels have their own casinos. Even if you're not a major high-roller, you can still have a little flutter - even if it's a quick go on the slot machines.

Shopping

The big hotels tend to have shopping centres inside them.

Las Vegas shows

Eating out in Las Vegas

There are high-end Michelin-star restaurants and cheap and cheerful fast food at the other end of the scale. Have a look at reserving online as you can often get restaurant discounts or two-for-one deals.

Going out in Las Vegas

There are pool parties in the summer and club crawls in the winter.  You can try and get VIP at the super clubs with international DJs, and we should mention there are Strip Clubs, with less prestigious "acts". Either way you can go for it from dusk till dawn and beyond. There's always someone serving somewhere.

Not a first-timer and already visited Las Vegas?

Help them out then. We'd love to hear more about your favourite things to do in Las Vegas. Please let us know your best tips for newbies by leaving a comment below.