Las Vegas
Las Vegas
The Fodor's Five
The five things you need to know before traveling to Las Vegas
Las Vegas is more than just The Strip.
“The Strip,” as we know it, stretches 4.2 miles along Las Vegas Boulevard roughly between Russell Road in the south and Sahara Avenue in the north. (Really, it’s from the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign south of Mandalay Bay to the archway outside The Strat in the north.) But Las Vegas is much more than just this single stretch of road. While most tourists come and never venture too far off The Strip, some of the best restaurants and attractions in town are a bit more off the beaten path. Be sure to get out and explore.
Fees are everywhere.
Nowadays, big casino resorts nickel and dime guests for just about everything. Most resorts started charging for parking over the last five years. Many properties now also charge blanket “resort fees” that include use of WiFi, on-site pools and fitness centers, and more. It’s possible to wiggle out of some of these fees if you join the parent company’s loyalty program. Make time to inquire at check-in to see how negotiable your fees are.
Rideshares are the way to go.
Unless you like walking long distances—which we don’t recommend doing in summer—the easiest way to get around Las Vegas is to take rideshares from services such as Lyft and Uber. Yes, there are taxis. Yes, there are limos. And, yes, there is public transportation. While rideshares aren’t the cheapest option in this quartet, they are the most plentiful, which means they usually are the fastest. Note that many resorts have dedicated and designated pick-up and drop-off spots for rideshares; often these are not where you think they should be.
Local sports really rock.
Las Vegas waited decades to become a professional sports town. Now, with franchises in the NHL (Golden Knights), NFL (Raiders), and WNBA (Aces), the city is leaning into its new identity. This means the experience of seeing a game in Las Vegas is second to none. Even if you aren’t a fan of either team. Arrive extra early to soak up the atmosphere and vibe. Before Golden Knights games, for instance, a marching band parades through The Park between Park MGM and New York-New York, creating a college tailgate feel. Even if you can’t get a ticket for one of the main events, sports books are usually hopping during local games, and are a great spot to witness the action.
For affordable meals, explore.
Many of the most expensive restaurants in Las Vegas are inside the big resorts that line The Strip. This means many of the most affordable restaurants in town are farther afield. If budget is an issue, take the time to explore restaurants in neighborhoods such as the Arts District (part of Downtown), Chinatown (to the immediate west), Summerlin (to the distant west), and Henderson (to the east). Another up-and-coming neighborhood is in and around the new Durango Casino Resort to the southwest. All of these areas are reachable by rideshare, though in some cases a rental car may be more economical (depending on the rest of your plans).
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Top Neighborhoods
- You can ride gondolas on the manmade canals of Venetian Las Vegas
- Indulge your senses with a concert or movie inside The Sphere
- Enjoy dinner and a show at Delilah inside Wynn Las Vegas
- Marvel at giant sculptures and kinetic artwork inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas
- Party like a rock star at Zouk Nightclub inside Resorts World Las Vegas
- You can marvel at the dancing fountains at Bellagio Las Vegas
- Rock out to live music at Ole Red, Blake Shelton’s new bar in front of Horseshoe Las Vegas
- Push all-in against some of the best poker players in the world at Aria Las Vegas
- Take in Las Vegas from 550 feet in the air atop the High Roller Observation Wheel
- Luxuriate at one of seven pools at the Garden of the Gods oasis at Caesars Palace
- Bet and watch sports from the pools at Stadium Swim at Circa Las Vegas
- Soar over the Fremont Street Experience on Slotzilla
- Throw back cheap beers at Atomic Liquors, the oldest licensed bar in Las Vegas
- Celebrate gluten in the form of homemade bread and pastas at Esther’s Kitchen
- See Las Vegas history illuminate at the Neon Museum
- You can rock-climb the ochre-red walls of Red Rock Canyon
- Chase waterfalls amid the pine trees at Spring Mountain National Recreation Area
- Catch a minor league baseball game at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin
- Press your luck alongside whales in the swanky High Limit Room at Red Rock Casino
- Order filet mignon medium-rare at Harlo, one of the best steakhouses in the Las Vegas Valley
- You can mountain-bike through 100-year-old railroad tunnels outside Boulder City
- Tour the inside of Hoover Dam, an engineering masterpiece
- Rent a kayak and paddle the manmade Lake Las Vegas
- Submit to a massage and facial at the spa at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson
- Cast your lines from a fishing charter on Lake Mead
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EnglishElectrical Outlets
120 V/60Hz; Type A plugs have two flat prongs. Type B plugs have the same two flat prongs with a third round prong; together the three form a triangular shape.Currency
US DollarNearby Airports
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Discover the best neighborhoods in Las Vegas with curated recommendations from our editors.
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Discover the best neighborhoods in Las Vegas with curated recommendations from our editors.
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Discover the best neighborhoods in Las Vegas with curated recommendations from our editors.
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