Airport tips
NOTIFY YOUR AIRLINE Advise your airline of any requirements including the need to assist unaccompanied minors, disabled passengers, or carry special medical supplies on board.
PACK SMART
Tag checked and carry-on luggage inside and out with your name, address, and phone number.
Certain items are prohibited in your luggage. For a complete list, please visit the TSA website
Pack your medication, passport, jewelry, important documents, and other valuables in your carry-on luggage.
Do not place wrapped gifts in either checked or carry-on luggage.
Remember that all checked and carry-on luggage may be subject to search.
CALL AHEAD Contact your airline to verify flight information and check the status of your flight before coming to the airport.
DON’T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Before leaving for the airport, make sure you have your ticket and proper identification. If you’re traveling ticketless, bring a printed confirmation with valid ticket number or airline/agency-generated itinerary with valid ticket number.
BRING VALID IDENTIFICATION Adults need an official photo I.D. issued by a government authority OR two other forms of valid I.D., one of which must be issued by a government authority. Minors are not required to have I.D.
ARRIVE EARLY Arrive approximately two hours prior to your scheduled departure to allow plenty of time for security procedures. Contact your airline for specific flight information and suggested arrival times.
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Transportation - From airport and around the city
Monorail opens in Las Vegas
Las Vegas launched a $650 million monorail that shuttles visitors to hotels on the Strip. paying $3 one-way fares and $5.50 for a roundtrip. The trains can travel from one end to the other in 14 minutes, reaching top speeds of 50 mph. If you want to get from one place to another, it's going to be a whole lot easier. Route Map
McCarran International Airport is close to the city and all major shuttle, taxi and car companies are stationed near the baggage claim area. All major hotels provide shuttle and taxi transportation service. If staying at the "Strip" most hotels have free "tram" (train) service from one hotel to another. For a list of shuttle and taxi companies go here
Las Vegas Citizens Area Transit (CAT) services the residential routes of Las Vegas and Henderson in addition to the "Strip." Two routes, #301 and the express #302 , run the length of the Strip and continue to downtown, with services every ten minutes between 5.30am and 12.30am, and every fifteen minutes from 12.30am until 5.30am. The flat fare is $2. Services in the rest of town operate between 5.30am and 1.30am only, for a flat fare of $1.25. A monthly pass for all CAT buses, sold at the Downtown Transportation Center, costs $30.
Several Strip properties are connected by means of free monorail services. Such systems link Excalibur with Mandalay Bay via Luxor ; the MGM Grand with Bally's; Bellagio with the Monte Carlo ; and the Mirage with Treasure Island .
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Booking Hotel rooms
Almost all the 100,000-plus motel and hotel rooms in Las Vegas are attached to specific casinos, and with nine of the world's ten largest hotels in the city, there are some real giants. Rooms in the two main areas, the Strip and downtown, offer comparable rates to rooms of similar standard elsewhere in town, so there's very little point in choosing to stay in a chain motel on the outskirts. However, while it's still possible, in theory, to find an incredibly inexpensive room, Las Vegas is no longer as cheap as legend would have it. In particular, upwards of 200,000 people descend upon the city every weekend; room rates rise enormously on Friday or Saturday, and many hotels won't accept Saturday arrivals. Book accommodation well in advance if you're on a tight budget, and be sure to get the rate confirmed for the duration of your stay - that $35 room you found on Thursday may well cost more like $100 on Friday, and if a championship fight or other special event is on, room rates hit the roof.
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Shows, Tours and Events
All Las Vegas shows, tours and events like concerts and sports are in high demand and again it is recommended to book your tickets well in advance as seating is limited. It is also recommended to attend most events at least one hour before start, as long lines become the norm near show time.
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Tipping
Not every hotel you are going to stay in will have a bellman and concierge. In this case, tipping is probably not expected; but if you're staying in a place slightly more upscale such most Las Vegas hotels, tipping is both customary and appreciated.
Because tipping is a way of rewarding good service, there is no way to say what is appropriate across the board. Tip at your own discretion. The following might help you:
Valet: $1-$2 each time he gets the car
Taxicab/shuttle drivers: Standard 15 percent of fare
Doormen: $1-2 for hailing a cab
Cocktail waitresses: $1 a round for small parties; more for larger groups
Restaurants/Buffets - Waiters and waitress expect the standard 15%-20% tip for a good service.
Bellmen: A tip of $1 a bag if he brings your bags up to your room, and again when he carries them back down
Concierge: If you need any kind of arrangements made during your stay, he can often make you dinner reservations and in general attend to you for anything you may need. It is a good idea to tip the concierge the first time you request special attention, anywhere from $5-$20 depending on the service provided, and the services you anticipate needing.
Room Service: 10-15% of the bill unless gratuity is included
Housekeeping: $1-$5/night, depending on how neat you are!
Coatcheck: $1-$2
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Clothing and Climate
The Las Vegas temperature between May and September can be close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Centigrade), humidity rarely exceeds 20 percent and evening temperatures usually drop to around 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Centigrade).
Light clothing should be adequate throughout the year in the city, but if you intend to visit the surrounding desert or mountains, you may require warmer clothing as the temperature drops between day and evening. During the hot days of summer it is very important to drink plenty of water. Las Vegas has a very low humidity and your perspiration is evaporated very rapidly, always comsume plenty of water when traveling outside the resorts, it's surprising how much walking you'll get in just going from one hotel to another,
it will make you stay more enjoyble and fun. Las Vegas is at the heart of the hottest, harshest desert in North America, and so receives less than four inches of rain (10cm) per year. Temperatures, however, vary enormously, with daytime maximums averaging over 100°F (38°C) in July and August, and night-time minimums dropping below freezing in December and January. The midsummer heat on the Strip is unbearable, making it impossible to walk any distance during the day, so the ideal months to visit are April, May, September and October. Hotel swimming pools tend to be closed between October and March inclusive.
The city is at its quietest , and room rates are therefore lowest, during the first few weeks of December and the last few weeks of January, and also during June and July, while Christmas and New Year are the busiest periods of all
Average Temperatures:
|
Month
|
High
|
Low
|
|
January
|
60F
|
29F
|
|
February
|
67F
|
34F
|
|
March
|
72F
|
39F
|
|
April
|
81F
|
45F
|
|
May
|
89F
|
52F
|
|
June
|
99F
|
61F
|
|
July
|
103F
|
68F
|
|
August
|
102F
|
66F
|
|
September
|
95F
|
57F
|
|
October
|
84F
|
47F
|
|
November
|
71F
|
36F
|
|
December
|
61F
|
30F
|
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Safety
From Las Vegas police department:
TOURIST SAFETY - TIPS
The following SAFETY TIPS are provided for you as reminders to make your stay in the Las Vegas area a safe and memorable one.
When your luggage is in your possession, treat it as if it were GOLD. Never leave these items unattended.
Carry travelers checks, instead of large amounts of cash. Only carry what you will need for the day (or evening). Leave all your valuables, such as credit cards, jewelry or airline tickets, in the room safe. Write down your traveler check and credit card numbers and place this information in your room safe.
Be alert. If you are in a crowded area, carry your purse (wallet) close to you and keep a firm grip on it. Do not leave purses (handbags or cameras) on the back of chairs, under tables or restroom hooks.
Keep track of your hotel key. You may want to return your key to the front desk while you are out. Close you hotel room securely, even if you are going for ice. Ask a security officer to escort you to your room if you have lost your key.
Use automatic teller machines in well-lighted areas of the hotel you are staying in. Walk in pairs or groups whenever possible.
Make sure your family or friends have contact numbers for you while you are in the Las Vegas area. Keep in touch with them and tell them where you are going.
Look for the VIVA patrol if you need directions or other assistance. The VIVA Patrol (Visitor Information, Visitor Assistance) is part of the LVMPD*s volunteer program. VIVA members wear bright yellow shirts with the VIVA logo as well as caps and can be found walking in pairs along the Strip, Fremont Street and McCarran International Airport.
Stay alert and trust your instincts. If you see suspicious people loitering near your hotel room or auto mobile do not approach or confront them . Report any suspicious activity to the hotel, a police officer, a security officer, or hotel staff member immediately.
In crowded areas or in situations where crowds are expected (such as show lines, buffet area, bus stop, baggage carousel ect.) Be aware of your valuables. Keep your purse or luggage close to your body. In situations as these, it may be wise to carry any monies in your front pocket or use a secured "fanny pack."
If you are vacationing with young children, the same rules apply. Instruct them to never talk to strangers or open doors without first knowing who it is. Make sure they know the name of the hotel, the phone and room number. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department does use a 9-1-1 system so be sure your children are familiar with it in case they become lost or separated.
LVMPD Non-Emergency Police Service (702) 229-3111
Tourist Safety Unit (702) 229-3204
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Save Rate Vegas Hotels
