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Las Vegas travel guide

Las Vegas lies in a desert valley in southern Nevada, and visitor life runs along two corridors: the four-mile line of casino resorts on Las Vegas Boulevard, most of it technically in unincorporated Paradise rather than the city, and the older Downtown around Fremont Street to the north. Harry Reid International Airport sits about two miles from the Boulevard.

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Getting there and choosing your base

  • Harry Reid International Airport (LAS): Terminal 1 handles most domestic flights and Terminal 3 the international ones. Most resorts are a short taxi or rideshare away, while rental cars are collected from a separate centre reached by shuttle bus.
  • Bonneville Transit Center: The Downtown stop for Amtrak Thruway coaches, as no passenger trains reach the city. RTC buses leave from here, and the 24-hour Deuce double-decker covers the Strip.
  • Las Vegas Monorail: Not an airport link: it runs for about four miles behind the east side of the Strip, with seven stations including the Convention Center. Stations sit at the back of resorts, so allow for long indoor walks.

Areas to consider

The Strip

Suits short stays built around shows, restaurants and casinos close together. Resorts are vast and further apart than they look; check the walk from your tower to the lobby, the pool and the nearest monorail or tram stop.

Downtown and Fremont Street

Suits tighter budgets and the older casinos under the Fremont Street canopy; the city's few hostels are here too. The Strip is a bus or taxi ride away, so add those trips to the cost before choosing Downtown for a lower rate.

Convention Center and east of the Strip

Suits trade-show visitors and anyone wanting a hotel near the monorail without staying on the Boulevard. Check the convention calendar before fixing dates, as the largest shows draw well over 100,000 attendees.

West of I-15

Suits drivers who prefer a quieter, more suburban base within reach of the Strip. Crossing the interstate on foot is slow and punishing in summer, so ask whether the hotel runs a Strip shuttle if you will not drive.

When to go

Rates move more with the day of the week than the season: most visitors arrive on Friday or Saturday, so weekends cost far more than Sunday to Thursday unless a major convention is on. Summers are extremely hot, with July highs averaging about 40°C, and the Strip closes to traffic on New Year's Eve, when hotels fill.

Before choosing a room

  • Most resorts add a nightly resort fee, which usually covers the pool and gym. Compare the full total, not the room rate.
  • Hotels with casinos generally will not let anyone under 21 book a room. If someone in the group is 18 to 20, confirm the policy before paying.
  • Smoking is still permitted inside large casinos, and free parking at major resorts is now rare. Ask for a non-smoking floor and check the nightly charge for self-parking or valet.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

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