Las Vegas
A city of many names and titles: referring to itself as the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas is described internationally as one of the most visited places globally, a leader in the hospitality industry and- more colloquially- Sin City. Famed for its seedy underbelly, this city wears its heart on its sleeve with its strip of casinos, other adult entertainment and almost Roman-levels of excess when it comes to food and drink.
Details
Before visiting any town or city make sure you know the basics. General details and important information.
- Emergency Services: 911
- Language: English
- Currency: American Dollars
- Country Code: US
- Travel Visa: ESTA required (Click here for more info)
- Population: 667,501
Risk Level
Researching various official sources, we perceive the risk to holiday makers and travellers are as follows;
Travellers Tips
Top travel advice and interesting tip bits of information from experienced travellers.
Emergencies
For the Emergency services just dial 911.
Hospitals in Las Vegas
Valley Hospital Medical Centre: 702-388-4000
Spring Valley Hospital: 702-853-3000
Desert Spring Hospital Medical Centre: 702-733-8800
Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Centre: 702-916-5000
Tourist Offices
Las Vegas Visitor Information Centre: (702) 892-7575 or (877) 847-4858
Travelling Around
Las Vegas has an incredibly busy international airport and is the largest US city without access to a railway. Although the city does has bus services, the most common mode of transport is via car. Residents drive whilst tourists can rent or access taxis and ride-sharing services. There is also a monorail that runs along the Las Vegas strip.
Airports
McCarran International Airport: 702.261.5211
Las Vegas Safety
What’s the weather like?
Las Vegas is a south-westerly city and has a subtropical hot desert climate. Therefore, it has very consistent weather: it is hot, dry and sunny. The city is surrounded by mountains and sits upon the basin of the Mojave Desert so there is very little humidity. It rains very rarely.
The average summer temperature is 33 °C whilst the average winter temperature is 8 °C.
Visit in any season as there are little more than temperature fluctuations to prepare for.
Dress and plan accordingly.
What’s a safety top tip?
Whilst Las Vegas is fairly safe for a big city, it is also a pickpocket’s paradise. What do people do when they go to Vegas? They get monumentally drunk and gamble. This means that there are thousands of people in a concentrated area carrying lots of cash, dressed in fancy clothes and jewellery, walking around unfamiliar places and- most importantly- not paying attention. It must be one of the easiest places to pickpocket someone or grab a purse whilst walking past without anyone noticing.
Don’t be the person that gets everything stolen as you were too drunk to notice its missing. Being in Vegas implies you want to go big (and probably not go home till the sun comes up) but you need to be sober enough to have your wits about you. Distribute your money about your person. Have a securely closed bag that sits across your body. Be aware of your surroundings- we all know that scene in every film where people crowd around a card table to watch- someone close by can easily snag something out of your pocket, don’t let them!
How dangerous is Las Vegas?
Due to the expectation that Las Vegas has a certain danger level, the city has an increased police presence and various establishments also employ private security. This actually makes the city safer than you would think but still you should be careful.
Vegas is a place of extremes and it advertises as such: people go there to gamble, drink and- realistically- do other illicit things in excess. Extreme actions create extreme reactions. You could encounter some very drunk and high individuals. You could encounter someone who just lost all of their money in a casino. Not every interaction is going to go badly but it could. Muggings are not uncommon nor are drunken brawls.
Stay in populated areas and remain with the people you’re staying with. If somewhere looks seedy or you feel uncomfortable- leave. Vegas has more options than you can feasible explore unless you stay for a very long time so explore the strip AKA the places where it is guarded and there are the most cameras.
Annual Events
Annual events allow a city come together for some amazing experiences. If visiting at this time, make sure you have your accommodation booked and are always aware of your surroundings when travelling around.
Las Vegas Events
Viva Las Vegas is a vivacious vintage variety event! This is America’s biggest rockabilly festival, a must for anyone who is a fan of that classic 1950’s aesthetic. Cars, slicked-back hair, colourful petticoats and roller skates all jive together to make an excellent experience. The Orleans Hotel is full of events and activities: there are car shows, dancing showcases and lots of live music. You can also find items to complete your look as there are plenty of vintage vendors who’s wares you can peruse.
This art, culture and music festival is about cultivating positivity through experiencing things that make you happy. To start off simply a list of previous artists would be enough to convince your average person to go: Arctic Monkeys, Billie Eilish, Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino, Duran Duran, Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Imagine Dragons and many more! There is also a mini food festival that takes a sample from a range of Las Vegas eateries and puts them all in one place for you to try (and who isn’t made happy by delicious food, let’s be real). There are art installations set up across the downtown area to create an immersive, multi-disciplinary, and global art experience for you to enjoy. It doesn’t matter who you are; we are all connected by food, art and music.
This food festival at The Venetian Resort is one that you don’t want to miss- the entrance fee will get you unlimited alcohol and food supply(within reason so don’t get wasted and cause a mess) and who can say no to that? With over 70 restaurants coming together- both local and pop-up for the event- to give you an unbelievably diverse and delicious experience. There’s spicy curry, specialised cocktails, lobster, pot roast and sumptuous pork belly. So much flavour in a concentrated area, pick wisely as you will fill up fast!
A community event held each month, Las Vegas’ First Friday attracts artists, patrons and tourists alike. This is a family-friendly arts and crafts festival where you can shop around stalls for unique treasures and hear live music for free. That’s not all: lots of local food vendors will be there to tempt you. Grab something to eat and be entertained by the visual and performing artists showcasing their craft. This dynamic event is a hotspot for the community to collectively celebrate local business, creativity and artistry.
Las Vegas Highlights
Which casino’s should I go to?
Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel (historically, Binion’s Horseshoe)
Since 1951, Binion’s has been making Las Vegas history on the famous Fremont Street. The founder pioneered Las Vegas-style customer service with cosy carpets and air conditioning for the comfort of his players. He was also the first casino owner to provide transportation to and from the airport. The single venue grew into the hall and hotel it is today, due to its popularity and significance: playing host to the World Series of Poker on a number of occasions. As times have changed so has Binion’s, the latest addition is a spinning open-air bar! For an authentic casino experience, with all the food, drink and atmosphere you’d expect, come here!
One of the most famous casinos in the world, you can’t go wrong with Caesars Palace. This is a must-see resort and chances are you’ll recognise it from every semi-modern film and tv show that features the city. Visit the beautiful roman architecture and the breath-taking fountain. Book tickets and see a world-class act in The Colosseum. There is also the famous restaurant MR CHOW Las Vegas and an extensive shopping section. It’s a whole experience in and of itself and you need not even leave the building.
(When gambling, please be sensible. Bring designated betting money and only gamble with an amount that you would be willing to lose.)
What should I do?
Head to CircusCircus for the Adventuredome! An indoor theme park for when the thrill of gambling just isn’t enough. There are rollercoasters, arcades, laser-quest escape rooms and even bungee jumping. There are also professional circus performers giving free demonstrations to impress and astound you! Go on rides, have adventures- if that’s not extreme enough for you then jump on the Sling Shot and get launched up with 4gs of acceleration. There are also children’s rides for the less extreme and nightlife neon events for the party animals!
Whilst literally staying in a desert, its probably a good idea to visit a water park. Why not have a well-deserved cool down at Cowabunga Bay? Featuring wave pools that include the world’s largest man-made wave as well as water slides and a glorious lazy river. Sometimes you need a day where you relax in the sun on the water. There are designated children’s areas too so there’s a place for everyone. Head along to the cabana to soak up the sun after you’ve had your fun, you’ll be ready to hit the strip again in no time.
What should I go see?
Want to know all about one of the most famous (and most written about/filmed) parts of American history? Grab your trilby and head on down to the Mob Museum. The Mob should not be celebrated but the way they operated and the history behind them sure is interesting. Learn about their practices, their codes and how law enforcement came to bring them to justice (or sometimes didn’t). See artefacts like a wall from the famous shoot out during The Valentine’s Day Massacre- you can actually see the bullet marks still! There are guns and outfits and everything you would expect to find when learning about those wise guys.
Time for a unique and delicious experience, get access to over 800 Hershey’s chocolates and candies in the famous New York-New York Hotel & Casino. This West Coast flagship store offers exclusive Hershey’s products, gifts and delightful treats- making it one of Las Vegas’ most popular tourist destinations. Keeping up with the theme of famous landmarks in Vegas, the store also features a sculpture of the Statue of Liberty created from almost 800 lbs. of milk chocolate (if you attempt to eat it, you will be removed from the store). There are activities there too: you can customize your very own chocolate bars or star in a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup TV ad.
