Take lots of selfies. Enjoy watching people. Get the free drinks—and 8 more tips for making the most of your trip to Las Vegas.
You booked your flight and hotel, now it’s time to make the most of your stay in Las Vegas by saving time and most of all money. You don’t want to waste your time here by walking the strip and not having some sort of plan and missing all that Las Vegas has to offer especially with new attractions, restaurants and things to do.
Table of Contents
1. DRINKS ON THE HOUSE
Stay away from the bar if you want to get a free drink at a slot machine. If your going to gamble anyway sit a busy slot machine area and wait for a waitress to come along and offer you a drink. She will bring you a Free drink as long as you are gambling. Be sure to tip your waitress $5 to $10 dollars and she will keep them coming for you as long as your gambling on the floor. If gambling is not your thing you might have to find a happy hour bar in the hotel that you’re staying at or just wait for happy hour to start. Typically, they start from 3 pm to 6 pm and 8 pm to 12 am.
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2. HAVE A PLAN
After you check-in, take a walk around your hotel and casino and note where the vending machines, restaurants, restrooms and seating areas are. Once you’ve had a rest, it’s time to tackle the Strip—sometimes seeing the sights is overwhelming in itself. To get some insider’s knowledge on the buildings, the history of Las Vegas and more, hop on a Big Bus and enjoy a narrated tour of the city—there are 20+ stops between the Strip and downtown. My recommendation: stay on the bus for the entire length of the tour before hopping off; this way you’ll be able to make a note of your must-visit stops and plan your attack. You can get back on any bus within a 24- or 48-hour period, depending on the tour length you choose.
3. CARRY A LIGHT JACKET, WATER, AND SUNSCREEN
Carry a light jacket or wrap with you—it may be hot outside, but casinos blast the AC and once inside you’ll get chilly pretty quick. In the hot months of July, August, and September you’ll want to have bottled water with you at all times. You can get pretty decent prices at the many CVS and Wallgreens stores on the strip. Even better if you have the luxury or a refrigerator in your hotel room you can get food, water, and alcohol delivered to you through the instacart app that will deliver to your hotel and meet you in the lobby for pickup. (be respectful and tip your delivery person). But, walking on the Las Vegas strip is very taxing you your body with the sun beating down on you. Don’t forget the sunscreen if you burn easily.
Hot Tip: if you dehydrate quickly, eat something with salt in it. This will help you retain fluids better while keeping your electrolytes where they should be, in your body.
4. TAKE GAMBLING LESSONS
Did you know the dealer will teach you how to play if you need a lesson on a game? Not sure if gambling is for you? Why not find out by checking out the free gambling lessons hosted by Las Vegas casinos large and small. You’ll get a primer on the rules of the games and pick up crucial things such as dealer-speak, where to sit at a table and more. If you like sports betting you might want to look up sports betting videos on YouTube to get a handle on the many ways to bet on a game. You want to increase your odds of winning by having an edge on how to play. Best of Luck!
5. SIGN UP FOR PLAYER’S CLUBS – IT’S FREE
Even if you don’t plan on doing much gambling, signing up for a casino player’s club is a great way to get freebies and discounts on shows, restaurants, attractions and more. Swipe it everywhere you go within the property. If you’re gambling, you definitely don’t want to be without a player’s card, because accruing your points may mean enough for freebies on a return trip to Vegas! Don’t forget your player’s card it’s a must-have when visiting Las Vegas.
6. AVOID PEAK DINNER TIMES
The heaviest dinner times in Las Vegas are between 6-8 pm. If you’re flexible, it’s best to try and have dinner between 5-5:30 and 8:30-9 pm, particularly if you are visiting a buffet, as lines can get unmanageable at peak time and the multiple hours you spend in line could have been better served anywhere else! Certainly, there will be cases in which dining early or late is simply not possible, but it never hurts to be aware of primetime.
Hot Tip: if you arrive at a buffet during the tail end of lunch you can stay for the dinner change over and pay for the lunch rate. The trick is to get there an hour before the dinner buffet starts so they don’t shut you out of the changeover.
7. FORGET TAKING A CAB
Ridesharing may be the best option when moving around in Las Vegas. The drivers are very knowledgeable of the Las Vegas area. And you won’t have to wait very long for a cab to come around. You do have to be aware of the rideshare pickup areas at each hotel because they vary from property to property. Your rideshare app should have that information listed when you place an order for a pick-up.
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Hot Tip: Tip your Rideshare Driver. Even though your getting a ride at a cheaper rate than a cab. Your rideshare driver has local expenses to pay each year to stay on the road to provide you with a more efficient service other than a cab or bus.
8. THE CHARACTERS YOU’LL MEET
You’ll see lots of characters dressed up like superheroes, kids characters, showgirls and sexy outfits for prosperity sake on the strip and downtown Fremont Street. If you have to have a photo it’s common courtesy to tip them or negotiate an amount that you think will work out. They do have the right to cuss you out if you just start snapping photos and don’t tip them in some form or fashion. But have fun with these characters and be nice.
9. AVOID ATM’S IN CASINOS
Try to avoid using the ATM’s at any casino you’re in. They will gouge you in service fees. It’s good to carry some cash with you but, not hundreds at a time. Unless you have a superpower. But, you can take small cash advances out at CVS or Wallgreens on the strip if you buy something small and ring out for a cash advance for 60 or so dollars at a time. This will save you the horrendous service fees the casinos charge you when using their ATM’s.
10. HAVE FUN AND BE OPEN FOR ANYTHING
Vegas is an adult playground and with so many things to do and see you may want to do the thing that scares you a little. From amusement rides to a little more thrilling adult adventures. Plus, with all the new things coming to Las Vegas you’re sure to have a blast with online Gaming stations at Linq, Luxor and Fashion Show Mall’s Arcade Bar that just opened in June 2019.
Plus, in 2020 there will the Las Vegas Raiders playing football here in Las Vegas. The allegiant stadium is the official name of the arena and is looking pretty good. UNLV will share the stadium for game day and other events and concerts to take place. You’ll also hear about Area 15, it’s a giant art complex that will take you on a walk-thru of amazing artistic art adventures and have food and beverage stations as well as music to a plethora of entertainment coming soon.
Treat yourself well and you’ll come out of Las Vegas feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for your next visit in the not too distant future. And most of all Have Fun. If Vegas doesn’t put a smile on your face, I have a therapist you can talk to. Cheers!