How to Plan a Vacation in Las Vegas for First-Time Visitors
With so much on offer to make the most of your time there, you’ll want to plan your vacation in Las Vegas well in advance. That’s why we’ve put together this helpful guide including everything you need to know.
Traveling to Las Vegas
Start planning your vacation by figuring out how long you’ll stay. For those traveling from out of state, the average Las Vegas trip is around 4 days, so a long weekend. Of course, for international travelers, a trip is more like 6 or 7 days to make the long haul flight worthwhile.
You’ll also want to decide when you want to visit. For those not used to the Nevada heat, it might be worthwhile avoiding June until October. Throughout July especially, the temperature regularly reaches 100°F (38°C).
Of course, there is an aircon in every building you’ll visit to help you cool off, as well as plenty of pools. But for some travelers, this heat is simply too much. If this sounds like you, March through May will be the best time for your visit if you’d still like some warmer weather.
We say this because by the end of October the temperature plummets. Though the temperature rarely dips below 30°F (0°C), the desert nights feel cold.
There are some more popular weekends to visit than others, which hike the prices up. These include:
- New Year’s Eve
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Memorial Day Weekend
- Fourth of July
- Labor Day Weekend
- Halloween
- Christmas
Other popular weekends will include weekends with boxing and other sports events on, as well as convention weekends. So if you’re not attending these, avoid going then to swerve the price hikes.
You can drive or fly into Las Vegas to McCarran International Airport. If you’re looking to save on flights, your best bet is to arrive earlier during the week for cheaper Las Vegas flights.
Las Vegas Hotels
Las Vegas has no shortage of hotels to pick from, as well as a healthy AirBnB selection. Staying on the strip is a great idea for a central location, but it’ll cost you a premium so factor it into your budget.
For first-time visitors who want the full Las Vegas experience, we’d recommend staying at a hotel as opposed to an AirBnB if the budget allows. The latter might cost you less, but some of the neighbors around Las Vegas can be a totally different experience to the one you’re hoping for. You’ll also miss out on the range of great hotel pools, bars, casinos, and restaurants in your resort.
Visitors need to remember to budget for the resort fees. Almost all hotels charge these and they’re not included in your original hotel fee. These daily fees average out at around $40 per room for a hotel on the strip.
Getting around Vegas is easy once you’re here. Hailing a cab isn’t common here like it is in NYC, but downloading a rideshare app like Lyft or Uber is a great choice for getting around.
You can also rent a car. If you plan to head out of central to see some of the amazing sites nearby, this is an affordable option.
However, having a car for your entire trip can sometimes be an unnecessary expense. Parking near the strip is expensive and busy in peak seasons. During rush hour and weekends in Las Vegas, the roads are very congested.
Las Vegas Vacation Budget
A good rule of thumb for your budget in Las Vegas is to take whatever you think it’ll cost and double it. If you want the opportunity to be more spontaneous, maybe even triple it.
You can eat, drink and party on a budget in Las Vegas, but for the full experience, you’ll want plenty of fun money. The best clubs, activities, and shows are worth the expense. That’s without taking into consideration the casinos!
To give you an idea of what to budget, here are some average costs for food and drink:
- Beer: $6 to $8
- Cocktail: $15 to $20
- Dinner: $50 per person
- Dinner at a high-end restaurant: $100 to $200 per person
- Club entry: $20 to $30
- High-end club entry: $1000+
- Las Vegas show: $100+
It’s worth bearing in mind these are very rough averages. Do your research on different places you want to visit ahead of time to make sure you can afford it.
You should also include enough in your budget for tips. Tipping is the norm here and expected, so you’ll want spare cash on hand to accommodate this.
Las Vegas Activities
Whatever you want to do, Las Vegas can accommodate you. There is no shortage of amazing Las Vegas activities on offer for your vacation.
Here at Area15, we offer a range of incredible Las Vegas experiences including:
- Omega Mart Art Exhibition
- Particle Quest AR Experience
- Wink World Psychedelic Art House
- Oz VR experience
- Emporium Arcade and Bar
- Virtualis VR Experience
- Duelling Axe Throwing
- Museum Fiasco Immersive Studio
- Birdly Flight Simulator
- Haley’s Comet Rollglider
- Indoor Golf
That’s without even mentioning the huge range of live Las Vegas events available at Area15 including art exhibitions, live concerts, weekly club nights, and seasonal events.
Of course, though you could easily spend an entire weekend partying with us, there’s plenty of other things to do in Las Vegas.
For those who’d like a little more culture, Las Vegas has plenty of unique museums on offer like the Mob Museum. Here you can learn all about the history of organized crime across America and learn about some notorious gangsters like Al Capone.
There’s also the Titanic museum, where you can explore recreations of parts of the ship and find out what life was like onboard.
For adrenaline seekers, hop in a helicopter tour, zipline down Fremont street, or even dive with sharks in Shark Reef. The world’s your oyster, the difficult part is fitting it all in!
Enjoy Your Vacation in Las Vegas
Planning your vacation in Las Vegas in advance means you can focus on enjoying the full Vegas experience when you get here. For the most authentic experience, stay on the strip, book a Las Vegas event or show in advance, and do your research on the best clubs and bars to visit. Make sure to include a healthy budget and remember to come to see us during your trip!