Tips on Vegas
Weather will be similar to the hottest weather typical of Calgary:
Avg May Temp: High: 88° F (31° C) Low: 60° F (16° C)
Make sure you bring sunscreen, a sweater (inside the hotels/restaurants/theaters can be chilly as are the evenings), weather appropriate clothing, comfortable shoes and a swimsuit because you'll want to have some pool time!
The size of the strip is deceiving. Hotels and blocks look a lot closer together than they really are. You will walk a lot more than you think you will so make sure you have some comfortable footwear.
Cabs are obligated to take you the fast route, which oddly enough is usually the most expensive since you are paying per mile rather than time in the cab. They always ask you if the fastest route is fine, we always say, "nope, take us the cheapest way" which is usually the back roads avoiding the strip and freeways. You also have options of trams behind the strip and buses along the strip!
All the hotels are open, feel free to explore, I highly recommend going into most of them. You can walk through without having to play in the casino or spend any money at all. Just check them out, they are all so different.
Everything is cheaper out of the hotels. There are many convenience stores on the strip. Unlike in most of Canada they are allowed to sell liquor almost anywhere. There is a CVS Pharmacy located right by our hotel and a Walgreens across the street at Planet Hollywood. I would recommend popping in, picking up some liquor, mix and plastic cups (you can take liquor with you to almost anywhere on the strip except for restaurants and clubs, just not in glass containers). This can save you some money, drinks can be up too $18 each in the casinos/clubs/restaurants.
Here is a great blog piece on what NOT to do in Vegas and I agree with a lot of these!
http://www.vegaschatter.com/story/2009/6/9/115241/0132/vegas-travel/Ten+Things+You+Should+NOT+Do+In+Las+Vegas
Avg May Temp: High: 88° F (31° C) Low: 60° F (16° C)
Make sure you bring sunscreen, a sweater (inside the hotels/restaurants/theaters can be chilly as are the evenings), weather appropriate clothing, comfortable shoes and a swimsuit because you'll want to have some pool time!
The size of the strip is deceiving. Hotels and blocks look a lot closer together than they really are. You will walk a lot more than you think you will so make sure you have some comfortable footwear.
Cabs are obligated to take you the fast route, which oddly enough is usually the most expensive since you are paying per mile rather than time in the cab. They always ask you if the fastest route is fine, we always say, "nope, take us the cheapest way" which is usually the back roads avoiding the strip and freeways. You also have options of trams behind the strip and buses along the strip!
All the hotels are open, feel free to explore, I highly recommend going into most of them. You can walk through without having to play in the casino or spend any money at all. Just check them out, they are all so different.
Everything is cheaper out of the hotels. There are many convenience stores on the strip. Unlike in most of Canada they are allowed to sell liquor almost anywhere. There is a CVS Pharmacy located right by our hotel and a Walgreens across the street at Planet Hollywood. I would recommend popping in, picking up some liquor, mix and plastic cups (you can take liquor with you to almost anywhere on the strip except for restaurants and clubs, just not in glass containers). This can save you some money, drinks can be up too $18 each in the casinos/clubs/restaurants.
Here is a great blog piece on what NOT to do in Vegas and I agree with a lot of these!
http://www.vegaschatter.com/story/2009/6/9/115241/0132/vegas-travel/Ten+Things+You+Should+NOT+Do+In+Las+Vegas
Tips on Booking
I know some people have traveled very little. Here are some tips that should help.
Booking your flight:
- Flying out Thursday is cheaper than Friday but Wednesday is even cheaper!
- Sunday is your most expensive day to fly home
- Direct flight is 2.5/hrs
- You will gain an hour because you have a time zone change to Pacific Standard Time.
Booking your hotel:
- I have posted some recommendations of hotels under "Where to stay"
- You will definitely want to stay on the strip, preferably the south side.
Booking your flight:
- Flying out Thursday is cheaper than Friday but Wednesday is even cheaper!
- Sunday is your most expensive day to fly home
- Direct flight is 2.5/hrs
- You will gain an hour because you have a time zone change to Pacific Standard Time.
Booking your hotel:
- I have posted some recommendations of hotels under "Where to stay"
- You will definitely want to stay on the strip, preferably the south side.