Tips for the Las Vegas Traveler
To get from the airport to your hotel in style, you may consider taking a limousine. The airport also runs a shuttle service and there are several taxi services you can employ.
Remote check in has become quite popular. If you are staying at Paris, MGM Grand, Bally’s, Caesar’s Palace, or the Flamingo, you are able to check in once you get to the airport. They give you your room key at the airport and you can go straight to your room without the hassle of waiting in line at the front desk.
There are several free guides to tell you what is going on at any given time in Las Vegas. “What’s On” magazine will tell you about all of the buffets, shows, restaurants and malls in the area. It also has multiple ads for tours for the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Death Valley.
Bring a bottle of water with you wherever you go. Because of the dry air of the desert setting, you can lose more fluid than you think. Always stop and get some water or a drink every few hours to rehydrate yourself.
Always be careful with your purse or wallet. This is especially true around crowds. At the Fremont Street Experience, there are a lot of people standing around and it is a pickpocket’s heaven. Somebody may accidentally bump into you. Check your pockets afterward.
Don’t try to walk from Fremont Street back to the strip. You will walk through area where there are not a lot of people even in the daytime. Ladies, be especially careful.
When crossing the street, make sure to use the crosswalks. You can be fined for not following the sign. Also, wait for the WALK before you cross. Local people will fly down the strip and you could be injured. Many of the people driving cars are also tourists who are sightseeing while driving and not paying complete attention to the road.
Travel Tips
Emergency Services can be reached from anywhere in the United States by dialing 911. To reach the Nevada Highway Patrol, dial 647 on a cellular phone.
Parking your car may take some fancy footwork as you are not allowed to park on the strip at any time. If you can find a parking lot or a garage to leave your car in, that would be the best bet. You avoid paying the fees for the garages if you use the valet parking at the hotels.
If you are staying in one place for several days, you might consider doing your own laundry. Of course, there are clothing and drug stores everywhere in case you did forget something. So don’t pack your suitcase to the brim. Save room for all the souvenirs you will be bringing home. Use fabric softener sheets to keep your clothes smelling fresh in the suitcase.
Make a little bag of things you find you might need on a trip. Your list might include pens, pencils, safety pins, sewing kit, and some stamps to mail your postcards.
If you are running late the morning of your departure, call down to the front desk and see if you can delay your check out time. In most hotels, the check out time is noon. For a small fee, they may add a couple hours to the time so you don’t have to rush around.
Bring a couple of pairs of comfortable walking shoes on your trip. There is a lot of walking inside and outside the hotels even if you ride the bus to each one. Make sure you have broken in your shoes so you will not be suffering later.
When you get to your room, no matter if you are only staying for an hour, place the dead bolt on the door. Thieves will stop at nothing to get your valuables. Most hotels have a coded safe in each room so you can feel safe in leaving your extra money or jewelry in them.
Side trips from Vegas
If you get tired of the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, there are several side trips you can take to get away. Most of these include driving to Henderson or surrounding counties to see what is out there.
The Ethel M Chocolates is about six miles from the strip. They offer free tours and it is better to go on a weekday when they are operating. Ethel Mars began her candy making in the early 20th century and these became famous candies: M&Ms, Milky Way, Mars bars, 3 Musketeers, and Snickers. The tours last about ten minutes and is made up of viewing stations explaining the chocolate making process. You get one small chocolate sample at the end.
Ron Lee’s World of Clowns is also located in Henderson. The store features clown figurines and some Disney figures. The tour offered take you around to watch as the workers mold and paint the clowns. Be sure to hit the gift shop which offers high quality clown figurines.
Grand Canyon tours are offered in Las Vegas. You can spend a full day on a touring bus and go to see the majestic canyon and be back the same day. You can also choose two or three day trips. The prices usually include the tour through the national park, a flight over the canyon, and lunch. Some excursions include hiking as well.
Hoover Dam is visited by 2,000 to 3,000 people every day. If not for this architectural and structural creation, there would be no Las Vegas. Built in 1931, it took 5200 workers doing twenty four hour days to get this dam built by 1936. That was two years ahead of schedule and fifteen million under budget. There are tours conducted and they go down 561 feet into the belly of the dam. You can see the giant turbines and go outside and look back up at the huge dam.
