When to go & how long to stay

In my opinion there is never a bad time to visit Las Vegas, it offers so much and so many different experiences throughout the year! I have been during the summer season (but with that you get the extreme temperatures over 100 degrees), and I’ve also been in the winter months for Christmas and New Year when daytime temperatures are still a nice 20 degrees, but you’ll need a hoodie or a light jacket for the evenings as it cools down as it is in the middle of the desert!

As for ideal duration that depends on why you are visiting, to experience Vegas for the first time and visit a good number of the most popular sights I would say a week would be enough to get that initial experience and good feel for the place.

Where to stay for a first visit

It really depends on the time of year you go and the type of experience you are looking for as well as budget. The 5* hotels are the most expensive and in good locations on the strip, but there are also some other really good other options centrally located that are good value and won’t break the budget. If you go in pool season and want to make the most of the pools then there are lots to choose from, from Mandalay Bay’s man made beach and wave pool to MGM’s lazy river. I always use google to look at the size of the pools and where they are situated as some also don’t get sun for a lot of the day due to being blocked by another hotel. I have stayed at most of the hotels on the strip and can advise you on which hotel would suit you best for the type of trip you want.

I’ve also stayed downtown and more often than not like to spend a week on the strip and a week downtown now to get the best of both worlds, also its cheaper downtown both to eat and drink but also to gamble.

There are also adults only options so if that is something important to you I can help.

When I design Vegas trips, I don’t just pick a hotel, I match you to a resort that fits your pace, budget and personality.

 

Must-know practical tips

Getting Around

Don’t underestimate the amount of walking you will do, in some of the larger hotels expect to walk for about 20 minutes to get from your room down to main reception. Even if you are using the monorail you have to walk through the hotel to the back to get to the monorail station. It’s a well known joke that someone will look out of a window in Vegas and say “we can walk its only there” but only there is probably a good 30 minute walk and if in summer season its really hot!

The Las Vegas Monorail is a great way to travel along the eastern side of the Las Vegas Strip, running from the MGM Grand station at the south end to the Sahara station at the north end. Stops include Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah’s/The LINQ, and the Las Vegas Convention Center, making it especially useful for visitors looking to avoid traffic. Trains typically operate daily, with hours varying slightly by day—generally starting in the morning around 7:00 AM and running until midnight or later on weekends. Tickets can be purchased at station kiosks or online, and trains arrive every few minutes, offering a quick and reliable way to move between key destinations on the Strip. I’ll go into this a little more later but if you play MyVegas slots you can earn enough points to get a buy one get one free Monorail pass.

On the other side of the strip you have a few options to move between hotels, there is now an inside walkway between the Bellagio, Cosmopolitan and Vdara. From Aria/Vdara you can take the tram (its free!) and go up to Park MGM. If you then cross the road go through New York New York and over the bridge to Excalibur you can catch another tram (also free!) to get to Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

Taxi’s are also a good option depending how far you are travelling and are easily accessible from the hotel main entrances. Lyft and Uber are also a good option but sometimes the rideshare areas can be harder to get to, either at the back of the hotels or from the top of the car park. We also purchase an ESIM before we go so we can easily access the Lyft/Uber app wherever we are without needing WiFi.

There is a bus that runs down the strip the Deuce but it stops everywhere so factor in the time it will take to negotiate the traffic on the strip and all the stops. We no longer use this an option.

Must see attractions!

If I was going again for the first time these would be my go to attractions to get a real feel for Vegas!

Las Vegas Welcome Sign – Go early in the morning for less crowds. If you do a Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon tour with Grand Adventures their first stop at 6.30am is the sign and it’s a great time for photos!

TIP! Don’t forget to look at the back of the Las Vegas Sign !

Bellagio Fountains – Even after all these years I will always take the time to watch the Bellagio fountains the way they move to the music is just beautiful.

TIP! Watch from the front of the Bellagio hotel for the most immersive experience but for another great view head to the Beer Park at Paris and sit at the railing to get the best views of the Fountains and it’s a great for people watching!

The Venetian Gondolas - Wander through The Venetian and see the indoor canals and gondolas—it’s over-the-top in the way Vegas does best. You can ride in the Gondola’s and can choose to ride inside or outside.

The Sphere - The Sphere is one of the newest and most jaw-dropping attractions in Las Vegas. Its a futuristic venue famous for its massive LED exterior, which lights up the skyline with constantly changing visuals—from a giant glowing planet to a blinking emoji (Orbi), making it a spectacle even from the outside.

Inside is where it really stands out. The Sphere hosts immersive shows that combine ultra-high-resolution wraparound screens, spatial audio, and even sensory effects like wind and vibration to fully surround the audience. One of the main experiences has been Postcard from Earth, a visually stunning film designed specifically to show off what the venue can do and more recently The Wizard of Oz.

TIP! – You can get really good views of the Sphere from some hotel rooms, if this is something you’d like let me know!

Grand Canyon – A must do outside of the strip if you have time. You can go by helicopter, plane or by bus depending on the experience you want and the time you have to visit. I have done all options and can recommend the option I feel is right for you.

Hoover Dam – Again another must see if you have the time and most tours incorporate the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. Located about 45 minutes away, this massive engineering marvel sits on the border between Nevada and Arizona and holds back the Colorado River to create Lake Mead.

Fremont Street and Downtown - Downtown Las Vegas—often called “Old Vegas” is actually my favourite area these days as it offers a completely different vibe from the Strip and is a must-see for first-time visitors to Las Vegas. The heart of it is the Fremont Street Experience, a lively pedestrian area covered by a massive LED canopy that hosts free light shows every night, along with live music, street performers, and a buzzing party atmosphere.

This is where you’ll find some of the city’s most historic casinos, like Golden Nugget, giving you a glimpse of classic Vegas charm—think vintage neon, lower table limits, and a more laid-back feel. It’s also home to unique attractions like the SlotZilla zipline, which lets you fly beneath the canopy, adding a bit of adrenaline to your visit.

Downtown is generally more affordable than the Strip for food, drinks, and gambling, and it has a slightly grittier, more authentic edge that many visitors end up loving. It’s best experienced in the evening when the lights, music, and energy really come alive.

Mob Museum - officially known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement—is one of the most interesting and unique attractions in Las Vegas, especially for first-time visitors looking to go beyond casinos.

Located in Downtown near the Fremont Street Experience, the museum dives into the history of organised crime in America and its connections to Las Vegas. Inside, you’ll find immersive exhibits covering famous mob figures, historic court cases, and the ongoing battle between law enforcement and criminal organisations. One of the standout features is the actual courtroom where part of the 1950 Kefauver hearings took place. If you want to know more about the old vegas then this is your place!

Neon Museum - Often called the “Neon Boneyard,” it’s an outdoor collection of restored and retired casino signs that once lit up the Strip and Downtown, giving you a real sense of old-school Vegas history and style.

You can wander through iconic pieces from long-gone hotels and see how the design and branding of Vegas has evolved over the decades. Visiting at night is especially memorable, as many of the signs are beautifully illuminated, creating a nostalgic and slightly surreal atmosphere..

It’s a great stop for photography, history, and something a bit different from the usual attractions—perfect to pair with a trip to nearby Downtown Las Vegas. You need to book in advance though as the evening slots sell out quickly especially during the summer season.

TIP! If you choose to go in the day during summer take a hat and a bottle of water and sunscreen as there isn’t much shade and it gets really hot!

High Roller - This is one of the best ways for first-time visitors to take in the full scale of Las Vegas. Standing at over 550 feet tall, it’s one of the world’s largest observation wheels and offers 30-minute rotations in spacious, enclosed cabins.

From the top, you get panoramic views of the entire Las Vegas Strip and beyond—especially impressive at night when the city is fully lit up. It’s located at the LINQ Promenade, making it easy to combine with restaurants and bars.

A rooftop bar – I highly recommend visiting a rooftop bar when in Vegas there are quite a few all with different views and experiences let me know what sort of vibe you want and I’ll recommend the right one – I have done them all!

Cirque du Soleil Show – Another must do for me when in Vegas is to take in a show and there is nothing like a Cirque Du Soleil show to be amazed by the world class acrobatics, music and staging. Again I have done most of these shows so if you tell me what sort of show you like I can recommend the right one for you!

 

Experiences worth planning in advance – If there is a particular show, DJ or event you want to do when in Vegas always book in advance as these do sell out and you don’t want to be disappointed. Below are a few options I would definitely recommend booking in advance

·         Big-ticket shows and headline acts (Shows at the Sphere for example)

·         Special restaurants for birthdays/anniversaries – If you want a particular table or view you must book in advance especially for those hard to get reservations!

·         Helicopter or small‑group tours – these get booked up early

·         Patio tables for Brunch

·         Railing table to view the Bellagio Fountains

 

Myth Busters!

“You have to party all night to ‘do’ Vegas properly” – Absolutely not you can of course as Vegas is 24/7, but in reality, you don’t need a late-night club scene to have a full, memorable experience there. The city is designed more like an entertainment playground than a nonstop party destination, and a lot of its best attractions happen in daylight or early evening.

“Vegas is only for gamblers”- Gambling is part of Vegas, but it’s not the whole experience anymore—it’s just one option in a city built around entertainment in every form. If you want to Gamble you can and if you don’t then you don’t have to. You can even stay in a hotel that doesn’t have a Casino if you’d prefer.

“4 or 5 days is enough!” – For some people yes, but if you are travelling from the UK it’s a long 11 hour flight to just spend a few days there. The flight is the most expensive part of the trip so whether you stay 4 nights or 14 the flight price will be the same. I usually go for 2 weeks and never manage to do everything on my itinerary as you also need to factor in some downtime by the pool!

“Its not suitable for families” - It’s easy to assume that Las Vegas is only geared toward adults, but there are actually plenty of attractions that work really well for families.” At the Shark Reef Aquarium, families can walk through underwater tunnels and see sharks, rays, sea turtles, and exotic marine life up close—an experience that feels completely removed from the casino floor just steps away.  For something more playful, the Excalibur Hotel & Casino has large arcade areas and a medieval castle theme that immediately appeals to kids, with games and activities designed for all ages. Staying there already feels like a novelty because the whole resort is styled like a real-life castle. You can also go to the Tournament of Kings, where families watch knights joust and perform in an arena-style dinner show—interactive, loud, and very intentionally designed to be fun for children as well as adults.

While Vegas definitely has an adult side, it also has themed hotels, interactive attractions, aquariums, arcades, and live shows that make it surprisingly suitable for families—especially if you choose the right resorts and activities.

My Top Tips!

1.      Pick up the Las Vegas magazines if you get a taxi from the airport or if you see them around town. These have loads of coupons in to save you money on attractions.

2.      Check if your room has a fridge, not a mini bar fridge a separate fridge for you to use. If it does go to the local CVS, ABC store or Walmart that are found on the strip and downtown and stock up on Waters, soft drinks, beers or your drink of choice as well as snacks as much cheaper than your hotels shop.

3.      If you don’t have a fridge, we took a cool bag with us, filled that with ice from the ice station (found on most hotel floors) and filled that with all our drinks.

4.      Get an ESIM so you can book Lyft/Uber on the move without WiFi

5.      Tip up front, give your bartender a good tip if you are staying for a while and you’ll get served quicker and stronger drinks.

6.      You can sit at the bar and play a bar top gaming machine, ask the bar tender what the minimum is and if you gamble that amount you will get complimentary drinks (as long as you tip the barmen!) its usually $20 but downtown is more like $10.

7.      Whilst playing the slot machines in Las Vegas you can get free drinks from the cocktail waitresses. Listen out for “drinks” “cocktails” and order what you would like from water, coffee through to champagne. Just tip the waitress and she will return. Note: Obviously the larger casino’s are busier and have a lot more ground to cover so you are less likely to get served as much as you would in the smaller casino’s or downtown. Work out how much you are going to need to gamble to get a free drink sometimes its better to just go and buy one!

8.      Download the app and play MyVegas Slots if you have the time (its completely free!) created in partnership with MGM Resorts International. You don’t gamble real money—instead, you play slots using free chips that refresh over time. As you play, you earn loyalty points (LPs). Then you can exchange these LP’s for rewards such as

- Discounted or free hotel nights (often “comp nights”)

- Free buffets or restaurant credits

- Show or attraction discounts

- Free play credits in real MGM casinos (in some cases)

- Discounts on experiences or packages

9.      Always join the rewards club for your hotel if you are planning to gamble a lot. As you can earn enough player points to have some money taken off your room bill at the end of your stay, or resort fees waived but you do need to gamble quite a bit for this. As a new member they also offer free play so we join every club for every hotel we visit and you’ll more than likely have at least $10 free play or a free drink.

TIP! For the hotel you are staying at – only the lead guest should apply for a rewards card but get 2 x copies so you are both contributing to the player points to get more discounts rather than doing it separately.

 

“If Las Vegas is on your wish list and you would love an expert who has been 21 times to guide you, contact me to start planning your tailored Vegas escape.”

 

+44 7459 897016

Paula.Hawthorn@myTC.com

 

Watch out for the next blog in my Las Vegas series!!!