Las Vegas: know before you go

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) sits at the south end of the Strip, about two miles from Mandalay Bay. Taxis charge flat rates to Strip hotels in three zones. Ride-hail pickups are in designated areas at both terminals. The cheapest way into the city is the RTC bus: Route 109 runs from Terminal 1 to the South Strip Transit Terminal, and a 24-hour pass costs $8 on the Strip fare. The Centennial Express (CX) also serves Terminal 3. An inter-terminal shuttle connects T1 and T3 for free.

The Deuce is the backbone: a double-decker bus that runs 24/7 from the south Strip to downtown Fremont Street every 10 to 20 minutes. You can tap any contactless card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay on the reader. The Las Vegas Monorail runs behind the east side of the Strip from MGM Grand to Sahara with trains every 4 to 8 minutes; it is faster than the Deuce but serves fewer stops. Walking the Strip is the best way to soak it in, but distances are deceptive. A casino that looks next door can be a 15-minute walk. Use the pedestrian bridges to cross Las Vegas Boulevard. Free trams connect Mandalay Bay–Luxor–Excalibur and Park MGM–Aria–Bellagio.

Every Strip hotel charges a nightly resort fee, added at check-in and omitted from the advertised room rate. These fees cover WiFi, fitness center access, and local calls. Only Casino Royale on the Strip charges no resort fee. The city adds a room tax on top of both the room rate and the resort fee. Credit cards are accepted everywhere; you only need cash for tips and street performers.

The Strip and Fremont Street are heavily policed and safe at all hours. The real danger is the desert. Summer temperatures routinely pass 105°F, and heat exhaustion sets in faster than most visitors expect. Drink water constantly, wear sunscreen, and limit midday walking between June and August. Use the pedestrian bridges to cross Las Vegas Boulevard; do not jaywalk. Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket in dense crowds like the Fremont Street Experience at night. The area north of the Strat can feel rougher after dark; take a rideshare.

Las Vegas tap water is safe to drink. It tastes hard because of minerals from the Colorado River, but it meets all federal standards. The bigger health concern is dehydration. The dry desert air pulls moisture from your body faster than you feel it, especially if you are drinking alcohol. Carry a refillable water bottle. Every casino bar gives out free cups of water on request, and water stations are common on the casino floor.

Every casino resort on the Strip offers free WiFi to guests, usually included in the resort fee. In most casino public areas and at the Fremont Street Experience, you can connect to free guest networks without a room key. Cellular coverage is excellent across the city, and all major carriers have full 5G on the Strip. Public charging stations are scarce; carry a portable battery for a long day out.

Drinking alcohol on the Strip is legal. You can carry an open container on Las Vegas Boulevard and the Fremont Street Experience, but glass containers are prohibited. Stick to plastic cups from casino bars. Smoking is allowed on casino floors and in designated hotel rooms, but not in restaurants, theaters, or non-gaming areas. Dress codes at nightclubs and upscale restaurants are enforced: no shorts, flip-flops, or athletic wear for men after dark at the high-end spots.

The Strip is largely ADA-compliant. Every pedestrian bridge has an elevator, every casino has wheelchair-accessible entrances and restrooms, and the Deuce buses and monorail are wheelchair-accessible. Accessible seating is available for all major shows; request it when you buy your ticket. In summer, distances between casinos are long and shaded rest spots are scarce. Wheelchair users and anyone with limited mobility should plan indoor routes through connected casino complexes.

Las Vegas does not shut down for holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas are among the quietest weeks of the year, with deeply discounted room rates. The exceptions that spike prices and fill rooms: New Year's Eve, when more than 300,000 people pack the Strip and the city closes Las Vegas Boulevard to vehicles. CES in early January brings over 100,000 tech-industry visitors. The Formula 1 Grand Prix in November transforms the Strip into a race circuit and drives rates through the roof. Electric Daisy Carnival in May and the National Finals Rodeo in December also sell out the city. Check the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority calendar before booking anything.

Book Cirque du Soleil shows, residencies, and magic acts weeks or months before your trip. The best seats for popular shows sell out first. Restaurant reservations at high-demand spots like é by José Andrés, Guy Savoy, and Esther's Kitchen are essential, often a month out for weekend dinner slots. Pool cabanas and dayclub tables at Encore Beach Club or Marquee book up as soon as the season opens. Hotel rooms during CES, New Year's Eve, EDC, and F1 weekend should be reserved the moment dates are announced.