Just a Few Very Basics about your Vegas Trip

This may not be your first rodeo (and by ‘rodeo’ we mean ‘trip to Vegas’) but why not brush up on some of the basics? Here are just a few things to keep in mind while you prep, so you can party hard once you arrive.

Getting Here

Most of us don’t live somewhere that makes a quick weekend getaway to Las Vegas via road trip seem very practical. If a quick, or even a not-so-quick, trip to Sin City is what you’re after, flying is one of the most common ways to get there.

McCarran International Airport, which refers to itself as “your gateway to Las Vegas,” is where you’ll land on your journey into the city. Slowly easing you into the bright lights, the airport has no shortage of places to sit down and gamble. But if you’re anything like us, you’ll want to get out of the airport as soon as possible and head for all the fun awaiting you. Las Vegas gets so many visitors from Hawaii, it’s often referred to as the Ninth Island.

If you consider yourself a tried-and-true road warrior, someone who has braved thousands of miles on multi-day road trips, then Las Vegas is absolutely within driving distance. (On the other hand, if you’re from nearby parts of Nevada, Arizona, Utah or California, it really isn’t more than an afternoon’s drive on cruise control.) If you don’t plan on spending days in the car, though, you might want to just fly in. It’s not a bad drive to Vegas, as long as you start at the right place. In fact, if you’re planning a larger road trip then you can plan to stop at some of the more interesting sights along the way.

Getting Around

One of the great things about Las Vegas is that a lot of the logistics for enjoying yourself are already taken care of. It’s easy to have a good time. Getting around Vegas follows this trend and your transportation options usually depend on what your goals are. If you’re driving your own vehicle into Vegas, the resorts have you covered for a place to park. Once you have your home base set, there’s plenty of ways to get from point A to point B. Taxis, shuttles, and ride-share services will get you most anywhere you could want to go in the area. If you’re looking to show off and live the high roller life, there’s every color and style of exotic car you can imagine. Want to cruise the desert on a motorcycle? They got you covered there, too. Even if you don’t plan to leave the Strip, the monorail makes for a quick and inexpensive way to cover some ground.

What to Bring

Obviously, this is entirely dependent on how you plan to spend your vacation time. But whether you’re planning an indoor or outdoor-centric trip there are a few things we recommend.

• Swimsuit–Hot tubs are open whether it’s winter or summer, and you never want to miss a good hot tubbing session.
• Sunscreen and a hat–The sun here can be deceptively strong, and even if you’re just walking along the Strip, your exposure will surprise you.
• Some comfortable walking shoes–You might start out with your fancy uncomfortable shoes, but day two or three, you will probably be craving something with a little more cushion. The other option is to drink until you forget you’re in pain (also good advice for emotional pain…just kidding).
• You’ll also want to bring a camera if you don’t want everything that happens in Vegas to stay in Vegas, and some snazzier clothes to deal with some of those dress codes.
• If you’re planning on hiking, you’ll want to do a little more in-depth planning and check out our app for suggestions on the prep work and supplies we brought. We spent days traversing the desert for you! We’ve made all the mistakes, so you don’t have to.