15 Unwritten Rules of Visiting Las Vegas

Condé Nast Traveler

2 days ago

Las Vegas is a collection of contradictions. An oasis of hospitality; a labyrinthian casino. A poolside cabana; heatstroke on a sidewalk. A jackpot; an empty bank account. It's the greatest night of your life; it's the worst mistake you've ever made. Still, most people come here in search of the same thing: a good time.
In 2015, I moved from the woods of Montana into an apartment directly behind a Las Vegas casino, as one does. I had been working in the national parks and wanted to live in the real world—in retrospect, Las Vegas was an odd choice for that. Since then, I've learned a lot about how to navigate this strange and beautiful city. I know its secrets and myriad hustles. My decade-long Vegas staycation has taught me the rules for a good Vegas vacation. With the right mix of planning and spontaneity and a little insider information, you can not only have a good time in Las Vegas, but the best time.
Read our complete Las Vegas travel guide here, which includes:
A common Vegas mistake is to expect pool weather year-round—but the Venetian poolside is better enjoyed at some times than others.
The Venetian Pool Deck
1. Respect the tipping culture
The Las Vegas etiquette guide is written in dollars and cents. Here, we tip everybody, so bring cash—and take it out of your account in advance to avoid the astronomical casino ATM fees. Tip your bellman, your housekeeper, your tour guide, the dancers at the strip club, the cocktail server who brings you free drinks at the slot machine. Sometimes tipping gets you upgrades—slipping a $20 to the front desk agent occasionally results in a better room—and even if it doesn't, it's what we do.
2. Hydrate
Don't let the fake Venetian canals fool you. Las Vegas is in the Mojave Desert, so drink water. Order it in between cocktails. Carry one of those bottles with the time stamps. Drink the tap water—even other locals judge me for this but I will die on the hill that it is fine to drink the Vegas tap water! Hydrate like your life depends on it because when it's 115 degrees, it does.
3. Don't overestimate the walkability of the Strip
That casino may appear to be a short walk, but it's a mirage. (Side note: RIP to the locally beloved Mirage Hotel & Casino, which closed in 2024; we miss you every day.) Many casino exteriors use design tricks, such as grouping windows together, that make buildings appear smaller. But the Las Vegas Strip is about 4.2 miles long and is not as pedestrian-friendly as it should be. Walk if you can—and wear comfortable shoes—but don't be afraid to take an Uber if you need to.
4. What happens here doesn't (necessarily) stay here
I am sorry to tell you that 'what happens here stays here' is a slogan created by advertising firm R&R Partners, not an official declaration about how Las Vegas responds to crime. There are cameras, security, and police everywhere. And in the harsh light of day, consequences.
Red Rock Canyon is just one of the options you have to get out into nature while visiting Vegas.
Getty Images
5. Get into nature
From climbing in Red Rock Canyon to boating at Lake Mead to hiking at Mt. Charleston, the desert wilderness outside of Las Vegas is incredible, and closer than you think. You can even day-trip to Zion National Park in Utah or Death Valley National Park in California and be back in time for your dinner reservation.
6. Have a meal in Chinatown
Some of the best Las Vegas restaurants are in nondescript strip malls, specifically in Chinatown. The neighborhood less than 10 minutes from the Strip is home to some truly life changing Asian food—everything from hand-pulled noodles to soup dumplings to late-night izakayas. Try Chengdu Taste for Sichuan, James Beard nominated Shanghai Taste for soup dumplings, Lamaii for Thai food paired with a really good wine list, or Trattoria Nakamura-Ya for Tokyo-style Italian food (miso carbonara!!!).
7. Check out the Arts District
In Downtown Las Vegas, you'll find Fremont Street and the Arts District. The former is known for its older casinos, massive LED canopy, and drunk zipliners, and the latter is a walkable neighborhood with local galleries, theaters, shops, and restaurants. If you want to sit at a bar without looking at a video poker screen, the Arts District is where you can do that.
Fremont Street and the Arts District are the places to go for a drink when you don't want to look at a virtual poker screen.
Getty
8. Don't expect pool weather year round
Every winter, Las Vegas is full of tourists shivering in shorts and saying, 'No one told me it would be this cold.' Well, I'm telling you. In January, daytime temperatures are in the 50s and nighttime temperatures can dip below freezing. In 2019, we even got some snow (and had no idea how to drive in it). Pack layers and other winter essentials if you're visiting November through February.
9. The locals will correct you if you pronounce Nevada incorrectly
It's 'Neh-VAD-uh,' not 'Neh-VAH-duh.' And please don't call Downtown Las Vegas 'Old Vegas' or put an extra e in Fremont Street.
10. Avoid mobile check-in
Mobile check-in is convenient, but it's unlikely you'll get an upgrade or have special requests honored if you use it. It's true that the lines to check in at the front desk can be brutally long, but that's what those foot-long frozen cocktails are for.
11. Not everything is 24 hours
Las Vegas was once known as a place where almost everything was open 24 hours a day. Covid-19 changed that. Coming out of the pandemic, businesses that used to be 24/7 reopened with limited hours, and most have remained that way. There are still plenty of late night options, but know that when you tumble out of a nightclub at 4 a.m., you may have to look a bit harder than you used to for a slice of pizza.
A room at the Golden Nugget—avoid any dispensaries within 1,500 feet from this casino or any other.
Vincent Knakal
12. Avoid fake dispensaries
In 2017, Nevada legalized recreational marijuana. Since then, the number of dispensaries has ballooned from a handful to…well, let's just say they've probably opened three new ones in the time it took to read this sentence. Unfortunately, fake dispensaries have also proliferated. A fake dispensary sells hemp and CBD but markets itself like it's selling actual weed. How can you avoid this scam? Keep in mind that dispensaries are required to be at least 1,500 feet from casinos, so if you walk out of the Golden Nugget and see one, don't trust it.
13. Use a nightclub promoter
Avoid the pricey cover charge at nightclubs by using a promoter. Nightclub promoters are paid by the venues they work for to fill them and can be found on Instagram. As long as it's not a busy weekend like Memorial Day, they can typically get you in for free. You're probably still going to spend $25 on a vodka soda though.
14. For hard to get reservations, talk to a concierge
Hotel concierges aren't magicians—Las Vegas has enough of those already—but their ability to get you a last minute reservation at a popular restaurant is an impressive sleight of hand. They can also offer personalized recommendations and advice, like where to get the best views of Fourth of July fireworks or which shows are actually worth the ticket price.
15. You don't have to do Vegas like a local—at least not the entire time
Travelers often feel compelled to do what the locals do, but there's nothing wrong with being touristy in Las Vegas. This city is about hospitality and is filled with people who genuinely enjoy giving you a memorable experience. While you should definitely get off the Strip at some point to explore a neighborhood or nature, Las Vegas Boulevard was created for you, and there's nothing wrong with embracing it.