First Time In Las Vegas? Keep These 5 Local Travel Tips In Mind For A Smooth Trip
There are cities, and then there is Las Vegas - a place that feels like someone handed a theme park the keys to a country. It does not just wake you up; it shakes you by the shoulders and hands you a glittery cocktail. Think of a skyline where the Eiffel Tower and a pyramid compete for your attention, fountains that dance better than most wedding guests, and streets that look exactly like what Bollywood would shoot its climax scene on. If you are an Indian visiting for the first time, Las Vegas can feel like a giant film set with extra drama and extra dazzle. But beneath all the shine is a city that needs you to be a little prepared. Whether it is your dream trip or a spontaneous holiday, these are the things you need to keep in mind for your first Las Vegas visit.
Here Are 5 Local Travel Tips To Keep In Mind While Visiting Las Vegas For The First Time
1. Do Not Underestimate The Las Vegas Strip
It might look like a fun walk when you check the map, but the Las Vegas Strip is longer and sneakier than it seems. The resorts are massive, and the distance between two points is not your regular five-minute stroll. Add desert heat to the mix, and you might be dragging yourself by the end of it. Bring your best walking shoes - not your cutest ones - and let public transport like buses and the monorail give your feet the break they deserve. Trust this, your future self will thank you.
2. Yes, It Is Hot. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
Las Vegas does not believe in chill weather. The desert air will have you sweating before your second selfie. Yes, the cocktails are calling your name, but ignoring water can make your holiday feel like a punishment. Keep a refillable water bottle on hand. It saves money, saves plastic and most importantly, saves your energy. Dehydration will make your whole trip go to waste, so drink plenty of water throughout your stroll.
3. Decide Your Budget Before The First Bell Rings
Las Vegas is built to tempt. Between casinos, shows, restaurants, and shops, your credit card might get more exercise than you. Set a daily budget for everything from food to fun. Having a number in mind helps when you are standing in front of a luxury buffet or deciding whether to catch a big-name concert. You can bring some cash to manage your spending more clearly. You are here to enjoy, and not to chase credit card alerts.
4. Las Vegas Is More Than Just Casinos
Sure, the slot machines are iconic, but if you stop there, you will miss what makes the city layered and memorable. Walk into the Neon Museum and get a taste of the city's retro heart. Visit the Arts District for a mix of local creativity and cafes that serve more than just Instagram likes. If you are into nature, you can plan day trips to nearby places like Red Rock Canyon or the Grand Canyon. Spread your plans out - Vegas is not a non-stop casino party.
5. Tipping Is Not Optional, It Is Part Of The System
In Las Vegas, tipping is not a polite suggestion - it is the rule of the game. Hotel staff, bartenders, cab drivers, even the dealers at the casino - they all expect tips as part of their earnings. Usually, the norm is to pay a 15-20 per cent tip to restaurants and at least $1 per drink at bars. Set aside a tipping budget, so you are not left doing mental math after every drink. It keeps things smooth and saves you from awkward side-eye.
Las Vegas Travel Tips For First-Timers: What Else Should You Know Before You Go
Now that you know the one essential thing to remember while visiting Las Vegas, here are some more questions first-time travellers often ask that could be genuinely useful.
1. What Is The Best Time To Visit Las Vegas?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are your golden windows. These months offer pleasant weather, less sweat, and easier walks. Summer is for brave hearts and extra sunscreen.
2. What Should You Pack For Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is hot, literally. Pack breathable clothes for the day and a light jacket for chilly evenings or icy air conditioning. Do not forget comfortable shoes - heels are great, but pain is not. Sunscreen is your invisible armour.
3. Is Renting A Car Worth It In Las Vegas?
If you plan to stay within the Strip, taxis and public transport are more than enough. But if you want to escape the city for a road trip or visit national parks, renting a car could work in your favour.
4. Are There Free Things To Do In Las Vegas?
You bet. Las Vegas offers several free attractions, including the Bellagio Fountains, the Mirage Volcano, and the Fremont Street Experience. It is not all about swiping cards. The city has plenty to offer, even if your wallet takes the night off.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Amid Covid & global chaos, Indians' big fear: Missing that flight
Despite global uncertainties, travel is booming. Summer holiday packages are more expensive this year. Destinations like Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Georgia are popular, but Thailand remains a favorite. Domestic spots like Ladakh and Goa are also in demand. Bookings have recovered after a brief lull. Southern India, Uttarakhand and Goa are seeing increased interest. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Kanika Mehra, a schoolteacher from Noida is looking up flights and hotels for her upcoming holiday this month. It's turning out to be a difficult choice. June flight fares for Vietnam, a destination at the top of her list, are about 50% higher than those in July, signalling high demand during the summer school break. Mehra, wanting to escape the domestic summer rush in the hills, turns to Sri Lanka. But the southwest monsoon season is playing on her mind, though the fares are lighter on the fares for Georgia, another emerging destination, are up as well and the visa will take over 10 days to arrive. She says she'll likely pick Thailand eventually, considering the easier access and more reasonable global uncertainties, and the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in India, travel sentiment remains strong and holiday packages for ongoing summer breaks for both domestic and international destinations are pricier by up to 15 % year-on-year, said travel experts.'Travellers had been in the waitand-watch mode last month following Operation Sindoor, but bookings are now happening full throttle,' said a travel industry could rise up to 15%, especially to international destinations such as Georgia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, which have turned out to be more affordable than some of the top domestic spots over the past year, said Tavleen Bhatia, chief marketing and revenue officer at 2024, Vietnam welcomed about 500,000 Indian tourists, a fourfold jump from pre-pandemic levels. India was the top primary market for Sri Lanka in December last year with 52,881 arrivals, accounting for a 21.3% share. Around 124,300 Indian tourists visited Georgia in 2024, marking a 46.8% increase from the previous destinations in demand are Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Kerala while popular international ones include Bhutan, Thailand and Sri Lanka.A three-night Goa getaway package for the second week of June for two adults is priced at Rs 66,290, inclusive of flights, hotel, one activity and four meals on a popular travel comparison, a four-night-five-day package for two at Ha Long Bay in Vietnam for June 22 is substantially lower at Rs 47,932 on the same platform. That includes hotel accommodation, four activities and nine average, package prices are up 7-8% compared to last summer, primarily driven by high demand, fuel prices and dynamic airfare fluctuations, Jatinder Paul Singh, CEO and cofounder of Viacation.'For domestic travel, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman and Ooty are among the top picks,' he said. 'Internationally, destinations like Bali, Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka continue to attract significant interest from Indian travellers.' Occupancies are 13% higher than last year for StayVista while average room rates are up 6%, said Amit Damani, cofounder of the villa and bungalow rental company. 'There was a concern around how summer bookings will pan out following the conflict between India and Pakistan, but bookings have bounced back from the second half of May,' he said. 'We are especially seeing higher demand in Southern India, Uttarakhand and Goa.' Bhutan is seeing high interest, said SD Nandakumar, president and country head for holidays and corporate tours at SOTC is a notable surge in travel interest for Tokyo and Abu Dhabi this summer with the destinations seeing a 110% and 180% increase in searches, respectively, from the same time last year, said Santosh Kumar, country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Darjeeling, Rishikesh and Munnar are among the top 10 most searched destinations this month,' he added.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Amid Covid & global chaos, Indians' big fear: Missing that flight
Kanika Mehra, a schoolteacher from Noida is looking up flights and hotels for her upcoming holiday this month. It's turning out to be a difficult choice. June flight fares for Vietnam, a destination at the top of her list, are about 50% higher than those in July, signalling high demand during the summer school break. Mehra, wanting to escape the domestic summer rush in the hills, turns to Sri Lanka. But the southwest monsoon season is playing on her mind, though the fares are lighter on the pocket. Flight fares for Georgia, another emerging destination, are up as well and the visa will take over 10 days to arrive. She says she'll likely pick Thailand eventually, considering the easier access and more reasonable fares. Despite global uncertainties, and the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in India, travel sentiment remains strong and holiday packages for ongoing summer breaks for both domestic and international destinations are pricier by up to 15 % year-on-year, said travel experts. 'Travellers had been in the waitand-watch mode last month following Operation Sindoor, but bookings are now happening full throttle,' said a travel industry insider. Live Events Fares could rise up to 15%, especially to international destinations such as Georgia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, which have turned out to be more affordable than some of the top domestic spots over the past year, said Tavleen Bhatia, chief marketing and revenue officer at Cleartrip. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed about 500,000 Indian tourists, a fourfold jump from pre-pandemic levels. India was the top primary market for Sri Lanka in December last year with 52,881 arrivals, accounting for a 21.3% share. Around 124,300 Indian tourists visited Georgia in 2024, marking a 46.8% increase from the previous year. Domestic destinations in demand are Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Kerala while popular international ones include Bhutan, Thailand and Sri Lanka. A three-night Goa getaway package for the second week of June for two adults is priced at Rs 66,290, inclusive of flights, hotel, one activity and four meals on a popular travel portal. In comparison, a four-night-five-day package for two at Ha Long Bay in Vietnam for June 22 is substantially lower at Rs 47,932 on the same platform. That includes hotel accommodation, four activities and nine meals. On average, package prices are up 7-8% compared to last summer, primarily driven by high demand, fuel prices and dynamic airfare fluctuations, Jatinder Paul Singh, CEO and cofounder of Viacation. 'For domestic travel, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman and Ooty are among the top picks,' he said. 'Internationally, destinations like Bali, Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka continue to attract significant interest from Indian travellers.' Occupancies are 13% higher than last year for StayVista while average room rates are up 6%, said Amit Damani, cofounder of the villa and bungalow rental company. 'There was a concern around how summer bookings will pan out following the conflict between India and Pakistan, but bookings have bounced back from the second half of May,' he said. 'We are especially seeing higher demand in Southern India, Uttarakhand and Goa.' Bhutan is seeing high interest, said SD Nandakumar, president and country head for holidays and corporate tours at SOTC Travel. There is a notable surge in travel interest for Tokyo and Abu Dhabi this summer with the destinations seeing a 110% and 180% increase in searches, respectively, from the same time last year, said Santosh Kumar, country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at 'Manali, Darjeeling, Rishikesh and Munnar are among the top 10 most searched destinations this month,' he added.
India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
Modi inaugurates world's highest rail bridge in Kashmir (VIDEO)
The crossing is part of a new train line connecting the region to the rest of India for the first time Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated two railway bridges that are a part of a new link connecting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. It is the first time he has been to the region since the deadly Pahalgam attack on tourists, which triggered a diplomatic and military clash between New Delhi and Islamabad. During his speech on Friday, Modi highlighted the importance of developing Kashmir's infrastructure. The region has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan for decades. The prime minister opened the Chenab bridge - labeled by Indian authorities the world's highest railway bridge - and Anji bridge, India's first cable-stayed rail bridge. Both are parts of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Line project, a 272-kilometer long railway link that Modi hailed as Jammu and Kashmir's "new strength" and a "testament to India's growing capabilities." The Chenab bridge, built over the river of the same name, towers 359 meters above the riverbed and rises 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower. It was constructed at an estimated cost of approximately $173 million, according to the official statement. The Anji bridge, a cable-stayed railway bridge constructed in a difficult Himalayan terrain, is 331 meters high and is anchored by 96 high tensile cables. The total length of the cables used in the bridge is 653 kilometers, the statement noted. Modi also announced new trains would run between Jammu's capital Srinagar, and Katra, where Vaishno Devi temple, one of the most visited and revered Hindu pilgrimage sites in India, is located. It marks the completion of a 42-year-old project to link Kashmir with the rest of the country via railway. A test run on his route was carried out by the railway authorities in December last year.
