12 Best Las Vegas Tips and Advice

Hi there! In this post I will be sharing all of my best tips and advice for visiting the incredible city of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is such a cool city, but there are a lot of things I wish I would have known before my trip. Like, for example, that it’s difficult to cross the street on the Strip, that taxis only pick up from certain locations, and that many restaurants are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

And that’s jus the start of it!

Keep reading for my Las Vegas tips and travel guide that will help you plan your trip and have a great time in the fun and unique city!

Navigating the Strip – Walking and Taxis

The Strip can be a little difficult to navigate

I’m sure for locals this isn’t a problem at all, but for first time, or even third time, visitors the Strip and the surrounding areas are difficult to navigate. Although most hotels are located along Las Vegas Boulevard, getting from one to the next is not always easy. Hotels and buildings seem to have been built without a ton of planning, so even if your destination is only .5 miles away, it might take you 20 minute to get there, as you navigate around other buildings and use pedestrian bridges to cross the street.

Similarly, since taxis can only pick-up and drop-off at certain points, you may need to drive partially around your destination in order to arrive. Having said all of this, give yourself plenty of time to get from point A to point B.

Taxis and Ubers only pick-up and drop-off at designated points

Along the Strip, taxis and Ubers can only pick-up and drop-off passengers in certain locations, usually at the entrances to hotels or major shops/restaurants. Unlike in other cities, like NYC or Boston, you cannot simply hail a cab on the side of the road, you must go to a taxi pick-up point. This can make things a little challenging, especially if you’re walking up and down the street and don’t know where the closest taxi stop is. My best advice is to try to grab a taxi at a hotel lobby, where there will be someone to direct you to the taxi line.

Similarly, hotels will have Uber/Lyft pick-up points. When you call your ride, you’ll be directed to wait by a pick-up sign. This means that if you’re walking up the Strip, you most likely cannot call a car to your exact location, but will instead need to meet them at a pick-up point.

You cannot cross the street on the Strip at every corner

As I’ve mentioned, getting across Las Vegas Boulevard is often easier said than done. You cannot cross the street on every block, and there are only a few street crossings along the entire Strip. Because of this, it can take quite a while to cross the street, as you’ll need to walk to a designated street crossing, or find a pedestrian bridge.

You must use pedestrian bridges to cross the Strip

I promise this is the last time I’ll say how hard it can be to get around on the Strip, but when you’re walking down Las Vegas Boulevard you’ll notice that you often cannot easily cross the street. Instead of always crossing on sidewalks, there are pedestrian bridges every few blocks where you will cross over traffic to the other side of the road. This could mean that if you want to get to a casino across the street, you could walk 3+ blocks out of your way to cross on a pedestrian bridge, and then walk the 3 blocks back to the casino. Personally, I don’t really like this walking system, but the roads are often very busy with traffic, so I understand that it’s needed for safety.

Some hotels and casinos have free parking, and others do not

Something that surprised me about Las Vegas is that many hotels and casinos offer free parking! For example, at the Venetian and Planet Hollywood you can self-park your car in their parking garages for free. However, hotels like the Aria only offer valet parking, and New York-New York has paid self-parking by the hour. Be sure to check with your hotel to see if they offer free parking, and, if not, it may be worth it to park at another hotel nearby to save some money!

When to Visit Las Vegas

The city is much less busy during the weekdays

This I’m sure is no surprise, but Las Vegas is way less crowded during the week. We arrived in Vegas on a Wednesday during the summer, and the city was really quiet. The casinos and shops were still open, but we were able to walk around the city without any crowds. I really enjoyed this, and definitely recommend visiting on Tuesdays and Wednesdays if you want a calmer experience.

Spring and Fall are great times to visit

Las Vegas is in the desert, and summer temperatures can be super hot. For example, when I checked the temperatures for our trip in mid-July, the high was 117 degrees (47 celsius) and the low was 98 degrees. However, during the Spring and Fall, temperatures are much more mild and enjoyable, with averages in the 70s-80s (21-27 celsius) during the daytime.

Making Reservations in Las Vegas

Make reservations for restaurants and shows far in advance

There are tons of delicious restaurants in Las Vegas, and many of them fill up far in advance with reservations. If there is somewhere in Vegas where you know you definitely want to eat, book a table as far in advance as you can!

Similarly with shows, although you can get same-day tickets for some performances, the popular ones sell out in advance. If there is a show you really want to see, definitely get tickets as soon as possible.

You can get same-day discounted tickets for shows

Along the Strip you will see kiosks and stores that sell discounted same-day tickets for shows around Vegas. If you aren’t super picky about what show you see, I recommend scooping up same-day tickets at a discounted price. One of the most popular discount ticket booths is called Tix4Tonight, and you can check out their locations here.

Exploring Las Vegas off of the Strip

Be sure to explore off of the Strip

For many visitors to Las Vegas, the Strip is the main attraction, and I totally get it – there is so, so much to do and see! However, if you have time, I also recommend exploring off the Strip, specifically the Arts District. The Arts District is just a short 10-15 minute drive from the Strip, and there are tons of cute shops, coffee shops and restaurants. There is also amazing street art that is so fun to see.

One of my favorite restaurants in the Arts District is Makers and Finders – their brunch is so, so good. I recommend the avocado toast, tomato bagel and the latin hash. Their hibiscus iced tea is also delicious.

• 

• 

If you’re looking for a cute store that sells adorable local art, home items and gifts, be sure to check out Local Oasis! I got the cutest art prints and stickers, and I wanted everything in the adorable store.

• 

• 

There are many great restaurants in other Las Vegas neighborhoods

Right on the Las Vegas Strip you’ll find a plethora of amazing restaurants. While I definitely recommend checking these out, there are also tons of delicious restaurants just a few minutes by car from the Strip. Some of the best food I’ve had in Las Vegas is off the Strip, so if you have time, I definitely recommend checking out some restaurants a little further out. Below are a few of my favorites!

• Lotus of Siam – their panang curry is my favorite!
• Makers and Finders – great for brunch + lunch. I love their hibiscus tea and avocado toast.
• El Dorado Cantina – locations both on and off the Strip. I recommend the fajitas and enchiladas!

Take day trips

There is so much to do and see in Las Vegas, but there is also a ton to do nearby! If you have time, I highly recommend visiting the Seven Magic Mountains (just 20 minutes by car), Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.

The Seven Magic Mountains is super easy to visit, especially if you have car. You drive about 20 minutes into the desert, check out the colorful art exhibit and head back.

Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon are also super cool to visit. We decided to take a day trip through Viator, and it was wonderful. The trip was about ten hours total (7:30am-5:30pm), but it was totally worth it. We stopped at Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon West Rim, and learned so much about each location! I definitely recommend this tour – click here to check it out and to book!

If you’re thinking of visiting on your own, Hoover Dam is less than 45 minutes from Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon West Rim is about two hours. Both are definitely worth the trip!

I’ve also heard amazing things about Valley of Fire State Park, but I haven’t had time to visit yet.

---

Hoping to visit Las Vegas soon but still facing travel restrictions? Check out The Best Virtual Vacation to Las Vegas from Her Life Adventures! This is a great way to learn more about Vegas, and to get excited for a future trip!

---

I hope you found these Las Vegas tips to be helpful! Las Vegas is such a fun city, and one that I definitely recommend visiting at least once. Both on and off the Strip you’ll find great restaurants, hotels and entertainment, and you’re sure to have an amazing time.

We appreciate you sharing this post with others and on social media! If you have any questions, or would like to add anything to this post, leave us a comment below! Also, follow and DM us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad!

pin me!

♡Kate

Note: This post includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.