Are you thinking about taking your very first trip to Las Vegas? You’re going to have an incredible time. More than 40 million people visit Sin City each and every year, and it won’t take you long at all to figure out why. Las Vegas is one of the most fun cities in the entire world.
But there are some things you should keep in mind before your first time in Vegas. If you don’t go in with some sort of plan, it’s easy for you to spend more money than you expected to or miss some of the best sights in the city.
Check out 10 tips below that’ll make your first time in Vegas magical.
1. Choose the Right Time to Travel to Las Vegas
It tends to get very, very hot in Las Vegas. It’s so hot some days that the last thing you’ll want to do is leave your air-conditioned hotel.
You can avoid some of the heat in Las Vegas by choosing to travel to the city at the right time. Generally speaking, March to May and September to November are the best times to be in Vegas.
The temperature isn’t too hot during those months. You can also find great deals on Vegas trips during those time periods.
2. Decide How Much You Can Afford to Spend on Your Trip
There are some people who are under the impression that it’ll cost them a small fortune to visit Las Vegas for the first time. But this isn’t always the truth.
Yes, you can spend a lot of money in Vegas if you want to. But you can also set a budget for yourself and stick to it if you choose to take that approach.
Decide how much you feel comfortable spending during your first time in Vegas. Take everything from food to gambling into account and consider how much money you’re going to bring along with you.
By doing this, you’ll prevent yourself from digging yourself into debt during your trip. You’ll also give yourself a set amount of money to spend each day so you don’t have to spend your whole trip worrying about how much you’re spending.
3. Consider Staying off the Strip to Save a Little Money
Want to save a little money on your hotel while you’re in Vegas? Think about staying in a hotel located just off the Las Vegas Strip.
Staying on the Strip is a cool experience. But there are more than 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas, including many located just a few steps off the Strip.
Stay in one of those rooms to save money while still giving yourself almost direct access to the Strip.
4. Create a Plan for Your Trip Ahead of Time
Once you’ve figured out when you’re going to go to Vegas, how much you’re going to spend while you’re there, and where you’re going to stay, you can start mapping out your days.
Think about which:
- Restaurants you want to eat in
- Shows you want to see
- Nightclubs you want to party at
- Casinos you want to gamble in
- Sights you want to visit
Going to Vegas for the first time and “winging it” might sound like fun. But there’s so much to do that you’ll be overwhelmed. Coming up with a plan is a much better option.
5. Begin Your Visit by Getting out and Exploring the Strip
Whether you decide to stay on the Las Vegas Strip or not, one of the first things you should do when you touch down in Vegas is walk on the Strip and explore it. The Strip makes it easy to pop in and out of hotels, casinos, stores, and more on a whim.
It’s a great introduction to Vegas. Just make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes since the Strip is about four miles long.
6. Be Careful When You’re Walking Around in Las Vegas
While walking up and down the Las Vegas Strip can be a ton of fun, it can also be dangerous if you’re not careful.
Keep your head on a swivel and look out for pickpockets all around you. Look out for cars too, since there are tons of pedestrian accidents that happen in Las Vegas every year.
7. Make Sure You Drink Plenty of Water Throughout Your Trip
We mentioned how hot it can get in Las Vegas a little while ago. The heat can take a toll on you if you don’t drink plenty of water when you’re in town.
You should be especially mindful of drinking more than enough water if you’re going to be downing alcoholic beverages throughout your trip. This will prevent you from dealing with dehydration and other health issues.
8. Take Advantage of the Free Drinks in Casinos
Bars are a dime a dozen in Las Vegas. If you need a drink, you won’t have any trouble finding one!
But before you pay for a drink, think about scoring a free one in a casino. Most casinos have cocktail waitresses who walk around and pass out free drinks to those playing games. It’s a nice perk for those who plan to gamble a lot in Vegas.
9. Schedule Designated Times for Gambling
The average Vegas tourist spends almost $600 gambling in anywhere from five to 10 casinos. They also spend almost three hours per day at a casino.
If you love to gamble and can afford to do it, knock yourself out. But you shouldn’t spend every waking second in the casino if you’re in town to do other things.
Set aside specific times to gamble during your trip and stick to them. This will ensure that you’re able to do more than just play casino games in Vegas.
10. Get Sleep When You Can!
During your first time in Vegas, you might be tempted to stay up as long as you can. Who wants to sleep when there’s so much else going on?!
We don’t blame you, but you should try to get some sleep throughout your trip. It’ll keep you alert when you’re walking around on the Strip and make you sharper at the blackjack table.
Use These Tips to Enjoy Every Second of Your First Time in Vegas
Your first time in Vegas will be unforgettable, no matter how things play out. Whether you have an awesome time and win $10,000 or lose $10,000 and swear off Vegas forever, you’ll never forget your first trip.
But you can give yourself a better chance of remembering Vegas for the right reasons by keeping the tips here in mind. It won’t be long at all before you’re planning your second trip to Sin City.
Take a look at our other articles for more tips on planning the perfect getaways.