Las Vegas is almost synonymous with the Strip, but there’s plenty to do in the city that doesn’t involve casinos and gambling. On both of my visits to Vegas, I’ve tried to break away from the glitz, glam, see something new and something different.
One of the first things we did was to head out and take a walk on the strip. Here we found some Uber and Lyft patrons giving away free voucher cards. Now normally I wouldn’t accept any leaflets from street patrons, but as I could clearly see they were Uber/Lyft I took it. These turned out to be an excellent choice of judgment. Having never used Lyft before, being from the UK. These little cards came with a $50 free code you can enter when first installing the app, so If there’s 3 of you in the group and you each install it. That’s $150 worth of travel for free 😀 It’s a max of $10 per ride, but it costs less than that to go from one end of the Strip to the other, so you basically have free travel for the majority of your stay.
I was lucky to be in Vegas to bring in for New Years Eve. They completely closed off the strip to traffic for a few hours and the atmosphere was just electric. There were fireworks set off from some rooftops all along the entire length of the strip. This was an amazing experience and I recommend everyone to put it on their Bucket List.
My first time I was here way back in 2010 and at the top of my bucket list was to head out to the Grand Canyon. I opted to go all out and splashed on the helicopter, river cruise and sky walk experience. It was an early start to the day having to get up at dawn, but it was well worth it. I was picked up from the hotel and we drove the couple hours or so to get to the canyon stopping at a small chocolate factory on the way.
When we finally reached the canyon we were taken to see the eagle, alligator and sleeping dog rocks before walking the Sky Walk. They wouldn’t let us take any camera equipment onto the walk with us and we had to put covers over our shoes. It was cool to walk over the glass and see directly below like you’re walking on air. There were some people that weren’t so keen and were crawling on their knees. You could see why the shoe covers were needed though, as the glass certainly wasn’t as clear as it was, covered in many little scuffs and scratches.
Now it was time to head to the helicopter, I was so excited at this point. It would be my first experience in one. It was here I made a new friend in Elise, we got along really well and stayed in touch after. Flying over the canyon was something I recommend everyone has to do given the option we landed by the rivers edge and the jumped on a boat for a short cruise down the river. The Heli then met us and flew us back to the top of the canyon and it was onto Hoover Dam.
Another great day out was a trip to Hoover dam and the Black canyon. Arriving at hoover dam we drove over the dam to the far car park on the Arizona side. We then walked across the dam
If you plan on having a few drinks, then I would suggest don’t go having too many shots. As a single shot of sambuca cost $10 and just one Jägerbomb was $12 each! It also seems they don’t understand the bomb, as they served it already mixed together in a tumbler glass, yummy!
When the time came for us to check out of the hotel we found out that some hotels add an additional resort fee to your bill. According to them, this fee gives you free access to their gym, free local and 800 number calls. In my opinion this is a total rip off, but one you can do little about as apparently it’s completely legal. These fees are not added to your bill until you go to checkout. If you are not sure what the fee is, contact the hotel and ask.
Vegas is an adults playground and the casino’s are more like palaces than they are hotels. Both times now I’ve left Vegas vowing to someday return to see more.
Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas goes on Facebook and Twitter!
Las Vegas, Nevada was founded in 1905 after the opening of a railroad that linked Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Las Vegas is known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World and annually ranks as one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations.
- The city’s tolerance for numerous forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City and has made Las Vegas a popular setting for literature, films, television programs, and music videos.
- The Las Vegas Strip isn’t located in Las Vegas. It’s actually within the communities of Paradise, Winchester and Enterprise.
- In 1931 construction began on the massive Boulder Dam (later renamed the Hoover Dam)
- The name Las Vegas, Spanish for “the meadows” was given to the area in 1829 by Rafael Rivera.
- The first person of European ancestry to enter the Las Vegas valley was Rafael Rivera, who scouted the area in 1821 as part of Antonio Armijo’s expedition to open up a trade route
- In 1941 the El Rancho Vegas resort opened on a section of U.S. 91 just outside the city’s jurisdiction. Other hotel-casinos soon followed, and the section of highway became known as “the Strip.”
- In 1946 mobster Bugsy Siegel, backed by East Coast Jewish gangster Meyer Lansky’s Mexican drug money, opened the Flamingo.
Remember, you don’t come to Vegas to stay in your room, so why blow your budget on a bed? Save on hotel rooms whenever you can and get more out of your holiday.
- Hostels there are a few hostels to choose from, all in Downtown Vegas and the best of the bunch is Hostel Cat and Sin City Hostel.
- Airbnb, you can find shared rooms a few streets over from the Strip from $15-25 per night. You can even find entire homes in the same areas for around $55 per night. Get $30 (£25) off your first Airbnb trip of $70 (£55) or more click here.
- Hotels, You can find some budget hotels on the strip like Circus Circus, but bare in mind this is the quiet end of the strip with little to see and do. Many of the nicer hotels start at $100 a night, however it’s always best to check online, there’s always some deals to be had. I recently stayed at Hard Rock which is just off the strip and only a 10 minute walk to MGM Grand. Just remember to ask about any hidden resort fees when booking.
There are so many places to eat, food is unbelievable in America especially in Vegas, I could definitely get fat if I lived here. If your on a budget then stick to the all you can eat buffets. Virtually every hotel has one and you don’t have to be staying there to enjoy it. Try a different hotel buffet each day. Just don’t expect it to be top notch amazing, you get what you pay for. If you want to try a 5 star restaurant, then look into booking for lunch. Prime time is always evenings and they want to be full during the day to. Often they have happy hour and pre menu deals to get you in.
- Uber / Lyft I found this to be the best and cheapest way to get around. If your not already using the apps then pick up a free $50 Uber or Lyft card being offered on street. If you can’t find a card as it may of been a promo, you can still get $5 credit for your first Lyft ride here or Get $5 credit for your first Uber ride here.
- Monorail system $5 dollars one way or $9 return. Gliding above the traffic, you will cover the 4 mile route in approximately 15 minutes. With seven stations, you’re close to just about anywhere you want to go, I’ve listed the operating times below. Download the monorail map here or visit www.lvmonorail.com
- Monday: 7 am – 12 midnight
- Tuesday: 7 am – 2 am
- Wednesday: 7 am – 2 am
- Thursday: 7 am – 2 am
- Friday: 7 am – 3 am
- Saturday: 7 am – 3 am
- Sunday: 7 am – 3 am
- Walking the Strip is fun the first time, but the Strip is long and takes time. With so much to see and do wasting time is not something you want to do.
- Driving There’s not really any need for a car here. Free parking is available, virtually every major hotel offers free valet parking (just don’t forget to tip!) If you do drive, don’t get your fuel on the Strip. They might be conveniently placed, but take a few extra minutes to drive east or west to get it cheaper. Gas stations between the Stratosphere Tower and downtown usually give you the best prices.
- I’ve been to Vegas twice and still have hardly scratched the surface with all the possible things you can do. I’ve put together a little list of 21 things you could do if your unsure.
- Casino Royale is one of the cheapest places to drink on the Strip.
- Beer Park has a great selection of craft beers and if you grab a balcony seat, it’s a great place to watch the world go by.
- D Bar
- Hogs & Heifers
- Atomic Liquors 1945, Fremont St.
- Peppermill 1972, oldest on the strip.
- Monkey Bar
- Goose Island Pub
- Lounge 107 at the Stratosphere Hotel Casino. Enjoy a 360 degree view of Las Vegas from 107 stories above the strip.
- Enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset at Mix Lounge on the 64th floor of Delano Las Vegas.
- Coyote Ugly If you like 90’s-00’s music and a dance, then this is the place for you. Happy hour is 6-9.
- Top of the World, Stratosphere.
- If you’re feeling really lazy then using your phone, Ubereats will deliver virtually any restaurant takeaway straight to your hotel foyer.
- Calculate your tip and divide your bill by typing Tip Calculator on google.
- At check-in, remember to ask for a funbook if one is not given to you. A funbook is a little book filled with Las Vegas coupons for a variety of things at the hotel including discount prices of food, drinks, shows, buffet coupons and free slot plays.
- If your not already using them then pick up a free $50 Uber or Lyft card. (That may of been a promo, if you can’t find any you can still use the below links)
- Get $5 credit for your first Lyft ride here.
- Get $5 credit for your first Uber ride here.
- Drink at the casino before hitting the club To cut down on expensive drinks at the clubs, drink on the casino floor. The drinks are free as long as you’re playing one of the games. Sit down at a penny slot machine, play slow, and drink fast. You can have 10 drinks for the price of one at the club! Just make sure you tip the waitress, $1 is expected per drink you receive.
- Gamble responsibly Your in Vegas, of course your going to have a go on some machines, just don’t go wild. Gamble what you can comfortably afford to lose, because chances are, you will.
- If you plan on heading to Stratosphere thrill rides, check the weather conditions, if it’s windy the rides are unlikely to be running.
- Don’t forget to use sunblock, especially if you plan on doing a lot of walking.
- Casino bartenders, even in showrooms and lounges will give you a glass of ice water for free although a $1 tip will be appreciated.
- Casino Royale is one of the cheapest places to drink on the Strip.
- Remember to ask about any hidden resort fees.
- Get $30 (£25) off your first Airbnb trip of $70 (£55) or more click here.
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