The Ultimate Las Vegas Travel Guide

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to jet off to fabulous Las Vegas to celebrate my Brother's 21st Birthday. It's true what they say, Las Vegas really is an adult's play ground and it's honestly been one of my favourite trips so far, despite being lucky enough to see some of the most beautiful corners of this earth. There's no place on earth like it, where else can you roll the dice until sunrise, surrounded by brides-to-be and Elvis impersonators...it's a surreal dreamland of neon lights and flashy everything,  and it's just like it seems in the movies - it may not be for everyone, but it's worth giving it a go just once in your life, you may fall in love with the place like I did!

The Basics

Currency: Needless to say, Las Vegas is located in Nevada, USA so they use the US Dollar. At the moment the exchange rate for us Brits is terrible ($1.22 for every £1), so I'd recommend waiting until you can get a better deal before jetting off, as it's not the cheapest of cities. 

Prices: Like I said, Vegas isn't the cheapest of cities. I remember one night going to a cocktail bar in the Aria and it setting us back over $100 for one cocktail and three beers. It's worth saving up if you're heading over though, as once you're there you really will want to try everything. That being said, there's plenty of smaller restaurants dotted around which won't cost the earth, so you can do Vegas a little cheaper if you'd like, you may just have to compromise on some of the activities. 

Temperature: Las Vegas is a city in the middle of the desert, but that doesn't mean it's hot all year round. I went in April and had to wear a jumper almost every night, as the wind out there really gets to you. Temperatures vary all year round but can go from as little as 14C in January, up to 41C in July - so check the weather forecast before you pack you bikini! 

Dress Code: This section almost isn't worth having, as anything goes in Las Vegas. It's worth packing a few comfy clothes as there can be a lot of walking involved, and definitely pack some more dressy outfits for the night time, depending on what you plan to get out of your time in Vegas...or if you wanted to go full on Elvis, I doubt anyone would even give you a second look! 

Getting Around

Although as a city, Vegas isn't that large, things can be quite spread out...even walking around all of the hotels can be a lot of walking if you want to see the whole strip (which I definitely recommend you do!). Before we went to Vegas, I imagined that we would just walk down the strip and it would only take an hour or two, but my gosh was I wrong. Luckily, there's a few different transport options. We actually hired a car whilst we were in Vegas so we could drive into Arizona to see the Grand Canyon and also so we could drive to some of their outlet malls, so that's something to definitely consider (it also makes getting to and from the airport a lot easier!). There are also taxis everywhere, but these can get pretty pricey, so if you're looking to keep your transport costs to a minimum, I'd definitely recommend the monorail, which goes right from the conference centre at one end of the strip down to the Luxor and New York, New York hotel on the other end, stopping off along the way. 

Where to Stay

Whilst I was in Las Vegas, we actually rented an apartment down by the conference centre as this worked out a lot cheaper for the four of us, and meant that we had somewhere to park the car overnight. However, if I was to go again (which I definitely will), then I'd consider staying in the Venetian, Bellagio or Caesars Palace, as they're located right in the centre of the strip, which makes getting from place to place really easy - plus, they are all stunning hotels. 

Top 5 Things To Do

1. Gambling - When in Vegas after all..Before I went to Vegas I wasn't too fussed about all of the gambling as in all honesty, I'm terrible at card games and my poker face needs some serious work, but after about 5 mins of being in Vegas, the gambling bug hit me hard. You can't go anywhere in Vegas without passing a slot machine (they even have them in the airport!), and they can be extremely tempting - by the end of my trip, I'd decided on my favourite games and had my theories on how to win the most money haha!

2. Hotels - This is probably something that's unique to Vegas, but it's worth blocking out a day or two just to wander round each of the hotels. Each hotel is themed and their lobbies (and casinos/shopping malls) are like mini amusement parks, some even have their own roller coasters! My favourite hotel shows were the Bellagio fountain that was playing Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' and the volcano outside the Mirage. 

3. Shopping - For me, it wouldn't be a trip to America without doing some shopping. Whilst I was there I found that the Vegas Premium Outlets North were best for grabbing a bargain. When I was there I managed to pick up a Kate Spade bag, phone case, keyring and laptop case for under $300 and there were some seriously good Banana Republic bargains to be had as well. 

4. Machine Gun Experience - On my Brother's birthday, we started the day off with a 'machine gun experience'. I actually went shooting in Miami for my own 21st, so we were kind of carrying on the tradition. This is probably more of a controversial activity, but one which I thoroughly enjoyed. While you're at the shooting range, you're given a proper lesson in how to handle the gun, then you get to try out the guns yourself on some paper targets - which was so much fun, if not a little scary! 

5. Grand Canyon - If you're travelling all the way to Las Vegas, then the Grand Canyon is not to be missed. There are hundreds of companies in Vegas offering tours to the Grand Canyon, but instead, it's best to rent a car and drive a few hours into Arizona to the Grand Canyon National Park. The canyon really opens up here so the view is so much better. Looking out over the Grand Canyon is a moment I'll never forget, so I urge you to leave a day to make the trip yourself, as the view will really take your breath away.

Where to Eat

One thing there's definitely an abundance of in Las Vegas is places to eat. There's something for every budget and every taste, so you definitely won't struggle on where to dine. These were some of my favourites:

1. The Capital Grille - This is where we went for my brother's birthday dinner, and if you're into steak then this is a must see in Vegas. With views of the strip, some of the best cocktails I've ever tasted and extraordinary service, this isn't one to be missed. 

2. Martorano's - This italian restaurant in the Paris Hotel was honestly one of the best italians I've ever had. The carbonara came complete with a fresh egg cracked on top and the iced cocktails are the perfect way to beat the heat. 

3. The Buffet at Wynn - If you want a cheap and cheerful meal that's still great quality, then head to the buffet at the Wynn. They have 120 dishes from all over the world and it's located right above the casino so it's perfect for filling a gap before a night on the slot machines.

4. In-n-Out Burger - For a cheap and speedy lunch, head to In-n-Out Burger. We don't have them here in the UK, so it's the perfect opportunity to give this popular burger joint a try!