Las Vegas is the entertainment capital — the Strip, casinos, world-class shows, and access to Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon.
Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world -- the Strip's mega-resorts, world-class shows, celebrity chef restaurants, and 24-hour casino culture create a city that exists purely for visitors. Beyond the neon lights, Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon offer natural wonders within easy driving distance. The city receives over 40 million visitors annually and reinvents itself every decade with new mega-resorts.
March through May and September through November offer comfortable desert temperatures perfect for pool time and exploring. Summer (June-August) is scorching at 40 degrees C+ but has the cheapest hotel rates despite peak pool season. Winter (December-February) is mild and pleasant with best hotel deals midweek. Avoid major conventions like CES (January) and SEMA (November) which spike prices. NFL Raiders games at Allegiant Stadium draw crowds September-January. New Year's Eve is the busiest night.
Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant serve Las Vegas with budget focus. Delta, American, and United operate from LAS with extensive domestic networks. British Airways offers direct London service. Hawaiian Airlines connects to Hawaii. Sun Country provides budget flights from the Midwest. Las Vegas is one of the best-served domestic airports with frequent deals. The BTS Concourse D provides upgraded amenities and lounges.
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is just 8 km from the Strip with taxi rides taking 10-15 minutes to most resorts for -35. The RTC bus (Centennial Express) connects to the Strip for . Las Vegas Airport is one of the most conveniently located major US airports. The airport has two terminals with a tram connecting them. Terminal 1 handles domestic, Terminal 3 handles international and some domestic. Uber and Lyft have designated pickup areas at the parking garage.
Fly midweek (Tuesday-Wednesday) for the lowest fares -- weekend flights can be double the price. Book hotels Sunday-Thursday for 50-70% off weekend rates. Many casinos offer free drinks while gambling -- just tip the server -2 per drink. The Fremont Street Experience is free to explore. Use the Deuce bus along the Strip for for 24 hours instead of taxis or rideshares. Lunch specials at celebrity restaurants are half dinner prices. Watch the Bellagio fountains for free.
The Las Vegas Strip is 4.2 miles long and walkable between adjacent resorts, but walking end-to-end takes over an hour. The Las Vegas Monorail runs behind the east side of the Strip from MGM Grand to Sahara with fares from single to day pass. The Deuce double-decker bus runs 24/7 along the Strip and to downtown Fremont Street for for 2 hours or for 24 hours. Taxis from the airport to the Strip cost -35 with metered fares. Uber and Lyft are widely available with designated pickup areas. The RTC bus system serves the greater Las Vegas area. Las Vegas has limited public transport compared to other major cities. Rental cars are practical for visiting Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon.
The Strip offers all major resorts from budget at -100 midweek to luxury at -1000+ per night on weekends. Downtown/Fremont Street provides cheaper vintage hotels from $80 per night with the classic old Vegas experience. Summerlin offers quiet suburban resorts from $150. Off-Strip hotels near the convention center provide good value from $100. Budget travelers check hostels near the Strip from $30.