What NOT to do on your Las Vegas summer trip

Las Vegas is a glorious city filled with many attractions, and it can be difficult to see everything on your first stay. Plenty of newbies make the mistake of trusting others too readily or find themselves at shows that they weren’t interested in. It’s just as important to understand what you should avoid on your trip so you can indulge in the best Las Vegas has to offer.

Don’t Underestimate Distance

While looking at a map of Las Vegas, you may think that everything is close and requires a few minutes to walk between popular attractions like the MGM Grand, Bally’s/Paris, and Flamingo/Caesars Palace. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Every hotel is massive and can take several minutes to hours to walk across – so wear comfortable shoes.

If you plan on traveling a lot, get a day travel pass for $13. It’s worth it because the monorail lets you travel from one hotel to another while avoiding the scorching desert heat. You may need to travel by taxi if you want to only see the big sights, but it always beats walking.

Don’t Save Money by Staying Off the Strip

Most travelers will stay in a hotel that’s far away from the strip to save money, but traveling into the Las Vegas strip daily may cost you more long term, especially if you’re renting a car. It depends on how long you’re staying, but there are plenty of affordable places for you to stay along the strip. Luxor, Flamingo, Excalibur, and Bally’s are some of the best cheap hotels.

As an alternative, you can always stay at an Airbnb if you have a small group. Most of these cheap hotels and AirBnBs are within a 30/40 minute walk from one another and put you close or right in the center of the strip.

Don’t Trust Everyone With a Deal

Every tourist spot has a budding industry of scammers who make a living ripping off people who are new to the area. Always say you’ve been to Las Vegas before if asked by taxi drivers because they may drive the long way to boost fares. Strangers may say they have tickets for a Free VIP experience but actually don’t, then ask for a tip after giving you this information. 

There are plenty of scams to look out for. Don’t trust a street vendor that will sell bottles of water or soda that are already open, and stay away from people handing out freebies of any kind. You may be shaken down for cash once you take them.

Don’t Gamble Too Much

Gambling is one of the primary reasons people visit Vegas, but always be sensible to how much you’re spending. Before you realize it, you could ruin your own holiday by placing yourself in debt. To avoid this, either spend most of your time doing other things (like viewing shows or sightseeing) or gamble at a low stake casino.

On the strip, Excalibur has a 5$ blackjack table, while Texas Station has $3 card games. If you fancy poker, Red Rock Casino has cheap poker tables. If you’re going to Vegas for the thrill of gambling, not for the money you earn, there are plenty of options. 

Don’t Avoid Buffets

Tourists who have never been to America may have a different view of buffets. European and Canadian buffets are often stocked with low-quality food that’s incredibly expensive, but Las Vegas buffets are incredible. In fact, you can budget easier if you purchase a wrist band for an all-day buffet at places like Luxor and Excalibur.

Circus Circus and Palms Casino also have really cheap buffets that don’t just include greasy or high-calorie foods. You can eat fruit, vegetables, and grains at all of these locations, including something more decadent if you’re in the mood.

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