Travel Guide to Las Vegas November, 2024

Check out our Ultimate Travel Guide to Las Vegas for 2024!

Las Vegas is renowned for its glitzy casinos, world-class entertainment, incredible food, fantastic shopping, and for being America’s most popular sin city. But all that merely scratches the surface of what this wonderful destination city is all about.

There is much to see and do in this flashy and fun city in the desert.

This Travel Guide to Las Vegas covers all the highlights to help you plan a great weekend or vacation in Vegas.

Where is Las Vegas

Las Vegas is located in Nevada, within the seat of Clark County. The most populous of all cities in Nevada, and the 26th most populous in the USA, is easily the largest city within the greater Mojave Desert. It covers the expansive metropolitan area of the Las Vegas Valley.

Situated near the borders of California, Arizona, and Utah, near the west coast of the USA, Las Vegas is approximately 270 miles (435 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles and 570 miles (917 kilometers) southeast of San Fransisco. It is also about 2520 miles (4055 kilometers) from New York and 2535 miles (4080 kilometers) from Miami.

Las Vegas is a year-round destination; therefore, there is no ‘best’ time to go. Regardless of when you go, it will be busy and buzzy, and the party will be in full swing.

If you go between March and May and September and November, you should find plenty of cheap flight and hotel deals, representing the spring and fall shoulder seasons. You may find that visitor numbers will be reduced, too, and the weather will be cooler and less humid.

You might want to avoid July as this is the hottest month. Most buildings are air-conditioned and tend to interconnect, so if you visit during the hot months, you can get relief from the searing heat by staying inside.

Las Vegas is always extra busy during major US public holidays like Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.

While being there during those times can be fun, it will be more crowded and expensive. Unlike other cities in the USA, most businesses and activities are open these days.

Peak season in Las Vegas runs from November to January, so bear this when planning your visit.

Las Vegas – Booking Flights

This travel guide to Las Vegas uses KAYAK, justfly.com, and Skyscanner for the best flight deals. You can set up automatic flight searches, and an update will be sent to your email when prices drop.

Las Vegas – Landmarks & Attractions

Including all the city’s main drawcards, landmarks, and attractions could easily extend to over 1000 plus activities, too much for just one travel guide to Las Vegas!

But to keep things interesting, we have highlighted six places you should visit – a mix of traditional Las Vegas landmarks and famous iconic tourist attractions.

The Dancing Fountains of The Bellagio

Arguably one of the most famous sites in the city, the Dancing Fountains of The Bellagio Hotel is a highlight of almost every travel guide to Las Vegas.

These iconic fountains are dramatic, soaring jets of water that dance in rhythm to an accompanying soundtrack choreographed with lights. They’re a mesmerizing, must-see sight that takes place regularly throughout the day, and best of all, they’re free!

The Grand Canyon

You have to experience the Grand Canyon.

A popular day trip from Vegas, it is one of the deepest canyons in the world, reaching over a mile deep in some places and incorporating 277 miles (445 kilometers) of the Colorado River and its surrounding uplands.

The Grand Canyon is home to many animals, including bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer. It is also home to many plants, including cacti and Joshua trees.

It is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Many trails wind through the Grand Canyon, ranging from easy to strenuous. If you’re planning on hiking or camping in the Grand Canyon, it may be best to take an organized or guided tour or, at a minimum, check with the park ranger station for information on permits and closures.

The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s seven natural wonders, crafted by wind, rain, and the raging river over millions of years. It should be on everyone’s to-do list.

Make sure you book a tour of this geological wonder.

Skypod & Observation Tower at the Strat Hotel

The Strat Hotel is one of the most notable Las Vegas Hotels. Representing the Strip’s start and end, it features the tallest freestanding observation tower in the USA.

The observation deck, which stands 1149 feet (350 meters) tall, straddles two indoor and outdoor levels and provides sensational panoramic views of the city.

If you’re hungry and want to chill, you can order tasty food and sandwiches at the Strat.

If you want something to get your adrenaline flowing, you can always ride on the Big Shot, which will catapult you 160 feet (49 meters) into the air at 45 mph (72 kph)!

Hoover Dam & Lake Mead

The Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam located on the border between Nevada and Arizona in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River.

It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 30, 1935.

Its construction resulted from a massive effort involving over 21,000 workers, costing over one hundred lives.

From 1933 until its official name change in 1946, it was known as Boulder Dam. In 1947, a joint resolution of Congress formally renamed it Hoover Dam after President Herbert Hoover, for whom it is named.

At 726.4 feet (221.3 m) high, it was the tallest dam in the world when completed in 1935. It is currently the 35th tallest dam globally and still the world’s tallest concrete dam.

It is also taller when measuring from the bedrock base to its crest than Niagra Falls.

Hoover Dam impounds Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, by 3,250,000 cubic yards (2,480,000 cubic meters). It is an excellent spot for boating, fishing, swimming, and kayaking and water skiing.

The dam is located in the southwestern part of the state, about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas.

Daily tours from Las Vegas operate to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

Fremont Street Experience

In old downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street is a pedestrian-only area with many unique sites.

It is a wild and crazy place to visit, with lots of fun, including people gambling and drinking, performers in the street, free music and light shows, zip-lining, and everyone having a great time!

You will experience this on Freemont Street. It’s a great place to visit, with many things to do and see.

Walking around is one of the coolest things to do in this area. Especially the five-block section that features a canopy of LED lights, which bathes the area in various spectacular colors and shapes of light as you walk below it.

The area has many great shops, and the Fremont Street Experience takes place every night. This is a stunning visual and music show that is entertaining to be part of.

Red Rock Canyon

Located in the Mojave Desert, Red Rock Canyon is rich in Native American history. It is composed of red rock formations dating back to the Precambrian Era.

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area was established in 1990. It includes Red Rock Canyon and the nearby Calico Tanks and Willow Springs natural areas. The Bureau of Land Management manages several recreation areas in the Las Vegas area.

Known for its geological features, which include towering red sandstone peaks, stunning petroglyphs, and the magnificent Keystone Thrust Fault, the area can be best explored on a one-way 13-mile (21-kilometer) scenic drive. This drive provides plenty of opportunities for hiking, camping, and photography.

Las Vegas – Language & Customs

Las Vegas can have some interesting customs that are uniquely Las Vegas.

You’ll notice that many people who come to Vegas get drunk, act crazy, and blow off steam.

For many people, Vegas is a place where they can act differently than they would when they were back home.

Another thing you will notice about Vegas is that people wear fancy dresses, usually associated with some theme, like Star Wars, Dungeons, Dragons, or animals. This is because Las Vegas is a vast convention city, and people often go there for major events where they dress up in character.

Las Vegas is also famous as a city where people marry fast.

Whether it’s people who have been dating for years or a couple who just hooked up the night before, plenty of people want to tie the knot at one of the many wedding chapels in the city.

Lastly, one custom is synonymous with ‘Sin City, ‘Which is what happens in Vegas and stays in Vegas. This is an important motto to remember while you are visiting.

Las Vegas – Flights and Accommodation

Flights

We use KAYAK,  justfly.com, and Skyscanner for the best flight deals

You can set up automatic flights searches, and an update will be sent to your email when prices drop.

Accommodation

If you prefer to book and stay in American or European-style hotels, Booking.com has the best variety and deals. If you want a private home or apartment accommodation and live like a local, this travel guide to Las Vegas recommends using “Vacation Rental by Owner” or Vrbo.

Las Vegas – Holidays & Festivals

Any travel guide to Las Vegas will tell you that Las Vegas is one big vacation 365 days a year!

So, while many other cities shut down for holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day, the party in Vegas keeps going 24/7.

You will also find that throughout the year—practically every week—Las Vegas hosts multiple festivals, events, or conventions of some description or other. These frankly range from upscale and sophisticated to the downright weird and wonderful!

This could be anything from a Heavyweight Boxing Title Fight, the famous annual Viva Las Vegas music festival, the Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball, or the renowned food and wine festival.

Accommodation could well be booked out during these times, so it’s best to plan to try to secure a room just in case a major event is on.

Las Vegas – Cell Phones

Las Vegas is well served in this area, with all four major industry players—AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon—providing excellent service.

On the Strip, you will find the coverage will be excellent, and it will be good in the most populated metropolitan areas of the city. The further you leave Vegas, especially in some national parks, the weaker your signal could get. But generally, coverage is good.

If you are traveling from overseas to Las Vegas, getting a local SIM card for your visit is a good tip. You can pick them up throughout the city, especially at airports, Walgreens, CVS, or larger supermarkets.

A local SIM card and phone number for overseas visitors will save you incall and internet browsing charges.

Las Vegas – Internet Service

Las Vegas is a region where free internet access is readily available.

When you land at the airport, you can use the free Wi-Fi there. In addition, there are Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the city.

Similarly, virtually all hotels and motels offer free wi-fi to guests, as do most retail and restaurant chains, especially nationally recognized ones.

It would be best to get free wi-fi at most tourist venues, including museums, art galleries, exhibition centers, shopping malls, universities, libraries, and sports stadiums.

If you log on to a free wi-fi network, be aware that not all will be secure.

Las Vegas – Food

Regarding recommending food, each travel guide to Las Vegas suggests something different. That is because there are so many places to eat and so much variety in cuisines!

Such is the choice of eateries in Las Vegas; you could go out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a different venue every day and still discover new ones years later.

Las Vegas is a foodie paradise, offering everything from Chinese and Indian to Italian and good old Texas BBQ and showcasing some genuinely unique gastronomic delights.

Whether you are after an upscale, fine-dining meal or a quick, delicious snack to keep you going between sightseeing duties, there is something for everyone here.

Some stand-out venues and dishes include the following:

Pizza

Everyone loves pizza. So when the craving hits, you head to Pizza Rocks. Run by Tony Gemignani, the pizzas here are incredible. You will find them on the Strip at The Pizzeria in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, so prepare your taste buds for a treat.

Steak

Almost every resort in Vegas has a steakhouse, and many excellent ones are around. It’s hard to choose the ‘best’ one. But you won’t be disappointed if you visit Prime at the Bellagio, the SW Steakhouse at Wynn, or Bazaar Meat at the Sahara.

If you can afford it, try Kobe beef, as Las Vegas is one of the only cities in America where diners can find Kobe or Wagyu Beef that is freshly served.

Chinatown

Chinatown in Las Vegas is where you can enjoy delicious Asian food.

Featuring an incredible collection of Chinese restaurants, you will also find Japanese restaurants serving exceptional ramen and izakaya raku and sensational restaurants featuring Thai and Korean food.

Las Vegas – Airports & Entry

You can get to Las Vegas by air, road, or rail.

Flying

For most people, flying is the way to Las Vegas. Most major airlines operate regular daily flights from around the country and worldwide. So it would be best if you didn’t have trouble securing a getaway.

The Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) (previously known as the McCarran International Airport) is situated 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of downtown, in the rather coolly named suburb of Paradise. The airport even has airside slot machines, so you can start gambling when you get off the plane!

Driving

Many people drive to Las Vegas from all over the country, even Canada.

The city’s network of roads and interstate highways is so good that you can easily reach it from anywhere in North America.

Bus

Those who don’t drive often come to the city via bus, with Greyhound and several other bus companies transporting passengers from locations around the USA. Depending on where you are coming from, the bus could take a long time and may lack the comfort of other forms of transport. So prepare for extended journey times with plenty of snacks, a good book to read, and some decent tunes.

Train

It’s also possible to arrive in Las Vegas by train, with Amtrak services from several destinations. Amtrak is a relaxing way to travel. Not only is it faster than the bus, but it also showcases some fantastic scenery not seen on regular freeways. So, this is a popular and recommended way to travel by many.

Las Vegas – Travel Insurance

If you’re from overseas, securing travel insurance is a wise step when planning a family vacation in Las Vegas. Travel insurance can cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and other unforeseen events.

When visiting overseas, you never know what can happen in another country. So we believe it is essential to have travel insurance just in case things go wrong or your trip is interrupted by an emergency.r.

Las Vegas – Getting Around (Public & Other Transport)

For visitors, Las Vegas has excellent, accessible transport of all types!

Walking & Rideshare

If you are sticking to the Strip, you can easily walk, but as it extends for over four miles, we recommend you catch a taxi, Lyft, or Uber to one of the very ends of the Strip and then walk back to your hotel.

Taxis and ride-hailing options like Uber and Lyft are easy to access, especially along The Strip, and can take you anywhere you want to go around Vegas.

This is perhaps your best option if you don’t have a car. Though if you would like to hire a vehicle, most major car rental companies run offices out of the airport and select hotels within the area

Monorail

The Las Vegas Monorail is a quick and convenient way to travel around the Las Vegas Strip. With seven stations at key points along the Strip, the monorail provides easy access to hotels, casinos, restaurants, and attractions.

One of the benefits of the Las Vegas monorail is that it operates without traffic, so you can avoid the congestion and delays that come with driving in Vegas. The monorail also offers a great view of the Strip as you travel.

Check out the Las Vegas Monorail if you plan to visit Las Vegas!

Hop on Hop Off Bus Services

Hop on Hop Off Bus services offer visitors a great way to see the city, learn about its history and culture, and explore at their own pace.

Las Vegas Hop-on-Off Bus services are available through several companies. They all offer different routes and stops, so you can choose one that best suits your location and visiting needs.

Public Buses

Public buses are always a good option. Within Las Vegas, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) operates several bus services throughout the day, 24 hours a day, both along the Strip and around the downtown area.

This provides an easy, cost-effective, and relatively safe way to travel about town, and one of the best ways to keep up with its timetable is via the brilliant transit app.

Other Transportation

Some hotels provide a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport and selected locations around town. You can also rent motorbikes, Segways, and bicycles if you need them.

Las Vegas – Weather

You might think the weather in Vegas is hot all year round! But that is not necessarily true.

It can get cool during January and December, with temperatures reaching an average low of 39°F (4 °C) and a high of 58°F (14°C).

In summer, the mercury regularly tops 90°F (32°C) in July and August, representing the hottest time.

Temperatures tend to be most pleasant around March, April, and October to November when it’s regularly a delightful 80°F (27°C) and sunny.

Surprisingly, there is a monsoon season or rainy season in Las Vegas. This usually starts in mid-June and runs through until September.

Don’t be surprised if there are heavy thunderstorms during this time. However, you are unlikely to see a hurricane, as only one has been recorded in the area recently, and that was Hurricane Nora in 1997.

Las Vegas – History

Las Vegas prides itself on being the Entertainment Capital of the World, but it wasn’t always like that.

Settled in 1905 and officially incorporated in 1911, the area is believed to have been first populated by Nomadic Paleo-Indians over 10,000 years ago. They left behind petroglyphs to mark their time here.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints chose Las Vegas as the site for a fort between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City in the mid-1850s.

In 1906, Hotel Nevada (now the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino) first opened its doors, representing the birth of Las Vegas. However, the foundations for the city, as we know it today, started to be laid in 1931 when Nevada legalized gambling and the construction of the Hoover Dam began.

Also introduced at this time were reduced residency laws of six weeks if you wish to file for divorce.

Several hotels opened in the 1950s, raising Las Vegas‘ profile. These include the Sahara in 1952, the Tropicana in 1957, and the Flamingo Capri Motel in 1959. In the same year, the iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign—which has never actually been located within the city’s municipal limits—was erected.

During the 1960s, business tycoons like Howard Hughes built hotels and casinos quickly. Similarly, celebrities like Elvis Presley and the ‘Rat Pack’ started to promote the area’s virtues.

Since then, the city has grown steadily and continually reinvented itself into the Las Vegas we know and love today. This included massive redevelopment in 2012, with hundreds of millions of dollars into various new constructions and projects in the downtown area and along The Strip.

Travel Guide to Las Vegas 2024

Las Vegas is a city that should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list.

Whether you want to gamble at the casinos, party at the clubs, take in a show, eat delicious food, or see the sights, you will quickly be compelled by the magic of ‘Sin City’.

Las Vegas is an impossible place not to love, at least on some level – because it has something for everyone.

A trip to Las Vegas is one you will likely remember for the rest of your life, but as the saying goes, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Planning a Trip to Las Vegas?

If you’re planning a trip to Las Vegas, there’s more to explore beyond the bright lights of the Strip! Here are some great stories to guide you through Sin City:

• Travel Guide to Las Vegas: Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a seasoned Vegas traveler, this guide is packed with essential tips on navigating the city, from top attractions to hidden gems.
• Las Vegas Dune Buggy & ATVs: Ready for some off-road excitement? Experience the thrill of the Nevada desert with an exhilarating dune buggy and ATV adventures just outside the city.
• Las Vegas Helicopter Tours: See Vegas like never before with an unforgettable helicopter tour over the iconic Strip. Witness the dazzling lights and landmarks from a bird’s-eye view.
• What to Do in Vegas Besides Gambling: Vegas isn’t just about casinos! Discover 10 fun and unique activities beyond the slot machines, from world-class shows to adventurous day trips.

These articles will help you uncover all the excitement and surprises Las Vegas offers, ensuring your trip is anything but ordinary!

Do you like to Party?

If you like experiencing a getaway in Las Vegas, you may want to enjoy the Miami lifestyle; find out more in our Miami Travel Guide