Las Vegas Insider Tips

Las Vegas insider tips will guarantee that you have a great time during your travel to Las Vegas, Nevada. Although Vegas is an interesting place to visit, most people who travel there have no clue about what the culture is like, let alone what insider tips need to be known before traveling to Las Vegas.

New! This page has been updated in September of 2012 with all of the latest Las Vegas insider goodies, tips, tricks and flat out local info that you should know if you really want to make the most out of your visit to Sin City. If you want to really do Vegas like a pro, pop some pop corn and start scrolling down the page because this is the most up to date and modern Las Vegas insider guide on the net. Oh yeah, and you get it all for free.

Las Vegas Travel Tips

The first thing that you will be setting up for your visit to Las Vegas is your flight and hotel. Travel agencies charge different rates than other travel agencies. Doesn’t make sense does it? Well, get used to it, but also get used to finding the cheapest one by using the tips that I’ve provided below.

Choosing the flight isn’t tough, but there is certainly a method to getting the cheapest non-stop flight possible. Read about how to get cheap Las Vegas airline tickets if you want to find out how spending 10 to 30 minutes of time can save you up to $1500 on two plane tickets to Las Vegas.

• Use a well known brand like Expedia or similar hotel and flight deal sites. Unless you have been comped by one of the hotels in Vegas (more on this later), than you should be booking your flight and hotel together to save money, instead of booking the hotels and flights direct. You save money on travel sites by combining these two things, and the price also drops dramatically when you add another person to the same room. Oddly enough, there is no further price drop and sometimes even an additional charge if you want 3 or more people to a room, so keep that in mind.
• Book your flight EARLY! I know, it is Vegas and sometimes going there for a weekend can be a spur of the moment decision, but in all times possible book your flight as early as possible. The prices usually only go up as the date gets nearer, and there are good chances that flights will completley fill up, especially in this economy where you rarely see the airlines wasting open seats anymore. Get your flight booked as soon as possible and you will have all that extra cash to spend in Vegas.
• Do a 1-stop or 2-stop rather than direct flight. Ok, this is way less baller than going direct but if you want to save a couple hundred bucks this could be your answer. Be warned though, that there is always a chance that they can lose your luggage if you are doing connecting flights on a tight schedule. It has actually happened to me twice but luckily it was on the way home both times, and they delivered my luggage to me the next day.
• Fly early in the day. The flights that leave 8-9 am or earlier are always cheaper, because you have to be at the airport really early. You are about to go to Vegas and your sleep schedule is going to be severely messed up in less than 24 hours anyways, so why not save another $50 or so bucks off a flight?

 

Las Vegas Hotel Tips

There are hundreds of Las Vegas hotels to choose from, but my job is to teach you which hotels to stay at, and which to avoid. The prices change what seems to be every night of the week, but there are reasons for this, as well as strategies on how to find Las Vegas hotels that won’t rip you off.

The Bill Trick

The bill trick is as old as Las Vegas yourself. The whole idea is that you slip a $100 bill inbetween your credit card and ID when you are booking into your room. Don’t listen to the rumors that it’s $20, it was originally $20 way back when and inflation has changed what $20 will get you! It’s either $50 or $100, and there is no guarantee that it will work. Many hotel staff will upgrade your room to a beter view or suite if you tip them this generously.

Now lets take a look at some of the different hotels for different budgets, and which kind of demographics would be good for each one.

Higher End Hotels

When you are staying on the Vegas strip, you can really see a difference in the level of hotels and experience you will get. Most of this is based on the luxury as well as the age of the hotel. Some of the old 5 star hotels that were once considered the gems of Vegas are now so severely outdated that they are considered budget hotels. Some of them, sadly, are even forced to shut down their doors completely. Stardust anyone? Here are some of the higher end hotels in Las Vegas, as well as the demographics that you can tend to find in each one.

Encore/Wynn: A very European and more mature crowd, when you are on a Wynn property you better dress to impress. A sea of beautiful and apparently wealthy people will pass through this casino day and night, and it is amazing for people watching. Both the Wynn and it’s twin sister Encore are well known for their unbelievable nightlife. Yes, unbelievable. The Encore is home to arguably the best nightclub in the entire world, “XS” as well as “Surrender” and “Encore Beach Club”. The original Wynn is no sleeper on nightlife either, bringing the award winning Tryst to the table. The crowd in the nightclub is anywhere from early 20’s to people in their 40’s, and everyone has a great time.

The rest of the Encore and Wynn properties are simply a treat to walk through, with their extravagant decor and endless high end restaurants, shops and kiosks. There is definitely something for everyone here, and lets not forget to mention the massive casino where many people prefer to spend much of their time. If you get hungry in Las Vegas you have to try the Wynn buffet at least once. It is more pricey than all the other buffets in town, but is it ever so worth it. The food is mouth watering and the selection is seemingly endless, and don’t get me started on the desserts, I could spend hours there just samping the delicacies and fattening up!

Bellagio: Welcomed by the world famous Bellagio fountains, you will feel right at home at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas if you like luxury. Even though the Bellagio is getting older now, it is still one of the most luxurious and cool hotels on the strip. Everything about this place screams class, from the carpets to the chandeliers to the casino to the nightlife. It seems that everyone walking around this place is good looking and affluent, who knew. The Bellagio demographics are all over the place with a heavy European to other continents ratio. There is decent nightlife at Bellagio with Hyde Lounge being their go to hot spot.

Cosmopolitan: It’s new, it’s hip, it’s modern and luxurious. It is the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Without a doubt, if you are in your 20’s or 30’s and looking for the best place for young people to stay in Vegas, Cosmo is the spot. It can be quite pricy on the weekends but weeknights are very affordable and the weekends are worth every penny. Cosmo is home to Marquee nightclub and dayclub, one of the new wonders of Las Vegas. This towering club has a massive main room and patio, as well as a smaller hip hop room down the stairs. The day club portion is equally as fabulous, raising the bar yet again for luxury in Vegas pool parties. Cosmo is one of the only luxury hotels on the strip where you will find a ton of young people staying, due to their affordable rates and top rated nightlife.

On A Budget

So, you are on a budget and don’t want to stay in a luxury hotel like the Wynn, Bellagio, Encore or Cosmopolitan? Welcome to the majority of Vegas tourists! You will be amazed at some of these hotels that are not considered top tier in Vegas, even though they would be 5 star in any other city in America!

Luxor: Everyone thinks this place is old and outdate, until you walk inside. This place still has it’s original luxury feel to it from the moment you walk in and see the sky high pyramid coming to a point above your head dozens of stories above. There is plenty of entertainment and bars, restaurants and a food court. It is in a really great spot on the strip and Luxor is well known for it’s unique shape (a pyramid). The rooms, because of the aformentioned fact, are all on a slant which provides some interesting interior design. Go to Luxor if you are a family or couple on a budget in Vegas, you will fit right in.

New York New York: You just walk through this place and catch some sort of vibe, almost similar to the one you get when you land in JFK in New York. This hotel is one of the old luxury hotels that isn’t considered luxury in Vegas anymore, but still brings a ton to the table. Full of underrated bars and restaurants, New York New York is home to the bar “Coyote Ugly”. When there is a massive line up to get in at a 10:00 pm on a weekday night, you know it is one happening party. New York New York also has a freaking roller coaster going around the whole hotel and Vegas strip, it is quite simply put – amazing. Just writing this now and remembering the time we stayed on 10 times in a row gives me some massive nostalgia.

Palms/Palms Place: How can we have an affordable list of still cool Vegas hotels without listing the Palms and the next door and more subdued Palms Place? With a happening casino and unbelievable nightlife, the Palms is the place to be for that young crew on a supreme budget their first time out in Vegas. There are multiple nightclubs and restaurants and the Palms doesn’t beat around the bush about what they are about “What happens at Palms, stays at the Palms”. I stayed here when I was the ripe old age of 24 and loved every minute of it, even though it was a much more low budget vacation than my other trips to Vegas. I really loved this hotel and I’ve also stayed at the Palms Place which is across the street and nothing but hotels and condo rooms.

While there are many other options for you to choose to stay in Vegas that are both cheap and expensive, stick to this list and you will be guaranteed the foundation for an unforgettable once in a life time vaction in Sin City.

Get Into Any Pool You Want To

This tip is best for those of us who actually live in Las Vegas and don’t have a pool of our own, but visitors staying next to a nice resort can find this tip useful as well. Basically, there are two ways to do this. You can either stay one night at the expensive hotel, or you can find somebody else that is or has stayed at that hotel. Your goal is to get your hands on a room key from that hotel. The people working at the pool, such as the guards, will never swipe your card to see if you’re really staying there or not. In fact, many hotels still let their departing guests who have already checked out use the pool facilities until they are checked out, even if they don’t have the key to show.

There are two distinct different types of pool experiences that you can have in Las Vegas. The first one is a chilled out one, the second is a wild pool party. Different pools will suit different needs. High octance dance parties take place at the Cosmopolitan’s Marquee Day Club, but they also have the bamboo pool which is extremely relaxing in a different part of the hotel. Renting a cabana is a great idea both for the shade it provides in the scorching Vegas heat as well as have a place to lie down in an extremely busy pool. Wet Republic is one of the long standing famous pool parties in Vegas, while the Moorea Beach Club is on the other extreme, a completely chilled out nude pool experience.

Las Vegas Gambling Tips

The best tip that I can suggest for gambling in Las Vegas is probably going to upset you. My tip for Las Vegas gambling is to bet, lose, and move on. The more you play, the more you pay, that’s how all of these massive casino hotels stay so beautiful. Sure, you can get lucky and walk away a winner.. many people do indeed. Just remember to never gamble more than you can afford to lose, because the casinos are designed to gradually take your money all the while giving you a great time. If you’re a big gambler, then go ahead and have some fun. If you don’t like gambling, never feel pressured to do so. I’ve gone many trips to Vegas where I was simply too damn busy to even play a hand. There are a million non-gambling things to do in this amazing city, so explore your options.

However, should you decide to gamble during your stay, there are certain things that you can do to minimize your losses. First, do not play any of the slot machines. Slots are a guaranteed way to lose everything very quickly. I’ve pulled the bar as many as 60 times in a row without winning a thing, and it cost me $180 to do so. Sure, you can get lucky, but the house edge is quite painful compared to some of the other games. If you’re going to play slots, at least play online slots. They have a much healthier payout than casino slots. Have you ever wondered why the Vegas casinos have pretty much nothing but slots covering the entire casino floor, with tables scattered in? It’s because they are by far the biggest money makers for the casinos.

I suggest making your way over to the table game area and finding a game that interests you. The game where the casino has the lowest edge is typically craps, and the game where the casino has the highest edge is roulette. If you know how to play craps, then go ahead and roll the dice, if not, try out a game such as blackjack. Blackjack is known to have only a 1.5% casino edge, but that doesn’t explain why Harrah’s continuosly posts a 10.5% to 12.3% win on all wagers made. Now, if you want to play something simple go ahead and play roulette. It is a fun game to play and you can do things as simple as bet on red or black, even or odd, etc. Then the wheel spins and lands on a colored number. It is an extremely simple game for those of you who want to gamble but have no idea how to play any of the games.

Las Vegas Bar Tips

Get Free Drinks at the Bars

Drinks in Las Vegas are pretty expensive, more than your typical hometown bar would charge you at least. I know that I was paying about $6 per beer $10 per mixed drink during my first few times in Las Vegas. All of that has changed now that I’ve learned this Las Vegas tip from a local insider.

Most casinos in Las Vegas, if not all of them, give players free drinks while they gamble. But what if you don’t want to sit down and play blackjack, craps, or roulette… you just want to drink. You might already know where I’m going with this, then again, you might not. Anyways, have you ever pulled up to a bar in Las Vegas and noticed something different about them?

They have video poker.

Yes, video poker. But wait, what does that have to do with getting free drinks? EVERYTHING. See, drinks are free while you gamble in the casino. The bar is IN THE CASINO, and video poker machines happen to count as gambling. Stick a $20 bill in there, order up some drinks, and try your luck. You don’t have to gamble much, and you might even win, but you’ve certainly saved yourself some money even if you lose your $20 while having 4 beers or 2 mixed drinks. This same trick sometimes rings true for regular bars, but I would ask the bartender first.

Las Vegas Club Tips

Clubs in Las Vegas are extremely unique in how they charge people for things. As a tourist, prepared to get your wallet out, because these nightclubs will charge you for absolutely everything they possibly can. However, there are a few Las Vegas club tips that might help you save some money.

First, local ladies almost always get in for free. It doesn’t matter which nightclub, that’s just the way it is. As a tourist, you can take advantage of this by telling the doorman that you’re a local. He usually won’t ask any questions when you show him an out of state ID because most people who live in Las Vegas don’t have a local ID anyways. Sure they might doubt you or question you to test you but if you look good, the clubs want you inside anways.

Guys, you usually have to pay no matter what. However, if you can bring in at least one lady for every guy in your group, you might have a chance at getting in with the ladies. At the very least, keeping your guy to girl ratio low will help you get in the doors faster. At some of the more upper echelon clubs bringing one girl for every guy will simply allow you to get in, but you’ll still have to pay cover. When you are coming in a larger group of 6 or more people you should highly consider getting bottle service. We’ll talk more about this a bit further below, but it is the #1 sure fire way of getting treated like a VIP in Las Vegas clubs and avoiding all the hassle everyone else has to go through.

Las Vegas nightclubs get extremely busy about an hour after they open. Hotspots such as Tao, Pure, and LAX are known to get packed as early as 10:30pm, so make sure you get there by 10:00pm. If you plan on going to Drai’s afterhours club, get there before 3:30am as the place starts getting packed at about 4:00am. Below we will have an update of some of the hottest nightlife spots in Las Vegas still to this day.

XS : The best nightclub in Las Vegas by far is XS. It has headliner DJ’s nearly every single night they are open, from Deadmau5 and David Guetta to Tiesto and Avicci. It has a massive 40,000 sq foot venue with both an inside and outside part to it. It even has a massive pool with real blackjack tables in the middle in case you want to gamble while you club.

Marquee: One of the newest megaclubs on the strip, Marquee doubles a dayclub during the day and nightclub at night. It has 2 massive rooms and a patio and is located at the modern and chic Cosmopolitan hotel

Tao: The spot to be on Thursday nights in Vegas is Tao, bar none. It is located inside the Venetian hotel which is pure class.

Ghostbar, Moon, Playboy Club, Rain: These 4 clubs make up the nightlife at the world famous Palms hotel and casino. It is not as luxury of an area as it once was, but the nightlife is still undeniably fun.

Surrender: Another one of the hottest clubs in Vegas is also located on one of Steve Wynn’s properties Encore (so is XS), and it’s called Surrender. It boasts the city’s top industry night on Wednesday nights and boy does it get rammed.

Hopefully you enjoyed this massive guide to Las Vegas, because I had a lot of fun writing it. Hopefully the tips and advice I have provided will help you have a once in the lifetime trip like I’ve done so many times. Viva Las Vegas!

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