Looking forward to traveling to Vegas for the holiday weekend? Well you’re not alone. According to Priceline and Yahoo Las Vegas is the number one travel destination for Memorial Day Weekend and the number two destination for Labor Day Weekend.  We have put together a number of tricks that will help you when traveling to Vegas. 

Traveling to Vegas: by Car

If you’re driving into Las Vegas be prepared for massive traffic. For instance, the normal drive time from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is 4 hours, however for Memorial Day weekend it can take upwards to 8 hours, so pack some snacks, good music and be prepared.

Traveling to Vegas via plane

You’ve arrived in Las Vegas and you’re ready to head to your hotel and get the party started. However if you’re taking a taxi from McCarran to the Strip do NOT let your driver take you the I-215 highway route. Not only is not the shortest route and will also cost you a whole lot more!  If you absolutely DO NOT want to wait in the mile long cab line at McCarran you can easily book a Limo in advance which will be waiting on Level 0 underneath baggage claim, this will save you at least 30 to 40 mins.

Getting Around Las Vegas 

Take a Taxi

If you’re drinking don’t drive. With LVPD stepping up DUI checkpoints, you don’t want your holiday memories to consist of your time in the Clack County detention center.

Take a Limo or Town car

If you don’t want to wait in long cab lines and don’t mind spending the extra $50 to 60 then limo a town car is a great option!

There are also a number of Trams and quick walk ways that will get you from one casino to the next, especially if you are at City Center, Bellagio or the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.  I wouldn’t recommend taking the Deuce (bus) or the Monorail.  If you are going to take the Deuce you might as well just walk it is going to be faster!  The Monorail is only good if you are staying at MGM Grand or Imperial Palace and you are looking to go to going to the other one.

Traveling to Vegas: Checking into your Room

Most of the hotels in Vegas won’t let you check into your hotel room until 3-4pm, you can do a couple of things here either try and tip the front desk for an early check in, book your flight accordingly or just check your bags at the bell desk and go party!  Remembering your room, once your check in is one of the hardest things to do, 1. because all of the hallways and floors look the same, 2. you haven’t actually spent any time in your room.  I always like to take a picture of my room key and the room number and then save that as my wall paper on my phone.

What you’re here for… To Party!

When heading to Day clubs/ Pool parties:

You will be searched, extensively. If you have any medications (even if in prescription bottles) they will be confiscated, same with candy, gum or any questionable looking items. Just roll up with your sunblock, id, wallet, cash and credit cards to be safe.  This also will effect how long it takes you to get into one of the Las Vegas Pools, the less stuff they have to go through the less time you will have to stand in line and when the temperature is in the high 110′s less is always more!

Traveling to Vegas: Going to Nightclubs

Please note that dress code is strictly enforced for all nightclubs meaning, Men no sneakers or shorts, no matter how much money you have or your table minimum you will NOT get in.  Ladies, If you’re putting on heals commit for the entire evening and leave your shoes on!  Also, you are going to be required to have an ID, no matter how old you are! (This is a gaming rule and the security has no say over this)

Traveling to Vegas: Tipping

Gratuity is always included when you are doing bottle service at any of the nightclubs or pool parties.  If you do have a table or pool party and you don’t want to wait in line for the bathroom or you want to meet new groups of girls you can always give the security guard / table attendent (busser) money and they can walk you past the bathroom line or track down those girls!  If you do not want to wait for a taxi line but don’t really want to take a limo / town car you can always give the valet / taxi line attendant $15 – 20 to skip the line.

Traveling to Vegas: Safety

Make copies of all of your personal data. What will only take minutes will save you time and anxiety if you get a little too crazy this weekend. Make color copies of your license, passport, credit and debit cards. Leave copies at home and/or with someone you trust. Also keep one copy in your hotel room safe.  In the event you lose your ID, you will have a backup you can use to get home.  If you forget to make copies of your ID and you need to catch a flight, just head over to McCarran a little bit early and depending upon the airline, you can usually just fill out the lost / stolen ID report with Metro and they will issue you your boarding pass.

Free WiFi is great but try not to use it when accessing your personal information (address, bank accounts, social security number, etc.) as it’s a busy weekend, hackers and thieves are out in forces and you don’t want to make it easy for them to take advance of you, stealing your identity or ripping you off.

Traveling to Vegas: Hydrating:

Avoid Caffeine and salts this means Starbucks coffee, tea, Redbull and soda!  Drink plenty of water or beverages high in electrolytes, like coconut water, pedialyte, and eat watermelon too.  If you are drinking during the day, and let’s be honest you will be, I am always switch to vodka & water.  It is like hydrating while you drink, or something like that; they say that you should drink one glass of water for every one drink that you have; but who can ever really keep track!

How to cure a Hangover 

You’re in Vegas, it’s a holiday weekend, it’s hot you’re going to be hung-over. Here are a few tips to get you feeling better and back in the saddle. Hair of the dog, begin where you left off and get the party started again with a Bloody Mary.  Eat mineral rich foods, like asparagus.  Take plenty of vitamins B & C.  Drink beverages loaded with electrolytes like Pedialyte, coconut water and Gatorade.  Sleep or exercise, but lets be real you’re in Vegas!

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