But if you’re looking for a bit more excitement in this cooler weather, are willing to travel about 5 hours, and are interested in countless entertainment opportunities within either walking distance or 15 minutes of your hotel, you might want to consider a road trip to Las Vegas. Whether you’ve been before or never have, the city has a lot to offer! Below, check out some tips we’ve gathered from friends and professional travelers that have visited Sin City.

Comfortable Shoes Are a Must

So, you’re staying on “the Las Vegas Strip”… that means you won’t be walking too much, right?! Actually, no! Many visitors are surprised to learn that they will be doing a lot more walking than they thought when they booked their room in one of the famous hotels in the tourist district. A couple of hours walking that area can easily add up to several miles. Most hotels with casinos make you walk through the actual gambling area to get to the lodging area, and just that can be a hike. We highly recommend you wear comfortable shoes, because there’s a good chance you’ll be walking much more than you think.

Know Where Exactly Your Hotel and Your Room Inside the Hotel is Located

Hotels on the strip are huge, and many have different towers housing hotel rooms. It’s not uncommon to need to walk at least 15 minutes from the parking garage to the check-in area, and then another 15-20 minutes to your room every single time you want to venture to the hotel doors leading to the outside. Staying right on “the Strip” gives you faster access to different attractions, shows, restaurants, and nightlife, but staying off-Strip means less tourists wandering through the hotel’s hallways at all hours and a less costly trip.

Often, booking online means getting a better deal, but we recommend you call the hotel prior to doing so. It’s important to know where your potential room is located within the property. How long does it take to get from the front desk to your room? How long does it take to get from your room to the outside tourist attractions? What is the view from that type of room? There are plenty of attractions off the main drag, so it might be a good idea to find out how much it is for parking (self and valet) every time you want to leave your hotel.

Ask For What You Want

Las Vegas hotels are notorious for being much less expensive during the week, and in addition to that, many will upgrade you to a better room for free if you simply ask. On the nights of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, as well as when certain events are in town, free upgrades are few and far between, so keep that in mind. If you can get away to Sin City during the week though, you might get a great deal on a superior room just because you asked.

Also, no matter what nights of the week you stay, you should feel comfortable calling your hotel directly and asking if you can have a room in an area you find more desirable, whether that’s closer to or further away from the elevator, or on the non-Strip side of the hotel, or with a view of the pool. It’s your getaway, so why not ask? The worst the staff can say is “I’m sorry, we can’t accommodate that request”.

If You’ll Be Gambling, Set a Budget and Stick to it!

It’s so easy to sink a bunch of money into a slot machine or table game before you even know it’s gone. Having said that, it can be exciting to bet against the house odds and see how you fare. If you plan to gamble, it’s highly recommended that you decide how much you’re willing to wager before you get to the bright lights of the city.

Even a $20 budget can show you the experience of winning or losing in Vegas. There are penny slots and there are table games (like Blackjack) with a 5-figure minimum bet. If you’re comfortable with gambling, just make sure you don’t overdo it – you still have to get home!

From betting experts: “If you win big early, CASH OUT!!!”

Skip Hotel ATMs Whenever Possible

This tip somewhat goes with the above one about setting a budget, primarily because it can be so tempting to get some cash out when you’ve won more than you’ve bet, but other than the budget consideration, the fees that hotel ATMs charge cannot be overlooked. If you thought your hometown non-bank charged a lot… you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Vegas casinos and hotels have installed ATMs that charge a ridiculous amount to access your own money.

Set your entire travel and gambling budget ahead of time and withdraw the money from your own bank. It’ll save you a good amount in fees! Of course, make sure you keep that money safe during your trip, or you’ll have a whole different problem to deal with!

Dinner Reservations Make a World of Difference

There are few things more disappointing during a trip than being “hangry” and not being able to get a table at a restaurant. Don’t end up in this situation! Whether you want to check out a celebrity-founded restaurant, a popular buffet, or any food service offerings while in Vegas, we recommend you call ahead to find out if they accept reservations, and if they do, that you plan ahead and reserve a table. If you can, make arrangements the day before you want to dine at your chosen eatery. Trust us – there’s always some event going on at some hotel on “the Strip”, and that very often means you’ll be hungry longer if you don’t plan ahead. It’s quite simple now, because you can call the restaurant directly, reserve seats through various apps, or ask the hotel concierge for assistance.

There’s More to Las Vegas Than the Casino Hotels

Below is just a tiny selection of places or events that are worth your time while in or on your way to Sin City:

The Mob Museum
Speakeasies
The Neon Museum
High Roller Observation Wheel
Red Rock Canyon
Hoover Dam Tour Information
Lake Mead Visitor Center
Shows in Vegas
Las Vegas Top Tours & Activities

The trip from the Phoenix area to Las Vegas is beautiful and even serene at times, passing through nothing but saguaros and vast desert. There are stops worth your time on the way there too. And when you research a trip to Las Vegas, we know you’ll find numerous options that appeal to your interests, whether on or off the main drag of Las Vegas Boulevard. It’s so fun to have that mecca of entertainment, dining, and lodging options within such a short drive of our home! Have you been to Vegas? Are you planning to go? Would you go after reading this article? Let us know!