Just back from a travel goods trade show in Vegas. I’m a nut for interior decor and can (and did!) spend hours scoping out chic hotels along Las Vegas Boulevard (AKA The Strip). In a future post, I’m going to share my best bets for hotels but today, I`m going to provide some pointers to help you make the most of your stay in this desert oasis.
Time It Right - Keep money in your wallet and avoid the masses by going during the slower season which is December and January (except during Christmas and New Year`s holidays). But steer clear of the city in early January when the annual Consumer Electronics Show draws over 100,000 attendees. Also, plan not to go during holidays and when big sporting or other mega conventions are in town because hotels jack up their prices. Contact the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to find out when major events will be taking place. If you don`t whither easily in 40 degree weather, July and August are good bets too.
Think: Package Deal - The last two times I’ve been to Vegas, I’d scoured the net for deals and both times it was a flight + hotel package through Expedia that won out. Expedia isn’t always the lowest for other destinations but it’s a good place to begin your Vegas search. If you’re Canadian and live near the US border, flying out of an American airport could save you some greenbacks. Here are budget airlines to consider: Allegiant Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue and AirTran. And take a look at hotelscombined.com.
Getting to the Strip - Since McCarran International Airport is situated a 10-15 min. drive from the south end of the Strip, if you`re travelling with others, it may be more cost-effective to take a taxi. If not, the going rate for a shuttle is $6.50 one way or $12 return per person. I used Bell Transportation which was good and there`s Gray Line as well as several other companies. Both shuttle drivers I had were great sources of info so be sure to ask them for any insider tips.
Cruising the Strip - Car rentals aren`t necessary, especially when you factor in the cost for parking, gas and the rental itself. The Deuce double decker bus operates 24/7 and stops at “virtually every hotel and casino along the Strip”. On the bus, you must pay in cash and drivers don`t provide change. For more info about fares, please visit this link. Both times I visited, I often saw line-ups of tourists vying for room on crowded buses as often the drivers needed to leave people behind. There`s also the monorail but at $14 for a one-day pass ($5 per ride), it`s pricey, not as extensive as the bus route and, as author Sara Benson wrote in the Lonely Planet`s Las Vegas City Guide (which I recommend as it`s thorough, lightweight, reader-friendly and witty), some stations can be challenging to find.
In future posts, I`m going to share with you fun (and free) things to see and do and where the best buffets are. You`ll also find out a Vegas secret…where one of the best (free!) views of the Strip is.
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