Travel tips for Las Vegas
Everything you need to know before visiting Las Vegas — money, transport, getting in and when to go.
Planning essentials
Visas, budgets, packing, eSIMs and the cultural etiquette worth knowing before you land.
Getting around
Using the paid monorail along the Strip's east side, which doesn't reach the airport, and why a rental car is the norm for reaching Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon and the canyon country beyond the city.
When to go
Scorching Mojave Desert summers above 40°C from June through August, mild winters, and the shoulder seasons that suit the outdoor day trips best. Month-by-month guides to what to expect.
Good to know about travel tips for Las Vegas
The United States is not in the European Union and not in the Schengen area — a European Health Insurance Card is worthless here, and most European visitors enter instead on an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program rather than a visa, applied for online before flying. 375% in Clark County, added only at the register or the check; tipping 18 to 20% is expected in restaurants and bars, and most Strip hotels also charge a mandatory nightly resort fee on top of the room rate, with parking often charged separately as well. You must be 21 to gamble or to drink alcohol anywhere in Nevada.
Las Vegas runs on Pacific Time; Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving time at all, except for the Navajo Nation, which does, and Utah runs an hour ahead of Nevada — a fact worth checking before a Grand Circle or Zion day trip crosses those lines. Driving is on the right. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is the only airport serving the Strip, about 8 km away; there's no metro or subway, so a rental car is the norm for anything beyond the Strip itself. The Las Vegas Monorail is a paid, fixed-fare ride that runs only along the Strip's east side and does not serve the airport at all.
None of this changes at Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon specifically: opening hours and shuttle schedules there run on their own timing and can be affected by weather or seasonal closures, which is a timing fact, not a currency or visa one.
Frequently asked questions about travel tips for Las Vegas
What currency is used in Las Vegas?
The US dollar. Card and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere, but tipping 18 to 20% in restaurants and bars is expected on top of the bill, and most Strip hotels add a mandatory nightly resort fee as well.
How far is Las Vegas from Los Angeles?
It's the hub's longest day trip, several hours by car across the Mojave Desert — check current drive-time estimates before planning a same-day return.
How far is the airport from the Strip?
About 8 km; Harry Reid International Airport sits at the south end of the Strip, and taxis, rideshares and shuttles cover the trip in minutes outside of rush-hour traffic.
Is Las Vegas expensive to visit?
Room rates plus a mandatory nightly resort fee and separate parking charges can add up fast on the Strip, especially on weekends and around major events — worth budgeting for in advance.
Do I need a visa for Las Vegas?
Most European visitors travel under the ESTA Visa Waiver Program rather than a visa, applied for online before departure; visitors from countries outside that program need a full US visa, and neither an EU passport nor Schengen status has any bearing on US entry.
Planning Your Las Vegas Visit
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