First Time in Las Vegas: What to Know Before You Go
Las Vegas rewards a little preparation. The Strip is longer than it looks on a map, most hotels charge a daily resort fee on top of the room rate, and the best shows and restaurants fill up well before you arrive. This guide covers the basics so your first trip starts smoothly, from touchdown at the airport to your first night out.
Resort fees and check-in
Almost every Strip hotel, and many off-Strip properties, add a mandatory resort fee per night, charged separately from the room rate. It usually covers Wi-Fi, gym access and sometimes local calls or streaming. This fee is not optional and is not included in the headline room rate, so factor it in when comparing hotels rather than looking at the room price alone.
Booking directly with the hotel, rather than through a third-party site, generally gives you clearer visibility on what the resort fee covers and makes it easier to resolve issues at the front desk since the reservation sits in the hotel's own system.
Check-in at large Strip resorts such as Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas or Wynn Las Vegas can take longer than at a typical city hotel, especially in the afternoon when several flights land close together. If your room isn't ready, most hotels will hold luggage and text or call when it is available, so you can go explore instead of waiting in the lobby.
Standard check-in and check-out times apply as with any hotel; if you need an early arrival or late departure, contact the property directly ahead of time rather than assuming it will be automatic.
Distances and getting around
The Las Vegas Strip runs about four miles from Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino at the south end past MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino, Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino and Caesars Palace, up to Wynn Las Vegas and Fontainebleau Las Vegas near the north end. Walking the full length is a serious hike, especially in summer heat, so pick a home base near the part of the Strip you plan to spend the most time in.
Ride-hailing apps and taxis are the easiest way to move between resorts, particularly at night or in hot weather. The monorail runs along the east side of the Strip and connects some hotels, but it doesn't reach every property directly, so check the nearest station relative to where you're staying.
Downtown Las Vegas, home to hotels like California Hotel and Casino and Circa Resort & Casino, is a separate area a few miles north of the Strip with a different, more compact feel. It's easy to reach by car or rideshare but is not walkable from the Strip.
From Harry Reid International Airport, rideshare and taxi are the most straightforward options to any Strip or Downtown hotel; some resorts also offer shuttle information, which is worth checking directly with the property before you fly.
Shows and restaurants: book ahead
Popular shows and well-known restaurants inside major resorts routinely sell out days or weeks in advance, particularly on weekends and around conventions or holidays. If there's a specific show or dinner you want, reserve it before you land rather than hoping to walk up.
Hotels such as Caesars Palace, Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas house a mix of headline entertainment and destination restaurants, so plan your evenings around what's actually available during your dates rather than assuming everything runs nightly.
If you're staying at the same resort as the show or restaurant you want, ask at check-in or call ahead, some properties hold back a small allocation for guests.
Build in flexibility: pick a backup restaurant or lounge for each night in case your first choice is full, especially on Friday and Saturday.
Money matters
Room rates displayed anywhere, including on this site, do not include the resort fee or applicable taxes, which are added at checkout or on arrival. Always check the current total on the property's own booking page rather than relying on a rate you saw elsewhere.
Casinos and many bars operate on a cash-and-card mix; card is accepted almost everywhere for rooms, dining and shopping, but it's worth carrying some cash for tips and smaller transactions.
Booking directly with the hotel avoids third-party markups and makes changes or cancellations simpler, since you're dealing with the property directly rather than a reseller.
Set a daily budget that includes the resort fee, parking if you have a car, and meals, Las Vegas dining at Strip resorts can add up quickly compared to a standard city trip.