Before you go · Las Vegas
Las Vegas essentials
The practical things worth knowing before you arrive, so you can spend your time on the Strip and in the desert.
Updated October 2026
Entry: visas and ESTA
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK and most EU countries, can visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa but must have an approved ESTA before they travel. Apply only on the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov; other sites charge extra. Everyone else needs a visa. Rules change, so check the US government’s official pages before you book.
Money, prices and tipping
The currency is the US dollar. Cards, including contactless and phone payments, are accepted almost everywhere. Prices in shops and restaurants usually exclude sales tax, which is added at the till. Tipping is expected: 18–20% of the bill at table-service restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and something for hotel staff and drivers.
Arriving and getting around
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is just south-east of the Strip. Taxis wait outside baggage claim, Uber and Lyft pick up in the parking garages, and the Rent-A-Car Center is three miles south, linked by shuttle. Lane closures in the airport connector tunnels continue until December 2026, so allow extra time.
Along the Strip, the Las Vegas Monorail runs behind the east-side resorts from MGM Grand to SAHARA, and RTC’s Deuce bus runs along Las Vegas Boulevard. Distances between resorts are longer than they look, and pedestrian bridges and escalators add time: wear comfortable shoes.
The desert heat
Las Vegas is in the Mojave Desert: the air is dry and summer heat is extreme. The Southern Nevada Health District advises drinking water regularly, even when you don’t feel thirsty, limiting alcohol, planning outdoor activities for early morning or evening, wearing light clothing, a hat and sunscreen, and carrying water and a phone when you are outdoors. Never leave children or pets in a car.
On day trips to Red Rock, Valley of Fire or Death Valley, carry plenty of water and start early. For minor heat illness use an urgent-care clinic; in an emergency call 911.
Resort fees and the total price
Many Las Vegas resorts charge a mandatory daily resort fee. Since 12 May 2025, the US Federal Trade Commission’s rule on unfair or deceptive fees has required hotels, booking sites and travel agents that advertise a price for short-term lodging to show the total price, including mandatory fees, clearly and prominently. Each resort publishes what its fee includes, so check before you book.
A note on casinos
Most resorts on the Strip have a casino floor, and you must be 21 or over to gamble or to linger on the floor. This guide covers the resorts as places to stay, eat and be entertained; we don’t cover gambling.
Health and insurance
Medical care in the US is excellent but expensive: make sure your travel insurance covers medical treatment. UMC is the main hospital and trauma centre, and UMC Quick Care clinics take walk-in patients from 8 am to 8 pm daily. In an emergency, call 911.
Questions and answers
How far is the airport from the Strip?
Harry Reid International Airport is just south-east of the Strip; a taxi or rideshare is a short ride, depending on traffic and the airport roadworks.
Do hotel prices include resort fees?
Since May 2025, the FTC requires advertised hotel prices to include mandatory fees such as resort fees in the total price.
When is the best time to visit Las Vegas?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking and day trips; summer heat is extreme.
Entry rules, fees and taxes change. Always check official government sources before you travel.