Holidays to Las Vegas

Las Vegas travel guide

• The hotel capital of the world

  In Vegas the hotels are part of the wow factor. With five of the world’s largest hotels located on the Las Vegas strip you’ll be astounded by the number of exciting things to see and do. As well as thousands of lavish rooms, Las Vegas hotels also offer everything from lively casinos and all you can eat buffets, to roller coasters and theme parks.

• A holiday for everyone

  Although Las Vegas holidays are known for the opportunity to explore the huge number of casinos and amazing nightlife, there’s a holiday to Las Vegas for the whole family. Children will love the endless fun available at the beaches, pools, waterslides and lazy rivers found in Vegas’ top hotels, while those seeking a quiet holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the Las Vegas strip will find a tranquil escape in the wealth of world-class spas available.

• When is the best time to visit Las Vegas?

  Apart from a slightly quieter period the week before Christmas, any time of the year is normally a great time to visit Vegas. From November to February, there may be some rain and the hottest time of the year is between June and August. Labor Day is at the beginning of September so there’s normally a lot going on around this time. Take a look at our Las Vegas holiday deals to find your perfect escape.
  
  Take a look at our climate a chart below.
  

• Las Vegas attractions

  The Bellagio

  If you venture towards the Bellagio Hotel during a holiday to Las Vegas, you’ll be greeted by the amazing and graceful dancing fountains. This brilliant display leaves the crowd in a state of wonderment every night, whilst inside the hotel you’ll be met by a stunning art gallery, shopping mall and Mediterranean inspired swimming pool.

  Lake of Dreams

  For something a little more mysterious try out the intriguingly named Lake of Dreams at Wynn Las Vegas. This secluded three acre lake is enclosed by tropical plantations and steamy rainforest, and is home to a beautiful water and light show projected against a 40-foot waterfall, as well as being surrounded by bars and restaurants for you enjoy.

  Paris Las Vegas

  For breathtaking panoramic views of the city, head to Las Vegas’ very own Paris. Here you can get the Eiffel Tower experience whilst on holiday in Las Vegas. You can also check out the mall, restaurant and casino hidden in the base of the tower.

  Animal experiences in Las Vegas

  Head to the Mandalay Bay for underwater thrills at the Shark Reef. Here you’ll be able to experience 1.6million gallons of underwater adventure as you observe sharks, tropical fish, sting rays and other weird and wonderful creatures from the deep.

  Relaxing by the water

  If you’re in search of relaxation, then you’re in luck. Many of the hotels in Las Vegas offer day passes to their pools and ‘beach clubs’, giving you the perfect opportunity to bask in the sun and take in something other than the malls and casinos. One of the best is the 11 acre Mandalay Bay Beach which has swimming pools, 2,700 tonnes of real sand, a lazy river and a beachside casino.

  Thrills and spills

  For some real life thrills you’ll need to head to the top of The Stratosphere Tower. More than 900 feet tall, this tower is home to four of the world’s most extreme thrill rides The Sky Jump, The Big Shot, The X Scream and Insanity. The X Scream offers a roller coaster ride stopping 29 feet over the edge of the tower and 866 feet from the ground below. This is definitely not one for the faint hearted.

  Head over to The Mirage Hotel and experience their volcano that erupts every hour, launching fiery smoke and a flaming crescendo 100 feet into the air. Or head to the Venetian and ride their gondolas in true Vegas style, as you pass under bridges, cobbled lanes and shopping arcades; you can even be serenaded as you travel. Holidays to Las Vegas are like nowhere else on earth.

  Vegas attractions – best of the rest

  From sports to spas, there's a lot more to Vegas than The Strip and the slots. Expect an action-packed calendar of American football, baseball, golf, boxing and wrestling events throughout the year. With 55 golf courses in the area and sensational spas, this ultra-modern metropolis offers a wide array of entertainment for everyone during Las Vegas trips.

  Las Vegas casinos

  Of course, no holiday to Las Vegas is complete without a spin on roulette. When you visit the casinos and play sensibly, they're every bit as thrilling and glamorous as you'd imagine.

  Take your time. Watch how the tables work for a while before settling in and don't bet more than you could comfortably lose. Treat your stake money as your budget for the night's entertainment and you won't go far wrong. Also, quit while you're ahead! Chances are you'll win some, and lose some.

  For free lessons during Las Vegas holidays, head to the Quad Hotel, offering gaming tutorials to anyone using their casino. Trust us, Las Vegas is a lot more fun when you've a better idea how to play the tables!

  Which casino should you go to? That's really up to you - there are casinos with row upon row of slot machines and there are casinos favouring poker, craps and table games. Out of the hotel casinos, the most lavish - and entertaining - are at Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and Wynn, each offering the high-rolling excitement you’d expect from a Las Vegas break!

• Las Vegas sightseeing

  In a land where anything is possible, deciding what to do can be a tough choice. After all where else apart from Vegas can you visit Paris, Venice and the Pyramids all in one place? With the strip providing endless entertainment for Las Vegas trips, you can enjoy everything from extravagant shopping and thrilling roller coasters, to fabulous shows and other spectacular attractions. Viva Las Vegas!

• Shopping in Las Vegas

  Short breaks to Las Vegas are the perfect opportunity to make the most of the hundreds of shops found in many of the Las Vegas hotels. The shopping malls spread throughout the city - with most located on Las Vegas Boulevard - are some of the finest you’ll find anywhere in the US.

  Bonanza Gift Shop

  Spread over more than 40,000 square feet, Bonanza Gift Shop is a shopper’s paradise, which bills itself as the world’s largest. Although this may not be entirely true, there’s so much Las Vegas paraphernalia to purchase here, you’ll be walking around this megastore for hours.

  The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian & Pallazo hotels

  If you’re looking for designer shops in a stunning setting, then head to The Shoppes, which can be found at the elegant Venetian and Palazzo Hotels. Featuring a selection of big name brands and department stores, you can indulge at the likes of Van Cleef & Arpels, Barneys New York and Jimmy Choo. Inside The Venetian you’ll also find The Grand Canal Shoppes, filled with even more designer names, and linked to the hotel via the beautiful Venetian Canal Network.

  Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

  If you want to find a diverse array of shops on your trip to Las Vegas then head to the Forum shops at Caesars Palace. With a collection of glitzy retailers that include jewellers, apparel stores, gift shops and art galleries, all situated in the presence of a replica of Michelangelo's David (this is Vegas after all), you’ll have a fun-filled day of shopping.

  The best of the rest

  Of course there’s fashion galore spread throughout Las Vegas, with the Wynn and Encore Esplanades packed with cutting edge fashions and classic labels like Chanel. Whereas the Fashion Mall hosts daily catwalk shows on a runway that runs right through the shopping centre, adding another unique and riveting shopping experience to Las Vegas holidays.

  There’s also the 1.2 mile retail and entertainment complex known as the Miracle Mile, which is located right in the heart of the Las Vegas action. With brands from around the globe, you can hit up the likes of popular retail shops H&M and French Connection, which sit alongside American cosmetics giant Sephora and Bloomingdales.

• Las Vegas food and drink

  You can eat around the clock in Las Vegas and find pretty much any cuisine you crave. Hotels and malls offer a dizzying variety of choice and - this is America, after all - huge portions. Downtown Las Vegas is the place for Italian diners, cheap breakfast joints and fast food stalls.

  But step into the lavish hotels and you’ll find a transformation to dining in Las Vegas. Celebrity chefs from across the country (and the world) have started opening up at the major hotels - with Lago by Julian Serrano at the Bellagio among the best in town. Bouchon is a wonderful bistro owned by Thomas Keller - considered the best restaurant in the US. Look out for excellent outposts of famed US restaurants including Border Grill, Nobu, Le Cirque and Pinot Brasserie. If you're on a budget, the Forum Shoppes Stage Deli offers enormous platters of meats, cheeses and salads.

  Freemont Street is lined with more than 60 restaurants, ranging from extravagant fine dining to 'fast food' style - you’ll also find a good range of buffet-style restaurants here too, proving that fast food, Las Vegas style, can be a healthy option.

  Be sure to taste your way through holidays in Vegas!

• Las Vegas nightlife

  This is ‘Sin City’ remember, so the real party starts when the sun sets. Most of the attractions and shows on The Strip are found within the hotels, and of course, their casinos. Away from the slots, check out the water, light and music spectacular at the Bellagio fountains, the erupting volcano at The Mirage and the pirate show at Treasure Island. Vegas holidays truly come alive at night.

  Las Vegas is a city that likes to party and should you have the energy (and the money) you can party the night away every night in one of the super clubs. Should you seek refined and sophisticated thrills, there are also plenty of cocktail bars to pass the evenings in.

  Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub

  A Michelin-starred luxury-dining brand combined with a lavish nightclub at MGM Grand. The collaboration delivers an innovative concept evolving beyond Hakkasan’s original restaurant model and has revolutionized Las Vegas’s nightlife and dining experiences. Hakkasan Las Vegas has had exclusive residencies with world-renowned DJs Tiësto, Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki.

  The LIGHT

  The first stand-alone nightclub presented by the partnership of The Light Group and Cirque du Soleil, revolutionizes the Las Vegas nightlife scene. Designed to bring a unique, memorable experience each evening, LIGHT Nightclub at Mandalay Bay tantalizes senses with state-of-the-art production and theatrics.

  XS at Encore at Wynn

  Named the number one nightclub in the USA for the last five years, XS at Encore is one of the most successful clubs in Las Vegas. Inspired by the curves of the human body, David Guetta and Avicii are among the resident DJs you'll see at XS, with two unique experiences available: bottle service on the dance floor or cabanas surrounding the Encore pool.

  Hyde Bellagio

  Discover Hyde overlooking the iconic Fountains of Bellagio. Long after the sun sets, Hyde Bellagio evolves into Vegas's hottest nightlife destination, with 40 VIP tables, a diverse rotation of DJs and live performances.

• Las Vegas weddings

  Elvis is always on hand (or any number of celebrity lookalikes) should you wish to tie the knot during your trip to Las Vegas. The city has plenty of wedding venues, ranging from the dramatic (atop the Eiffel Tower) to the Romantic (the glorious wedding chapel at Bellagio) and the most notorious; The Little White Chapel drive-in wedding chapel. Weddings are big business in Las Vegas with 100,000 wedding licenses issued every year.

• Day trips from Las Vegas

  The Grand Canyon

  Nothing will prepare you for the amazement of seeing this world wonder for the first time. The Grand Canyon, whether you visit morning, afternoon or evening, will leave you speechless. The vastness of the canyon is hard to comprehend and with three different rims to visit - south, north and west – you’ll find endless spectacular views. Make sure to tick this off your bucket list during your trip to Las Vegas.

  More trips from Las Vegas

  The Red Rock Canyon is a dazzling rock formation formed by a geological fault - where the Earth’s Crust has been ripped apart. You can take a mesmerising tour of the canyon from Las Vegas for around $20 - don’t forget your camera!

  Lake Mead is a tropical oasis in the middle of the Nevada Desert - you can take a stately and elegant cruise of the waters, and take afternoon tea on board.

  The impressive Hoover Dam, originally completed in 1935, has a fascinating visitor centre with great views of the Black Canyon below. While 100 miles or so away, the silent expanse of Death Valley is the largest national park unit outside of Alaska and contains the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere.

• Las Vegas events - what's on when?

  With casinos and shows running constantly throughout the year, there’s always something to keep you entertained during holidays to Vegas. But aside from all the nightclubs and excessive shopping, there are various other events held throughout the year.

  January – Consumer Electronic Show

  As one of the most important technology conventions of the year, this annual event sees the who’s who of technology companies, inventors and gadget makers descend upon Vegas, along with over 140,000 attendees. The event is the perfect opportunity to showcase and share upcoming tech.

  February – Mayor’s Cup International Soccer Tournament

  It’s not just partying and gambling in Las Vegas, there’s also plenty of sporting events and activities around. Every February this youth tournament is co-hosted by the City of Las Vegas and the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club, showcasing 350 teams from around the world. Coaches and scouts head down to spot the top sporting talent.

  March – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Weekend

  The Las Vegas Motor Speedway plays home to the NASCAR weekend every year. This popular American sport includes a number of events including Pole Day for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

  April - Viva Las Vegas

  This rockabilly weekender is held at the Orleans Hotel and Casino and features a whole host of different events including burlesque dancing, vintage clothing and car shows, music, and various special events such as a pin up contest, bowling and a tattoo contest. Experience the true spirit of Las Vegas.

  May - Las Vegas Helldorado Days

  This annual festival has been taking place since 1934, and was originally created to help draw people into Las Vegas. The festival comprises of a rodeo - which is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event - a parade and carnival, all of which honour cowboy culture. It’s fun for the whole family.

  June - Reggae in the Desert

  This annual celebration is the largest reggae festival in Las Vegas, and celebrates the art of the music and the Caribbean lifestyle. Featuring some of the most legendary performers in the reggae world, alongside a wide variety of culinary delights, and with multiple arts and crafts on offer, this is a great celebration for everyone to enjoy.

  July – Red, White & Boom

  Taking place on the 4th of July weekend, celebrate America’s Independence Day at the Mandalay Bay Beach. With a spectacular fireworks display, a monstrous carnival, along with music acts over the course of two days, this is fun filled action for all the family.

  August - Official Star Trek Convention

  You’ve never been to a fan convention quite like a Star Trek convention. With actors and devotees alike descending upon the Rio Suites Hotel, throw on your best Borg outfit and revel in everything intergalactic.

  September - The Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive & Festival

  Held at multiple locations across Vegas, this is four days of non-stop fun. With the festival aiming to promote and celebrate a full spectrum of belly dancing, including tribal, oriental, folkloric and fusion, this diverse and exciting extravaganza will educate, excite and entertain you all at once.

  October – OktoberFrightFest

  Taking place on Fremont Street, you’ll find the ultimate street party as Oktoberfest and Halloween merge to create something spectacular. With free performances from popular stage productions, amazing costumes and a beer festival, this is a Halloween like no other.

  November - Nevada Film Festival

  Every year the city of Las Vegas hosts this amazing and exciting film festival to celebrate the best in American and international cinema. With filmmakers, industry professional and an audience that grows year on year, this is becoming one of the most exciting film festivals in the United States. With multiple screenings of a variety of films, ranging from shorts and documentaries to drama and animations, there’s something for everyone.

  December – America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year

  America’s Party is the official name for the Las Vegas NYE party, and it’s definitely the bash of the year. If you want to celebrate the New Year somewhere a little different, then the party capital of the world is the perfect place; with themed fireworks extravaganzas on the strip, live concerts, and even more fireworks underneath the canopy at the Fremont Street Experience, this will be an NYE you won’t forget.

• Las Vegas travel advice

  Do you need a visa for Las Vegas?

  Everyone travelling into America must have completed the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, or ESTA for short, a US Customs & Passport Control entry requirement. US Immigration may well refuse you entry at border control if you do not complete the online form.

  How much should I tip in Las Vegas?

  There is a 7.5% restaurant tax in Las Vegas for eat-in and takeaway food. The tax is normally added to the bill at the time of payment, although some buffets and fast food chains may incorporate the tax in their prices. Service charges are usually added to the bill for groups of six or more, and it’s considered polite to leave a tip of around 15-20% of the total meal cost if you’ve been looked after well, 10% if not.