Vegas can be a tough town to get around in. The hotels are farther apart than the maps would leave you to believe, the strip can be a nightmare to drive and park in, and it gets hot, hot, hot. After a five-day trip to Vegas hitting all the attractions we could think of, our family discovered these four tips for getting around, beating the heat, and resting our feet.
Tip #1: Prepare for the Heat
Las Vegas Weather Is Hot from May to September, made even more so by the overabundance of concrete and the shortage of trees and grass – or even awnings. (See average temperatures at this site ). All the rules for hiking in the desert apply: take water, put a hat on your head, and put on sunscreen.
Tip #2: Don’t Underestimate the Distance
You may look at your map and say to yourself “Look, the Bellagio is only one hotel down from the Mirage. We’ll be able to get there in 10 min.” Realize that what looks like one city block on the map is probably several. The hotels are huge, enclosing casinos, rooms, theaters, and whole shopping malls. Just walking from one end of Caesar’s Palace to the next is about half a mile. Make sure you wear shoes that enable you to walk a fair distance.
Tip #3: Get a Bus Pass on the Deuce
“The Deuce” is the nickname for the double-decker city buses that run up and down the strip And All the Way to the Old Downtown and the Fremont Street Experience. This bus is a lifesaver when the temperature tops 90 and your feet have had about all they can take. The bus runs 24/7, comes about every 15 min., and stops at all the major hotels. In May of 2011, the fee was seven dollars for 24 hours, and one of the best uses for money we found in Vegas. You buy your pass directly from the driver – who will accept only exact change – so check the prices and get your money together for you head out. When the strip gets crowded, there can be a bit of a wait, so plan accordingly and make sure you get at the bus stop early. The Deuce is part of the regional transportation commission; you can find its website at the Southern Nevada transit site here
Tip#4: Plan Your Route through the Air-Conditioned Hotels
Many of the hotels, such as the Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, and Planet Hollywood have hallways lined with shops that you can take advantage of to get from one place to another. Granted, you may walk a further distance going back and forth from one hotel’ s entrance to another, but the time spent in air-conditioning may be well worth it. When we stayed in Vegas, we were in the Carriage House, which advertised itself as being “one block off the strip.” True, it was one block, but that block was a half-mile long. We learned that we could cut through the side entrance of Planet Hollywood, wend our way through the shops, and cut our time out in the searing Las Vegas to heat to only 5 min. Similarly, when we wanted to go the other direction, we entered the back door of the MGM Grand and worked our way to the front, spending half of our time walking in air-conditioning until we got to the strip.
Vegas is a town with lots to see. These tips should help you arrive at your detonation cooler and more rested.