The Art of Smart Timing
Vegas is a popular year-round destination, so you'll find crowds pretty much any time you go. Prices tend to dip in the scorching summer months of July and August -- though you can always sit by the resort pool to cool off. You'll want to skip any times that coincide with big "adult" holidays or popular sporting events -- that means New Year's, Superbowl Sunday and March Madness.
Off the Radar
Helldorado Days
This annual mid-May festival celebrates Las Vegas' Wild West roots with a carnival and rodeo -- along with an evening parade and fireworks.
Getting There
Odds are, there's a nonstop flight to this tourist mecca from an airport near you. Once you arrive at McCarran International Airport, take your pick from numerous options to get you to the Strip (only one mile away). For smaller groups, a shuttle service might be your best bet -- most run $6 per person each way; larger groups may find that a taxicab is more economical, at around $14 for the trip.
Getting Around
Vegas isn't exactly a public transportation sort of town. There's a 4-mile-long monorail that runs from the MGM Grand to the Sahara, with several stops in between, but at $5 a person per ride, it's not the most economical way to get around.
If you're planning to visit many different locations around town (or to get the heck out of town), a rental car is your best bet -- most resorts offer free valet service and free self-serve parking, so you won't have to worry about finding a spot or paying through the nose for parking. Just try to avoid driving the Strip itself unless you have time to kill, the traffic is inevitably heavy round the clock.
Walking is also an option -- and a great way to people watch. But keep in mind that objects (and resorts) may seem closer than they actually are, which could mean too many "are we there yet?" whines en route.
Cabs are readily accessible outside every resort, but there are notorious stories about cabbies taking visitors for a ride (literally), so watch out for drivers that take the "scenic route."
Visitor's Bureaus
Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Nevada Commission on Tourism
Las Vegas Planning & Tips
Las Vegas Planning & Tips
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