Las Vegas Travel Tips for the Best Vacation Experience

By Deanna Lynn Sletten

Las Vegas Showgirl at Fremont Street
Copyright Deanna Lynn Sletten



Going to Las Vegas can be a fun and exciting vacation but for people who have never visited there before, it helps to know a few insider tips to make the experience more enjoyable.  Here are some tips on what to consider before booking your Las Vegas vacation, what to bring and how to enjoy your time there. 

Before Booking a Las Vegas Vacation

Before booking a trip to Las Vegas, or before leaving if heading there by car, look online at the many hotels available both on and off the Las Vegas Strip.  Even though the majority of the vacation will be spent visiting the surrounding casinos and attractions, it is still important to be comfortable in the hotel where you are staying.  Some hotels cater to families while others are definitely more adult-orientated.  Location of the hotel is another important consideration.  If your plan is to walk the strip to see as many of the casinos as possible, then it is important to stay at a hotel that is centralized on the strip.  Staying at either end of the strip, Mandalay Bay or the Stratosphere, means long walks or using public transportation to visit the other casinos.  While the public transportation is excellent in Vegas, if the plan is to walk from casino to casino, you may want to be closer to the middle of the strip.

Next, consider how many days and which days of the week to visit Las Vegas.  Weekends in Vegas are crowded, so if the plan is to visit attractions, it may be better to plan the vacation during the middle of the week.  Also, hotel room prices usually drop during the week as opposed to weekends.  The best time to fly in or out of Vegas is on a Tuesday or Saturday.  Most people fly in on Friday and out on Sunday or Monday, so avoid those days if possible. Also remember, it can take days to see the many attractions and casinos in Vegas, so book the trip for enough days to see the sights.

New York, New York
Las Vegas Strip
Copyright Deanna Lynn Sletten



Other things to consider before taking a Las Vegas trip are:

• Pack comfortable shoes.  Yes, looking great is wonderful but in Vegas the hotels and casinos are so large there is a long walking distance between them.  Plan on walking miles everyday.  Using the monorails, trams and city busses helps, but there is still a lot of walking to do inside and between the casinos.
• Be prepared for changing temperatures. Vegas is a desert town so that means warm days and possibly very cool evenings.  Bring tank tops and t-shirts but bring sweatshirts and jackets also. 
• Think twice about renting a car.  Unless the plan is to travel outside of Vegas, then it really isn’t necessary to have a car.  Traffic on the strip is always busy and parking can be expensive.  Most people spend a week in Vegas either walking or using public transportation and don’t even miss having a car.
• Consider booking a shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel and back as part of the vacation package.  It is generally less expensive to buy these tickets in advance and there is less waiting time on arrival.  However, there are several shuttle services and taxi cabs at the airport to take guests to their destination if the shuttle isn’t pre-booked.

Bellagio Fountains
Copyright Deanna Lynn Sletten



Tips to Enjoy Las Vegas

While checking into the hotel, ask the desk clerk for any coupons, free show tickets and maps of Las Vegas that are available.  A map is an important tool in planning how to spend each day of the vacation.  It can save miles of walking.  Since many of the hotels in Vegas are owned by the same corporation, they give out coupons and show tickets for their sister hotels.  Coupon books may also be in the hotel room.

Tentatively plan out each day of the trip if there are certain tourist sites that you wish to visit.  There are many free shows in Vegas and all are on schedules, so it is important to know where to be at the right time.  The best time to visit attractions is during the day before 3:00 PM while everyone is sleeping off the night before.  For free shows, such as the Treasure Island pirate Sirens of TI, it is recommended to show up at least 30 minutes before show time to get a good spot.  Showing up early is a good practice for any free show.

Sphinx at the Luxor
Copyright Deanna Lynn Sletten



There are several good options to choose from for transportation between casinos.  There is the Las Vegas Monorail system that runs between the MGM Grand and the Sahara, making several stops in-between. Tickets for this monorail can be purchased at ticket machines at any of the monorail stations.  The monorail is a good choice because it is rarely crowded during the day and easy to access.  There is also another monorail that runs between Mandalay Bay and Excalibur which is free to use.  There are also several trams that run between many of the casinos.  City busses are also a good form of transportation.

Conservatory and Botanical Gardens inside the Bellagio
Copyright Deanna Lynn Sletten



Free Sights and Shows to See in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a Mecca of entertainment and there is always something to see or do.  Some free shows and sites that shouldn’t be missed are:

• Sirens of TI pirate show at Treasure Island Casino and Hotel.  There are two shows nightly, weather permitting.
• The volcano in front of the Mirage.  The shows are every night, once every hour.
• The fountains at the Bellagio.  The fountains put on a show to music every fifteen minutes throughout the day and night.
• The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens inside the Bellagio.  The conservatory is filled with a display of fresh flowers that are arranged in a particular theme four times a year.  Open daily.
• The Lion Habitat inside the MGM Grand. Open daily.
• The outdoor Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo. Open daily.
• “Big Elvis” show at Bill’s Gambling Hall & Saloon.  Daily shows, check for times.

Visiting Las Vegas is an experience like no other and can be fun for anyone, even those who do not enjoy gambling.  With so much to do and see, you are sure to come home with many new stores to tell friends and family.

Ghost Tours Around America – Get Your Scare On!

Are you ready to get scared?

By Deanna Lynn Sletten


Do you like a good scare? Then why not try one of the many Ghost Tours in a city near you? Almost every big city to small country town has a few haunted stories and many share them with Ghost Tours you can attend. Closer to Halloween, some town Historical Societies also offer Cemetery Tours where they walk around old cemeteries and give a history about the people who are buried there. (Check with your local Historical Society.) So this fall, if you are looking for a unique way to spend your vacation, why not try attending one of the Ghost Tours listed below or find one in your area? It is sure to send chills down your spine!

Shanghai Tunnel Ghost Tours – Portland, Oregon

Portland’s waterfront has a shady past which left a few stranded souls behind in the underground tunnels around the waterfront district. Businesses like bars, brothels and eating places at that time had basements that were connected, creating an underground world that was not used for pleasure. Between the years of 1850 to 1941, men and women were kidnapped from these businesses and taken down into the tunnels to be whisked away on ships as workers or sold as slaves into prostitution. Many died down in these tunnels, leaving their souls in search of a way out. The Shanghai Tunnel Ghost Tours take you down to these tunnels and relay stories of past events. If you are less inclined to believe in ghosts and are more interested in the history of the tunnels, this group also provides historical tours. You can get more information about these tours at the Portland Underground Tours website.

New Orleans Ghost Tours – New Orleans, LA

Explore the haunted French Quarter and learn about its history and about the people who just couldn’t seem to leave – for centuries! You’ll visit sites of documented ghost sightings as well as residences where ghosts reside. This group also offers a variety of haunted tours like the New Orleans Cemetery Tours and Voodoo or Vampire Tours. Visit Haunted History Tours for more information.

Dearly Departed Tragical History Tour – Hollywood, CA

Which house did your favorite star die in or where did they eat their last meal? Hollywood has decades of tragedy in such a condensed area that you will see almost 100 famous sites where scandal, death or murder occurred in a 2 ½ hour tour. Not for the faint of heart or the prissy. Visit Hollywood Tours for more information.

Ghosts Tours of New York – Manhattan, NY

The city of Manhattan has a long and varied past which lends to a colorful haunted history. Visit the ghost of Harry Houdini in the East Village, see Edger Allen Poe wander Greenwich Village or get a glimpse of a Ziegfeld Follies girl in Time’s Square. Ghosts of New York tours offer several different walking tours throughout Manhattan where you learn about each area’s former famous residents who seem to have never left. For more information, visit Ghosts of New York.

Ghostly Tour – Savannah, GA

The south is home to many ghostly beings and Savannah is among those cities not lacking in paranormal activity. The Ghostly Nights, Pirate’s House and Sorrel-Weed House Tour will not disappoint you in its ability to frighten. In fact, the Sorrel-Weed House is so active; members of TAPS from the series Ghost Hunters investigated this house on their first all-night Halloween investigation. For more information, visit Savannah Tours.

Brown Lady - taken years ago by two
professional photographers.

Ghost Tours – St. Augustine, FL

Without a doubt, St. Augustine is reported to be the most haunted city in America. So if you are looking for the scare of your life – this is the place you should visit. Ghost tours include walking, riding or sailing tours where you visit haunted cemeteries, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and much more. Hear tales of ghosts both old and new and if you are lucky, you will even spot a ghost or take home a ghostly photo. Visit the A Ghostly Experience website for more information.

Austin Ghost Tours – Austin, TX

Austin is not lacking in ghosts and the tour guides of Austin Ghost Tours are ready to take you out there and meet them. They offer a variety of walking tours around the city where they will tell you the history of each area and about the ghosts that have taken up permanent residence. Visit Austin Ghost Tours for more information.

These are just a few of the haunted tours around America. Check your area to see if there are any ghostly tours close to you.