Let’s touch on some “Need to know” info to get you started on planning your Las Vegas trip.
Locations
There are pretty much 3 general areas.
- Downtown – North of the Strip and often referred to as “Old Vegas”. It is the home to Fremont Street and many of the older hotels such as The Golden Nugget and Binions. Things are much closer together and you can see quite a bit in a short time.
- The Strip – Over 4 miles of resorts, casinos, shopping and entertainment on South Las Vegas Blvd. The Southernmost resort is Mandalay Bay and the Northernmost resort is The Stratosphere. In person, it is definitely larger than life. Walking to what appears to be “right there” is usually over a mile.
- Off-Strip – Pretty much everything else not included in the Downtown and Strip areas would be considered Off-Strip. A few Off-Strip attractions are walk-able from the strip, however many would be better using another form of transportation to access.
Player Cards- Don’t Spend A Dime Without One
An important topic you need to know about is Player/Rewards cards. They are free and each casino has their own Players Card. The first thing I do before spending a dime in any casino is to sign up for their player card.
You earn points for spending money on food, gaming, merchandise and rooms. Those points add up and you can quickly find yourself getting nice room discounts and even comped rooms. You do not need to be a high roller and blow the nest egg to get free rooms. You just need to show your player card when you spend money inside the casino or insert the card in any slot machine before you play. Each rewards programs allows you to achieve different levels based on your play and spending. Discounts and perks will also increase as your tier level does.
You will find that many share the same card and some have their own.
The two big Player Cards on the Strip are Mlife (MGM Resorts) and Total Rewards (Caesars Entertainment). The remaining casinos all have their own Player Rewards Cards. It is a very quick process to sign up. Definitely take the time to get one before spending money at any casino.
Complimentary Beverages and Ordering Etiquette
On to my favorite “need to know”. One of the most popular perks you need to know about in Las Vegas is that beverages, including alcohol, are complimentary while gaming. Over the last several years they have tightened up a bit on the drinks, but if you are legitimately sitting at a machine or a table and playing you will get drinks comped. Make sure to tip your bartender or cocktail waitress and they will make sure to come back quickly for your drink orders. A buck or two per drink is typical with a bit more for the first drink.
Cocktail waitresses have a specific area assigned to them. They make one round taking drink orders and another delivering drinks. Do not attempt to order while the cocktail waitress is delivering drinks unless she specifically asks you. She will make her way back to you. Don’t get upset or take it personally. They have a process to follow in order to make drink delivery more efficient. If they aren’t busy, they may go ahead and take your order on a delivery round. By all mean, don’t be that guy or gal shouting across the casino to the cocktail waitress who is navigating the casino with a large tray of drinks. Be patient. She will get to you.
Also, keep in mind that free drink may end up costing more in the long run if sitting at a cold slot machine. Drinks in general are fairly inexpensive in Las Vegas, so it may just be better to grab a drink at the little shop in front of the resort and take a stroll down the strip to people watch.