That Cool Travel Couple

Everything and anything you want to do – you can do it in Las Vegas.

Drew Carey

Las Vegas is one of the world’s flashiest – and most expensive – cities. We’ve visited many times over the years and have plenty of insider tips to share to make your trip the best it can be.

Getting Here

Las Vegas is about a four hour drive away from LA. Keep in mind a couple of things. One, you’ll be traveling through the hot hot desert, so it’s best if you can try to travel during the evening time when it’s cooler. Two, parking costs a LOT on the Las Vegas strip (a minimum of $20-30 per day) and driving isn’t really a convenient way of getting from one hotel to another.

Driving does have some perks though – we love road tripping it to Vegas because there’s tons to see on the way over! We particularly love stopping by Joshua Tree National Park for a quick hike or some stargazing. Also, if you plan on stopping by downtown Las Vegas (you should), then driving there from the strip is the most convenient way to get there.

Las Vegas McCarran Airport has cheap and quick flights to many major United States Airports. You can quickly hop in an Uber or rent a car from the airport to get around. Don’t forget to check out the slot machines INSIDE the airport!

Where To Stay

There are endless options of amazing places to stay in Vegas, all ranging in cost. We personally enjoy staying on the south end of the strip by Luxor, Excalibur and Mandalay Bay. Check out the Pyramid Rooms in Luxor – they have angled walls with cool views of Vegas!

We’ve also stayed mid-strip at the Vdara. This hotel prides itself on being suites only and does not have a casino inside. It’s a little quieter and more classy than a lot of the other hotels on the strip, and you won’t be choking on cigarette smoke if you stay here.

A little north of the Vdara you’ll find the Venetian and the Palazzo. These Italian style hotels offer comfortable stays and you’ll often get pretty good deals to stay in the suites.

There are also plenty of AirBnB options in and around the Vegas strip – these can be especially helpful if you’re coming with a group!

The Strip

The “strip” is a four mile stretch up and down Las Vegas boulevard. It’s dotted with hotels and casinos on either side all the way. It extends from the Mandalay Bay and Delano on the southern end, all the way to the Strat Hotel on the northern end.

We love hanging out at the old-school Vegas strip hotels. The fancy new ones are fun, but lines are extremely long and for dining, reservations are a must. Definitely check out the Bellagio – you’ll regret not seeing its gorgeous gardens and Chihuly glass ceiling. If you’re staying here, you’ll be able to access the brunch buffet (which we’ve heard is heavenly).

The Venetian hotel is a replica of Venice (duh!) and has man-made canals on which you can actually take a gondola ride. Paris hotel has a replica of the Eiffel Tower. New York New York has a small theme park set amongst the skyscrapers of NYC, and you can wander around the streets of Manhattan inside.

For a quick bite, check out the bar at the Top of the World in the Stratosphere hotel. The dining room is over a thousand feet in the air and slowly revolves giving you 360 views over Vegas. We also really love exploring the Cosmopolitan Hotel – grab a drink under its beautiful signature glass chandelier curtains. Eggslut has to-die-for breakfast fare in the morning (be prepared for a wait), and make sure to visit Secret Pizza when your craving some late night greasy satisfaction.

Downtown Las Vegas

We definitely recommend spending some time in Downtown Las Vegas! Have a Bloody Mary as a hangover cure at Park on Fremont, and enjoy some solid brunch fare.

Take some time to stroll around the downtown area – we saw an awesome pop up art show with really creative works from local artists. You’ll probably also see some live music while wandering down Fremont street, which is where all the action happens.

Make sure to visit one of the old school casinos (you’ll find them much more affordable than those on the strip) for that classic old-school-Vegas vibe.

Other Events

Las Vegas is often hosting very famous events drawing a wide variety of crowds. Definitely check the events calendar and see if there is anything that catches your eye. It’s also a good idea to check the calendar because prices tend to be higher and the city will be busier if there is a major event going on, for example Electric Daisy Carnival.