Fodors - Fodors Las Vegas 2014

For the most part, the Vegas climates bark is worse than its bite. Sure, summer highs exceed 100F, but with low humidity and ever-present air-conditioning, you can stay comfortable as long as you have water on hand and limit your time outside to short intervals. Even in the hottest months (late June through September) you can bear the heat, provided you stay hydrated and dont try to walk too far. And with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the chances of a rain-out (or snow-out in winter) are slim.

On the other hand, nights can be chilly between late fall and early spring, so bring a sweater or windbreaker for your evening strolls beneath the neon-bathed skies.

Las Vegas doesnt have a high or low season by the standard definition, but youll find it least crowded between November and January. Hotels are at their fullest July through October. Specific eventsNew Years Eve, Super Bowl weekend, spring break, March Madness, major conventionsdraw big crowds, so plan accordingly.

Public bus transportation is available via Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC). Tourist-friendly double-decker buses (dubbed The Deuce) run up and down the Strip approximately every 15 minutes 24/7a 24-hour pass is $8. The fare also includes access to the Strip and Downtown Express (STX) and all RTC routes, which serve most of the Las Vegas Valley. Stops are located near most resort properties, and are marked with signs or shelters. Visitors also can connect to and from McCarran International Airport via a 10-minute ride to the RTCs South Strip Transfer Terminal on Route 109. Buses from there connect to The Deuce, Strip and Downtown Express, and more. For detailed information about how to get around town using public transit, check out the RTCs special website www.ridethestrip.com .

If youre exploring the Strip or Downtown, its best just to park your car (its free at most casinos) and walk. If you think youll be operating beyond the Strip during your stay, get a rental car.

The Las Vegas Monorail costs $5 per ride (or $12 for a one-day pass) and runs from the MGM Grand to Harrahs before making a jog out to the Convention Center and terminating at the Sahara. Its no sightseeing tour; the train runs along the back sides of the resorts. But its a fast way to travel the Strip, especially on weekends when even the Strips backstreets are full of traffic. The trains run 7 am2 am weekdays; 7 am3 am weekends. Discounts are available when you purchase tickets online at www.lvmonorail.com .

Cabs cost $3.30 initial fare plus $2.60 per mile. They are convenient and worthwhile, especially if youre splitting a fare (no more than five people allowed in a cab). Note: cab rides originating at McCarran International Airport include a $1.80 surcharge.

Few places in the world have tighter security than the casino resorts lining the Strip or clustered together Downtown (just ask the fabled Bellagio Bandit of early 2011). Outside of these areas, Las Vegas has the same urban ills as any other big city, but on the whole, violent crime is extremely rare among tourists, and even scams and theft are no more likely here than at other major vacation destinations. Observe the same common-sense rituals you might in any city: stick to populated, well-lighted streets, dont wear flashy jewelry or wave around expensive handbags, keep valuables out of sight (and dont leave them in unattended cars), and be vigilant about whats going on around you.

Many attractions dont require reservations; some places dont even accept them. But any activity with limited availabilitya stage show, a restaurant, a guided tourdeserves a call ahead.

Use common sense. Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I bringing a big party (six or more people) to this event?
• Is this a weekend event at a popular time of day (69 pm for dinner, 10 am2 pm for golf)?
• Is the venue very popular?
• Will I be disappointed if I arrive to find the venue full?
• Will the people Im traveling with hold me personally responsible for ruining their morning/day/evening?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you need to make a reservation, or you need someone to call ahead for you. Who would be willing to do such a thing? Your hotels concierge, thats who. And dont wait until you check in; call the concierge before you leave home to get a jump on the crowd (just be sure to tip him or her accordingly).

Hoping for sushi at 4 in the morning, or looking to work out at a gym at midnight? Sounds like youre a night owl, and that means Vegas is your kind of town. There are all kinds of businesses that run 24/7 in this city of sin, from supermarkets to bowling alleys. Oh yeah, and they have casinos, too.

Attractions, such as museums and various casino amusements, tend to keep more typical business hours, but you can almost always find something to keep you entertained no matter the hour.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) runs a visitor center ( 702/8920711 | www.lasvegas.com ) at 3150 Paradise Road, open weekdays from 8 to 5. Stop by for brochures and advice on what to see and do in town.

The LVCVA also operates the Las Vegas Hotline ( 877/8474858 ), with operators who are plugged into every major resort and restaurant in the region. Think of them as a concierge service for all of southern Nevada.