We weren’t in Vegas long when we went, however we did learn some valuable tips and tricks while we were there.

Casinos

Probably the most important area of concern in our opinion, is the casinos. These places were made with the intention of keeping you inside gambling as long as possible and if you are not careful you could walk out feeling very upset with yourself or feeling cheated.

Games

If you are not well versed in Poker, BlackJack, or any of those fancy card games there are other options such as roulette (our personal favorite), horse and sport betting, and the most popular for newbs and elderly people, slots.

One rule of thumb when playing any of these, excluding slots, is don’t play the virtual version of these. They suck and the computer makes it feel like the odds are always stacked against you. I’d also say avoid slots but some of them are pretty entertaining.

Money

The odds of actually leaving Vegas winning big is minimal. You may leave with a couple hundred or grand extra if you are lucky but on average you will lose everything. (Unless you count cards but don’t do that it’s illegal). This applies to all casinos not just the ones in Vegas. When you go into a casino expect to lose.

This means that before you enter you should have a set amount of money that you are willing to lose. Don’t go in with your entire savings hoping to double it on Black at roulette. I’d be amazed if it worked. I can’t tell you how many times I seen one man walk back and forth from the roulette table to pull out more money at the ATM. He wasn’t pulling out a couple twenties either, this man was pulling out by the hundreds and in the end he lost all of it. Trust me we know he lost it all, he sat next to us and made a big fuss when he doubled or nothing his entire amount and than ran off red faced and angry, muttering curses and yelling at the staff. It was awkward. Don’t be that guy. Gambling is entertainment not a get rich quick scheme.

What to be mindful on the casino floor.

As mentioned already, avoid the virtual games, but also be mindful of where you are. Casinos are areas that can bring out the best and worst in people. Example: I seen two ladies who were arguing with each other get ushered out of the building by security. Probably upset over winnings and losings given the setting but I can’t be certain. What I do know is people can do a whole 180 depending on their wins or losses and you don’t want to be caught on the receiving end of someones aggression after they just lost.

The somewhat tense atmosphere is only made worse by the alcohol running through the majority of occupants systems. The cocktail waitresses know who is adement to win by behaviors and body language and they will offer those individuals drinks to decrease their critical thinking skills, thus tempting them to play and spend more money. If you are not careful you could blow through your money in a few hours because of the constant inebriation from free drinks. Also, tip for people not used to the United States tipping culture, just because the drinks from the waitresses are free doesn’t mean you can avoid tipping them, it is respectful to tip the cocktail waitresses regardless.

Vegas Strip

The Vegas Strip an iconic (sometimes chaotic) area lined with some of the most luxurious hotels and casinos in the United States. It can be a pleasant walk or your worst nightmare if you are not careful. Here are our tips and tricks for walking the Vegas Strip.

Shoes

Please do not be like me when I went and wear only sandals. I am sure many are aware the sidewalks in Vegas are not the cleanest.

After Jerry and I had returned from our long 3.5mile walk back from the concert all we wanted to do was kick our feet up and relax. However, when I removed my sandals I was disgusted by the sight of my feet.

The parts of my feet that were left exposed were gray and covered in a layer of dirt that left my skin crawling. Of course in the moment Jerry and I laughed but when I return to Vegas I will not be making this same mistake again. Health and Hygeine are so important!

Buskers

Another thing many people, especially those from big cities, are mindful of is the Buskers. The ladies in the revealing clothing offering pictures or the man wearing an Elmo costume giving out hugs are not free!

These people know how to draw you in and get as much money from you as possible.

If they catch you taking a picture of them, they will charge you. Even if they are in the background of your selfie they will try to charge you. A lot of the reasons Jerry and I do not have photos from our time on the Vegas Stip is because of the sheer amount of Buskers. I mean, they are everwhere. They’re outside your hotel, they’re on the street corners, they’re in front of the restaurant you want to go to.

It will be hard to ignore them. They are pretty ladies or you favorite super hero and if you are a polite midwesterner they will be able to tell and try to get your attention. It is best to keep your eyes forward and ignore them if this isn’t something you are willing to pay for.

Also, do not let a busker take the photo’s for you. Some may charge by the photo and they will take a bunch so you have to pay for them. Ask another person or memeber of your group to take the photos instead.

Traffic

One of our biggest anxieties while on the strip, besides the buskers, was the amount of traffic and lack of awareness people had for pedestrians. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of cross walks. However, the drivers sometimes do not care about pedestrians right of way and will make it all about themselves at the risk of others safety. It was relieving for us when we seen the pedestrian bridges that went above the streets, but there wasn’t one of these at every intersection.

A trick that Jerry and I discovered was that we could walk through the hotels and avoid the roads all together. Many hotels have skyways that connect them so you don’t have to worry about going back outside when the hotel ends. An added bonus is you get to avoid the heat and walk in A/C.

This might not be the best option if you are in a rush or don’t feel like adding the extra steps in but for the peace of mind it gave us we would 100% be doing this again should we return.

Bars

I feel very passionately about this topic after getting roped into paying $70 for two mediocre drinks.

As everyone else in Vegas, even the bars are looking for a way to charge you a little bit extra. If you are not extremely specific with certain bartenders about the type of alcohol you want put in your drink they will take matters into their own hands and give you a higher end booze.

This is what happened to me. I don’t know what the difference between a top shelf alcohol from the boozy cocktail in the drip trays is like. I just knew I wanted this fruity looking drink that was supposed to have Vodka in it. I gave no specifications and left my fate in the hands of the man behind the bar. Never again will I do this.

My tip for you if you don’t know brands like me, just tell the bartender you want the cheaper booze put in. Hopefully they will listen to you. I never tried after this situation because I was too afraid it would happen again.

Food

Vegas has some of the most exotic and amazing food I have seen to date. There is so much we didn’t try and it is definetly the reason we would brave going back.

However if you are simply in the City of Sin for a concert like we were or on a budget the food could easily max out a persons credit card alone.

*These prices are before tip*

The two sandwiches, sluts and bottle of Mimosa at Egg Slut cost roughly 75-80 USD.

Two Lobster rolls, nothing else, no sides or drinks, from Lobster Me in the Venetian cost over 54 USD.

Yeah, these prices had me floored.

If you are looking for cheap food it may be best to head to one of the many Walgreens or CVS on the Strip and grabbing some snack from in there or grabbing food at some of the quick service areas. These both will be higher priced than what you may be used to depending on where you are from but it will be a lot cheaper than going to some of the restaurants.

Weather

We visited in April. A slightly cooler month for the area but certainly hotter than an April in Wisconsin. Jerry and I are opposites. I love the heat of summer while he loves the crisp cool of fall/winter. If you are like Jerry you may not like the weather of Vegas during certain times of the year.

Vegas sits in the dry desert area of Nevada and during the summer months can reach an average temperatures as high as 104 degrees (40 Celsius). During our time here it was upper 70’s, low 80’s (20-26 Celsius). It was sunny clear skies every day, beautiful weather in my opinion.

One thing that caught Jerry and I both off guard though was the wind. On our last full day in Vegas it was slightly cooler and super windy out. We had gone to the pool to swim but instead sat in the hot tub to stay warm. Even with the sun rising above the massive buildings it wasn’t warm enough to be in a pool without your lips turning blue. If it wasn’t for the wind it would have been fine.

My tip for the weather is avoid the extremely hot months of summer if you don’t like heat and ladies keep an eye on the wind speed if you plan on wearing a flowy dress or skirt.

Conclusion

I know a lot of this sounds like complaining and a nightmare but my intentions of writing this is not to deter people from going to Vegas. I am simply trying to educate others who may not know or may need a reminder about what to be mindful of when visiting.

Vegas has a lot of fun things to offer. Home to some of the most interesting art exhibits, renowned culinary delights, and night life in the country. It is worth the visit for anyone regardless of your level of extroversion.

Vegas Tips/Tricks