When to go and comments on the weather.
Depending on the time of year, Vegas can be hot and then cold, or vice versa in the span of a day. During our winter months in Alberta, it is winter in Vegas too and not the heat seekers' mecca that some would believe. Don't get me wrong... plus 12C is good enough for me when I am coming from minus 30C. However, the pools are closed during the winter months in Vegas because it is too chilly to be lounging outside in swim clothes. For example, it is January 29th and the temperature this morning in Edmonton is minus10 C and the temperature in Vegas is only plus 5 C. That is not very warm! You will have to pack a spring jacket (or something warmer) for early in the day and evenings. It is tricky because you are inside climate-controlled casinos, outside in hot sun, or in cool shade that can sometimes be downright chilly. If there are winds.... that is another story. January 2010 has been the worst month for weather on record in Vegas. Brrr! I have been there in Januarys past and had to buy a heavy waterproof spring coat while there because I didn't anticipate the miserable weather.
Summer in Vegas can be punishing as explained in this exchange:
[Vegas Resident] "Go outside? Why?"
[me, naively..] Well....to walk from one casino to another...?
[Vegas Resident] "You don't go outside - it is too hot! It is like having a blower dryer on the hottest setting that is blowing in your face the entire time. We don't go outside unless we have to."
A friend said the rivets on the back pockets of her pants got so hot she had burn marks on her butt. Yowch! So if you go in the summer and you can't take the heat, pick a casino that has all the amenities you could possibly want and DON'T go outside. Or if you do, take a cab! And make sure the driver isn't stingy with the AC!!!
However, it is a dry heat and those from more humid climates may find it very comfortable and even soothing. You can always pop into a casino where the AC is blasting away & cool down for a bit. If you are trekking up & down the Strip on foot in the heat of the day, pack some water, slather on the sunscreen & even don a hat if necessary because you can be quite a distance from AC & shade.
Vegas is busy since there are so many conventions going on in Vegas at one time. Check the Convention Calendar to see what is on! Might be some interesting folks sitting next to you at the slot machines. It is busy there all the time so if you are not used to throngs of people and general hub-bub, Vegas may not be for you. The "overwhelmingness" of Superbowl madness when you arrive at your hotel at 8:00 a.m. from the airport is almost enough to make you want to turn around and get back on the airplane. If you are staying 5 days it gets better because the biggest crowds are only there for the weekend. Vegas becomes Really Insanely BUSY during:
1. New Years (the biggest event and the room prices sky-rocket!)
2. Superbowl (first weekend in February),
3. March Madness (NCAA basketball event last 2 weeks of March),
4. Spring break (every weekend in March).
5. Memorial day (last weekend in May)
6. July 4 if it falls on a weekend
7. Labor Day weekend (first Monday in September)
8. Thanksgiving (last weekend in November)
9. NFR - National Finals Rodeo (early December)
Summer is considered low season for reasons mentioned above, so unless you love to roast in the heat you are doomed to visit Vegas during peak season.
However, any holiday in Vegas is a reason for a party (and for people to dress and act like they are in X-rated films) so if Valentines Day, St. Patricks Day, or Halloween falls on a weekend, look out! Leave Grandma at home! Since most of these events attract partiers that only tend to stay over the weekend, you will get some respite come Monday. If you must go at these times then don't say I didn't warn you. Sundays through Thursday tend to be 'quieter'. Expect to see the unexpected and to see extremes of everything imaginable including people and places and everything in between.
A look at what and how to pack for your visit ....
Have you always wanted to go to Vegas but thought the lack of sequins in your wardrobe would hold you back? Not to worry!
The very first time I went, well actually weeks before, I was paralyzed by the idea of packing a suitable wardrobe for my visit to Glitter Gulch. Funny thing is..... once you get there it doesn't matter what you are wearing because nobody is looking at YOU...unless you are a hot 20 year old. The 20-somethings probably aren't reading this blog but note that they are probably looking at what others wear, as well as expecting others to check out their attire! Regardless, the spectacle of Vegas trumps your brand new jeans, designer T-shirt and fancy new footwear but don't let that stop you from wearing them! And don't worry that you won't fit in if you ARE NOT wearing sequins. However, if you got 'em and like to wear them, now is your chance! The tourists that inundate the Strip are from every walk of life and definitely HAVE NOT stepped off any New York catwalks. The ones who seem to think they have to dress in "sequins before 5, Vegas-style" are:
- the blue haired set with the bedazzeled T's;
- the barely legal ones who think you need to dress like Paris Hilton, or a porn star to fit in on the Strip; and
- 'escorts' and show girls (but they are working so they are forgiven).
The shoes you choose MUST be comfortable walking shoes, not the "I can stand around in these all day" as my hair stylist friend found out the hard way. There definitely is a difference and you don't want to be limping around after the first 4 hours of touring. Even though I wear heels everyday at work, I can NOT wear them in Vegas. If I am dressing up to go to a show and the venue is in my hotel I will bring heels. If the show is elsewhere, the walk to and from the cab to the venue can be killer on your tootsies since most of the hotels are measured in acres, not square feet. Also, I find the humidity or lack thereof can cause blisters and sore spots I don't normally experience. Going to one show, I saw a lady carrying a little satchel and when she got to the venue, out came her fabulous heels and the walking shoes went in the pouch. Good tip for those of us who can't pass up the opportunity to wear our sparkly/pretty shoes! As an aside, on recent trips, we couldn't help but notice the ubiquitous white trainers/walking shoes that a certain demographic were fond of sporting. It almost became a game to see how many shiny & new white 'athletic' shoes we could spot.
Try not to pack blue jeans because they are hot in the warm temperatures and weigh your suitcase down. If it is really cold when I leave Edmonton I would maybe wear them on the plane and then set them aside once I get checked into the hotel for the trip home again. I would suggest packing cotton trousers and capris for ladies and khakis or chinos for guys as they weigh less! When I go to Vegas I expect to shop (a lot!) and hope to find bargains on clothes or things that I don't see at home. My suitcase is almost always twice as heavy going home. You typically have to pay extra once you go over the 50 pound limit on your checked luggage. That can be a shock to the wallet! Check the fine print on your airline's website to determine what size of suitcases are allowed. The rules seem to change constantly. I take the minimum amount of clothes and the lightest weight shoes I have. On a 5-day trip I take 1 jacket for day, 1 jacket for evening, 3-4 pairs of pants with a pair that can double as dress pants, 6-8 tee-shirts, a sweater or a long sleeve shirt or two. I am always on the lookout for walking shoes that are light weight because I will bring 3-4 pairs of them with me. Most of these I have bought in Vegas because they have a good selection. By the end of day 1 your feet are tired and a change of shoes can help sooth them so you can go out again that evening. I always change my shoes twice a day. Shopping tip for women looking for stylish but comfy shoes in Vegas: take note of what the cocktail waitresses are wearing & even ask them about the brands. We've been in tons of shoe stores in Vegas but for great looking, comfortable shoes check out the impressive selection at Dillards and Nordstoms in the Fashion Show Mall.
Scoping out the hotels for future visits. (Doing this footwork might pay off if you plan to visit again and want a different hotel/casino experience.)
The hotels offer incentives to gamble at their casinos. If you sign up for a players' card you may receive a free gift (or not!) and reams of coupons - some useful & others not so much. Even if you think from the outset that this is your one and only trip to Vegas, consider joining a hotel's players' club, or possibly every hotel's players' club. This costs you nothing, and players/members often get nifty offers in the mail for heavily discounted, and occasionally even free, rooms (plus meals, shows, and so on). Players' clubs reward you with freebies and discounts when you play in their casinos, regardless of whether you win. Recently, ridiculous bargains were showing up in e-mail boxes...like the Bellagio for $59 a night. How much you have to play to get these deals varies, but if you are going to gamble anyway, why not make it work more to your advantage? You can sign up online, which will get you e-mail only offers. You can do this on almost every hotel's website, and it's worth it, though it does mean scheduling your Vegas vacation to take advantage of the times the offers are valid.
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