Safety, Security, Clothing, Comfort

Safety & Security:
As far as personal safety, always obey the traffic signals. DO NOT try to jaywalk or go against a light even if it looks like the coast is clear. Traffic comes from all directions & can take you by surprise. Plus, there are cops lurking around who will be more than happy to give you a ticket for not obeying the traffic signals.

Women (& you men with the ‘man-purses’) should keep purses zipped up & slung over the opposite shoulder, & held close to the body, especially if standing around in a crowd watching some Vegas spectacle like the Bellagio Fountains, the volcano at the Mirage, the pirates & sirens at TI, or the happenings on Fremont. Men should keep their wallets in a secure pocket. One of the Deuce drivers always warns his passengers to not let their guard down while on the Deuce because pick-pockets are known to hop on the bus too - it's not just for tourists!  Most hotel rooms have a room safe - use it for passports, extra cash, credit cards, airline tix, & other valuables that you don't want to pack around (cell phones, cameras, jewelry). The rooms at Bill's Gambling Hall don't have safes & that has been a deterrent for us in booking any rooms there.

Don't flash your cash. Keep small bills handy for tipping or small purchases. Don't wander off the Strip on foot even in daylight unless you know exactly where you're going. The streets can get rather ugly & unsettling not far off the Strip. These days there are a lot more desperate people in Vegas so you don't want to stray too far from the relative safety & security of the Strip. There are places in Vegas where even the cab drivers won't venture.

Clothing:
Most days are quite warm by Canuck-standards (translation: shorts & sandals weather). However, we have been most amused to see some people bundled up in eider-down parkas (zipped up tight, hoods on) and sporting mittens on days when the mercury is well above 70F. Winter months are dicey so you probably won’t be donning the summer gear. In the warmer months do wear layers though because there is freezing AC everywhere inside. At night it cools down & you'll want to add more clothing - perhaps long pants & socks/shoes, even a scarf & gloves, especially if you are standing by the lake at the Bellagio. The water in the air makes the temperature drop quite a bit.

Lastly:
Wear comfy shoes, use sunscreen, carry sunglasses, keep your camera handy, and always be on the look-out for the strange & bizarre, but most importantly, keep an open mind.