Blackjack tables, showgirls, neon lights and Elvis imitators -- you can find it all in Las Vegas. Back in the day, Las Vegas served as the playground to everyone from Marilyn Monroe to the Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. It’s where Elvis Presley first sang Viva Las Vegas in 1969, and where couples in love eloped and pressed their luck at the blackjack tables.
Vegas vacations start on the flight to Las Vegas. Upon booking Las Vegas flights, the odds are already in favor of having a good time. The flight to Las Vegas ends at McCarran International Airport, where visitors are greeted by bright lights and the loud change-making noise of the slot machines – an inviting entrance into Sin City.
But there is more to Las Vegas than just gaming. The city boasts more churches per capita than any other city in America, which is no surprise since many Las Vegas flights are booked with the idea of matrimony in mind. Cheap flights to Las Vegas can be found year-round, leaving tourists plenty of money to spend on hotels and entertainment in the city. There are more than 100 hotels in Las Vegas. On the Las Vegas Strip, the most popular hotels include the Mirage, the Venetian, the Bellagio, the Hard Rock, the Sahara, Paris Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, The MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. Budget-conscience travelers can find a cheap flight to Las Vegas and a discounted hotel off the Strip, including the Green Valley Ranch and Fairfield Desert Resort, leaving a little extra room in the checkbook for loving the Las Vegas scene.
While the days of Elvis and Frank have ended, the Las Vegas legacy lives on. Today, Las Vegas serves as host to Broadway shows and Grammy-award winning entertainers. Luxury retail stores open daily along the Las Vegas Strip, and adults craving a lifestyle of decadence indulge in five-star restaurants and midnight buffets on the casino floor. Las Vegas has, and always will be, the heartbeat of the desert.
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No matter when you fly to the desert, it's going to be hot, and Las Vegas is no exception. Summers in Las Vegas are blistering, but if you can handle the heat you'll likely find cheap flights to Las Vegas abundant during the summer months. The temperature reaches over 100ºF, but the air is dry so the humidity is low. Winter is a bit cooler with temperatures maxing out around 70ºF. Rarely does Las Vegas see intense rain, but showers do occur.
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Las Vegas is a year-round destination and travelers can always find deals on Las Vegas flights and hotels. However, there are particular times of the year when Las Vegas is at its peak and when travelers can best the Las Vegas flight and hotel deals.
Peak Season:
Fall and winter are peak seasons in Las Vegas and when most people book Las Vegas flights. New Year's celebrations are world-renowned so if you're planning to party in Las Vegas for New Year's it's best to book flights and hotels in advance. Las Vegas is also a big business conference and expo site. If you're planning a Las Vegas vacation you'll want to check ahead and see if any conferences are taking place when you plan your Las Vegas trip. Hotels and flights can be more expensive if there is an international conference taking place.
Off Season:
Summer in the desert is hot and the Las Vegas Strip is no exception. Thankfully, the hotels and casinos are air-conditioned so Las Vegas tourists can seek relief from the desert heat. If you plan to travel to Las Vegas in the summertime, bring light clothes and plenty of sunscreen. It's hot and humid, but summer is also the best time to find cheap flights to Las Vegas and discounted Las Vegas hotel and resort rates.
Who's flying to Las Vegas?
Vegas is hopping 52 weeks a year, but certain Las Vegas events bring out the VIPs in full force. Jet-setters book Las Vegas flights to celebrate in style during holiday weekends, especially New Year's Eve. Gamblers and sports fans find cheap Las Vegas airfare for the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby and March Madness. Keep your eyes out during spring and summer weekends, when Las Vegas cheap flights are filled with bachelor and bachelorette parties starting their celebrations even before the plane touches down.
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Flights to Las Vegas arrive at McCarran International Airport. From there, visitors to Sin City can take a taxi or airport shuttle to the Strip or their hotel.
McCarran International Airport (LAS)
Distance: 5 miles south of the business district and immediately east of the southern end of the Strip.
Drive time: normally under 10 minutes.
All major car rental companies have desks at the airport. These include Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Dollar, Hertz, Alamo / National and Payless.
Bell Trans runs 20-passenger minibuses daily between the airport and all major Las Vegas hotels and motels (7:45am-midnight). Fares to Strip hotels start at $4.75.
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The Las Vegas Strip is four miles long and serves as home base to Las Vegas hotels and casinos. If you’re staying on the Strip, your best bet for getting around is walking. However, there are options for faster travel.
Monorail: a four-mile route runs from the MGM Grand at the southern end of The Strip to the Sahara at the northern end taking in Paris/Bally's, The Flamingo, and The Las Vegas Hilton along the way. Trains operate Monday through Thursday 7am to 2am and Friday through Sunday 7am to 3am. Fares are $8 for a single ride ticket (as of December 2007). Insider tip: check with your airline and/or hotel after booking Las Vegas flights and hotels. Some airlines and hotels will provide free vouchers for Monorail rides between hotels.
Citizens Area Transit: Strip buses run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A one-day pass costs $5.
Las Vegas Strip Trolley: every 15 minutes from 9:30am until 1:30am daily, cost $1.75 per person (exact change). The trolley route covers all of the major Strip hotels.
Cabs park in front of all major hotels, and charge $3 at the meter drop and 20¢ for each additional 1/9 mile.
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- There's more to Las Vegas than casinos and conventions. There is a wealth of culture too, with several museums including the Atomic Testing Museum, Liberace Museum and the Neon Museum.
- There are no closing hours in Las Vegas for the sale or consumption of alcohol, even on Sunday. It is legal to have an open container while walking on the Strip but you must be at least 21 to drink or gamble.
- Malls and shopping centers with indoor rainstorms, animatronic gods, light shows and even a Grand Canal (in the Venetian) offer almost as much entertainment as the hotels.
- Watch out for a St Patrick's Day Parade in March, the Helldorado Days Rodeo and Western Festival in June and the National Finals Rodeo in December.
- October brings both the Jaycee State Fair and the Cashman Field PGA Invitational Golf Tournament.
- Las Vegas hotels are always advertising deals for guests. Before booking your Las Vegas flights, check with specific hotels to see what rates and promotions they have during the time of your travel. In many cases, booking Las Vegas flights and hotels together is cheaper and more economical.
- Don’t miss out on star-infused dining by top chefs including Wolfgang Puck, Todd English, and Bradley Ogden. When booking Las Vegas flights and accommodations it’s possible for travelers to also receive vouchers to hotel casinos and restaurants. After enjoying a late night meal, head to one of Las Vegas’ high-profile nightclubs. Ghostbar at the Palms, PURE, Rain and The Pussycat Dolls Lounge are among some of the top clubs on the Strip.
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