Las Vegas - Sin City, The City That Never Sleeps

Las Vegas -
Sin City, The City That Never Sleeps

LAS VEGAS -- Sin City - the city that never sleeps - is the location of this year's HIMSS2018 exhibition and convention. So if you are one of thousands of convention visitors, you will quickly notice that Vegas has many different faces and can be the greatest or worst place to enjoy your time.

With more than 21,000 conventions and 43,000,000 tourists visiting Las Vegas yearly, the city's focus is, obviously, the tourist industry. Gambling, shows, restaurants and other fun places to go visit are everywhere. On the other hand, it also leads to crowded sidewalks, packed streets and extreme waiting times.

We thought instead of giving you some details about the main attractions of Sin City, which you can find on every website or map, we want to give you some useful tips for your time in Vegas and point out some local hot-spots that are not considered to be "tourist-traps." Many of these places are hidden gems and visited mostly by locals or people who don't want to be part of the craziness that takes place on the Las Vegas Strip.

Here are some useful tips: 

1. Most of you will stay somewhere close to the Strip in one of the main hotels. Getting from your hotel to the convention (Venetian) does not seem to be a long drive, but considering Las Vegas traffic, it can take you an hour or longer for less than a few miles, especially if your taxi driver decides to take the most obvious way on the main strip. If you want to enjoy your stay outside of a car, tell the driver to take the back road, located on each side of the main strip. These roads connect to all hotels from the back entrance, there's barely any traffic and not only will you have more time to walk around and enjoy your experience, you will save enough money to attend a show or have a nice dinner.
2. If you like gambling at the slot machines, keep in mind to cash out after the first big win and leave. Always. If you want to keep gambling, simply switch the machine, but don't waste your winnings by hoping to win big again. Your chances just dropped down 98%. The machines are programmed to reduce the winning chance after you won a good amount of cash.
   
3. Also, use the machines close to the main doors. These are the ones that hotels use to attract tourist to gamble by increasing the odds for wins. The high number of cash winnings from former players on the oversized screens is just there to lure you to the other slots...unfortunately with a smaller chance to win. So, stay close to the doors.
4. Are you looking for tickets for shows but haven't bought them yet? No reason to stress yourself out. You can buy them at one of the many ticket booths located on the strip, or go to the event and wait 20-30 minutes before the doors open. Also, quite often, these shows do not sell out or come close to selling out. For the sake of reputation, these event companies will attempt to fill their venue by handing out discounted or free tickets to anyone who walks by. So, if you want to stay on a budget, it's worth the try.
   
5. If you are planning on going out at night, invest a few moments into talking to the promoters on the street. Sometimes they can offer you discounts or at least bring you inside the location. You might end up getting lucky and avoid standing in line for an hour or longer.
6. Don't forget that Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert and temperature can rise above 100 degrees on a daily basis. It might not feel this way because the air conditioning systems in all hotels run 24/7, but you need to make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Also, avoid going in an out the hotels too many times during the summer if your body is already weak. The temperature difference from inside and outside can knock your body out very quick.
7. Wash your hands, take vitamins, get sleep (yes, even in Vegas you need to sleep sometimes) and eat healthy. Vegas is a tourist city and many people get sick after returning from their trip. Keep that in mind and don't push your body to the limit.

Activities Outside Las Vegas Boulevard

After staying in Vegas for a few days there's a good chance you'll want to get out, at least for a few hours, to relax and run away from all the tourists. Luckily, this that doesn't necessarily mean you have to jump into the next airplane and return home. Vegas attracts millions of visitors but the majority of them stays close to the Las Vegas Boulevard. So, instead of relaxing in your room, rent a car and explore the real Las Vegas and all suburbs around it. If you cannot rent a car, plan ahead where you want to go. Some of the following locations are 30-45 minutes away and using a taxi will not be the same experience for you.

                                                                                    Red Rock National Conservation Area

Located just a few miles outside of Las Vegas, the Red Rock is worth every minute of your visit. Amazing landscapes and easy-to-moderate hikes offer something for everyone. And in case you are not planning on going on an outdoor adventure, just stay in the loop and drive around with your car to see the area.

 

Mount Charleston

Located 30-45 minutes north of Las Vegas, you find Mount Charleston. With many trails, cabins, outdoor spots to relax and ski areas (yes, you can expect plenty of snow there during the winter months) and a cozy restaurant at the lodge, Mount Charleston is the right place to get away from the tourist part of Las Vegas to have some time to relax and recover. 
Mount Charleston Statepark Information

                                                      Super Summer Theatre in Spring Mountain Ranch Park

This hidden gem is located south-west of the suburbs Summerlin/ Spring Valley, behind Blue Diamond. With plenty of shows and theaters, this spot is a hidden gem, often visited by locals. Check out their program and see if there is anything that sparks your interest. Summer Theatre Website

 

Town Square - Shopping, Dinning, Entertainment 

Just a few miles south of the Mandalay Bay you'll find the Town Square shopping area. With many restaurants, bars and stores, you can escape the Las Vegas Boulevard for a day or night without traveling too far away.

Blue Martini has live music, food, drinks and special events. Take a look at their website to find out which events fit into your traveling schedule and enjoy a night with live music, food and drinks.

Town Square Map

Another spot to visit is Stoney's. This is a great place for everyone who likes country music. With special events, live music, dance classes and more, Stoney's attracts people from everywhere in the Las Vegas area.

                                  

 

 

                                   Las Vegas Outlets 

Shopping in Las Vegas can be very expensive and draining, especially on Las Vegas Boulevard. If you need to do some last minute shopping and don't want to spend your money on overpriced products in the big shopping malls, visit either North Las Vegas Premium Outlets or on the opposite side South Las Vegas Premium Outlets. Try to avoid going there on the weekends, otherwise, you will notice that shopping in Vegas can be enjoyable.

Down-Town - Fremont Street

Fremont Street is where it all started in Las Vegas. Just a few miles north of Las Vegas Boulevard, you have the chance to actually meet locals, and enjoy the old-school atmosphere with a modern touch.
The zip-line opened a few years ago and turned out to be a fun attraction. Also, the overall prices for drinks, food, cover, and shows are noticeably cheaper compared to the ones on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Fremont Street-Downtown Las Vegas

Heart-Attack Grill on Fremont Street

If you are looking for a food place to stop by, visit the Heart Attack Grill and challenge yourself by eating 50lbs burgers. You will walk out without having to pay, at least not for the food.
Heart - Attack Grill.

                                                      First Friday of the Month 

Every first Friday of the month, downtown Las Vegas is the spot to go to enjoy plenty of special events. The art district is a restricted area for cars, so people can enjoy a walk around the galleries with food booths, crafts, arts and more. After 9 p.m., the restaurants and bars on Fremont Street are the places to go to enjoy the night with many special deals, food and more.

Art District Las Vegas

First Friday Information

Container Park

A few blocks away from Fremont Street you can find another hidden gem. Built out of storage and industrial containers, the Container Park is the place to meet artsy people, enjoy food and drinks, and listen to music.

Laundry Room / Commonwealth

The Laundry Room is considered as a semi-secret backroom located at Commonwealth Bar and Club Downtown Las Vegas. The place is a great place to have a private meeting with a limited number of people (without the typical Vegas crowd around). To keep this location classy and out of the reach for Vegas visitors, you need to make a reservation, receive a code and have one of the bartenders open the locked door for you to enter the Laundry Room. Also, to keep the atmosphere classy you have to follow strict rules (no photos, no yelling, no talking about fights etc.). They have kept and still keep it very strict and don't hesitate to kick you out. No matter who you are. The maximum time for each visit is limited to 2 hours. So, if you want to have a unique experience visit their website, text them to ask for permission and hope that the odds are in your favor and you will get an answer. Otherwise, you still have the option to stay at the Commonwealth Bar, enjoy the outdoor area with music and drinks and enjoy the night around Las Vegas locals.  

"What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas"
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