Las Vegas travel tips: the practical stuff nobody tells you

Las Vegas runs on its own rules: tip the right people, know what you can and cannot drink or smoke where, understand what a resort fee is before it appears on the folio, and learn the handful of scams that separate tourists from their money. These guides cover the practical side of a trip, from cash and ATMs to accessibility, solo travel, pets and what international visitors need to know.

By Las Vegas Compass Editorial Team Last updated August 2026

The rules that actually trip visitors up

Most Las Vegas problems are small, predictable and avoidable: the folio that is $45 a night more than the booking because of a resort fee, the $9 casino ATM withdrawal, the cannabis bought legally and then smoked illegally on a balcony, the "free show tickets" that turn into a three-hour timeshare pitch. None of these are secrets; they are just not printed anywhere a first-timer would look.

This hub collects them. Start with tipping, because it comes up within minutes of landing, then hidden costs and safety and scams. If this is a first visit, read these alongside the first-time guide and the trip-planning checklist.

Money: tips, cash and fees

Las Vegas is a cash-tip city in a card-payment country. You will tip a valet, a bellhop, a cocktail server, a dealer and a housekeeper on a normal day, and every one of them prefers folded bills. The cash guide explains how much to carry, why casino ATMs cost $6 to $10-plus per withdrawal and how to avoid them, and how cashless gaming is changing the picture. The glossary decodes the words on your bill: CNF, resort fee, service charge, comp, marker.

Laws and age rules

Nevada is permissive about some things and strict about others, and the lines are not where visitors from other states or countries expect. Open containers are fine on the Strip sidewalk but not in glass and not everywhere Downtown; smoking tobacco is allowed on most casino floors but not in restaurants; cannabis is legal to buy at 21 and illegal to consume almost anywhere a tourist actually is. The laws guide lays it out. For anyone under 21, or traveling with someone who is, the age rules guide explains what changes at 18 and 21, how to walk kids through a casino legally and the curfew rules that exist on paper.

Safety, heat and the small hustles

Violent crime against tourists on the Strip is rare; theft of attention and money is constant. Costumed characters who demand payment after the photo, card-slappers handing out escort flyers, timeshare desks dressed up as tourist information, "free" show tickets, and pedestrian bridges where a distracted crowd is a pickpocket's workplace. Then there is the heat: summer afternoons above 105°F (40°C) are normal, and the pedestrian distances are far longer than the map suggests. The safety guide covers all of it with the specific streets and hours that deserve extra thought.

Guides for particular travelers

Accessibility: scooter and wheelchair rentals, real walking distances, accessible rooms, shows and pools.
Solo travel: where to stay, bar dining, tables as social spaces, safety after dark.
LGBTQ+ travel: the Fruit Loop, Pride, welcoming resorts, drag and cabaret.
Pets: dog-friendly resorts, fees, parks and the heat rules that protect paws.
Seniors: hotels with short walks, pacing the day, early shows and discounts.
International visitors: ESTA, currency, tipping culture, plugs, SIMs and sales tax.

How these tips fit the rest of a trip

Practical knowledge is only useful once you have a plan. Use the itineraries for the shape of the days, the hotels hub to choose where to sleep, transportation to work out how you will move between resorts, and best time to visit to decide when. Then come back here for the details that make the trip go smoothly: how much cash, what to tip, what to sign, what to avoid. The packing list covers the physical side.

In this section

Tipping in Las Vegas: who, how much and when Tipping is not optional in Las Vegas; a large share of the people who make your trip work are paid on the assumption that you will. This guide gives a realistic amount for every situation you will meet, from the valet to the blackjack dealer, and explains when cash matters more than a card.
Drinking, smoking and cannabis laws in Las Vegas Yes, you can walk the Strip with a drink; no, you cannot smoke cannabis in your hotel room, and the gap between what is legal to buy and what is legal to do is where visitors get into trouble. This is a plain-language guide to the rules as they are generally applied in 2026, with the caveat that laws and enforcement change and the official sources win.
Age rules in Las Vegas: what changes at 18 and 21 Almost everything that made Las Vegas famous is 21-and-over, but the city is not closed to anyone younger; it just has firm lines about where they can stand, sit and stop. This guide covers gambling, drinking, clubs, pools, shows, walking through casinos with children and the curfew rules that catch families off guard.
Safety and scams in Las Vegas: a realistic guide Las Vegas is a safe city for visitors who stay on the Strip and Downtown and use ordinary judgment; the risks are less about violent crime than about a well-practiced set of small hustles, plus a desert climate that hospitalizes the unprepared every summer. This guide names the scams, the streets to be thoughtful about and the heat rules that matter.
How much cash to bring to Las Vegas Casino ATMs are among the most expensive in the country and the city still runs on cash for tips, so the answer to how much to bring is more than you think but less than you fear. This guide sets out realistic daily budgets, the cheapest ways to get cash and how to keep it safe.
Resort fees, parking and the other hidden costs of Las Vegas The advertised price of almost nothing in Las Vegas is the price you pay. Resort fees, parking, concession and venue fees, service charges and ticket fees can add 30 percent or more to a trip, and this summary page collects every one of them in one place with links to the full guides on the biggest two.
Las Vegas slang and casino glossary The Strip has its own vocabulary, and half of it is about money. This glossary decodes the words on your folio, your players card and in the mouth of the host who wants your action, from comps and RFB to markers, tier matching, CNF fees and why locals call the Strip "the Boulevard".
Accessible Las Vegas: a practical mobility guide Las Vegas is one of the more accessible destinations in the United States on paper, with flat terrain, wide sidewalks and ADA-era resorts, but the distances are enormous and the crowds are real. This guide covers scooter and wheelchair rentals, how far things actually are, accessible rooms, shows, pools and transport.
Solo travel in Las Vegas: the guide for one Las Vegas is one of the easiest cities in the world to visit alone: nobody looks twice at a solo diner at a bar, the tables and sportsbooks are built for conversation and the shows do not care whether you came with anyone. This guide covers where to stay, how to eat well, what to do and how to stay safe on your own.
LGBTQ+ travel in Las Vegas: the welcoming guide Las Vegas has been a safe, easy destination for LGBTQ+ travelers for decades, with a compact bar district known as the Fruit Loop, a Pride weekend that usually falls in October, drag on Strip stages and resorts that compete for the market rather than tolerate it. This guide covers the scene, the stays and the practical questions.
Pet-friendly Las Vegas: dogs on the Strip and beyond More Las Vegas resorts accept dogs than most visitors expect, but the rules are specific: weight limits, fees, no casino floors, no pools and a summer climate that is genuinely dangerous for a dog on hot pavement. This guide covers the hotels, the fees as they generally run, the parks and patios and how to keep your dog safe.
Las Vegas for seniors: a slower, better trip Las Vegas was built by and for people who like a good dinner, a show and a few hours at a table, which makes it an excellent destination for older travelers as long as the trip is paced properly. This guide covers hotels with short walks, how to handle the heat and the distances, early shows, comfortable dining and the discounts that actually exist.
Las Vegas for international visitors If you are flying in from outside the United States, Las Vegas adds a layer of surprises on top of the usual ones: prices that grow at the till, a tipping culture that is non-negotiable, an ID check at every bar and an entry process that starts weeks before the flight. This guide covers entry, money, phones, plugs, tax and the cultural rules that matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I tip in Las Vegas?

Roughly $2 to $5 for valets, bellhops per bag and cocktail servers per round; $3 to $5 a night for housekeeping; a chip or two an hour to dealers when you are winning; 18 to 20 percent in restaurants. See the tipping guide for the full list.

Can you drink alcohol while walking on the Strip?

Generally yes, from a plastic or aluminum container. Glass is prohibited on the Strip sidewalks and Downtown has additional restrictions on where and what you can carry. Check the laws guide for details.

Is cannabis legal in Las Vegas?

Adults 21 and over can buy it at licensed dispensaries, but consuming it in hotels, casinos, on the street or on federal land is illegal. Licensed consumption lounges are the only public option.

Can kids walk through a casino?

Yes, accompanied and moving through. Minors may not stop, sit or stand near gaming, and security will move them along. Hotel corridors, restaurants, shops and shows have their own rules.

Is Las Vegas safe for tourists?

The Strip and Downtown are well policed and generally safe. The main risks are scams, pickpocketing in crowds, walking alone off the main corridors late at night and summer heat.

How much cash should I bring?

Enough for tips and small purchases, typically $50 to $100 a day per person plus any gambling budget you set. Casino ATMs charge steep fees, so withdraw before you arrive or use a bank branch off the Strip.

What is a resort fee?

A mandatory daily charge, roughly $30 to $55 plus tax at most Strip resorts, added on top of the room rate for amenities like Wi-Fi and pool access. See the hidden-costs summary and the full resort-fees guide.

Is Las Vegas accessible for wheelchair users?

Largely yes: flat terrain, ADA-compliant resorts, accessible rooms and shows. The challenge is distance, which is why scooter rentals are popular. The accessibility guide covers the details.

What do international visitors need before flying to Las Vegas?

Valid passport, an approved ESTA or visa depending on nationality, a card that works abroad, an understanding of tipping and sales tax, and a plan for mobile data. The international guide covers each.