Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
at TI, and so forth) are prime stomping grounds for pickpockets, so stay aware of
who's around you and where your valuables are being kept. To foil these types
altogether, try not to carry too much cash on your person. Store your valuables in
your in-room safe, and if you don't have one of those, ask to use the one behind
the counter in the lobby.
Along with pickpockets, scam artists remain a problem. The most common
scams involve a stranger asking for the use of your ATM card, briefly they say,
until they can access their funds. Don't fall for it. You will also possibly be
approached by panhandlers asking for money. These unfortunate souls are not in
any way dangerous, and if you want to be generous, the best thing to do is to buy
them a bit of food, because gifts of cash may go to feed a drug or gambling habit.
HEALTH CONCERNS
If you develop any kind of illness while in Las Vegas, your best bet is to talk with
the desk clerk at your hotel and ask him or her to recommend a dentist or a doc-
tor. You'll probably receive better care that way than calling a toll-free number for
referrals. Doctors in Las Vegas almost never make house calls; most only work
between 10am and 6pm, but an increasing number are keeping office hours on
Saturdays and evenings to handle the overload of patients. You can get referrals
for dentists through the
Southern Nevada Dental Society
(
%
702/733-8700);
for
physician referrals call the
Desert Springs Hospital
(
%
702/388-4888).
In addi-
tion, the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino, of all places, also houses an urgent care
facility and is an option for those with problems not serious enough to require a
hospital visit. Called the
Nevada Resort Medical Center
(
%
702/893-6767),
it's
open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you have an acute need to see a doctor at a time of day when regular physi-
cians aren't seeing patients, and you're worried that your condition may be too
serious for the Nevada Resort Medical Center, you'll have to go to a local hospital
for care. Again, ask the clerk at your hotel for the nearest emergency room or, if you
cannot make it there under your own steam, call
%
911,
which is also the number
to call in the United States for emergency help from the police and fire department.
One word on prescription medications: It is crucial that you pack your prescrip-
tion medications in their original containers, and bring them in your carry-on
luggage. Be sure, also, to bring along copies of your prescriptions in case you run
out or misplace your pills. If you need a prescription filled during your stay,
Walgreens
(3763 Las Vegas Blvd. S., across from the Monte Carlo;
%
702/739-
9638)
is open 24 hours a day, right on the Strip. Two other 24-hour options
include
Sav-On
(1360 E. Flamingo Rd.;
%
702/731-5373)
and
White Cross Drugs
(1700 Las Vegas Blvd. S.;
%
702/382-1733).
PACKING
The most important item in your suitcase will be a pair of very, very comfortable
shoes because your dogs are gonna be barking! Distances are deceptive on the
Strip and what seems like a short stroll can quickly become a strenuous hike. Even
the distances within certain casinos can be daunting, with a walk from the park-
ing garage to a restaurant eating up a good quarter of an hour. A springy, support-
ive pair of shoes is essential (you may want to bring two pairs to increase your foot
comfort). Second most important items: sunscreen and hats, particularly in summer.
