Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Unless you plan to spend every waking moment in the casino, it's important to
protect yourself from the sun in this often steamy, desert city. Other than those
items, feel free to fill your suitcase with what pleases you most at home. Very few
actual Las Vegans have the budget or time to dress like the actors on the TV show
Las Vegas,
and unless you plan on going to a very fancy restaurant, casual clothes
should suffice. If you want to go clubbing, turn to p. 204 to read Kate's advice on
the specialized “club clothes” you're going to need to get past the velvet ropes.
Dressing appropriately for the weather is also key, so be sure to check the chart
at the top of this chapter for the average temperatures at various times of the year.
Those visiting in the fall, winter, and early spring months (mid-Oct to mid-Apr)
are advised to bring clothes that you can layer, as a balmy afternoon can turn
chilly once the sun goes down. Summer will be mighty sultry, so be sure to pack
sandals, bathing suits, shorts, and shirts in fabrics that breathe. But even in the
summer, you'll want to pack a light sweater, as the air-conditioning in the casinos
can get downright arctic.
SPECIALIZED TRAVEL RESOURCES
With its emphasis on tourism and its tolerance for all sorts of naughty behavior,
Sin City is welcoming to persons of all types. But because certain visitors have spe-
cial needs (and also get special perks), I want to address these groups directly with
a few choice words of advice.
ADVICE FOR FAMILY TRAVELERS
Remember that advertising campaign touting Vegas as a family destination? They
ditched it in favor of the far more salacious “What happens in Vegas, stays in
Vegas” tagline . . . as well they should. Yes, there are activities for children here, but
there are also many things that you may not want your children to see: prostitutes
soliciting Johns, reeling drunks, billboards of nearly naked women, and gambling,
of course. Lots and lots of people playing games that make bells go off and lights
flash . . . a glamorous scene for a little kid, which leads me to my next question:
With the widespread problems we have in the U.S. with gambling addictions, do
you really want to imprint these images on those sensitive little brains? It's some-
thing I struggled with when I brought my kids to Vegas and went so overboard
talking about the dangers of gambling that my daughter ended up harrumphing
her way through each casino, muttering loudly how “stupid these people are for
throwing away their money like this” (which got us more than one annoyed look
from an insulted gambler).
As for restaurants, many in town are friendly to families, providing appropri-
ately bland food and high chairs. There are some, however, that make it abun-
dantly clear they don't want the little dears around. How can you tell that a
restaurant wants your kids? Call in advance and ask about highchairs and kids'
menus; those that have them are saying, “Come on in.” Those that don't should
be visited only by parents with exceptionally well-behaved offspring. You should
also check out those restaurants that I've marked with a
9
icon in chapter 4.
Hotels are a tricky topic. Many have elaborate pools that will appeal to youngsters
but require long treks through smoky casinos whenever you have to leave or enter
