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Las Vegas Travel Basics
Calling Codes
The three-digit area code for Las Vegas is 702.
For local numbers, dial the seven-digit phone number. For calls outside of Las Vegas, you will usually have to include the three-digit area code (which is dialed before the seven-digit number).
Dial 0 to speak with an operator.
Dial 555-1212 for directory assistance.
Electricity
Electricity is 110V AC, 60Hz in the United States. Plugs are of the flat, two-pin type. Be aware that this voltage is half as much as in most European and Asian countries, so visitors from those countries will need a plug adapter and a power transformer to operate their appliances.
Emergency Contacts
Dial 911 for all emergencies.
Police: 702-795-3111
Las Vegas Suicide Prevention Center: 702-731-2990
Columbia Sunrise Poison Center: 702-732-4989
Fax/Modem
Las Vegas hosts scores of conventions every years, and the local hotels are notoriously business-friendly. Travelers on business should have no problem accessing a fax/modem hook-up at most hotels, or at the city's many copy centers and secretarial-service centers.
Local Language
The language in Las Vegas is standard American English. As the local population is comprised primarily of retirees and transplants from other states, foreign visitors need not worry about unusual dialects or idioms. Nevertheless, visitors whose English is less than fluent are advised to carry a phrase book.
Public Holidays
New Year's Day: January 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Third Monday in January
Presidents' Day: Third Monday in February
Easter Sunday: mid-March or early April
Memorial Day: Last Monday in May
Independence Day: July 4
Labor Day: First Monday in September
Columbus Day: Second Monday in October
Veterans Day: November 11
Thanksgiving: Fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Day: December 25
Time Zone
Las Vegas lies in the Pacific Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time minus eight hours). The city observes Daylight Savings Time.
Travel Documents
Australia: Citizens of Australia must have a valid passport to enter the United States if they are staying less than 90 days and have an onward or return ticket.
Canada: Citizens of Canada need proof of citizenship for entry into the United States. This can be either a birth certificate with a raised seal or a voter registration card with a photo ID. A driver's license is not enough. Canadian citizens under 16 need notarized permission from both parents.
France:Citizens of France must have a valid passport to enter the United States if th ey are staying less than 90 days and have an onward or return ticket.
Germany: Citizens of Germany must have a valid passport to enter the United States if they are staying less than 90 days and have an onward or return ticket.
Ireland: Citizens of Ireland must have a valid passport to enter the United States if they are staying less than 90 days and have an onward or return ticket.
Japan: Citizens of Japan must have a valid passport to enter the United States if they are staying less than 90 days and have an onward or return ticket.
United Kingdom: U.K. citizens must have a valid passport to enter the United States if they are staying less than 90 days and have an onward or return ticket.
What to Take
Just what to bring is largely dependent on the time of year of the visit. During winter, when temperatures get chilly, be sure to pack a warm jacket. (It's safe to leave the heavy parka at home.) Visitors in spring can probably get away with little more than a sweater and khakis, but it doesn't hurt to pack either a sweatshirt or a light windbreaker. A summer stay requires plenty of shorts and T-shirts and lots of sunscreen.
Be sure to pack some practical footwear. Most of the hotels on the Strip are spaced fairly far apart, so travelers should plan on doing some walking if they want to experience more than one casino.
When to Go
The best time to visit Las Vegas is in the spring or fall, when temperatures are surprisingly mild. The desert climate insures a minimum of rainfall, and daytime temperatures are predictably pleasant, often in the high 60s and low 70s (Fahrenheit). Visitors during the winter months should be advised that evening temperatures can often drop into the 30s, with daytime highs often in the low 50s. From mid-May through September the heat is stifling, with daytime temperatures often topping the 100-degree mark.
For those traveling on a shoestring budget, room rates are often ridiculously inexpensive during the weekdays, as well as during the off-season (May through October and December through January). However, room rates can often change dramatically from week to week, particularly if the city is hosting a major convention.
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