Las Vegas, Nevada Quick Facts Population: 478,434 (Metropolitan Area: 1,563,282)
Time Zone:Pacific Time Zone (GMT-8 )
Daylight Saving Time is observed from the first Sunday in April to the last
Sunday in October.
Voltage Requirements: 110 volts.
Area Code: 702
Average
Temperatures:
Month
High
Low
January
60
29
February
67
34
March
72
39
April
81
45
May
89
52
June
99
61
July
103
68
August
102
66
September
95
57
October
84
47
November
71
36
December
61
30
Local Seasons
Las Vegas is in the desert, and that can mean hot temperatures. In June, July
and August, expect temperatures above 100 Fahrenheit (traditionally believed to
be moderated by the dry air). May can produce highs of over 90 Fahrenheit, as
can September. The desert also means great changes in temperature. Temperature
can drop nearly 30 degrees from daytime highs to nighttime lows, especially in
winter.
The desert creates low humidity, bright sun and hardly any rain (annual rainfall
averages 4 inches). For about two weeks in July or August, there can be slightly
higher humidity and thunderstorms. Winters are mild (January temperatures are
33-56 Fahrenheit). If snow falls at all, it usually melts soon after it touches
the ground.
Getting to Las Vegas Air
McCarran International Airport (LAS). Just East of the Southern end of the
Strip.
Connecting Transportation
Shuttles and taxis are available at the airport.
Citizens Area Transit (CAT) buses provide service to and from the airport, but
if you're headed for the Strip, you'll have to transfer buses (difficult if you
have luggage).
Major car rental agencies have booths adjacent to the luggage claim.
Bus Greyhound Bus Station
200 S. Main St. (next to Jackie Gaughan's Plaza Hotel), downtown, Las Vegas.
Phone 702-384-9561. Toll-free 800-231-2222.
Car The main highway connecting Las Vegas to Southern California and Utah is
I-15. U.S. 93 also winds from Las Vegas, Southeast to Arizona, where it merges
with I-40.
Interstate 15 between Las Vegas and Los Angeles take you through the spectacular
Mojave Desert and normally normally takes about four hours. Traffic - and your
driving time - can be very heavy, especially on holiday weekends.
To ensure a safe trip, check road condition reports before departing. Weather
and road construction information is available through the Nevada Department of
Transportation. Remeber, even though its four hours LA to vegas you're driving
through the desert so its a good idea to take at least minimal precautions like
bringing along bottled water. If there's anything wrong with your car's cooling
system, this drive will put it to the test.
Getting Around Town If you're just going to visit the Strip and downtown, you won't need a car
and are better off without one. Traffic along the Strip is congested and those
familiar with Vegas use parallel streets to go North and South. New roads and
highways are being built, but the city's fast growth means that the roads are
always playing catch-up with the ever-increasing number of vehicles.
Most Strip and downtown hotels offer free self-parking or valet parking, and
both are available even if you're not staying at the hotel. Downtown hotels may
require validation for free self-parking. Valet parking is always free, but a
tip is expected. The municipal, county and Fremont Street Experience parking
garages are also available downtown. The Convention Center has a visitor parking
area just one block off the Strip.
If you're planning to travel to out-of-town sights or to spend a lot of time in
the less travelled parts of the city, rent a car. Otherwise, use a combination
of your feet, the Strip trolleys and taxis to get around. Walking the Strip is
one of the quintessential experiences of Las Vegas?the best way to see the
astounding sights that line the street. Because of the daytime heat, try to
explore the Strip at night when it's cooler and most active. You should also
approach it in sections. The hotel/casinos stretch along the boulevard for
miles, and you'll no doubt do a lot of walking within each of the massive
resorts. Avoid walking the section of Las Vegas Boulevard between the north end
of the Strip and downtown: The area is relatively deserted, especially after
dark.
Public Transportation
The Strip Trolley is perhaps the most useful means of public transit for
visitors. The trolleys operate between the Stratosphere (north) and Mandalay Bay
(south) and stop at major properties along Las Vegas Boulevard. In addition,
several of the major hotel casinos are connected by tram or another form of
transit, but these are limited systems that operate only between select
properties (Bally's and MGM Grand, for instance). The Fremont Street Downtown
Neighborhood Trolley serves downtown. Citizens Area Transit (CAT) buses run
throughout the city.
Citizens Area Transit
Better known as CAT, Citizens Area Transit is the city's public bus system.
Route 301 and a few others run 24 hours a day; others usually operate 5 am-1 am.
Fare is just over a dollar, except for Route 301, which originates on the Strip
and costs a little more. All fares require exact change, tokens or passes.
Transfers are free. Phone 702-228-7433 for schedule and current fare
information.
Fremont Street Downtown Neighborhood Trolley
Serves the downtown area. Daily 7 am-11 pm. Phone 702-229-6024.
Strip Trolley
Runs along the main hotel/casino segment of Las Vegas Boulevard, between the
Stratosphere (north) and Mandalay Bay (south). Trolleys run daily 9:30 am-1:30
am at roughly 15 minute intervals.
Taxis
Order by phone or get a cab at the valet stations at major hotels. It's illegal
for any public vehicle to stop in travel lanes in Clark County, so hailing a cab
on the street may be difficult (although taxis can pull into the nearest public
driveway). Taxis operate 24 hours, are metered and don't accept credit cards.
Holidays:
New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Junior Day - third Monday in January
President's Day - third Monday in February
Memorial Day - last Monday in May
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - first Monday in September
Nevada Day - October 31
Thanksgiving Day - fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - December 24 and 25
New Year's Eve - December 31
Communications
Internet Access
Most of the large hotels have a means for their guests to access the Web.
Internet cafes are also found around town.
Mail and Package Services U.S. Post Office
Known as "Strip Station," this is the closest post office to most of
the large resorts.
Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5 pm. 3100 S. Industrial Road (behind the Stardust Hotel),
Las Vegas.
Newspapers and Magazines The Las Vegas Review-Journal is published weekday mornings, The Las
Vegas Sun weekday afternoons. The two papers publish joint editions on the
weekends.
Both the Review-Journal and Sun publish entertainment guides on
Friday. The Sun also puts out Showbiz, a weekly glossy containing
entertainment features, a map and guides to shows and restaurants. The weekly City
Life contains fine arts and recreation listings in addition to a guide to
shows and dining. The biweekly What's On includes nightlife information.
El Mundo, Las Vegas' major Spanish-language publication, comes out on
Friday. The Las Vegas Business Press is published each week on Monday.
