Cheap Flights to Las Vegas

Las Vegas Travel Information

Known around the world for the glamour and bright lights of its casinos, Las Vegas has grown in just over 100 years from a sleepy desert town into one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Situated amid the dry, rocky landscape of the Mojave Desert, the city was founded in 1905 but only really started to blossom in 1931 when gambling in casinos became legal within the city.

Today, Las Vegas's hotels, resorts and casinos welcome over 40 million visitors every year. Visitors come for the thrill of the games, but the casinos offer much more, from luxury shopping to fine dining to world-class entertainment. Although casinos can be found everywhere throughout the city -- there are even places to play in McCarran Airport -- the most spectacular casinos cluster in two main areas. Older casinos are concentrated around Fremont Street; the spectacular display of lighted signs and logos now includes a massive lighted canopy over a pedestrian mall known as the Fremont Street Experience. Since the late 1980s, larger casino resorts have been springing up along Las Vegas Boulevard, commonly called "the Strip." With over 60,000 rooms between them, these luxury casinos are complete resorts, with gourmet restaurants, nightclubs and unique attractions from dancing fountains to aquariums, roller coasters, indoor canals and even pirate ships.

Las Vegas may be famous for its casinos, but there's more to the city than gambling. Relaxed Nevada marriage and divorce regulations made Las Vegas the US's wedding capital in the 20th century, a trend that continues today. Vegas weddings range from massive celebrations to simple, intimate ceremonies involving only the bride, the groom and an Elvis Presley impersonator. Outside the city, nature lovers can go rock climbing in Red Rock Canyon or even take a longer trip to the majestic Grand Canyon.

Many of Vegas's favourite pastimes take place in air-conditioned hotels, but visitors out and about in the heat should make sure to drink plenty of water. The hot desert air dehydrates travellers quickly, leading to the painful rawness known as "Vegas throat." Summer months are particularly hot and dry, with highs over 35 degrees throughout most of July and August; evenings are warm, with temperatures in the high 20s. Autumn and winter are mild, and even the coldest days of winter are relatively warm.