GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LAS VEGAS

Situated in the midst of the southern Nevada desert, Las Vegas is the largest city in the state of Nevada. Nicknamed Sin City, Las Vegas and its surrounding communities are famed for their mega-casino resorts, often lavishly decorated with names and themes meant to evoke romance, mystery, and exotic destinations. Along the brightly-lit Strip through the center of the city, visitors will find all manner of amusements and entertainment: circuses, stage shows, thrill rides, erotica, exotic animals, fine dining restaurants, nightclubs, shopping, and elaborate fountain displays, to say nothing of the age-old allure of gambling and drinking.

Climate

Las Vegas has an arid climate with sunny, dry, and extremely hot summers. The July average high is 40°C (104°F), but with low humidity. This low humidity does help keep the temperature from feeling as hot as it would otherwise at these levels, but nevertheless, it is still hot. Nighttime lows are usually in the high 20s Celsius (80s Fahrenheit). Winter is much cooler with daytime highs averaging around 15°C (60°F), and nighttime lows averaging about 4°C (40°F). During winter, a cold spell may set in for several days.

Spring and fall are very enjoyable months with daytime highs ranging from 15°C-25°C (60°F-80°F). Some of the best months to visit Las Vegas are March, April, May, October, and November. Temperatures are not too hot nor too chilly at those times, although a good time can be had in Las Vegas at any time.

Getting there

McCarran International Airport (LAS) is served by most major domestic and many international air carriers. The airport is one of the few in the world to have slot machines in it, meaning you can lose your entire vacation budget within minutes of stepping off the plane.

Things to do and see
Set in the middle of the desert of Nevada, Las Vegas can seem unreal at first sight. The skyline of the Strip features many unusual buildings side by side, and once you’ve come closer and get to travel along the Strip you’ll to see replicas of buildings from around the world like the Eiffel Tower, the Great Sphinx of Giza, the Statue of Liberty or St Mark’s Campanile. The buildings that aren’t copies also look striking, and there are things happening along the street like the dancing fountains of Bellagio and the pirate ship of Treasure Island, not to mention the colorful signs, of which there however are even more in the old town of Las Vegas; Downtown.
Inside hotels and casinos (the terms are interchangeable), expect to see myriads of slot machines, and gambling from card games to craps and roulette to sports betting. Hotel casinos often have a certain theme, and is decorated and sometimes features attractions to that theme, like the flamingo garden in Flamingo.
There are places on the Strip where you can buy half-price show tickets, but generally not for the really popular shows on the same day of the performance. Cash or credit card accepted. Shows include circus shows, musicals, production shows, comedy, magic, tribute shows, adult shows,
Las Vegas hosts 8 popular Cirque du Soleil shows. To secure the best seats, reservations well in advance is recommended.