The 15 Biggest Mistakes In Las Vegas To Avoid

Whether it’s your first trip to Sin City, or you’re a seasoned traveler, there are definitely certain mistakes in Las Vegas to avoid making. I’ve pulled together 15 of the biggest Las Vegas mistakes that people make, so you can enjoy your trip like a pro!

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Mistakes In Las Vegas #1: Staying Only On The Strip

The Strip is wonderful, there’s no denying that. There are a million amazing things to see and do, from restaurants to unbelievable shows to awesome bookstores, gambling and more, and the people watching alone is unreal.

But you will be doing yourself a major disservice if you stay solely on the Strip the whole time you’re in Vegas. There are all sorts of wonderful things that Nevada is known for that don’t have to do with the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas is surrounded by some of the most breathtaking landscapes you could imagine. The Grand Canyon alone will leave you speechless, and we strongly recommend taking a tour out to see it. We opted for this helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon and swear it’s worth every penny, but you can also do an ATV tour which is amazing as well.

There is also the Red Rock Canyon, Monument Valley, Death Valley National Park, the Hoover Dam, and so many more amazing sights to see outside of the city. In fact, Las Vegas has some of the best extreme activities in the country!

Las Vegas Mistake #2: Thinking You Can Just Walk Everywhere

The Las Vegas Strip is very flat and the buildings are absolutely gigantic. The combination of these two factors gives off the illusion that everything is super close to each other and totally within walking distance.

It is not.

The strip itself is about 4 miles long, and in order to get everywhere you need to use pedestrian bridges which have you walk up and around certain areas, and sometimes you even have to walk through malls and around them to keep going.

Walking takes significantly longer than you think it’s going to, so save yourself the hassle and grab an Uber if you’re going more than a couple hotels away from your current location.

Mistakes In Las Vegas #3: Not Bringing Comfortable Shoes

Along the same lines of the rookie mistake above, is this one – not bringing comfortable shoes. Although I don’t recommend walking everywhere, you definitely will be doing a lot of walking.

Walking the strip is an experience in of itself. The sights, the sounds, the people; it’s a whole new world. You definitely will be doing more walking than you think while you’re in Las Vegas, so do yourself a favor and bring comfortable shoes.

Winding up with blisters on your feet for the rest of your trip is one mistake you want to avoid making in Las Vegas for sure!

Las Vegas Mistakes #4: Not Checking The Weather

Although Las Vegas is in the desert, the temperature actually fluctuates quite a bit throughout the course of the year. You definitely want to take temperature into consideration when getting ready for your trip.

In the summer, high temps can reach over 100°F, but in the winter, high temps are only in the 50’s, with lows going to just about freezing. You don’t want to find yourself freezing at night, thinking the desert heat would keep you warm, or sweating during the day not realizing just how hot it can get.

Use this chart to prepare for your trip.

Mistakes In Las Vegas #5: Renting A Car

Renting a car in Las Vegas in most cases will be completely unnecessary. Of course there are exceptions to this, like if you are planing self-guided day trips out of the city, for example.

But most commonly, it will be an unnecessary expense, not to mention a hassle.

You likely will be drinking alcohol, so you definitely should not be driving anywhere. And since many things on the Strip are within a couple miles, taking an Uber or Lyft will be your most cost-effective option.

Parking and getting to your rental car can be a giant pain, not to mention the traffic you’ll have to be maneuvering through. And don’t forget to factor in the added cost of parking at hotels, or tipping the valets!

So unless you have plans to explore outside the city on your own, do yourself a favor and skip the rental car.

Mistakes In Las Vegas #6: Not Booking Direct

One of the biggest rookie mistakes in Las Vegas that people make when traveling is booking via a 3rd party. Places like Expedia, Travelocity, etc, may have tempting prices, but you’re missing out on perks by not booking directly with the hotel.

Most hotels have loyalty programs, and you earn points by booking through them. Their rooms generally are also refundable, so you can easily track prices and simply cancel and rebook if you see them drop prices.

READ THIS NEXT: How To Find Cheap Hotels – Our Best Booking Hacks

Las Vegas Mistakes #7: Not Checking Dress Codes

This mistake is usually geared more towards the men, as ladies can pretty much get in anywhere as long as you look presentable.

Many places in Las Vegas will turn you away if you have on sneakers, flip flops, basketball shorts, sports jerseys, baseball caps, or tank tops. Generally you need to be dressed to impressed to some extent, especially when you’re seeing any of the wonderful shows in Las Vegas.

But remember, you can’t ever be overdressed in Vegas, so bring your best attire and have a great time! We’ve created an entire Las Vegas Packing List to help you out.

Mistakes In Las Vegas #8: Not Using A Player’s Card

No matter where you gamble, or how much you spend, you should absolutely be signing up for a player’s card. Membership is free, so there’s literally no reason not to.

Every time you play a game, you earn points. Many places also reward for purchases made inside their casinos as well, which means you can easily rack up tons of points.

Once you’ve earned enough points, you can trade them in for shows, meals, and discounted or even free stays!

Mistakes In Las Vegas #9: Not Setting A Budget

This is a huge mistake to make if you’re going to Las Vegas. Vegas is expensive. I think what surprised us most about Las Vegas was the cost of the food.

So whatever you think you’re going to be spending, double it.

You are going to be spending money while you are here. Everything is more expensive, plus the more you drink, the lower your inhibitions get, and the more money you spend. That’s why the casinos all give you free alcohol, after all.

Set a reasonable total trip budget for yourself, and then break that budget down. Have a set amount for gambling, for food and drinks, for shows, for tours, and for activities. Then break those categories down even further into daily allowances for each.

Don’t hit the ground running, not paying attention to your spending, or you may be in for a very bad surprise by the time your trip is over.

Expert Tip: Leave your credit/debit cards in your hotel room for the night. Inhibitions disappear easily in Vegas and you don’t want to find yourself in a big financial hole at the end of your trip. Give yourself a set amount of cash for the night, and leave the plastic behind!

Las Vegas Mistake #10: Gambling At The Airport

As soon as you step off the plane in Las Vegas you are inundated with slot machines. If you’ve never been here before, it can be incredibly tempting to start your trip with a bang and hit up those machines.

Exert your self-control and walk on by.

Rumor has it that those machines have the worst odds and payout of anywhere in Las Vegas. You certainly don’t want to start your trip at a loss, so skip the airport slots and do your gambling once you make it to the real casinos.

Mistakes In Las Vegas #11: Not Stopping At The Liquor Store

It’s an alien concept to many people who have never been to Las Vegas before, but it is completely legal to walk around in public in Las Vegas with alcohol as long as it’s not in a glass.

One of our favorite little tricks we use when we go to Vegas is that we either make sure to stop at a liquor store as soon as we land, or we carefully pack a bottle or two and some solo cups in our checked bags.

There is no need to spend crazy amounts of money on alcohol when you’re in Vegas, especially since most casinos will give you free booze as long as you’re gambling. But if you’re doing anything other than gambling, you’ll be paying for your booze.

Save yourself some money and stop at a liquor store on your way to your hotel for your booze and mixers of choice. You can make drinks in your room, and carry them with you while you’re roaming the strip.

Mistakes In Las Vegas #12: Not Bringing Small Bills

First, let’s say that the ATM fees on the Strip are outrageous. So do yourself a favor and bring enough cash with you in the first place. Of course most places will take a card, but you need plenty of cash on hand for tips.

So you also need to remember to bring small bills. You will be doing a lot of tipping while you’re in Vegas – the taxis, the bartenders, the dealers, the servers – basically everyone who provides services will be expecting a tip, so come prepared!

Las Vegas Mistakes #13: Not Packing The Right Stuff

There are a few things that every trip to Vegas needs, and you don’t want to leave home without them. Las Vegas is expensive and you don’t want to have to waste precious vacation time trying to replace forgotten items.

You also don’t want to go overboard and have to lug around gigantic suitcases with you either. Check out our Las Vegas Packing List for a broken-down list of everything you will need to bring.

Mistakes In Las Vegas #14: Over or Under Planning

Any seasoned traveler will tell you that micromanaging any trip is sure to leave you stressed. Of course you need to have plans.

You need to know where you’re staying, when you’re arriving and leaving, how you’re getting around, etc. You’ll want to plan out any tours or shows or activities you want to be sure to see, but make sure you aren’t over doing it.

You need to leave plenty of room in your schedule for relaxation, travel time, and even unforeseen circumstances. If you over plan your trip, you may be unpleasantly surprised when everything doesn’t go exactly according to that plan.

Plus, you might happen upon things that you really would love to do but can’t because you already have too much on your plate.

So plan out the necessities and remember to be flexible. You’re in Las Vegas; it’s supposed to be fun!

Expert Tip: Make a list of all the things you’d like to see or do on your trip and then prioritize them. Pick just a couple of things on your list (or just one depending on the length of your stay), and leave the rest of your time open to explore.

The flip side of the over-planning coin is just as potentially detrimental as under-planning can be. If you go to Las Vegas without enough of a game plan, you are sure to wind up missing out on some really amazing experiences.

Shows sell out, restaurants book up, and tours can become unavailable.

Las Vegas has some of the best shows anywhere, like Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere, or any of their Cirque du Soleil shows for that matter. David Copperfield is always great entertainment, and there’s tons of musicians who either have residencies or rotate through Vegas.

You definitely should make it a point to see at least a couple of them when you visit.

Mistakes In Las Vegas #15: Not Drinking Water

There is no hangover like a Las Vegas hangover, and you are sure to discover that for yourself if you don’t remember to drink water while you’re there.

Along with the self-induced dehydration, is the havoc the Las Vegas sun will wreak on your body. Do not make the mistake of not drinking enough water!

Whether you visit Sin City in the summer or winter, you will need copious amounts of water, so stop by a convenience store and stock up on bottles. Or better yet, bring a refillable bottle with you from home and cut down on the plastic waste.