Fast Las Vegas Facts

• Print
• E-mail
• Add to My Trips

Back to Las VegasFast Las Vegas Facts

American Express -- There is an Amex Travel office located at The Fashion Show Mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 (tel. 702/739-8474).

Area Code -- The area code for Las Vegas is 702.

Automobile Organizations -- Auto clubs supply maps, suggested routes, guidebooks, accident and bail-bond insurance, and emergency road service. The American Automobile Association (AAA) is the major auto club in the United States. If you belong to an auto club in your home country, inquire about AAA reciprocity before you leave. You may be able to join AAA even if you're not a member of a reciprocal club; to inquire, call AAA (tel. 800/222-4357; www.aaa.com). AAA is actually an organization of regional auto clubs, so look under "AAA Automobile Club" in the White Pages of the telephone directory to find a local number or try AAA's nationwide emergency road service telephone number (tel. 800/AAA-HELP).

Babysitters -- Contact Around the Clock Child Care (tel. 800/798-6768 or 702/365-1040). In business since 1987, this reputable company clears its sitters with the health department, the sheriff, and the FBI and carefully screens references. Charges are $75 for 4 hours for one or two children, $15 for each additional hour, with surcharges for additional children and on holidays. Sitters are on call 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and they will come to your hotel. Call at least 3 hours in advance.

Banks -- Banks are generally open from 9 or 10am to 5 and sometimes 6pm, and most have Saturday hours. ATMs are plentiful all around town. When the banks are closed, note that most casino cashiers will cash personal checks and can exchange foreign currency.

Business Hours -- Casinos and most bars are open 24 hours a day, nightclubs are usually only open late at night into the early morning hours, and restaurant and attraction hours vary.

Conventions -- Las Vegas is one of America's top convention destinations. Much of the action takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89109 (tel. 702/892-7575), which is the largest single-level convention center in the world. Its 3.2 million square feet include 144 meeting rooms. The Las Vegas Convention Center is currently being enhanced, with a goal of serving an astonishing 43 million visitors by 2009. And this immense facility is augmented by the Cashman Field Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas, NV 89101 (tel. 702/386-7100). Under the same auspices, Cashman provides another 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. Additionally, there are massive convention facilities at many of the big hotels, including the MGM Grand, The Mirage, Mandalay Bay, The Venetian, and more.

Currency -- The most common bills are the $1 (a "buck"), $5, $10, and $20 denominations. There are also $2 bills (seldom encountered), $50 bills, and $100 bills (the last two are usually not welcome as payment for small purchases). Coins come in seven denominations: 1? (1 cent, or a penny); 5? (5 cents, or a nickel); 10? (10 cents, or a dime); 25? (25 cents, or a quarter); 50? (50 cents, or a half-dollar); the gold-colored Sacagawea coin, worth $1; and the rare silver dollar.

Doctors & Dentists -- Hotels usually have lists of doctors and dentists, should you need one. In addition, they are listed in the Yellow Pages.

For dentist referrals, you can also call the Southern Nevada Dental Society (tel. 702/733-8700; www.sndsonline.org) weekdays from 9am to noon and 1 to 5pm; when the office is closed, a recording will tell you whom to call for emergency service.

For physician referrals, call the Desert Springs Hospital (tel. 702/388-4888; www.desertspringshospital.net). Hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Drinking Laws -- The legal age for purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages is 21; proof of age is required and often requested at bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, so it's always a good idea to carry ID when you go out.

Beer, wine, and liquor are all sold in all kinds of stores pretty much around the clock; trust us, you won't have a hard time finding a drink in this town.

Do not carry open containers of alcohol in a car or any public area that isn't zoned for alcohol consumption. The Strip and Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas are the only areas in town where you can have open containers on public sidewalks; otherwise, the police can fine you on the spot. And nothing will ruin your trip faster than getting a citation for DUI ("driving under the influence"), so don't even think about driving while intoxicated.

Electricity -- Like Canada, the United States uses 110 to 120 volts AC (60 cycles), compared to 220 to 240 volts AC (50 cycles) in most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Downward converters that change 220-240 volts to 110-120 volts are difficult to find in the United States, so bring one with you if you need one.

Embassies & Consulates -- All embassies are located in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Some consulates are located in major U.S. cities, and most nations have missions to the United Nations in New York City. If your country isn't listed below, call for directory information in Washington, D.C. (tel. 202/555-1212) or log on to www.embassy.org/embassies.

The embassy of Australia is at 1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202/797-3000; www.austemb.org). There are consulates in New York, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

The embassy of Canada is at 501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001 (tel. 202/682-1740; www.canadianembassy.org). Other Canadian consulates are in Buffalo (New York), Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle.

The embassy of Ireland is at 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/462-3939; www.irelandemb.org). Irish consulates are in Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and other cities. See website for complete listing.

The embassy of New Zealand is at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/328-4800; www.nzemb.org). New Zealand consulates are in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle.

The embassy of the United Kingdom is at 3100 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/588-7800; www.britainusa.com). Other British consulates are in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Emergencies -- Dial tel. 911 to contact the police or fire department or to call an ambulance.

Gambling Laws -- You must be 21 years of age to enter, much less gamble in, any casino. If you look young, carry your identification with you as you may be asked to prove your age. Most casinos are open 24 hours a day.

Gasoline (Petrol) -- At press time, in the U.S., the cost of gasoline (also known as gas, but never petrol), is considerably higher than it used to be. Las Vegas prices typically fall near the nationwide average (higher than some areas but lower than others) and are around $2.90 per gallon as of this writing. Taxes are already included in the advertised price per gallon. One U.S. gallon equals 3.8 liters or 0.85 imperial gallons. Fill-up locations are known as gas stations or service stations.

Highway Conditions -- For recorded information, call tel. 702/486-3116. You can also tune in 970 AM for traffic news or 1610 AM for highway reports.

Holidays -- Banks, government offices, post offices, and many stores, restaurants, and museums are closed on the following legal national holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day), the third Monday in January (Martin Luther King, Jr., Day), the third Monday in February (Presidents' Day), the last Monday in May (Memorial Day), July 4th (Independence Day), the first Monday in September (Labor Day), the second Monday in October (Columbus Day), November 11 (Veterans' Day/Armistice Day), the fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day), and December 25 (Christmas). The Tuesday after the first Monday in November is Election Day, a federal government holiday in presidential-election years (held every 4 years, and next in 2008).

Hospitals -- Emergency services are available 24 hours a day at University Medical Center, 1800 W. Charleston Blvd., at Shadow Lane (tel. 702/383-2000; www.umc-cares.org); the emergency-room entrance is on the corner of Hastings and Rose streets. Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, 3186 Maryland Pkwy., between Desert Inn Road and Sahara Avenue (tel. 702/731-8080; www.sunrisehospital.com), also has a 24-hour emergency room.

For more minor problems, try the Harmon Medical Urgent Care Center, the closest to the Strip, with doctors and X-ray machines; it's located at 105 E. Harmon at Koval, near the MGM Grand (tel. 702/796-1116; www.harmonmedicalcenter.com). It's open 24 hours, and there is a pharmacy on site.

Hot Lines -- Emergency hot lines include the Rape Crisis Center (tel. 702/366-1640), Suicide Prevention (tel. 702/731-2990), and Poison Emergencies (tel. 800/446-6179).

Legal Aid -- If you are "pulled over" for a minor infraction (such as speeding), never attempt to pay the fine directly to a police officer; this could be construed as attempted bribery, a much more serious crime. Pay fines by mail or directly into the hands of the clerk of the court. If you are accused of a more serious offense, say and do nothing before consulting a lawyer. In the U.S., the burden is on the state to prove a person's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and everyone has the right to remain silent, whether he or she is suspected of a crime or actually arrested. Once arrested, a person can make one telephone call to a party of his or her choice. International visitors should call their embassy or consulate.

Lost & Found -- Be sure to tell all your credit-card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit-card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit-card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. Visa's U.S. emergency number is tel. 800/847-2911 or 410/581-9994. American Express cardholders and traveler's-check holders should call tel. 800/221-7282. MasterCard holders should call tel. 800/307-7309 or 636/722-7111. For other credit cards, call the toll-free number directory, at tel. 800/555-1212.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Mail -- At press time, domestic postage rates are 24? for a postcard and 39? for a letter. For international mail, a first-class letter of up to 1 ounce costs 84? (63? to Canada and Mexico); a first-class postcard costs 75? (55? to Canada and Mexico); and a preprinted postal aerogramme costs 75?. For more information, go to www.usps.com and click on "Calculate Postage."

If you aren't sure what your address will be in the United States, mail can be sent to you, in your name, c/o General Delivery at the main post office of the city or region where you expect to be. (Call tel. 800/275-8777 for information on the nearest post office.) The addressee must pick up mail in person and must produce proof of identity (driver's license, passport, and so on). Most post offices will hold your mail for up to 1 month and are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Always include zip codes when mailing items in the U.S. If you don't know the zip code, visit www.usps.com/zip4.

Newspapers & Periodicals -- There are two Las Vegas dailies: the Las Vegas Review Journal and the Las Vegas Sun. The Review Journal's Friday edition has a helpful "Weekend" section with a comprehensive guide to shows and buffets. There are two free alternative papers, with club listings and many unbiased restaurant and bar reviews. Both City Life and Las Vegas Weekly are published weekly. And at every hotel desk, you'll find dozens of free local magazines, such as Vegas Visitor, What's On in Las Vegas, Showbiz Weekly, and Where to Go in Las Vegas, that are chock-full of helpful information -- although probably of the sort that comes from paid advertising.

Parking -- Free valet parking is one of the great pleasures of Las Vegas and well worth the $1 or $2 tip (given when the car is returned) to save walking a city block from the far reaches of a hotel parking lot, particularly when the temperature is over 100?F (38?C). Another summer plus: The valet will turn on your air-conditioning so that you don't have to get into an oven on wheels.

Passports -- For residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232 or visit the government website, at www.passports.gov.au.

For residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca). Note: Canadian children who travel must have their own passports. However, if you hold a valid Canadian passport issued before December 11, 2001, that bears the name of your child, the passport remains valid for you and your child until the passport expires.

For residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth St., Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a ?12 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525) or at most main post offices.

For residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office (tel. 0800/225-050; www.passports.govt.nz).

For residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-yr. passport for children under 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service (tel. 0870/521-0410; www.ukpa.gov.uk).

Pharmacies -- There's a 24-hour Walgreen's (which also has a 1-hr. photo) at 3763 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tel. 702/739-9638) almost directly across from the Monte Carlo. Sav-On is a large 24-hour drugstore and pharmacy close to the Strip at 1360 E. Flamingo Rd., at Maryland Parkway (tel. 702/731-5373 for the pharmacy, 702/737-0595 for general merchandise). White Cross Drugs, 1700 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tel. 702/382-1733), open daily 7am to 1am, will make pharmacy deliveries to your hotel during the day.

Police -- For non-emergencies, call tel. 702/795-3111. For emergencies, call tel. 911.

Post Office -- The most convenient post office is immediately behind the Stardust Hotel at 3100 Industrial Rd., between Sahara Avenue and Spring Mountain Road (tel. 800/297-5543). It's open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm. You can also mail letters and packages at your hotel, and there's a full-service U.S. Post Office in the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace.

Safety -- In Las Vegas, vast amounts of money are always on display, and criminals find many easy marks. Don't be one of them. At gaming tables and slot machines, men should keep wallets well concealed and out of the reach of pickpockets, and women should keep handbags in plain sight (on laps). If you win a big jackpot, ask the pit boss or slot attendant to cut you a check rather than give you cash -- the cash may look nice, but flashing it can attract the wrong kind of attention. Outside casinos, popular spots for pickpockets and thieves are restaurants and outdoor shows, such as the volcano at The Mirage or the fountains at Bellagio. Stay alert. Unless your hotel room has an in-room safe, check your valuables in a safe-deposit box at the front desk.

Taxes -- Sales tax is 7%. The Clark County hotel room tax is 9%, and in Henderson it's 10%. The United States has no value-added tax (VAT) or other indirect tax at the national level. Every state, county, and city may levy its own local tax on all purchases, including hotel and restaurant checks and airline tickets. These taxes do not appear on price tags.

Telephone, Telegraph, Fax & Internet -- Generally, hotel surcharges on long-distance and local calls are astronomical, so you're better off using your cellphone or a public pay telephone. Many convenience groceries and packaging services sell prepaid calling cards in denominations up to $50; for international visitors these can be the least expensive way to call home. Many public phones at airports now accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards. Local calls made from public pay phones in most locales cost either 25? or 35?. Pay phones do not accept pennies, and few will take anything larger than a quarter.

Most long-distance and international calls can be dialed directly from any phone. For calls within the United States and to Canada, dial 1 followed by the area code and the seven-digit number. For other international calls, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and the number you are calling. Calls to area codes 800, 888, 877, and 866 are toll-free. However, calls to area codes 700 and 900 (chat lines, bulletin boards, "dating" services, and so on) can be very expensive -- usually a charge of 95? to $3 or more per minute, and they sometimes have minimum charges that can run as high as $15 or more.

For reversed-charge or collect calls, and for person-to-person calls, dial the number 0 then the area code and number; an operator will come on the line, and you should specify whether you are calling collect, person-to-person, or both. If your operator-assisted call is international, ask for the overseas operator. For local directory assistance ("information"), dial tel. 411; for long-distance information, dial 1, then the appropriate area code and 555-1212. Telegraph and telex services are provided primarily by Western Union. You can telegraph money, or have it telegraphed to you, very quickly over the Western Union system, but this service can cost as much as 15% to 20% of the amount sent.

Most hotels have fax machines available for guest use (be sure to ask about the charge to use one). Many hotel rooms are even wired for guests' fax machines. A less expensive way to send and receive faxes may be at stores such as The UPS Store (check the Yellow Pages).

Every major hotel has some kind of Internet access, either Web TV or some kind of high-speed Internet access, usually for a fee. A few places have free Wi-Fi.

Time Zone -- Las Vegas is in the Pacific time zone, 3 hours behind the East Coast, 2 hours behind the Midwest.

The continental United States is divided into four time zones: Eastern standard time (EST), Central standard time (CST), Mountain standard time (MST), and Pacific standard time (PST). Alaska and Hawaii have their own zones. For example, when it's 9am in Las Vegas (PST), it's 7am in Honolulu (HST),10am in Denver (MST), 11am in Chicago (CST), noon in New York City (EST), 5pm in London (GMT), and 2am the next day in Sydney.

Daylight saving time takes effect at 2am the second Sunday in March until 2am the first Sunday in November, except in Arizona, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Daylight saving time moves the clock 1 hour ahead of standard time.

Tipping -- Tips are a very important part of certain workers' income, and gratuities are the standard way of showing appreciation for services provided. (Tipping is certainly not compulsory if the service is poor!) In hotels, tip bellhops at least $1 per bag ($2-$3 if you have a lot of luggage) and tip the chamber staff $1 to $2 per day (more if you've left a disaster area for him or her to clean up). Tip the doorman or concierge only if he or she has provided you with some specific service (for example, calling a cab for you or obtaining difficult-to-get theater tickets). Tip the valet-parking attendant $1 every time you get your car.

In restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, tip service staff 15% to 20% of the check, tip bartenders 10% to 15%, tip checkroom attendants $1 per garment, and tip valet-parking attendants $1 per vehicle.

It is customary, but not mandatory, to tip dealers and casino personnel for dealing that terrific blackjack hand or for hand-paying a big slot machine win. How much depends on how generous you are feeling and how big you won.

As for other service personnel, tip cab drivers 15% of the fare; tip skycaps at airports at least $1 per bag ($2-$3 if you have a lot of luggage); and tip hairdressers and barbers 15% to 20%.

Toilets -- You won't find public toilets or "restrooms" on the streets in most U.S. cities, but restrooms are usually available in hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, museums, department stores, railway and bus stations, and service stations. Large hotels and fast-food restaurants are often the best bet for clean facilities. If possible, avoid the toilets at parks and beaches, which tend to be dirty; some may be unsafe. Restaurants and bars in heavily visited areas may reserve their restrooms for patrons.

Useful Phone Numbers -- Some useful numbers for travelers, especially those from outside the U.S., are U.S. Dept. of State Travel Advisory (tel. 202/647-5225, staffed 24 hrs.); U.S. Passport Agency (tel. 202/647-0518); U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention International Traveler's Hotline (tel. 404/332-4559).

Veterinarian -- If Fido or Fluffy gets sick while traveling, go to the West Flamingo Animal Hospital, 5445 W. Flamingo Rd., near Decatur Boulevard (tel. 702/876-2111; www.westflamingo.vetsuite.com). They're open 24 hours; they take Discover, MasterCard, and Visa; and they have an ATM.

Visas -- For information about U.S. visas, go to http://travel.state.gov and click on "Visas." Or contact one of the following:

Australian citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information from the U.S. Embassy Canberra, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (tel. 02/6214-5600) or by checking the U.S. Diplomatic Mission's website, at http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/consular.

British subjects can obtain up-to-date visa information by calling the U.S. Embassy Visa Information Line (tel. 0891/200-290) or by visiting the "Visas to the U.S." section of the American Embassy London's website, at www.usembassy.org.uk.

Irish citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information through the Embassy of the USA Dublin, 42 Elgin Rd., Dublin 4, Ireland (tel. 353/1-668-8777) or by checking the "Consular Services" section of the website http://dublin.usembassy.gov.

Citizens of New Zealand can obtain up-to-date visa information by contacting the U.S. Embassy New Zealand, 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington (tel. 644/472-2068), or get the information directly from the "For New Zealanders" section of the website http://usembassy.org.nz.

Weddings -- Las Vegas is one of the easiest places in the world to tie the knot. There's no blood test or waiting period, the ceremony and license are inexpensive, chapels are open around the clock, and your honeymoon destination is right at hand. More than 101,000 marriages are performed here each year. Get a license Downtown at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, 201 Clark Ave. (tel. 702/455-4415), which is open daily from 8am to midnight. The cost of a marriage license is $55; the cost of the ceremony varies, depending on where you go to have it done.