Orientation
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is in the southern part of the state of Nevada, about 80km (50mi) east of the California border and 50km (30mi) west of the Arizona border. The city is divided into two main parts: a compact downtown centred on Fremont St, nicknamed Glitter Gulch, near the intersection of Highway 95 and Interstate 15; and the Strip, a corridor of hotels and casinos lining Las Vegas Blvd, parallel to but east of Interstate 15, a few kilometres south of downtown.
The casinos are divided between downtown's Fremont St and the Strip; most hotels are on or near the Strip. McCarran International Airport is located east of the southern end of the Strip, about 10km (6.5mi) from downtown. The Greyhound bus station is downtown and is located next to the Plaza Hotel and Casino.
Visas Overview
Canadians need proof of Canadian citizenship or a passport to enter the USA. All other visitors must have a valid passport, which should be valid for at least six months longer than their intended stay in the USA.
Travellers from countries such as Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom can enter the USA for up to 90 days under a visa-waiver program if they have a round-trip ticket that is nonrefundable in the US, and have a passport valid for at least six months past their scheduled departure date. All other travellers will need a visitor's visa. Visas can be obtained at most US consulate offices overseas; however, it is generally easier to obtain a visa from an office in one's home country.
The USA is regularly adjusting entry requirements in an effort to reduce the threat of terrorism. It is imperative that travellers double- and triple-check current regulations before coming to the USA, as changes will occur for several years. A procedure introduced in 2004 requires most visitors travelling on visas to the United States to have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken by immigration officials upon entry at US air and seaports.
Under new regulations to be phased in toward the end of 2005, travellers from VWP-eligible countries will need to present a biometric passport or US visa to enter the country. You don't need a visa if:
your passport was issued before October 26,
2005, but is 'machine readable';
if it was issued on or after October 26,
2005, and includes a digital photo as well as
being machine readable; or if it was issued
on or after October 26, 2006, and contains
a digital photo and 'biometric data,' such as
digital iris scans and fingerprints. Further details and information on the changes to the visa system can be found at www.travel.state.gov/visa.
Customs Overview
International travellers who haven't already cleared US customs must do so at McCarran International Airport. If you have nothing to declare, just follow the green line on the floor of the terminal; you may or may not be singled out for a spot inspection as you head toward the exit. If you have something to declare, follow the red line and be sure to declare the article, because if you fail to do so and are caught, you could find yourself in serious trouble. If you have illegal drugs or perishable agricultural items, discard them immediately.
Duty Free
Non-US citizens 21 years or older can import 1L of liquor and, if you're at least 18 years old, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars (not Cubans) or 2kg of tobacco duty free. Counterfeits of trademarked brand-name items and any goods made in Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea or Sudan are prohibited. Gifts may amount to no more than 100.00 USD in value. You may bring any amount of money less than 10,000.00 USDinto or out of the US without declaration. Amounts equal to or greater than 10,000.00 USD must be declared. There is no legal limit to the amount of US dollars, foreign cash and traveller's cheques you can bring in, but undeclared amounts of more than 10,000.00 USDcan be confiscated. For the latest regulations, contact US Customs & Border Protection (tel: 202 354 1000; www.cbp.gov).
Getting There and Away
The classic way to pull into Vegas is in a car (preferably a Red Shark of a car) or on a Greyhound bus. If you travel by rail, you'll end up on a bus anyway, as trains only reach as far as California and Arizona. If you're coming from elswhere in the US, Canada or Europe, you can usually fly direct into McCarran International Airport.
Getting to Las Vegas and Away by Bus
Greyhound runs bus services between Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Phoenix, Arizona. The station is in downtown Las Vegas. Green Tortoise offers a low-budget, communal bus experience between Las Vegas and major cities on the West Coast.
Getting to Las Vegas and Away by Train
There is no train service to Las Vegas, but you can travel to Kingman, Arizona (170km/105mi); Needles, California (185km/115mi); and Barstow, California (250km/155mi) by train and connect to Las Vegas by Greyhound's Thruway bus.
Getting to Las Vegas and Away by Car
One of the best and most picturesque ways to get to Las Vegas is by car. Highways traverse the desert and converge on Las Vegas from the major cities of the southwest.
Getting to Las Vegas and Away by Plane
Las Vegas is served by McCarran International Airport (LAS), where travellers from other US cities, Canada and Europe have the best connections. Departure tax is included in ticket prices. McCarran International Airport is located at the southern end of the Strip, about 8km (5mi) south of downtown. Several companies run shuttle buses between the airport and the city. Taxis are also available, and city buses run along the Strip into downtown.
Getting Around
Vegas' compact centre and devotion to the customer make getting around a breeze. It's easy to navigate your way around either on foot (if you can stand the desert heat) or in a car. Taxis are waiting for your lightest gesture; you can also jump on the cheap and efficient buses or on one of the trolleys (air-conditioned!) that chug up and down the Strip.
Getting Around Las Vegas by Walking
The Strip and downtown are easy to navigate on foot, especially since getting around really only means getting between three or four casino-hotels in a day anyway... If you do plan to walk around, remember, this is the desert - it gets hot!
Getting Around Las Vegas by Bus
The local bus company Citizens Area Transit (CAT) offers an excellent and inexpensive service. Buses chug along the Strip, downtown and between the two 24 hours a day. . Many off-Strip casino hotels offer limited free shuttle bus services to/from the Strip.
Getting Around Las Vegas by Car
Las Vegas is a traffic-choked city to drive around (orientation around the grid is not as easy as ABC), but if you want to get out of town you'll need your own wheels. You can rent a car at one of the many agencies in town or at the airport. Free self-parking and valet services (tip 2.00 USD) are available almost everywhere on the Strip and at downtown casino hotels.
Getting Around Las Vegas by Taxi
If you don't want to do any more walking than you absolutely have to, you'll get by just fine in Las Vegas. You don't even have to dirty your stilettos on the sidewalk: just wave down a taxi from the entrance of your hotel.
Getting Around Las Vegas by Tram
Free private trams connect TI (Treasure Island) and the Mirage; and Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay. The tram between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo is under reconstruction as at 2006.
Getting Around Las Vegas by Monorail
A pricey private monorail system zippily links only some properties along the Strip's resort corridor, from the MGM Grand to the Sahara, detouring to the Hilton and convention centre.
