If you’re looking to get away from it all, you can’t go wrong with the Entertainment Capital of the World. Vegas is the perfect place to go if you want to put the worries of the world behind you and enjoy an excellent selection of accommodation, places to eat, and of course, things to do at any time of day. So before you jump into some great games at the best online casino in the USA, let’s take a look at the things you might want to know if you are planning a trip to Sin City.
When to visit Las Vegas
There are a number of factors to consider before you decide what time of year you want to visit Vegas. April to October are the best months in terms of weather. The average temperature is around 66°F in April, peaking at about 93°F in July, before reaching a mild temperature of 70°F in October. This should also help you avoid the rainiest part of the year, which usually occurs at the peak of winter in January.
If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, the bad news is that Vegas is varying levels of busy throughout the entire year. That’s right, there really isn’t an “off-season” for you to take advantage of, so if you’re interested in getting some off-peak deals, bookings, or events, you’re not going to have much luck.
What you might want to keep in mind is how busy Las Vegas can get around the holidays. If you want to enjoy as much of Vegas as you can with as few people around as possible, you might want to avoid specific times of the year such as New Year, Super Bowl Weekend, March Madness, the 4th of July, and other major holidays.
Where to stay
Once you’ve made up your mind on which time of year you want to visit Vegas, you may be wondering which of the world-famous resorts you should call home for the duration of your stay. Here’s a list of all the options available to you:
- ARIA Resort & Casino
Guests are here to relax and be cared for. Condé Nast Traveler – ARIA – Hotel Review. - Bellagio Hotel & Casino
An instant classic right in the middle of the action. Condé Nast Traveler – Bellagio – Hotel Review. - Delano Las Vegas
A palpable sense of exclusivity is the main draw at this luxurious and art-filled sister property to the Mandalay Bay hotel. Elevated levels of comfort combine with the relative tranquillity of this beautiful non-gaming property. The Telegraph – Delano Las Vegas Hotel Review, United States. - Excalibur Hotel & Casino
Step back in time and experience a medieval playground with a healthy dose of kitsch at this great-value resort. Families will love the theme, which begins as soon as you cross the drawbridge. It's a colorful, imaginative scene, and is backed up with dining and entertainment options that will suit most tastes. The Telegraph – Excalibur Hotel Review, Las Vegas, United States. - Luxor Hotel & Casino
The huge black pyramid is home to one of the Strip's most famous themed hotels. Guests would do well to buy into the kitsch, Egyptian theme, with sculpted statues and antiquities in all the public spaces, but the hotel is a great value stay and its horizontal lifts and commitment to the period are impressive. The Telegraph – Luxor Hotel Review, Las Vegas, United States. - MGM Grand Las Vegas
... the MGM Grand is a true Las Vegas icon: the city's largest hotel, a major concert and sporting event venue, full of nightlife and entertainment options and celebrity chef restaurants, including arguably the nation's single best fine dining spot, the 3-Michelin starred, Forbes 5-Star, Joel Robuchon. Forbes 10 Top Hotel Renovations. - Mandalay Bay
Staying in Mandalay Bay is like staying in a theme park. It's great for when you're all-in for the Vegas experience. Condé Nast Traveler – Mandalay Bay – Hotel Review. - New York-New York Hotel & Casino
A New York-themed hotel in Las Vegas is about as all-American as it gets, and the hotel certainly lets loose on the colorful pageantry evoked by replicas of famous landmarks and all-around razzle-dazzle. It also has an on-site roller coaster, which is a statement amenity, even in this city. The Telegraph – New York New York Hotel Review, Las Vegas, United States. - NoMad Las Vegas
If you thought you were too sophisticated for Las Vegas, you haven't been here yet. Condé Nast Traveler – NoMad Las Vegas – Hotel Review. - Park MGM
Glitzy and central, this Vegas hotel is ideal for a stay in Sin City. The Points Guy – Park Yourself Here: A Review of Park MGM Las Vegas. - The Mirage
With an emphasis on the exotic that pervades everything from the architecture to the tasteful tropical decor, the Mirage is one of the premier hotels on the Vegas Strip. Travel and Leisure – The Mirage. - The Signature at MGM Grand
Retreat from the cacophony of Vegas casinos at this apartment-style hotel just off the Strip. Private suites with balconies, kitchens, and whirlpool tubs are more luxurious than at most casino hotels, and the heated outdoor pools are uncrowded. All of the amenities of the MGM Grand resort await nearby. The Telegraph – The Signature at MGM Grand Hotel Review, Las Vegas, United States. - Vdara Hotel & Spa at ARIA Las Vegas
Guest suites with open floor plans, custom-designed artwork, and a smoothie bar in the spa are just a few of the details that set Vdara Hotel & Spa, an upscale, smoke-free, non-gaming boutique hotel, apart from the rest of the Las Vegas Strip. Forbes Travel Guide – Vdara Hotel & Spa - Las Vegas Hotels.
Your choice of location might need to take into account factors like your budget, personal preferences around the type of hotel you like to stay in, or the amenities a resort provides. You can find out more about these details for these Vegas MGM venues, as well as information on other fantastic MGM hotels and resorts.
What and where to eat
No matter where you choose to stay, you’ll be able to find a variety of world-class restaurants. However, some of these locations have more options than others, so be sure to keep that in mind when choosing a resort, particularly if you have a specific place in mind that you want to eat at.
Here are some of the great options you have available to you at MGM resorts:
Javier’s
Location: ARIA Resort & Casino
Cuisine: Mexican
Javier’s offers high-end fine dining with a Mexican influence, which means more than just enchiladas and tacos (although those are on the menu). And of course, what Mexican meal would be complete without hand-shaken margaritas?
Le Cirque
Location: Bellagio Hotel & Casino
Cuisine: French
A restaurant so good that it made it onto our list despite the fact that it’s temporarily closed! This may be disappointing for fans of French cuisine, but Le Cirque is definitely not to be missed if you’re around and it’s open! Not only does this venue offer delectable French cuisine, but you can also enjoy Lake Bellagio and its regular fountain show from some of the restaurant's tables!
Rivea
Location: Delano Las Vegas
Cuisine: French
The second restaurant to offer French-style cuisine on our list. Fortunately, if you’re planning to travel soon, this venue is open! Visitors to the Rivea can enjoy incredible specialties like beef carpaccio, provencal caponata, and tomato and basil tigelle, as well as the astounding view from the 64th floor.
TENDER Steakhouse
Location: Luxor Hotel & Casino
Cuisine: American
Are you particular about your steak? Then you’ll want to visit TENDER, one of the best steakhouses in Vegas with a great selection of fine cuts. While you’ll no doubt want to try the mouthwatering steaks, if you prefer, there are a number of seafood options that are equally as delicious. And of course, round off your meal with the perfect glass of wine from the restaurant’s award-winning wine room.
Morimoto Las Vegas
Location: MGM Grand Las Vegas
Cuisine: Japanese/Western fusion
Japanese cuisine doesn’t get much better than Morimoto Las Vegas. This restaurant offers an incredible array of delectable sushi and other classic dishes like Buri Bop, but you can also enjoy a Japanese take on Western cuisine, including steaks and more – all in an amazing restaurant with an incredible aesthetic.
Rí Rá Irish Pub – Mandalay Bay
Location: MGM Grand Las Vegas
Cuisine: Irish
Let’s be honest here – when you think of an Irish Pub, you’re probably more interested in the beer than anything else. And yes, while Rí Rá Irish Pub does offer a great selection of food, including a classic all-day Irish breakfast, beef and Guinness stew, and Jameson salmon, you’re probably going to ask for the drinks menu first. Believe us, there are enough beer options to put any Irishman under the table! You really can’t go wrong with this classic pub experience.
Discover even more dining options
These are by no means the only great eating options available to you at these locations – they’re simply a taste of some of the great venues that you can visit for a meal, depending on where you choose to stay. You can find out more about the eating establishments available at each location by visiting their websites.
Things to do
We’re pretty sure you didn’t plan on visiting Vegas so you could eat and sit in your hotel room, so here’s a list of other great attractions, from day to night.
Daytime activities
Take a tour
Interested in learning more about the city and its surrounding environment? Why not sign up for one of the many great tours of the surreally beautiful Grand Canyon, unpack the marvel that is the Hoover Dam, or simply learn about the incredible natural beauty of the Silver State? If you’re a high roller, why not take to the skies with a helicopter tour? We can’t think of a better way to meet Vegas than taking in the Grand Canyon or Red Canyon from the sky.
Go off-roading
If you have a need for speed, you can’t go wrong with off-roading. The otherworldly desert landscape of the Mojave is the perfect environment for visitors to hire an ATV and put the pedal to the metal! There are all kinds of trails available, so make sure you choose one that suits your level of skill and your appetite for adventure.
Visit the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden
If ATVs aren’t quite your speed, you might prefer a tour of the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden. This is more than just a garden, with incredible natural beauty and art exhibitions on display, all year round. The gardens are redesigned for each season, as well as Lunar New Year, so there’s always something new to see even if you’re a seasoned Vegas Veteran. Make sure to check the Bellagio Botanical Garden site, because it isn’t open to the public while new displays are being created. Oh, did we mention that entry is free year-round?
Enjoy a relaxing day by the pool
Unless you’re visiting Vegas during the colder months, you’ll want to take the time to relax in many of the amazing pools you can find at any of MGM’s great resorts. Soak up the sun, take a quick swim, and enjoy all the creature comforts that are available right next to your resort and hotel!
Visit the Mob Museum
With a name like the Mob Museum, you might be wondering if the Godfather is going to greet you at the door and make you an offer that you cannot refuse. Don’t worry, you won’t have to worry about any real mobsters at the Mob Museum (also known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement). This venue is dedicated to the history of crime and features some of the most incredible artifacts and stories you can find related to crime in the USA.
Try indoor skydiving
Have you always wanted to skydive, but don’t like the thought of jumping out of a moving plane at 14,000 feet? Well, you’re in luck – indoor skydiving is a great way to get the feeling of skydiving without ever needing to strap on an actual parachute.
Check out the Fountains of Bellagio
Traveling with the kids? You can’t get more family-friendly than the incredible Bellagio Water Show. Be awed by the dazzling art created with streams of water and hypnotizing music and lighting!
Nighttime activities
Be mesmerized by David Copperfield
You simply cannot visit Vegas without finding the time to see the greatest illusionist of all time. That’s right, David Copperfield puts on incredible shows at the MGM Grand every night of the week and even has an afternoon show on Saturdays! Be sure to book your tickets so you can experience the magic in person while also getting the opportunity to meet the magician himself.
Explore the city with Big Bus Night Tours
Want to rest your feet while being introduced to all the great landmarks and attractions that Las Vegas has to offer? The Big Bus Night Tours are perfect for you. These tours will show you some of Vegas’ greatest icons, including the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, the MGM Grand, the New York-New York Big Apple Roller Coaster, Madame Tussauds, The Mob Museum, and more.
Enjoy a ride on The Big Apple Coaster
If you enjoy the thrills of carnival rides, you can’t miss the best roller coaster in Vegas: The Big Apple Coaster. Situated at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino, this incredible ride has two drops that are both more than 140ft, a vertical and a dive loop, all of which will provide you with a heart-racing experience.
Check out the amazing nighttime shows at the Fountains of Bellagio
Yes, we already mentioned this, but this great show is even better at night when thousands of lights are added to the mix. Even if you’ve visited it during the day, be sure to find the time to visit the Fountains of Bellagio at night to get the complete experience!
Check out the best casinos in the USA
There’s no doubt that many come to Vegas to experience the incredible range of casinos that the city has to offer. With so many on offer, you might wonder where to start, but no need to worry: MGM undoubtedly has some of the best casinos in the city to keep you entertained all hours of the night (and day).
Explore Chinatown Vegas
If you’re looking for some Asian-influenced experiences while you’re on your trip in Vegas, be sure to check out Chinatown Vegas. This amazing part of the city has so many incredible things to enjoy, including karaoke, shooting ranges, wreck rooms, and an incredible array of great Asian eateries. Lonely Planet describes this part of Vegas as “Sin City's best-kept secret.”
Take a night-time helicopter tour
Daytime helicopter tours through the skies of Nevada are an unforgettable experience, but a night-time trip above Las Vegas is something that you truly can’t miss. If seeing the lights of Sin City from a bird’s eye view sounds like your idea of a good time, check out one of the many great airborne tours that you can take through the city’s night sky.
Enjoy the great nightlife of Vegas including clubs and shows
You’ll never run out of places to eat, drink, and party when visiting Sin City. The MGM resorts are home to some of the greatest places to cut loose after the sun goes down including the Hakkasan, Level Up, Petrossian Bar, JEWEL, ALIBI Ultra Lounge, and much more!
Vegas is exploding with entertainment and you can enjoy some great acts with MGM, including Cirque du Soleil, the Jabbawockeez, and The Blue Man Group – not to mention concerts featuring the likes of Bruno Mars, J. Cole, Il Divo, and Lady Gaga!
Enjoy the best online casino in the USA
While you take the time to put together the perfect plan for your trip to Vegas, you’ll want to relax and stand a chance to win real money at our online casino. Register at BetMGM and enjoy a massive range of online casino games, from live-dealer poker and blackjack to your favorite slots and table games.
