Bucket List / Experience Goals
Gamble In Las Vegas
Ticked off in November 2010
Put your chips on red at 3 am in a Strip casino, surrounded by neon, slot machines and endless noise.
The adventure
Las Vegas is a city built in the desert purely to dazzle. Walk the Strip after dark and you pass a replica Eiffel Tower, Venetian canals with singing gondoliers, an Egyptian pyramid and the dancing fountains of the Bellagio rising in time to music. Inside the casinos there are no clocks and no windows, just the chime of slot machines and the hush around the high-stakes tables.
Pull up a seat at blackjack or roulette, set your budget, and feel the rush when the ball drops into your number. Beyond the tables are big-name residencies, Cirque du Soleil shows, pool parties and buffets that seem to go on forever. Off the Strip, the Sphere glows like a giant planet, Fremont Street's light canopy covers old downtown, and the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam are close enough for a day trip.
Why it’s epic
- The Las Vegas Strip, about four miles of themed mega-resorts, casinos and shows.
- The free Fountains of Bellagio show, running every evening.
- The Sphere, a giant spherical venue covered in LED screens, opened in 2023.
- Day trips to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon.
What it is
Las Vegas is known for its casinos, shows and neon lights.
How to do it
Stay on the Strip.
Top tip
Set a gambling budget.
Need to know
- You must be 21 to gamble or drink in Nevada, and casinos check ID.
- Hotels add a nightly resort fee on top of the room rate, so check the full price.
- Summer temperatures can top 40°C, so spring and autumn are more comfortable.
- UK visitors need an approved ESTA before flying.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
- Best time to go
- March to May, September to November
- Fly into
- LAS airport
Rooms can be cheap midweek, but shows, dining, weekend rates and whatever you lose at the tables add up fast.
Do it yourself
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How I ticked it off
The gambling capital of the world, often known as Sin City, it can only be Las Vegas. Gamblers and non-gamblers alike flock to the city to try to make dreams come true and win a fortune in one of the many casinos that exist along the famous Vegas strip.
The strip is over 4 miles long, packed full of iconic architecture, lights, attractions, entertainment, hotels and casinos. All of this makes the strip of the most popular and iconic tourist destinations in the world.
I am not a big gambler, but you really don’t need to be to enjoy some time in this fabulous location. A flutter at the tables is always fun, but you can easily spend time admiring the architecture, hanging out in the pool parties, and any trip to Vegas wouldn’t be complete without heading to the Grand Canyon
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