Top 7 Mistakes Las Vegas Tourists Make

Las Vegas, where the world comes to play. The rich and famous blend into the background and everyone can become anyone they want. It's an exciting place, bound to give you some of the best memories of your life... but before you start planning your trip, check out this list of Top 7 Mistakes Las Vegas Tourists Make:

Micromanagement:

8am spa package, 10:30 brunch, 11:15-3pm walk the strip, 3pm-4pm get ready for dinner, 4pm-6pm gamble, 6pm-7:30 dinner and cocktails…..you get my drift. The absolute worst thing you can do for yourself and your vacation crew is micromanaging every minute and hour of the day. Vegas is the home of spontaneity. You are missing out on the best of the city if you’re planning like this. Plan the big stuff, your upscale dinner reservations, shows, and guest lists or bottles but let everything else come as it will…because it WILL come. All you are doing is stressing yourself out when it takes you 5 extra minutes to get your hair done, or your party wants to take a selfie with Elvis (because he’s always in the building). Don’t sweat it! Big tip - plan to arrive at your shows a little early to get your seat and drinks before the good stuff starts, but your favorite DJs don't get started the minute the doors open so don't sweat that one as much if you have purchased tickets and have guaranteed entry.

Ignore their Concierge Service:

Their entire goal is to make sure you knock off everything on your “To Do” list, to include finding tickets to that sold out show of KA and reservations at Giada's you’ve been dying to get into! They are usually right on the casino floor, or a quick phone call away from your room. If you book your hotel through me, I can also help you with anything you need as well as your concierge! That’s a 2 for 1 vacation planning tag team knockout!

Dismiss Casino Loyalty Cards:

If you gamble, this is a mistake. For every dollar you gamble, you get points that can be used toward dining, entertainment, or your stay. The more you gamble, the more valuable you are to the casinos and the higher up you move through the Tier system then your points and time become more valuable. My Dad and Step-Mom do not come to Vegas that often, but they make sure to always use their players cards. They get front of the line and other VIP amenities just for their Tier level. Married couples can also tie together their cards for a simplified points system.

No Extra Room In Suitcase:

We have some of the most amazing shopping centers in the country. From the wildly Luxurious Shops at Crystals with Louis Vuitton to Jimmy Choo, to the “Everything 9.99 or Less” shops all over the strip and downtown LV. Not to mention Certified Ave Boutique where you can pick up the latest urban trends. You are BOUND to find something you just HAVE to have. Plan ahead to bring at most half as much back with you as you brought. To avoid extra baggage charges at the airport, go ahead and bring your large suitcase and ensure you are able to check a bag and carry on a small bag/tote. Even if you don’t fill both bags, it’s better than buying an extra $200 for a piece luggage while you are leaving, and $300 for an extra bag check at the airport.

Bad Timing:

While a midweek trip to Vegas is going to be easier on your wallet, you also miss out on some of our epic night/day life, some shows, and restaurants. If you are a club goer looking for a midweek escape, you will only have a few options including the standard hotel bars in the winter and early spring months …but some of these places end up being a great time themselves! Just make sure you know when your clubs/events/shows are dark so you don’t plan your trip while they are closed. Conventions and events also play a huge role in the costs of everything. If you come during Magic Fashion Week, iHearRadio Festival or a Golden Knights game prices are forced way up so keep that in mind when setting dates. An almost $600 stay for 3 nights in a standard room is avoidable when planned accordingly.

Underestimating Distance:

One end of the strip-Stratosphere, CCLV and SLS is WORLDS away from the rest! You CAN walk it, but it gets pretty slow after you pass the Wynn going towards SLS. The Rio and Palms are MAD FAR! It’s an easy cab ride but that walk is brutal and in the dead of the Winter/Summer the temperature is EXTREME. DTLV, and the Fremont Street Experience is NOT in walking distance AT ALL. I will never advise or suggest you walk that. It is far, and you will NOT be happy about it. Be careful when advertisers say “minutes from the Las Vegas Strip” this does NOT mean you could or should walk there, but it will be a quick and easy taxi or uber.

But I don’t even like The Strip:

There could be several reasons you don’t like the Strip. You are annoyed by all the gaming and people not paying attention to where they are walking, smoking everywhere and general touristy attractions. Easy fix, we have several boutique and specialized hotels with absolutely NO casinos, no smoking, and private entrances. Vdara, Four Seasons, Signature, Palms Place, Westin, Hilton and that’s just a few! There are SO many shows Salt-n-Pepa's I Love The 90's, Jabbawockeez, Britney Spears, Boys II Men, Absinthe, Magic Shows...this list is endless! World-class spas, exhilarating hiking, restaurants, roller coasters, get up close and personal with animals... and you just can't beat the view, the vibe, and the experience. There's so much more than gambling and partying. DTLV is a whole new ballgame and spreads so much further than just the Fremont street experience! The Gold Spike is hidden in DTLV (dress to impress) and has all kinds of activities only for the fun seekers. There are gems all over the place, and if you are one of the “I don’t like the strip” vacationers, hunting for these can wind up being the best vacation you’ve ever had! Depending on what your version of entertainment is, or what kind of downtime you are looking for, WE GOT IT ON LOCK. It’s what we do.

Want to get my insider discounts? Head to my BOOKING page to get them sent straight to you. Need help planning your trip? I offer travel advisement so we can put together your perfect vacation free of charge, fill out the form HERE and expect to hear back from me ASAP!

Do you have any stories about things you wish you would have known before coming to Vegas? Leave a comment down below!

Make sure you share this post on your facebook/twitter feeds so you can keep your friends from making these costly mistakes.

Comment - Share - Subscribe

- Nikki

Comments

Twitch Live: Mask Monday + Get Ready With Me

Monday March 1st I did my FIRST live stream of the month covering a bit of my skincare routine, a mask, and did an entire make-up stream live on my Twitch! Here are all the details of the products I used, some screenshots and a link to watch the full stream on Twitch while it's still available! WATCH THE FULL VIDEO ON TWITCH Products Used: SKINCARE: Purity by Philosophy (my water base cleanser) https://amzn.to/37XQbN2 Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil (my oil based cleanser) https://amzn.to/3kCGicM Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Gel Mask: https://www.peterthomasroth.com/rose-stem-cell-bio-repair-gel-mask-1301004.html Sara Happ Brown Sugar Lip Scrub: https://amzn.to/304Fyne it Cosmetics BYE BYE Lines Serum https://amzn.to/3uHgBw6 it Cosmetics BYE BYE Under eye (depuff and brightening treatment) https://amzn.to/3kyQQJR Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk (intense hydrating & repairing skin treatment) https://amzn.to/3b69o0Q Josie Maran Ar...

Read»

4 Week Fitness: Week 3

Welcome to week 3! We are at the halfway mark and moving past it with a FORCE ! We've got this far and we owe it to ourselves to push through and finish these last 2 weeks. I am already SO PROUD OF US ! Now is the time to lock in our rewards. Whether you are coming to party with me in Vegas for the opening of Encore Beach Club or splurging at your favorite local spot for a stay-cation, do it BIG ! You have earned it . This is a mirror of week 1. I think it's important for our bodies to get at least a little comfortable with the movements we are doing so that we can get the most out of these workouts! Last year, we talked about fitness inspiration and the destructive energy I used to attach to fitspo and why I think I never really kept up with a fitness routine. For me, the energy and the attitude that is behind anything I do is HUGE. I am at the point where I chose, if something doesn't vibe right with me, I'm just not doing it. I would DREAD doing the things...

Read»

Throw Back: That one time I competed in a pageant

Once upon a time, what seems like a long time ago I decided I wanted to be a beauty queen. It was definitely an experience I will never forget and I finally have the chance to tell you all about it! I've always known that I wanted to help people in some way, and one day it dawned on me if I had a crown that would definitely give me a much louder voice to speak on issues I thought were important. So, I went searching for what I thought was the best pageant for me and I landed on Miss Nevada USA 2016. The only thing I knew about pageants at this point was from the Miss Congeniality movie and what I heard about from my cousin's social media pages. So from that, I thought it was going to be a breeze...PSYCH! It was probably the most grueling process of self-discovery I've ever put myself through. My first step was figuring out how much all of this was going to cost. For me, it was a ridiculous amount that I just wasn't going to be able to make at my day job in...

Read»

The Women Of Las Vegas: With Love Reiki from Sheila

Meet Sheila Sclafani-Cook As a Usui/Holy Fire® III, Karuna Reiki®Master, and a Seraphim Blueprint practitioner, Sheila Sclafani-Cook is a local treasure. Her path through Spirituality has connected her with Spirit and she is guided to support others on the healing path through meditations, classes, Reiki sessions or bringing others to the way of Reiki by teaching Reiki to them. With Love Reiki and Healing was founded to create a place where people can come to allow their soul to breathe. Through this time of Social Distancing, I've been getting my much-needed meditations and Reiki healing from her Youtube channel where we can all tune in at no charge and get regularly updated Reiki distance healing. I first met Sheila through one of my Mom's meditations at Enchanted Forest, and when I was going through a really confusing time in my life I went to her to get a Reiki session. To say it was amazing is an understatement! It was exactly what I needed to get m...

Read»

Nikki's Picks: This Weekends Top Hotels October 25th-27th

This is the weekend RIGHT before Halloween, so the excitement in the city is high! We have so much going on, that it is the perfect time for a weekend trip to Vegas. Want to know everything that is going on as we draw near to Halloween? Read my post on Halloween Week here . This weekend, I'm focusing on the hotels that I think are going to be a great time for a pre-Halloween bash. Photo-ops in your costumes, best drink specials, events, the works. Make sure you book your hotel room with my hotel team by getting your room rates from our booking page . We keep rates up to 30% off what you can find anywhere else, and personalize your service! My team is available 24 hours a day for any issues, comments, questions or concerns. And, once you book with me, I'll be available to help you plan out the rest of your trip free of charge. Send me an email right now to get started. Here are my Top Hotels in Vegas for October 25th-27th: TREASURE ISLAND If you are having a Pira...

Read»

The Women of Las Vegas: Debra Storey of Blazzian Collection

Meet Debra Storey Highly educated in Fashion and Business, Debra Storey uses her sleek and eye-catching designs to take the Las Vegas Fashion Scene to another level. Blazzian Collection was introduced to Las Vegas in 2008 at the Vegas Fashion Show Party. Since then, she has used her unique ability to create beautiful designs to help raise funds for causes such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada and Save Black Boys Las Vegas. While we've all been following through with our orders to #StayHomeForNevada , Debra has been working hard to create masks that allow us an added layer of protection when we NEED to go out and using the proceeds from those orders to aid single parents who are struggling during this time get the essentials they need to care for their families. Blazzian Collection Facebook Page Through the Blazzian Collection's official social media pages ( Instagram , Facebook ), we see that through the difficulty Las Vegas is curren...

Read»

Making Travel Easier: Toiletry Kits

I love finding new ways to help make taking your next trip to Vegas easier or more fun, and I just figured out a way to help eliminate a small but annoying step from your packing routine. I am now providing toiletry kits for women and men! With this new offering, you no longer have to worry about how many ounces you are allowed to bring on the plane, if you have the correct TSA approved bag for the containers, or the hassle of inspection over having questionable liquids. Or even worse, bringing your favorite products from home and then accidentally forgetting them at your hotel when you leave. I have 2 stock kits available , one for men and one for women at one standard price that includes my delivery fee. That's right, I'm delivering these kits right to your hotel for you to pick up or have delivered to you after you've checked in. All you have to do is place your order at least 5 business days before your check-in date. Last minute requests can be made v...

Read»

What to expect in July 2020: Las Vegas After Lock Down

Vegas is OPEN and ready to serve up your next vacation or staycation the way Only Vegas knows how. We are living in a much different time now, so here's what we can expect for a trip to Las Vegas in July. **July 11 Update: Bars, Pubs, etc (see graphic) that do not serve food have all been ordered to close. First things first, masks are required in all public spaces through the state of Nevada per our latest directive ( see specifics here ). You will have to wear a mask when you are outside of your hotel room in all public spaces. You do not have to wear a mask when doing physical activity like working out, but you will need to wear one on the way to the gym and back. Same with the pool, you do not have to wear one while in the pool, but a mask is required everywhere else including the pool deck. Restaurants, bars, and lounges all have similar rules, masks will be needed while waiting in line to be seated/served but you do not have to wear a mask while eating and drinking. Social ...

Read»

A Funeral for 2018

I LOVE New Years. Not just because I live in Las Vegas, and it's absolutely amazing to celebrate here, but because I love the energy. So many people take the New Year as their shot to better themselves. To strive for goals they thought were too big earlier in the year. Nothing is too big, no dream too far, no car too expensive. Lots of us take our goals, our dreams, and hopes and send them out to the universe and anyone who will listen with so much love, excitement, appreciation, and gratitude for the life that could be and that puts us all in a place to take leaps and bounds towards it. Energetically, this is a beautiful time to be aware of all the possibilities for everyone! USUALLY, I'm right there with the life changers. Talking about a New Year and a New Me. Ready to make resolutions to eat healthily, stop smoking, get more fit, make more money. You know, whatever my focus is at the time. But this time, I have a new plan for myself. First off-it's to reflect . ...

Read»

The Crown and Sash - Quick April Photoshoot & Update

This year has been full of unexpected twists and turns. For me, it went from the excitement of watching my son turn 2 and all the development and fun that comes with it, deciding to compete in the Ms. Nevada Regency International Pageant and winning the title, and then the entire world getting rocked by the Coronavirus. While we are all staying safe by staying home, we've also found unique ways to stay connected and support each other while showing respect and love to everyone on the front lines keeping us safe, healthy and providing the services we need. I've spent this time doing a lot of learning! From pulling my guitar out for the first time in YEARS and taking advantage of the 3 Months of free classes offered by Fender , to taking classes offered through the Clark County Library District to improve on skills I need to bring my business back better than ever when we are safe. I've even taken a course from Yale on the Science of Wellbeing. But most of all, I'v...

Read»

Search This Blog