Las Vegas Car Rental

Guide to Las Vegas

History

Prehistoric canyon paintings prove that there have been humans in and around the Las Vegas area for more than 10,000 years and there’s firm evidence that it was the stomping ground of the Paiute tribe as long ago as 700AD. Rafael Rivera was the first European to come here (in 1821) and by the early 1900s it expanded thanks to ranchers and railroad workers. Its incarnation as today’s gambling and entertainment hub started in 1941, when the El Rancho Vegas hotel and casino complex opened on a part of US 91, just outside the city limits. But the mega-casinos didn’t arrive until the 1960s, when magnate Howard Hughes moved into the Desert Inn, then decided to buy it alongside several other Vegas hotels.

Culture

Las Vegas’ ‘Sin City’ reputation is well established – from wild stag and hen weekends to impulse weddings, there are lots of tales of lost weekends here. But as well as the attractions of the Strip, the culture also encompasses modernist architecture and contemporary art (with collections like the Aria Fine Art Collection and Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art). Meanwhile, the NoMad hotel and Casino at Park MGM delivers a more dialed-back decadence with a classic European feel, and there’s also the Las Vegas Arts District downtown, which hosts a monthy block party as well as hip galleries like ArtSquare and The Arts Factory.

Off the beaten track

If you want to do something completely different in Las Vegas, there are a few great alternative activities to consider. For instance, the Red Rock Canyon in the Mojave Desert has 26 terrific hikes and trails to tackle, and a trip to the 126ft high Hoover Dam is always an eye-opener. There’s also the cool (and kitsch) Neon Museum, where you can see classic casino and attraction signs that lit up the city in the past. Meanwhile, chocoholics can eat some of the world’s most decadent sugary snacks at the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory, and the Pinball Hall of Fame has an amazing collection of classic arcade games that will whisk you back to your youth like pixelated time machines.

Things to do in Las Vegas

See the Bellagio fountains

There are lots of iconic tourist sites in Las Vegas, but the spectacular fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino really are something special. Powered by 1200 strategically arranged water cannons, they fire jets of water 460 feet into the air that dance in perfect time to hits from across the decades. Grab a seat and a drink to watch the show in comfort from one of the Bellagio’s plush restaurants or see it from the sidewalk without spending a penny. Either way, it’s unforgettable.

Visit Caesar’s Palace

The most famous resort in a city packed with opulent hotels, Caesar’s Palace has been in a class of its own for more than five decades. The pool area is outrageously eye-popping, its nightclub is the hottest ticket in town and there are 4000 suites and rooms in every décor style from contemporary Japanese to classic European. If that’s not exclusive enough for you, try one of the villas – homes from home that deliver the ultimate in luxury and privacy. Make sure there’s plenty of space on your credit card though – they start at $15,000 per night.

See a big fight

Most fight fans will tell you there’s nowhere better to see a world championship boxing match than Las Vegas – if you get the chance, you should definitely grab a ticket for ringside action. The city has hosted many memorable fights over the years, including the 1992 Bowe vs Holyfield bout at the Thomas & Mack Center (round 10 was heart-stopping) and the 1985 Hears vs Hagler superfight at Caesar’s Palace, which had an opening round that even the most far-fetched Rocky movie couldn’t equal.

Eating out in Las Vegas

Classics with a spin

Run by ace restauranteur and mega-chef Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla, west side establishment Honey Salt really is something special. There’s a popular pot pie night every Tuesday, but favorites all week long include eggs benedict with Biloxi fried chicken from the brunch menu and shrimp scampi linguine with Calabrian chili for lunch. The charred filet mignon with asparagus and desert moon mushrooms makes a divine dinner and vegan choices include linguine pomodoro and vegetable curry.

Terrific Taiwanese

Fancy something a little different? How about some perfectly-prepared Taiwanese dishes at Sheridan Su’s Every Grain? The rice here is an art form. Blended from forbidden black rice, Lundberg Farms Brown Rice, Red Rice and Koshihikari, it’s like nothing you’ve ever tasted. Then delicious small plates include scallion pancake with French onion dip and Malay spicy peanuts with Chinese sausage, and Lou Rou Fan is a legendary main course made with braised mince pork rice and hand-cut pork belly.

Italian inspo

There’s nothing like hearty Italian fare when you’re hungry and Philadelphia native Marc Vetri’s Osteria Fiorella’s restaurant takes this popular cuisine to another level. Located in Red Rock Resort, it boasts a Josper charcoal oven producing dishes like Alaskan Halibut Cioppino and a wood-burning pizza oven (try the delish Diavola). Options like rigatoni with Fiorella sausage ragu, ricotta gnocchi with brown butter and crispy leeks, and focaccia French toast with sweet ricotta and seasonal fruit compote are always popular. And there’s also choice of authentic Italian desserts if you’ve still got room!

Transport in Las Vegas

Airports

Several airports serve Las Vegas, so if you’re flying here then picking up your rental car, there are a few different options. McCarran International Airport (LAS) is located in Paradise, 8km south of downtown and it connects the city to various destinations in North America, Europe and Asia. Alternatively, Henderson Executive Airport sits about 20km from the city and North Las Vegas Airport is the city’s second-busiest and provides easy access to the Strip.

Public transport

If walking around Las Vegas for your entire trip sounds like a drag, there are plenty of public transport options. For starters, the Monorail takes you down the Strip in 15 minutes at speeds of 50mph and it’s an easy way to get to the likes of MGM Grand, Caesar’s Palace and Westgate Las Vegas. The Deuce bus also covers the Strip (stopping at practically every resort), Downtown and Fremont Street.

Driving

It’s convenient to rent a car when you want to explore Vegas and surrounding hotspots in the comfort of your own vehicle, but you don’t necessarily need to use it every day – for instance, most people prefer to navigate the Strip on foot or via public transport. You should also be particularly careful in rush hour, which is weekdays between 7-9am and 4-6pm and weekends any time after 4pm.