Eight myths that ruin Las Vegas vacations

Misconceptions Abound

When it comes to the most visited city in the world, the tales get tall. Take a moment to make sure you don't make the mistake of believing the eight most common falsehoods about Las Vegas.

1. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

Nowadays, what happens in Vegas is everywhere, instantly.

That original slogan was developed by an ad agency before social media was prevalent. Las Vegas is among the most filmed locations on the planet, and your antics could give someone a viral payday. Any visitor would be wise to act accordingly, especially at big events with many lenses, such as Formula 1.

2. Prostitution is legal in Las Vegas

No it isn't, and it never was.

Those photo card passers on the sidewalk, and the truck signs rolling down the Strip, offering "girls direct to you" depict photos of beautiful young women who are by now collecting social security. Prostitution surely exists among those professing to be escorts, but make no mistake, it is not legal anywhere in the Las Vegas valley.

This misconception often leads to careless behavior of men flagrantly solicited, who often find out the hard way that the propositions come from women working with law enforcement. It would be wise never to enter into any such negotiation.

3. There is no dress code in Las Vegas

Yes there is. And it's time someone told you so.

The broad spectrum of acceptable attire in Las Vegas has a long tradition, which stems from visitors gathering at restaurants, after arriving from various ports and time zones. This flexibility has confused many in recent years, causing them to believe it is acceptable to be a slob. It's not. If you dress like a slob, expect equal respect reciprocated, and to be treated as you've indicated.

On the other hand, the tradition means it is nearly impossible to overdress on the Strip. Show up looking like you respect those around you, no matter what the attire, and Las Vegans will likewise reciprocate the sentiment, regardless of the specificity of the fashion. It's more nuanced than your country club back home, but more flexible too.

Many Las Vegas restaurants have recently begun to impose minimum standards, such as no athletic clothing, or shirts without collars. Legendary, vintage Las Vegas Steak House The Golden Steer has recently added a dress code, necessary now after being open since 1959. This one is a good guide for most locations:

"ATTIRE NOTICE : The restaurant enforces business casual dress, not allowing beachwear, gym wear, sweat pants, medical scrubs, excessively revealing clothing, ball caps, or beanies."

~Golden Steer

Ladies, there is no better place to wear your craziest shoes than a night out on the Strip. We firmly believe in the 'no sensible shoes' rule. But please, NEVER go barefoot. We see it all the time. No matter how much the shoes hurt trekking back to your room, no matter how clean the floor looks, no matter how much you've had to drink. We call barefoot girls "e-coli feet" for good reason.

ALWAYS carry a pair or two of cheap, foldable slip-on flats. Best to keep one for a friend too. Great for that last mile. Keep your feet protected. Don't be gross.

You'll find the problem guests are nearly always men, seldom women. Gents would do well to leave the shorts in the room, and put on the big boy pants. It's time to dress like grown ups again in this city of light. You can seldom go wrong with simple, casual elegance. Have fun with it.

Want the better table at the restaurant, the better seats at the show? These places are image conscious. Sure, they'll serve you even if you look like your mom forced you into wearing the absolute minimum acceptable school clothes. And yes, most men around you will be dressed up like little boys in shorts and beanies. But if you step it up, so will your destinations. It's not uncommon to be upgraded at your hotel, given the better table or view at the restaurant, or brought to the better seats at the show or concert, based on how you present yourself. In short, dress the way you'd like to be treated, and the way you'd like to see others dressed. That's the Las Vegas dress code.

4. Restaurant reservations aren't needed.

Except when they are.

Here's a rule of thumb for you: If the restaurant has tablecloths, make a reservation. If it has silverware, and isn't a giant food company chain restaurant, at least try to make a reservation.

Some restaurants will show up on booking services as always 100% booked, even months out. For these you need to call direct. If that doesn't work, like at popular legacy spots like the Golden Steer, you'll need what we old time Las Vegans call "juice."

Here's 10% off The most sought-after reservation in Las Vegas:

5. Nobody comes to Las Vegas for the history or the culture

Our highest rated attractions are a wild ride through our history and culture. Ever since we imploded most of it, people are starved for it.

Las Vegas has a deep, rich history. But we don't wear it on our sleeves. Finding it isn't as easy as jumping in a taxi and telling them to take you to the Met or the Louvre. You have to dig. But it's worth it.

Take the time to read the reviews on tours that seem interesting to you. Make sure those posting sound like people with similar taste. TripAdvisor and Google Maps are usually the most reliable in Vegas, while Yelp tends to be a hit piece.

Our history is kept a bit buried probably because Las Vegans are used to visitors, especially visiting journalists, being intent on re-writing or defining our history for the world. We'd rather they didn't. So we un-invite them. They tend to write all kinds of fictions. A few of them? No, Las Vegas wasn't started by the Mob. No, Ben "Bugsy" Siegel didn't start the Las Vegas Strip or the Flamingo Hotel. The real catalysts were visionaries of an earlier time.

However it is true that most of what we think of as modern showmanship was created in Las Vegas, and show business icons made Las Vegas look like Las Vegas, even creating many of the business models which thrive today. Las Vegas is the Mecca of showmanship, and many performers on the Strip incorporate sly tributes and nods to performers of the past, into their acts here. Las Vegas has an eclectic retro-fusion style, from classic cars to glitzy attire, and it is to be enjoyed!

6. It's legal to smoke Marijuana on the street in Las Vegas

No it isn't. And it can still get you in federal trouble too.

It is legal for persons over 21 years of age to purchase cannabis from a licensed dispensary in Clark County (the County where Las Vegas is located). But it may only be consumed at your own home or your own private place of business when not open to the public. Not on public property, not in a casino, not in your hotel room, not in a car, and certainly not on federal property including the vast majority of the land around Las Vegas (the federal government does not recognize the legal status of cannabis in any state).

Visitors and locals alike, cannabis smokers and nonsmokers have been complaining about the smell. At long last there are smoking lounges, licensed especially for cannabis use, which are slowly emerging as a legal option for smokers in Vegas. These will be clearly presented as licensed lounges, and will deal with trapping the overwhelming odor. Meanwhile cannabis smoking violations mean fines, even jail time. Never assume a charitable nature from a police officer in Las Vegas.

7. It's easy to walk between major hotels on the Strip

It's often brutal. It's further than you think, and the sun is stronger than you think.

The first thing that fools visitors about this is the optical illusion due to the signs. You can see the sign to a neighboring hotel property so clearly, and it looks so close. But that sign could be forty stories high. The entrance to the next property may require crossing 60 acres down a sidewalk often populated with some people you might want to avoid, and often in weather more harsh than it appeared from the window. That's because Las Vegas Strip properties are tremendous, routinely over 60 acres, much larger than anywhere else in the country.

Just about every business in Las Vegas pays kickbacks up to 8% to early booking customers with this kind of account.

There are significant Vegas attractions discounts here.

Seats for each show and sporting event can be seen and booked here.

And remember, Las Vegas is at an elevation of 2,000 feet. That means there is substantially less protective atmosphere than there is in coastal areas. So even when it's a nice cool day, the sun will take more of a toll on you than you might find normal. Be ready with hat, sunglasses, sunblock, UV resistant clothing, and duck inside, often. July and August are especially dangerous heat.

If you investigate the routes inside the hotels on the south Strip, you will find you can walk from Bellagio to Vdara, Cosmopolitan, Aria to Park MGM/Nomad, almost entirely indoors, without walking on the Strip.

8. There is great hiking in the area year round

Don't go from late June to early September.

Nearby environs are spectacular, and there is indeed incredible hiking. But it is often deadly in the hot summer months, even for the very experienced. Save it for the Spring, Fall and Winter. If you are not experienced, get a good guide, especially for Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, The Grand Canyon or Death Valley . You'll find it much more enjoyable!

Don't go to Vegas clueless, go CONNECTED.

From the author

Your trip is different from others, first of all by your dates. Then your tastes and planned activities. A little insight from a life-long, very connected local Las Vegan makes all the difference.

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