The Strip Stumble philosophy prohibits excessive planning, but an exception is made for the first couple of hours of your trip. Once you land in Vegas the goal should be to get checked in & ready to Vegas ASAP. A key part of this is considering if you need any stops on way from the airport to your hotel as this will impact your transportation options a bit. For this topic we made a couple of info graphics that should answer your questions. If you don't want to read more, the suggested answer for most travelers will be to walk outside the airport and into a taxi. A couple things to note: There are bus & walking experts out there that had a ton of tips when I shared this on reddit. Giving a read through these comments will be helpful if you take those routes. There is a wide price variation for private drivers. Stretch limos, humvees etc will be a bit more expensive than what we have listed. Many providers also offer a discount for round trip rides. For those choosing a taxi here are the flat rates & estimated costs (not including taxes) for each property on the Strip.

It's often asked how much to budget for a trip to Vegas, with accurate answers given between $300 & $100K. The days of super cheap Vegas are gone, but there are deals to be found and if you aren't gambling, drinking & hitting up clubs it can be a relatively cheap site seeing trip. On the other end there are folks who will gamble more in a hand than you spent on your car & won't think twice about spending your mortgage payment on a bottle of wine. We will focus on how you can decide your budget and be prepared vs how much to plan for exactly. For sake of this blog let's assume your airfare & hotel are covered so you are only planning for spending money while in Vegas. To help decide your budget you should first spend some time familiarizing yourself with the costs of things in Vegas. Our list of casual restaurants on the Strip includes a few sample menu items from each location. This should help you get an idea what a middle ground Vegas Strip meal will cost you. If these prices are out of your range, check out some happy hours , off strip options or consider more counter service fast food meals for your trip. Be sure when considering the costs of meals to factor in tax & an appropriate tip. We might do a tipping blog later, so won't dive into that here, but just plan to tip well. We know some disagree with tipping, or think holding back a tip sends a message. It only impacts the server who relies on the tips in reality, so put politics / opinions aside and factor tipping appropriately into your budget. Also that 8.375% tax on food & drink adds a not insignificant amount to your bill. We did a sample day in Vegas & calculated all the actual costs including tax and a proper tip to give you a real sense of the total cost of a drink or meal. Now let's talk about how to access your money & spend your budget. We suggest a gambling specific budget which you will need cash for, while the rest (meals, drinks while not gambling, shows, attractions etc) can be charged to room or a credit card. Charging to room is always our first option as it's convenient and there is a chance some will be comped off bill at end of stay if you do a good amount of gambling. Before your trip be sure to check if your cards require a travel advisory to avoid any issues. Now onto how to get cash, which will primarily be for gambling plus when cash tips are needed. Key to being ready to get cash in Vegas is checking your personal withdrawal limit for your ATM cards which can usually be changed to up to $2,000. If you plan to gamble less than your daily limit, we suggest you plan to visit a ATM daily. If you need access to more cash than your ATM will allow its best to contact the casino of the hotel you chose and set up an advance marker to get access to cash directly from the casino cage. Vegas Starter Cash: Initial Gambling Money + Small Bills for Tips A few tips on cash & ATMs: Bring your starter gambling cash : A usually unrealistic goal of a Vegas gambling trip is to not have to hit an ATM. We don't suggest brining a huge amount of cash with you, but bring enough that you can get a couple rounds of gambling in & if you hit with that, maybe it keeps your bankroll going & the rest of this blog is irrelevant. Get tipping cash before your trip : You will be (or at least should be) tipping quite often in Vegas and having $1's and $5's at hand makes that more convenient. We suggest always get a couple hundred dollars in small bills before trips to avoid having to ask for change or take time to break larger bills constantly. Keep this tipping money in its own pocket, outside of your wallet for easy access so you can get back to gambling & drinking. ATMs are everywhere, but plan ahead : There are ATMs in every casino and at all the CVS & Walgreens on the Strip. The ones at casinos will have a fee of $10 - $15 to use and they will charge you to check balance. Casino Royale ATMs are only $3 and let you withdraw up to $2k last I checked. CVS & Walgreens ones will be $3 as well, but have a $300 max withdrawal. You need to be careful on these as they will try to get you to do everything except a cash withdrawal from your checking account. Be sure you are not taking the cash as a credit card advance & check your balance from your phone before using the machine. Despite the silly high charges of casino ATMs we find the $10 - $15 an acceptable convenience fee that also can help folks budget. Set your ATM daily limit to your gambling budget per day (with a little emergency buffer) & you limit the chance of bad late night decisions.

One of the more confusing (and for some, frustrating or rage-inducing) aspects of a Vegas trip for first-time visitors—especially those from outside the US—is the expectations and processes around tipping. I get it. “Tipping has gone crazy!” “I shouldn’t have to pay their salaries.” “What did they do to deserve it?!?” Blah blah. We deal with realities here at Strip Stumble, and tipping is part of the cost of going out to dinner, getting a drink, taking a ride, and more. Accept it, plan for it, and don’t let it negatively impact your trip. I put tipping into the same category as resort fees. It’s simply another way of getting to your total cost. There’s no value in getting spun up about it, worrying about it, or trying to change the system by taking it out on your waitress. For all you economists out there: if tips went away, do you actually think anything would be cheaper? You can, of course, tip based on the quality of service—but always be reasonable in your expectations. Go in assuming you will tip well for excellent service. Look for reasons to tip more than you expected rather than nitpicking reasons to penalize the staff. Before I break down the different tipping scenarios, one general point: be sure to have cash—and specifically small bills—readily available in Vegas. Good thing I wrote a blog about that already. When you pay for food or drinks with a credit card, you’ll be prompted for a tip either on screen or with a tip line on the receipt. However, there are situations—like while you’re gambling or dealing with bell staff—where you’ll be expected to tip without purchasing anything & will need cash. It is a violation of Strip Stumble Statute #22 to ask for change while tipping. Transportation “Welcome to Las Vegas!” You’re off the plane and ready to get your Stumble started. Hopefully, you already have a plan to get to your hotel transportation-wise based on our super helpful infographic and blog . Making a stop Taxi, ride-share, and limo drivers will often offer to take you to specific places for alcohol or dispensaries if you ask. The meter will run, and you’ll be charged while you’re in the store. If you go where the driver suggested, they’re likely getting a kickback from the store. Regardless, that stop saves you time and money and deserves a few extra bucks. Luggage assistance Most drivers will offer to help with a bag or two, which is assumed in the tip. If you have large or heavy items, a little more is justified. Taxi flat rate from airport Going from the airport to Strip there is flat rate taxi pricing so you can anticipate your tip in advance. There is a map in the blog covering all options to get from airport to the Strip where you can see price to your specific hotel. If your taxi driver tries to charge you more than the flat rate to your Strip hotel (does not apply to Downtown) speak up politely that you are aware of the flat rates. If the problem persists, take note of the taxi company and number & file a complaint with the taxi authority as soon as possible. Payment You can pay and tip your taxi driver in cash or by card at the end of your trip. There’s an extra $3 fee if you use a card. Ride shares allow tipping via the app as usual. If you take a Zook, there is no one to tip. More Notes If you take a taxi from a hotel during your stay, there’s often a valet calling up the taxi and opening the door for you. I suggest tipping at least $1–$2. Be sure to tip your driver even if the casino sent the car for you. At Your Hotel Tipping at a Las Vegas hotel isn’t significantly different from any other hotel in the US. Be sure to tip housekeeping every time they clean your room so the crew who actually cleans gets the tip. Personally, I’ve never tipped at check-in. I don’t try for upgrades, and I’ve avoided check-in desks by using kiosks for years. For those unfamiliar, there’s a Vegas “$20 Trick” that involves tipping the check-in clerk $20 in hopes of a free upgrade—but that was 20 years ago. Just book the room you want, use online check in and get to your room. Some people prefer to tip for holding bags and at the valet both at drop-off and pick-up. The idea is that tipping upfront helps ensure your stuff is taken care of. I don't have a strong opinion on this, but generally I just tip at retrieval. Food & Drink Tipping for meals and drinks in Vegas also isn’t much different from going out anywhere else in the United States. Sit-down meals For a waiter- or waitress-served meal, 15% of the pre-tax total is considered the minimum tip. From there, you can be more generous based on service, mood, gambling karma, etc. If your service is poor, we suggest still tipping the minimum and speaking with a manager. Very often, service issues aren’t your server’s fault, and withholding a tip may punish them for someone else’s mistake. Counter service There’s so much variety in counter service in Vegas that it’s tough to give a firm range. If you’re just grabbing a coffee or fast food, feel free to tip $1—or not. It’s not required. Despite appearances, there’s always a way to select $0 or “No Tip.” If the worker was especially nice, if you placed a large or complex order, or if you just feel like it, tip a couple bucks. Buffets Buffets are another tricky one due to the wide range of service levels. At most buffets, servers bring drinks to your table and clear dirty dishes. If all they do is bring you a soda and clear a couple plates, $5 per person works. If you’re drinking bottomless mimosas like Vegas Valuations and they’re bringing over a carafe every 15 minutes, a more generous tip is appropriate. Drinks at a bar Nothing unique here. If you walk up to a bar or sit for a bit, it’s customary to tip a couple bucks or more. Drinking While Gambling This is the most unique part for most visitors with many folks looking forward to their "free drinks" while in the casinos. Many are told, "just tip a $1 a drink and ask for top shelf booze!" based on advice they got from their Aunt who last visited Las Vegas in 1982. Don’t gamble just to get a drink. Instead of focusing on the cheapest way to get a drink, first decide whether you actually want to gamble. If you need to find your preferred game, or are looking for the best table odds, Vegas Advantage covers that better than anyone. Cocktail service in casinos is generally very good, but it’s not a bar where someone is there to serve you instantly. Avoid being the person who sits down and starts waving at a waitress from across the floor because you are just trying to get a drink. Sit down, put your money in, start gambling, and keep an eye out for a waitress. Be Polite & Practical Waitresses will usually walk around asking, “Drinks? Cocktails?” When they approach your table or area, just be a normal person. There is something that inspires a small segment of the population to be complete jerks to cocktail waitresses if they don’t get a drink within 45 seconds of sitting down. Here’s what not to say: “About time, sweet cheeks! I already gambled away my $20 for the day! I’m gonna need two doubles in a to-go cup quick and slip me your number when you come back.” Instead, try: “Hi, sure—can I get an IPA? Thanks!” Keep your order simple. Beer, coffee, or a common two- or three-ingredient mixed drink: vodka tonic, piña colada, screwdriver. Avoid complex drinks or anything you wouldn’t enjoy made with well liquor. At higher-end casinos or in high-limit rooms, you may get top-shelf booze and properly prepared cocktails. In most casinos, expect a quickly mixed drink with basic brands. You can always specify a brand preference—“Tanqueray and tonic with lime, please”—and you’ll be told if it’s available. Cash or Chips Make sure you have tip money ready before sitting down. At slot machines, you’ll tip in cash. At table games, you can tip with chips or cash. If you’re playing table games, you can usually tip with $1 or $5 chips. Dealers can quickly make change for a $5 or larger chip if needed. The exception is roulette, where you play with table-specific chips that vary in value based on your buy-in. While you can tip with these, I recommend against it. It creates extra work for the waitress, can cause confusion, and increases the chance of mix-ups. Just use cash or standard chips at roulette. Suggested Amounts $3 per drink This is my suggested standard tip for alcoholic drinks while gambling—the new $1. I will usually tip $2 for a drink most places, and here I am getting the drink for free from a pretty waitress. An extra buck for the vibes and gambling karma is well worth it, and you are still getting a drink for $3. Scenarios for $1–$2 per drink For non-alcoholic drinks, or if you are just getting a water the waitress already has on her tray, you can tip less. Keep in mind the waitress is often doing the same work for a coffee or soda as a mixed drink, but your value is not the same, so I get it. I will often grab a beer and a water and tip $5 for both. $4–$5 per drink Tipping $5 on your first round helps build a good relationship with the waitress and is a solid per-round tip if you choose. I often tip $5 at video poker bars if it’s a good craft beer or I plan to stick around. Sometimes I tip $5 simply because it’s the bill or chip I have handy—and remember, it’s illegal to ask for change on a tip. Offerings to the Gambling Gods Aside from your drinks while gambling, you should tip your dealers if sitting down at a table. This one is a bit tricky, as you have a few options. The important part is to remember to tip a bit somehow, even if you lose. Tip as a Bet At table games, you can place a bet for the dealer as a tip, and if it wins, they collect the winnings. For example, at roulette you can bet $1 on a number for the dealer, and if it hits, they will get a $35 tip. These bets are usually placed to the side of your bet at a table game or by using a different colored chip in roulette. A lower minimum bet is also typically allowed for a dealer bet. For example, you might be playing a $15 3 Card Poker table but be allowed to bet $5 for the dealer. Tip as You Win This is the easiest way to tip while at a table, and my preferred method, since it assumes some winning is involved. I never do any serious math here—just toss the dealer a percentage of my chips after a good winning hand or spin. At roulette, I play single numbers, which pays 35 to 1. When that hits, I will usually tip a chip per one that I bet. So, for example, a $1 chip would win $35, and I would tip $1; a $5 chip would win $175, and I would tip $5. If I hit a couple numbers in short order, the dealer will get a few more chips per win. At regular table games, I tip on decent wins or a good run—i.e., not every 2:1 win is going to get a tip. Tip After Being a Loser Let’s assume you didn’t bet for the dealers and didn’t win enough to tip as you play. No one would expect a tip if you lose $100 on black in one spin at roulette or try blackjack for two hands, but I like to still tip if I have sat down and played for a bit and had a good time at the table. I usually purposefully wrap up gambling with a couple chips left over and toss them to the dealer with a thank you as I leave the table. As an example, I might buy into a game with $200, lose consistently and quickly, and have $30 left. Instead of betting all $30, I will bet $25 in case I lose. If I do lose, the $5 becomes the dealer’s tip. Tipping on a Jackpot Let’s hope you are thankful you read this far and have to worry about tipping on a jackpot win or a hand pay. Wins over $2,000 at a slot or video poker machine will trigger a hand pay, and anything labeled as a jackpot at a table kicks off a whole process. The amount to tip here is hotly debated, but I will go with a 2%–3% rule. A few examples: $2,000 win: $40–$60 $10,000 win: $200–$300 $250,000 win: $5,000–$7,500 $1M win: $20,000–$30,000 Dealers rely on tips for a solid portion of their income, and a nice tip on a jackpot can go a long way in a shared pool. If you do win a serious jackpot, you will have the option to take home a check. Be sure to ask for the amount you want to tip, plus some more gambling money, in cash outside of the check amount. Thanks for reading! Here's the single page guide:

First, a non-disclaimer. I have no affiliation with or promotion for Cartzilla. I paid for my ride, and everything below is simply my personal experience. From https://cartzillaride.com/ Riding down the Strip in a shopping cart isn’t something I would normally do in Vegas—especially on a solo trip. But when an attraction is as popular as Cartzilla, I felt obligated to check it out myself. If you’ve done any recent Stumbling, you’ve probably seen the cart roll by and maybe waved or laughed. Cartzilla is exactly what it sounds like: a massive, souped-up, street-legal shopping cart that somehow feels both ridiculous and perfectly at home in Las Vegas. I booked a 7pm time slot based on my schedule and a Vegas Valuations suggestion to go at night if possible. Booking was easy, a reasonable (for Vegas) rate at $59 and clear instructions were sent in advance about where to meet (near Treasure Island and Fashion Show Mall). I had a pretty busy day before my planned ride. I was staying at Paris, went for brunch at the Venetian, Oz at Sphere 2pm, then headed to the Rio to meet the Mehaffeys from Vegas Advantage before heading back to the Strip. The day itself was great. I even won a little money at Treasure Island while killing time & getting my rewards card. I arrived about 15 minutes early, as suggested, and was greeted by a group yelling my name. For a brief moment I thought my Strip Stumble fame had exploded. Turns out I was just the last to arrive, and everyone was told they were waiting for “Greg.” That’s when the staff explained there was an issue. A woman arrived with three kids but had only booked two seats for them, thinking kids under four rode free. Whether that came from a third-party site or a misunderstanding, the result was eight people and seven seats. Since I was solo and hungry, I offered to rebook for the next day. They offered me an 8pm slot, but I wanted time for a meal without rushing. Kurt and the team handled everything well and were very appreciative. Kids of course do not ride free, and there’s nothing on the Cartzilla website that suggests they do—though kids do  get free hats. The next day I rode at 4pm. Night slots were available, but there was a Patriots game at 5:30pm I wanted to watch, so it worked perfectly. The group included a family of four, two women, me flying solo, and our driver, Dave. We were handed water while boarding, and each seat has a cupholder, which was a nice touch. Moments later, we were rolling with music playing at a fun but comfortable volume. Dave of course let one of the kids pick music first and we get . . . Christmas music. And then . . . more Christmas music. I am not a fan of Christmas music, but it was a week before the Holiday and it made the kids happy so whatever. It did actually make me think that Cartzilla could offer a Christmas themed ride specifically. Throw some fake snow down, give out hot chocolates and keep the cheerful folks isolated from the rest of us. Anyways, after that the music greatly improved especially when I hit the cart with some Tom Petty & Talking Heads. I wanted to request a 15 -20 minute live version of a Grateful Dead tune, but I thought that would be selfish. Maybe they wouldn't know Help, Slip, Frank was 3 songs & we can wrap this up without hearing Silent Night? The ride itself was great, offering a unique view of the Strip. The pace is slow and safe, giving you time to actually look around. You’re higher than pedestrians, more open than a car, and moving at the perfect speed to soak it all in. Seeing the Hard Rock guitar taking shape was impressive, as were the beautiful F1 barriers & fences. The reactions from folks Stumbling the Strip varied from waving, looking confused, taking pictures and dancing as they crossed in front. The route heads south first, turning around just past the Welcome to Las Vegas sign before heading north past Wynn and looping around the Sphere. There’s a great selfie opportunity just before the turnaround where you can get the sign over your shoulder. “Can” being the key word—I tried and failed. Heading north felt a little repetitive since the southbound views were already so good, but there’s really no way around that. If I had one minor critique, it might be that the ride felt slightly long—but that could also be the Christmas music talking & I am sure most would prefer as long for the money as possible. One important thing to consider is the weather. Cartzilla is open-air, which is part of what makes it so fun, but you’re exposed to the elements. Vegas weather can be extreme, and since you’re moving, it can feel colder than expected on cooler days. In summer, it's going to be hot. Plan accordingly—layers, water, maybe even a small fan. Overall, it was a fun and genuinely unique experience. It’s easy to see why Kurt and the team have been so successful in such a short time. They’re already working on Cartzilla 2.0 to increase their capacity and some cool upgrades. The website notes that rides often sell out, and even during the quiet week before Christmas, many slots were full. Booking a solo seat was easy, but if you’re traveling with a group, book early.

Days on the Vegas Strip are meant to start with a bottomless brunch. Drinking on the Strip is expensive so these all you can drink options can get you off to a solid start with a good buzz and full stomach. The list below is broken down by weekday / daily options vs your weekend only spots. Weekends tend to bring in a higher end option with a few excellent table service all you can eat options like Border Grill or Caramella. Hard Rock Cafe includes live acoustic music everyday as an added perk. Hope this helps everyone start their Stumble properly. Be sure to keep your Stumble going with the happy hours, live music spots & speakeasys on our Vegas Drinking list.

The Las Vegas Sphere is an incredible venue that adds a unique view on the Vegas Skyline. Inside is an immersive experience that makes for a one of a kind concert or movie. Typically Sphere has a musical act on weekends, with a couple of different movies available most days in the afternoon and evenings that do not have shows. For a listing of upcoming shows check here . There are no direct to Sphere public transportation options so you are left with the option to either drive, get a ride (taxi or ride share) or walk. Parking can be purchased in advance , but will not be cheap. Ride shares & taxis have a convenient drop off not far from the main entrance, but catching one after the show will be challenging. If you have decided walking is for you then we made an infographic to explain it all. One key point mentioned in the graphic, but worth repeating is that the indoor bridge connecting Sphere to Venetian (Used in options B & C below) can be closed at times due to events in the Venetian's Expo Center. We have reached out to Sphere and will be trying to update with how you can check in advance if the bridge will be open or not before picking your path. Enjoy your show! Remember to check out spots to eat and grab a drink pre / post show on our Venetian / Palazzo page.

Here at Strip Stumble, we pride ourselves on being one of the least comprehensive Vegas sites out there. We don't pretend to give gambling tips or to know the best club on a Thursday night. Despite our focus on the Strip, we know Vegas has much more to offer with Downtown, the Arts District & more. Here are a few Vegas related sites we enjoy for all the stuff we don't cover. . . or they just do a better job. Easy Vegas : The most comprehensive Vegas site out there including a ton of useful gambling resources. If you prefer a different style Vegas Strip map, Michael has an excellent version & all the other best ones online. If you are looking for a driver in Vegas there is no one more reliable than Brad and team at Our Vegas Adventure Vegas Changes : An excellent site that somehow show's Vegas's past as well as they keep up on breaking news. We don't even pretend to compete with their Happy Hour list - easily the best list out there. Vegas Food & Fun: Very useful site, especially when it comes to Vegas buffets including pricing details that are kept up to date.

Las Vegas weather is often not ideal for long walks outside so knowing the options for stumbling through properties vs outside down the Strip can be helpful. We took a shot at mapping out a mostly indoor route to show a path between Mandalay Bay & Venetian. While you can't avoid outside completely, you can minimize your heat exposure to relatively short segments between air conditioned comfort. This route doesn't hit some of the major attractions / casinos so is not a recommendation if you are site seeing . . . yes we know Cosmo & Caesars should be visited. Hopefully this helps give you ideas on those hot (or cold) days & see that you can stay inside nearly 80% of the time if you have your Stumble maps handy.

The Las Vegas Strip has so much to offer, it can be overwhelming deciding what to do and how to plan a day. Visitors tend to go to an extreme, either trying to pack too much into a trip or having no plan and missing out on some great experiences. Planning a Strip Stumble means your plan for the day is to simply stumble along the Strip. From there, the possibilities are endless and that's where Strip Stumble comes in to help you. Don't walk, stumble . This does not imply you need to drink so much that you can't stand up, it's a mindset to slow down, take your time & wander vs walking directly to a destination. The furthest I usually walk in Vegas is 2-3 properties from my hotel, but I will Stumble for miles. For example lets say we just got back from golf, we are staying at Linq and dinner is at Venetian - take the 15 minute walk. If for that same scenario, dinner is at Cosmo, I am taking a cab or ride share. Who wants to walk a mile plus dressed for a decent dinner in the Vegas heat? On the flip side, I will stumble 2-3 times that distance in a day with no hesitation. Don't plan, plot . A Stumble is a plan of sorts, but it's meant to allow flexibility in the day. Pick a starting spot, try to end at your hotel, plot out a couple priority stops along the way and you have the start of a solid Stumble. If you end up with a tight schedule, with multiple reservations, timed events etc, then you accidently planned a walk. Time to start over or reach out for Stumbling Support. Be practical. I know, boring for a site about Stumbling in sin city, but some basics will ensure you finish your Stumble. Shoes, water, food & pace are the critical pieces here. You will be walking miles, given in shorter increments, but be sure you wear footwear assuming that distance won't be a problem. On the free walking map, I have added icons for the various drugstores along the Strip. These are great locations to pop in and grab a water for the next leg of your walk. These waters also help with pace, which if you start off with bottomless beverages becomes critical early on in your Stumble. My "rule" is to avoid stopping for more than one drink at a time, unless it's with a meal. So stumble, have a drink, grab a water, stumble, grab a drink. Don't stumble out of bottomless brunch and stop for 3 rounds at the same hotel.