Yes, Las Vegas, Nevada, is the Entertainment Capital of the World. And yes, Las Vegas may not be the right place for you to travel to.
Last updated: June 2, 2025
Beautiful but Not Ideal
I won’t break the news if I say that Las Vegas is a gambling center of the world after Macau, China. With almost 40 casinos located just in the Las Vegas Strip area, the city is not alien to the large influxes of tourists. Other things that attract millions of people are shopping, fine dining, and nightlife.
Yet I won’t be the first person to admit that with all its luxury and entertainment, Las Vegas is not the first and certainly not the right travel destination for everybody. Here is why.
MAIN REASONS WHY LAS VEGAS MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT PLACE TO TRAVEL TO
1. Las Vegas Is Crowded
With tourism becoming a norm and often the main source of income, many places attract huge numbers of people year round. Not rarely, locals and those who seek authentic experiences need to get to once secluded locations either early in the morning or late in the evening.
This rule doesn’t apply to the city’s bustling scenes. Regardless of the time of the day or night, the city is flooded with crowds. People constantly dart from one hotel to another in search of better luck and entertainment.
Alternative: For those who actually intend to explore the city beyond its gambling arena, mornings or early afternoons work better. But the trade-off between bumping into fewer people in the streets and the hot afternoon temperatures may quickly lose its leverage. Apart from it, skipping evening excursions you miss out on the glamorous night light that Sin City is famous for.
2. Drunk People Everywhere
With practically no restriction regarding alcohol consumption in Las Vegas, many travelers go overboard. Then instead of taking a break in their rooms, often just above the bar and gambling area of the hotel, they jump in the cars and look for “adventure” elsewhere. Driving drunk is a recipe for disaster for those drivers and those that happen to be nearby.
TIP: So be extra careful when crossing the streets.
3. Secondhand Smoke
After drinking, secondhand smoke is the main health related reason why Las Vegas may not be the right place to travel to for everybody. While smoking is restricted in the outdoor areas, people can smoke as much as their souls desire in casinos. So, there is practically no way to walk through a hotel lobby without inhaling a good amount of secondhand smoke.
4. Expensive Place to Travel to
The city is expensive. Even if you don’t plan to waste thousands of dollars playing slot machines, visiting the city on a budget is not easy. Everything from accommodation to food and entertainment comes with a hefty price tag. Exceptions (depending on the season) are possible. But as a rule of thumb, budget travelers steer clear of Nevada’s most popular city.
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