Las Vegas, Nevada

• Most visitors to Las Vegas spend their time in two places: the Strip, a 4-mile run of mega-resorts, and Downtown, the older core around Fremont Street. Both are crowded, well lit and staffed with security around the clock, so being out alone at night is easier here than in most US cities. Women on their own are common at restaurants, shows, pool clubs and casinos.
• The main risks are the usual ones for a big tourist city: unattended drinks, drunk and pushy crowds late at night, pickpockets in dense areas, and street hustlers handing out cards or selling tickets and costumed photos. Alcohol is sold everywhere at all hours, so many problems start with drinking more than planned. Keep an eye on your drink and keep your phone and bag close.
• The city is spread out and built for cars. The Strip looks walkable on a map, but resorts are far apart, and pedestrian bridges, escalators and casino floors add time. Outside the tourist corridor, many streets are empty after dark, with big parking lots and few people, so take a rideshare for anything beyond a short, busy walk.
• Away from the casinos, the Arts District has murals, coffee and breweries, and Chinatown along Spring Mountain Road has some of the best Asian food in the country. Summerlin is a quieter suburban base, and Red Rock Canyon is the usual desert day trip. Heat is the other safety issue: in summer, do outdoor things in the early morning and carry water.

English is the main language, and Spanish is widely spoken. Resorts, restaurants and tours are used to international visitors, and staff in the resort corridor often speak other languages as well. 911 call-takers can reach interpreters for most languages.

• Dress is very flexible. Cocktail dresses, shorts and swimwear are all normal on the Strip, and casual clothing is fine almost everywhere. Some nightclubs and fine-dining restaurants have dress codes, so check before going. Cover up outside the resorts in summer for sun protection.
• Tipping is expected: roughly 18-20% in restaurants and bars, a dollar or two per drink for bartenders and cocktail servers, and a few dollars per day for housekeeping. Prices in resorts often include a daily resort fee, which is charged on top of the room rate.
• Casinos allow alcohol on the gaming floor and serve free drinks to players. Do not accept drinks from strangers, never leave a glass out of sight, and keep to a pace you can manage. Cannabis is legal for adults, but it cannot be used in public places, in casinos or in most hotel rooms, so check each property's rules.
• Do not take flyers, cards or offers from people on the sidewalk, and do not hand over money for photos with costumed characters unless you want to pay. A polite no and continuing to walk is usually enough. Hustlers selling tickets, tours and 'free' offers are best ignored.

The first hour after landing is when you're tired, carrying everything, and easiest to take advantage of. Three things to sort before you fly:

• Your ride from the airport. A driver who meets you in arrivals, at a price fixed before you fly — no haggling at the taxi rank.

  Book an airport pickup

• Data the moment you land. Maps, ride apps and a way to call for help as soon as you switch your phone on. An eSIM installs at home.

  Get a good eSIM

• The emergency number. Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Medical): 911. Save it in your phone, not just on this page.

  All emergency contacts

• Uber and Lyft are the simplest option, including between the Strip, Downtown and the airport. Resorts have marked rideshare pickup areas, usually in a parking garage or on a side entrance. Check the car, plate and driver name before getting in, and share your trip with a friend. Taxis wait at resort taxi stands and at the airport, and charge extra for airport rides.
• The RTC Deuce and the faster SDX bus run up and down the Strip and to Downtown, with 24-hour service on the main routes. Buses are busy and fine in the daytime, but the stops and the walks to them can be quiet very late at night. The Las Vegas Monorail serves the east side of the Strip, and free trams link some neighboring resorts.
• Walking is fine along the Strip, but distances are bigger than they look, and summer heat makes it hard work. Pedestrians cross on bridges and escalators, and stairs and casino floors add time. Between Downtown and the Strip, the connecting roads are long and unattractive, so take a rideshare rather than walking.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, consider renting a car.

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