Essential Packing List for Your Dream Vegas Getaway

So, you’re finally getting around to planning that once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Entertainment Capital of the World – Las Vegas. Lucky you!

Sin City is easily one of the most exciting places in the USA to visit, renowned for its idiosyncratic culture, incredible nightlife, and awe-inspiring desert landscapes.  

Having your flights all booked and itinerary planned out, it’s time to think about what you’ll need to take with you to Vegas.

Sure, it’s not as diverse a destination as the deepest, darkest jungles of Peru, but there are some essential things you’ll need to pack for a trip to Las Vegas.  

Before Your Trip 

We’ll get to what to pack for your Vegas trip shortly, but in the meantime here’s a suggestion about how to familiarize yourself with the biggest tourist attractions in Nevada – Las Vegas’ glittering casinos.  

If you’re planning to take in a casino or two when you travel, then you might want to swot up on how to play classic games like roulette, blackjack, or slots beforehand. Online platforms can make it easy to try out casino games with free bonuses and promotions, all from the comfort of your own home.

It’s also worth checking out the websites of the casinos you intend to visit beforehand to get an idea of things like dress code, opening times, and any special events that might be taking place in the venue during your stay. 

The Bellagio, for example, is one of the most famous casino resorts in the world and it features its very own art gallery. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art has presented several important exhibitions in recent years, including Fabergé Revealed, Warhol Out West, and Picasso: Creatures and Creativity. 

Don’t forget to download an updated guidebook or two to your Kindle before you jet off. New titles like The Outsider’s Guide to Las Vegas (2020) will help you discover some of the city’s hidden gems and keep you entertained as you read them. Author Tim Dressen is known for his irreverent podcast covering all things Sin City, so who better to be your guide during your trip? Not only will you learn something new about the most famous city in the world, but you’ll also thoroughly enjoy the read. 

Before your trip, remember to: 

• Brush up on your casino gaming skills
• Research any events taking place at casino resorts
• Download your favorite, up-to-date Las Vegas guidebooks

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Vegas-Ready Clothing

Las Vegas is blessed with a year-round warm climate, even the winters in Nevada are mild compared to winters in other states, so you don’t need to pack any thermals before you head off.  

Depending on the season you’re planning to travel in, however, you may want to take a few extra layers in the form of sweaters and a lightweight down jacket.  

If you’re a denim lover, you’re in luck. Jeans are often the go-to staple of locals and they’re perfectly versatile, so they’ll take you from day trips to the Red Rock Canyon to a night out on the town. For men and women alike, darker-colored jeans such as navy or black have a more formal feel, allowing you to dress them up or down to your heart’s content. 

Don’t underestimate the amount of time you’ll be on your feet during your trip. Walking the Strip and heading out into the hills outside the city are all part of the day-to-day Vegas experience, so make sure you pack a sturdy pair of walking boots. 

It’s always worth having a couple of pairs of flip flips to hand, too, especially if you’ll be spending time poolside.  

And speaking of being poolside, whatever you do, don’t forget to pack your swimming costume!

If you’re planning to take in an entertainment extravaganza at Planet Hollywood or indulge in a night out at Caesars Palace, remember to pack your glad rags. Whilst it’s not a requirement to wear formal wear at the casino, it nevertheless adds an extra layer of pizzazz to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Plus, if you’re hoping to get into the uber-exclusive OMNIA nightclub at Caesars, you will need to adhere to its dress code of upscale attire. 

For men, a collared shirt paired with those aforementioned dark-colored jeans and a complimentary pair of dress shoes or brogues is a smart-looking staple for nights in Las Vegas. For women, you can never go wrong with a cocktail dress. However, for something a little more comfortable, why not pair a jumpsuit in a luxurious fabric like velvet or silk with an appropriate pair of formal shoes. When in doubt, keep your outfit subtle and go for dark block colors or muted prints.

The temptation for most tourists when they hit Vegas is to pack up all their stuff in a backpack. While a backpack may offer more comfort, your belongings will be much more secure in a cross-body messenger bag. Remember to keep things zipped away and unless you know you’ll be required to provide a photo ID, ask if you can leave your passport in the hotel safe when heading out on a day trip.

For that Vegas-ready wardrobe, remember to pack: 

• Lightweight sweaters or long-sleeved tees
• A waterproof down jacket
• Dark-colored denim
• Walking boots or supportive trainers
• Flip-flops and a swimming costume
• Evening wear 
• A secure cross-body messenger bag

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Gadgets and Electronics 

Just because you’re away from home, it doesn’t mean you have to do without your creature comforts. If you simply can’t get through the day without your favorite morning coffee, consider investing in a travel coffee brewer. The Aeropress is one such device and brews up traditional ground coffee in an instant by using just hot water.

Along with poor coffee, hotel rooms in Sin City can get a bit dry depending on the time of year you travel. Factor in air conditioning and you’ll have all the makings of a parched palette. For this reason, travel humidifiers are a handy gadget to take on your trip.  

It’s not just the air quality in Vegas that can affect your slumber, the 24-hour noise of the city can be overwhelming at times for newbies to the city. If you’re staying on or close to the Strip, packing a portable white noise machine will drown out any outside noise and help you drift off into a peaceful sleep.

It goes without saying that you’ll want to take tons of photos on your trip, especially during those days when you’re sightseeing. While most modern smartphones have excellent camera functionality, it’s always worth packing a separate camera that you can dedicate to holiday snaps only – bonus points if the camera takes high-quality videos. AKASO has released a 4k keychain camera that is perfect for birds-eye view filming and vlogging, plus it takes some pretty decent still shots too. 

The gadgets you can’t do without: 

• Travel coffee brewer
• Travel air humidifier
• Portable white noise machine
• Separate camera 

Essential Items

Last, but by no means least, make sure you keep this checklist of the most essential items that you’ll need on your trip handy – you never know what you might end up forgetting!

• Passport 
• Cash 
• Secure wallet or security belt  
• Portable power bank 
• Phone charger 
• Waterproof phone case 
• At least two travel plugs or a world adaptor 
• USB/Micro USB leads 
• Hand sanitizer
• Sunblock 
• First Aid kit 
• Vitamins and headache tablets 
• Insect repellent 
• Ear plugs and sleep mask
• Travel journal or planner 
• Foldable towel  
• Reusable water bottle 
• Sunhat and sunglasses 
• Poncho or rain mac

This was a full list of items to bring to Las Vegas to have a fully-equipped journey and lack nothing essential in Sin City.

If you’re traveling only with carry-on luggage, make sure to check the flight checklist, or have a look at a business trip packing list if you go on a trip for work or business purposes.