Car Rental Las Vegas

If you rent a car in Las Vegas it gives you easy and convenient access to the very best of the city and beyond.

To drive in true Las Vegas style, head down the famous Strip. It’s the best way to soak up the excitement that pervades the city. Roads can get during peak periods, so try and plan around these if you can.

The city itself is relatively simple to navigate with main routes well signposted and arranged in a grid system. Interstate 15 runs from the south of the city to the north-east, while the 215 acts as an outer ring to the city. Follow the I-11 that crosses the I-15 to head south-east out of the city.

Speed limits vary depending on the road, with a top speed of 70mph (112km/h) on the rural stretches of interstate, 65mph (104km/h) on the urban stretches. In business and residential areas, the limit falls to 25mph (50 km/h).

Seatbelts are compulsory, and it’s against the law to use a cell phone while driving. In terms of parking, it may be that your hotel has its own lot or garage, while many of the casinos also offer free parking to patrons. Note that many places that advertise free parking will charge if you have a valet park your car.

There are some wonderful places to visit outside the main city. Take the I-11 east for the Hoover Dam, a marvellous feat of engineering. It sits on Lake Mead, where you can go boating or explore some of the historic trails. Only an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, it’s a great stop to add to your visit.

The hotels, casinos and restaurants of Las Vegas are like nowhere else. Bigger is definitely better here and fun comes in many shapes and shades. The Strip is at the centee of it all, and your starting point for a great vacation in Las Vegas.

Roll the dice

Even if you’re not a gambler, a stroll through the casinos of Las Vegas is a must. Saunter past the rows of slot machines, lavish card tables and high stakes at the roulette wheel.

You’ll also find amazing concerts, huge buffets and poker games going on until the early hours of the morning. Each hotel constantly ups its game to win bragging rights as the best around.

The Bellagio boasts a botanical garden and conservatory whilst Mandalay Bay has a lazy river and man-made beach. It can veer over into kitsch – the canals and gondolas, the pyramids and Eiffel Tower – but that’s all part of the fun.

From buffets to banquets

You can eat until you drop in Las Vegas. There lots of simple but delicious options, including shrimp buffets, unpretentious steakhouses, classic Italian ‘red sauce’ joints and All-American diners.

Of course, there are plenty of finer dining options to choose from as well. You can’t move far without finding a celebrity chef offshoot, whether it’s Wolfgang Puck or Guy Savoy. In fact, there’s little you can’t find – with picks including exceptional cooking for carnivores at Bazaar Meat, delicate Japanese artistry at Mizumi and the all-encompassing destination tasting menu at Joel Robuchon. Whatever your palate, you won’t be lacking in choice.

Thrill seekers

If the highs and lows of the gaming tables aren’t for you, perhaps you can find peaks and troughs of a different kind on one of the city’s coasters. From old school bone-shakers to state-of-the-art thrill rides, you’ll find plenty of exhilarating rides for you and your family to enjoy.

Head to Stratosphere, a hotel with a couple of thousand rooms, a large casino and a great observation deck at the top of a rapid lift. The real lure of the hotel is the rides though, with Big Shot, X-Scream and Infinity all to be found here. For those who really want to get their adrenaline pumping, check out the SkyJump from 108 floors up.

Other highlights include the Canyon Blaster at Circus-Circus, the Big Apple rollercoaster at New York New York, and the El Loco coaster.

You can also drive for just over an hour to the town of Primm, where you’ll find The Desperado at Buffalo Bill’s, regarded as one of the best coasters in the country. You’ll reach speeds of 90mph (144km/h) and forces up to 4G.

With car rental in Las Vegas you’ll be able to experience all the thrills and wonders of the city and beyond to make the most of your time in this unique destination.