Things NOT to Do in Las Vegas (2025 Local Warning List)

Avoid the Tourist Traps, Budget Blunders & Rookie Mistakes That Locals Sergio & Anna Have Seen Kill Vacations

The Vegas No One Warned You About

We’ve been exactly where you are: full of excitement, flights booked, dreaming of neon lights, jackpots, and that “what happens in Vegas” magic.

The first time I saw Las Vegas was back in 2012 — just a quick stop during a coast-to-coast trip across the U.S.

I brought Anna here from Italy a few years later, in 2016.

Neither of us imagined we’d actually end up living here… six years later, still calling Vegas home and helping hundreds of travelers from around the world experience this city the right way.

Because we’ve made every mistake possible, and we’ve watched others make even more.

Las Vegas is epic, vibrant, and unlike anywhere else on Earth.

But if you don’t know what to expect, it can quietly eat your budget, drain your energy, and leave you wondering, “Did I do this wrong?”

Especially right now — late October 2025 — when prices on the Strip have finally peaked, hotels are starting to recover some sanity, but the average traveler still can’t afford to make rookie mistakes.

Knowing what not to do in Las Vegas isn’t optional anymore — it’s survival.

That’s why we started Getawayk™: we’re travelers just like you. We love planning our own trips, but we want to do it smart.

We splurge on what actually matters to us — real experiences, authentic food, once-in-a-lifetime memories — and we cut all the BS that just wastes money.

If that sounds like you — someone who wants to travel smarter, not cheaper — you’re in the right place.

Because, unlike the generic travel blogs or the endless AI-generated guides out there, we actually live here.

We’ve had our car towed on the Strip (yes, we’ll tell you exactly where NOT to park in a future post), we’ve wasted money on endless tourist traps, and we talk daily with local friends who share the same hard-earned lessons.

Reading this means you’re getting the kind of advice that comes from people who’ve done the dumb stuff, paid for it, and learned.

Not because we wanted to go “budget,” but because we wanted to optimize — to enjoy the city fully without regrets.

So this is it — our ultimate 2025 Local Warning List: the Things NOT to Do in Las Vegas.

It’s long, yes, but every item comes straight from real experience — ours, our friends’, and the hundreds of travelers who’ve trusted Getawayk™ to save their trips.

We’re talking hidden fees, dehydration disasters, walking marathons in 110°F heat, rookie casino mistakes, and the subtle traps that even smart travelers fall for.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, you’ll definitely recognize yourself somewhere — but when you’re done reading, you’ll know better.

You’ll travel smarter. You’ll live more deeply.

1 | Ignoring Resort Fees & Hidden Costs (The Silent Budget Killer)

We live about 12 minutes from the Strip, so whenever Anna and I decide to “escape” our normal lives and play tourists, we book a weekend at one of the big hotels (and get some Spa and pool time.)

Around two years ago, we learned the hard way what those little resort fees can do to your budget.

We saw the room rate, clicked “Book,” and thought, great deal!

Then came check-in… and the surprise: The “extras” we paid in resort fees for just two nights at a well-known MGM property equaled the price of a massage at their Spa.

And yes, parking was extra too.

It hit us like a punch: room rate + hidden add-ons = weekend ruined.

And the truth is...still in 2025, most first-time visitors never see it coming, until it's too late.

That’s exactly why we do what we do — to help travelers like you enjoy the vacation you want, without giving up the comfort or fun you came here for.

How to do it smart? By choosing the right:

- Type of hotel: For travelers who want to stay right in the heart of the Strip without paying crazy fees, we always recommend hidden gems like the Jockey Club Suites. It’s one of those places most tourists walk right past without realizing it’s there — tucked quietly behind The Cosmopolitan, just a few steps from all the action. Rooms are spacious, come with full kitchens and utensils, and best of all — no resort fees and free parking. That’s what we call traveling smart.

- Booking platform: We’ve been using Booking.com for over 15 years now — from cross-country U.S. road trips to long stays in Asia and Europe. Never once had an issue. And the best part is that resort fees are clearly shown upfront now, so there are no nasty surprises when you check in. We always book with the free cancellation option too — just in case we change plans or find a better deal.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Before you click Confirm, add up the room rate + resort fee + parking. If the total makes you blink, that’s your sign to look off-Strip like Red Rock Casino or check out smaller downtown hotels like Four Queens. They’re often way better value, no resort fees — and you’ll experience a side of Vegas most tourists never see.

Check also our full guide: Best Hotels in Las Vegas 2025 (By Budget, Vibe & Location).

2 | Underestimating Distances & Heat

Pretty map? Check.

High heels? Check.

Confidence: off the charts.

Then ten minutes later, you’re dragging your suitcase across four casino driveways, melting at 110°F (43°C), and silently cursing every life decision that led you here.

We’ve watched so many first-timers fall into this trap. On a map, the Strip looks like six easy blocks — a light stroll between hotels.

In reality? It’s 4.2 miles (6.8 km) from Sahara to Russell Road, and every resort is the size of a small town. Even walking between two neighboring hotels can take 20 minutes in the summer heat.

Why it’s a mistake: You land excited, say “let’s walk,” and 40 minutes later, you’re drenched, exhausted, and ready to throw your shoes in the Bellagio fountains. By Day 2, you’ve spent half your energy budget just getting from A to B.

Anna can't even tell how many tourists she’s seen on her city tours, practically begging to be pulled by a rope rather than walk one more step.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Pick one zone per day — maybe Caesars-to-Park MGM one day, Wynn-to-Venetian another. When you’re tired, grab a Deuce bus or Monorail instead of pushing through. And please, ditch the fashion heels — wear shoes you could walk five miles in.

Also, carry a refillable water bottle everywhere. The desert heat + freezing AC combo hits harder than you think.

👉 For more help, read our guide to Getting Around Las Vegas Smart in 2025, where we explain how to save your legs (and your sanity).

3 | Expecting Big Wins at the Tables

I once met a traveler who told me, “I’ll leave Vegas rich.”

Five nights later, I found him at Margaritaville (back when it was still open 😢), half-drunk, blaming the casino system, the government, and possibly aliens for his losses.

Vegas has mastered the art of hope. You’ll hear about the one person who hit a million-dollar jackpot at the airport — but no one’s writing about the 99.9% who didn’t.

Why it’s a mistake: Because the house always wins. Vegas gives you thrills, not fairy tales. If you gamble expecting a profit, you’re setting yourself up for heartbreak.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Set a small “fun fund” for gambling — say $100–$150 total. Anything you win is dessert. Anything you lose is part of the show. If you want guaranteed memories, spend that same money on a Cirque show, a helicopter tour, or a Grand Canyon trip instead.

And if you want to play smarter (and never feel ripped off again), check out our 260-page Vegas Smart Traveler Guide— where we explain how to enjoy casinos without being played by them.

4 | Walking Without a Plan (and missing the rest)

If your first-night plan is “let’s just walk the Strip,” you’re technically not wrong — but you’re also missing half the story. You’ll see lights, fountains, and glitz… but not the soul of this city.

Why it’s a mistake: It’s too easy to get stuck inside the same five casinos, looping between slot machines and souvenir stores. The Strip is fun, but it’s only one layer of Vegas — the postcard version.

We’ve met so many travelers who used Vegas only as a base before heading to national parks, assuming there’s nothing real to see in the Entertainment Capital of the World. (Funny, uh? I talk more about that HERE).

But if you skip the “off-Strip” side — Downtown Fremont, the Arts District, or even a Red Rock Canyon sunrise — you’ll miss the Vegas that locals actually love.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Plan at least ONE non-Strip moment. Walk Fremont Street at sunset. Do a desert drive at dawn. Go to Valley of Fire. Sip a cocktail at a rooftop bar Downtown. You’ll balance the flash with authenticity — and leave with stories the average tourist never experiences.

👉 Book a real local experience right below:

5 | Drinking & Dehydrating

Here’s the Vegas paradox: you’re in a desert, yet freezing in a bar. One moment it’s 105°F (40°C), the next you’re under an AC vent with goosebumps ordering another margarita.

We’ve seen travelers land in the ER not for gambling or partying — but from dehydration or heat shock.

Why it’s a mistake: You forget your body’s in survival mode here. You drink, sweat, cool down, and forget to hydrate again. Eventually, the desert wins. Anna still teases me about the time she found me shivering inside a resort at 100°F outside, buying a sweater at Walmart because I’d “caught Alaska” from the AC.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Hydrate before you’re thirsty. Alternate every alcoholic drink with water. Day 1? Go slow. Let your body adjust to the desert rhythm.

Again, carry a refillable water bottle like this one — it’s cheap, durable, and can literally save you $60 a day compared to buying bottled water on the Strip.

👉 Want to see where you’re most likely to overspend or get scammed? Read our Top 10 Tourist Traps in Las Vegas to Avoid (2025 Edition) — we break down every scam or trap like overpriced bottles and “too good to be true” deals.

6 | Falling for “Best in Town” Restaurant Traps

Let’s be honest — as an Italian, it still makes me laugh (and cry a little inside) every time I hear a visitor say they’ve fallen for “the best pasta in Las Vegas” at places like Buca di Beppo or Olive Garden. Even my blood pressure drops just thinking about it...

And it’s not Italian pride speaking (ok, maybe a little) — it’s experience.

Anna and I have eaten at those chain spots more than once, usually for birthdays or group dinners, and we’ve learned the hard way that “celebrity chef” or “fancy décor” doesn’t always mean quality.

Why it’s a mistake: Many “big name” Strip restaurants are built for speed, selfies, and status, not soul. You’ll probably end up paying triple for something frozen, or at least something that tastes like it could have been.

We’ve sat through $30 salads, $50 plates of lifeless pasta, and service that felt more like a factory line than a dining experience.

Sure, the check will impress you — but the flavor won’t. If you want authenticity, you’re probably looking in the wrong place.

Food in Vegas is an entire universe on its own, and that’s why we’re releasing our “Where Locals Actually Eat in Las Vegas (2025 Edition)” guide soon. Be sure to subscribe to our "Become a Getawayker™" newsletter below to not miss it.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: The best meals we’ve ever had didn’t come from luxury hotels — they came from tiny Thai joints in Chinatown, taco trucks that open at 10 p.m., and old-school diners where the server calls you “hon.”

That’s the real Vegas — the one that still feels like home after all these years.

👉 Check out our new Restaurants Section for the most up-to-date, local-approved food spots in Las Vegas.

7 | Paying for Things You Can See for Free

Here’s a secret most average tourists never learn: Las Vegas is full of free magic — if you know where to look.

Every single day, people spend $50 or more on “VIP viewing passes” for things they could have seen for free, just by walking five minutes farther.

You don’t need to pay for beauty here — it’s everywhere.

The Bellagio Fountains, the Fremont Street Experience, the Park MGM promenade, even the art-filled hotel lobbies— they’re all open, free, and spectacular.

Anna and I once watched a couple pay $80 for a “fountain-view dinner.” Guess what? They could’ve stood outside, seen the exact same show, with better sound and no $20 cocktails.

Why it’s a mistake: Vegas loves to sell you “access,” even when access was never restricted. Paying extra doesn’t make it more magical — it just makes your wallet lighter.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Instead of wasting money on a “premium view,” spend that cash on something you’ll actually remember — maybe a Cirque du Soleil show, a sunset helicopter ride, or a proper dinner at one of the local gems we love.

Here’s our updated guide: 16 Best Free Things to Do in Las Vegas (2025 Edition) — proof that the best memories don’t always come with a price tag.

8 | Packing for the Wrong Season (and Fighting the Air Conditioning War)

Desert life means extremes. Summer feels like stepping into an oven; winter nights can hit 35°F (2 °C). We see travelers arrive in flip-flops in December or leather jackets in August — neither ends well.

Vegas weather is its own personality — dramatic, unpredictable, and slightly unhinged.

The trickiest part? The A/C.

Step outside and it’s an oven; step inside and it’s the Arctic. I still laugh remembering the time Anna ordered soup… in August. Because the restaurant was that cold.

Why it’s a mistake: You underestimate the extremes. You’ll either freeze inside or melt outside — and both can ruin a day fast.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Layer smart. Bring a hoodie even in summer, a light jacket in winter, lip balm, eye drops, and comfy sneakers.

Download our FREE Vegas Packing Guide 2025 through the FREE GUIDE banner below— it’s literally built from years of us forgetting, suffering, and finally learning.

9 | Thinking “The Strip Is Las Vegas”

Here’s a fun fact: if you never left the Strip, you technically never visited the city of Las Vegas.

Yep, that's right. Most of the famous casinos — Bellagio, Caesars, Mandalay Bay, you name it — are actually in Paradise, Nevada, not Las Vegas.

And tourists never believe us until we show them the coffee receipt that literally says “Paradise.”

The real Las Vegas — the city that started it all — is Downtown, where the lights might be smaller but the stories are bigger.

When I first came here, I thought the same thing most first-timers do — that everything worth seeing was between Mandalay Bay and The STRAT.

Then I started exploring: the desert trails, local art murals, vintage record shops, live jazz nights behind unmarked doors.

That’s when Vegas stopped being a weekend escape and started feeling like a second home.

Why it’s a mistake: When you stay trapped on the Strip, you leave believing Vegas is shallow — when really, you just didn’t dig deep enough.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Give yourself half a day to see what the Vegas locals know. Take one morning and drive west to Red Rock Canyon. Or join a small group tour through the desert, the Arts District, or even nearby ghost towns like Nelson — no crowds, no neon, just quiet sky and endless views.

You’ll breathe desert air, reset your brain, and realize something most tourists never do : the real Vegas starts when the lights fade.

👉 Explore the best local tours below on GetYourGuide — the same platform used by people who actually live here.

10 | Treating Vegas Like a Race (Instead of a Rhythm)

Here’s the hardest truth to learn: you don’t win Vegas by doing it all.

We see it every week — travelers sprinting from brunch to pool to show to club, like they’re in some sort of sparkle-covered marathon, because "I only have 3 days in Vegas".

By Day 2, they look like zombies wearing resort wristbands.

Vegas is designed to keep you awake — lights that never dim, oxygen pumped in the air at your hotels & casino, music that never stops, bars that never close.

But you’re human. You’re allowed to pause.

Why it’s a mistake: You confuse movement with memory. The best moments here usually happen between plans — the unplanned sunset walk, the late-night talk with a stranger, the quiet 5 a.m. stroll past empty fountains.

Getawayk™ Local Tip: Give yourself “white space.” Sleep in. Take a midday swim. Watch the sunrise from your balcony. Vegas rewards the ones who know when to stop. Those who balance energy with presence. The lights will still be there when you’re ready again.

✦ Final Reflections:

How to Leave Vegas Richer (Without Winning a Cent)

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already traveling smarter than most.

The truth is, Las Vegas isn’t trying to trick you — it just rewards awareness. Once you learn her rhythm, she becomes unforgettable: bold, generous, surprisingly human. That’s what made us stay.

Every city has its tricks, but Vegas is an art form in distraction.

It’s so good at dazzling you that you forget to look around — or inside.

But if you listen closely, this city teaches something deeper than any jackpot ever could: how to let go, how to enjoy without excess, and how to recognize the beauty hiding behind the noise.

We’ve made every mistake in this list — walked in the desert with two beers in the backpack and no water, overpaid for rooms we barely slept in, frozen under air vents that could chill wine.

But we’ve also learned that Vegas doesn’t punish mistakes; it teaches through them. Every wrong turn became a story, and every story became part of why we call this place home.

So when you come here, don’t try to outsmart Vegas — understand it.

Pack smarter, plan lighter, tip kindly, and stay curious.

And when you go back home with your camera full, your heart fuller, and maybe still a few singles left in your wallet — you’ll realize that’s the real win.

If this guide helped you, join the Getawayk™ community, download our Free Vegas Essentials Guide below, and start travelling the way we do — with humor, humility, humanity, and a little local wisdom.

Because the best Vegas trips aren’t about escaping reality.

They’re about learning how to live it — one dazzling, imperfect, unforgettable day at a time.

FAQs | What NOT to Do in Las Vegas in 2025

1 | What mistakes should I avoid in Las Vegas in 2025? 

Top mistakes include underestimating distances, ignoring resort fees, over-drinking without hydration, and paying for overrated attractions. Learn from locals to skip the tourist traps.

2 | What is the biggest tourist trap in Vegas right now? 

Hidden resort fees ($35–$55 per night) and overpriced bottled water on the Strip. Always check the fine print and carry a reusable bottle.

3 | Is Las Vegas safe for tourists in 2025?

Yes — especially in tourist zones. Stay on main roads, avoid deserted alleys, and use Uber or Lyft at night.

4 | Do locals still go to the Strip?

Yes — but strategically. We visit shows and restaurants, then escape before traffic. Mix it up with Downtown and local hangouts for a balanced experience.

5 | How do I avoid overpaying in Vegas?

 Book off-Strip hotels, use Vegas.com for discount bundles, compare Uber vs Monorail, and read Getawayk’s money-saving guides before you arrive