By Julianne Lowell, Huffington Post
If you think a trip to Vegas means blowing all your cash, teetering around in painful stilettos, and waking up married, think again. We’re here to help you avoid the rip-offs, blisters, and epic mistakes that Sin City is known for. Here are our 10 biggest don’ts for your next Vegas vacation.
Las Vegas
Get Long-Hauled
Filled with excitement, you deplane at McCarran International and hop into one of the cabs waiting to take tourists to area hotels. The Strip was visible from the runway, but after your cabbie exits through the airport tunnel, you seem to be driving away from the neon signs and bright lights that were so close just a moment ago. That’s because you’re being long-hauled. The practice of taking tourists on much longer rides than necessary via the airport tunnel is a huge problem in Las Vegas — and one that is punishable by the Nevada Taxicab Authority. Make sure to ask your cabbie to take Swenson Street and not the airport tunnel to avoid getting fleeced.
Use the Casino ATMs
ATMs are installed in Vegas casinos to entice weary gamblers with their convenience and proximity. But do yourself (and your bank account) a favor and don’t give in to the temptation. Casino ATMs come with some of the highest fees anywhere — we’ve heard horror stories of as much as $10 added to a single transaction. Rather than making a hefty donation to the casino, find one of the non-casino ATMs listed here or use the handy ATM Hunter app and avoid the gouge.
Practice Improper Gambling Etiquette
When in Vegas, know how to behave at the blackjack table. First, don’t hand money directly to the dealer; security cameras need to witness everything, so lay your money on the table for the dealer to spread out and count in plain view of the cameras above. Also for the sake of the cameras, know that dealers might require you to hand signal your decisions. Don’t bend the cards (it looks like you’re cheating). Do tip the dealer, especially if you’re winning (casino dealers generally work for minimum wage). Don’t move your cards off of or under the table, and make sure to keep your highest chips in view at all times. And lastly, cell phone use is prohibited at the table, so don’t be that guy.
Jaywalk
Want to get a big old citation on your already expensive Vegas vacation? All you have to do is cross the street. According to a study conducted by Transportation for America , Las Vegas is one of the most dangerous cities for pedestrians — hence the hefty fines slapped on visiting revelers for merely stepping outside of the painted crosswalk lines on the Strip. Tickets can reach several hundred dollars, so this is one corner you don’t want to cut.
Buy Bottled Water on the Street
The first reason not to buy bottled water from sketchy vendors on the Strip: It’s illegal. Peddlers are banned from selling water and other wares unless they have a business license to do so. The second reason: According to Las Vegas news channel 8 News NOW , police are cracking down because “they’ve seen used bottles repackaged and resold with tap water to thirsty tourists.” If you’re going to get sick from drinking in Vegas, it shouldn’t be from dirty water.
Read the full article by Julianne Lowell, Huffington Post.
