What NOT to do in Las Vegas

1) Don’t wear tight or uncomfortable shoes.

2) Don’t fall for invitations to concerts, hotel rooms and free dinners.

To win one (or all) of these options you “just need” to listen to a lecture lasting approximately 2 hours. Then you get your invitations and that’s it. Easy, isn’t it? No!!! Remember that nothing falls from the sky and Las Vegas is no different. These super-attractive gifts are nothing more than bait to attract tourists and get them to buy shares in a Time-Share hotel chain. At the end of long hours, you’ve wasted time and perhaps even a lot more money than you would have spent buying the invitations.

3) Don’t try to get a cab by waving your hand, like in Brazil.

In Las Vegas, cabs are prohibited from picking up passengers on the street. You can wave your arms, call out, shout or do anything else and if you’re not at a cab stand, no cab driver will stop to serve you. Look for spots on Las Vegas Blvd or at the entrance to casinos and malls. But beware: although it’s not obligatory, taxi drivers do expect tips! Always have cash set aside especially for this.

4) Don’t be fooled by the false flu.

It’s very common for tourists to arrive in Las Vegas and have cold or flu symptoms one or two days later. Of course, it could be that in one case or another the person really does have the flu/ cold, but the most common thing is that they have an allergy to something.

According to statistics from the UMC hospital, 96% of tourists who believed they had a cold (and took medication without feeling any improvement) actually had an allergic reaction. So a good tip is to take an antiallergic when you start sneezing, itching, runny nose, red eyes, swelling, sore body and/or fever.

(Just to add, the pollen count in the air in Las Vegas is extremely high, causing many cases of allergies among the population and tourists who visit the city).

5) Don’t leave shopping to the last day.

Even if you don’t intend to do a lot of shopping (which is rare for Brazilian tourists), it’s best to go to the outlets in the first few days. The offers at the various outlets are always attractive and before you know it, 6, 7 or 8 hours have passed! As well as being tiring, you may not find everything you wanted to buy, or you may decide to change a model you bought or even want to go back to the store to buy something you decided on later.

6) Don’t expect to pay in installments.

In Las Vegas (and in the United States in general) there are no installment plans for purchases. Everything you buy will be charged at once. There’s no such thing as splitting a card into 2, 3, 5 or 10 installments, so it’s best not to even try to explain to the attendants that you want to split it, as they won’t really understand. This applies to any location, without exception.

7) Don’t forget to bring it – and use it! – moisturizer, lip balm and sunscreen.

Regardless of the time of year, Las Vegas has very low humidity and your skin will certainly dry out. Another useful tip is to always have eye drops or boric water on hand to help moisten the eyes.

8) Don’t carry your passport around with you.

Make sure you have your ID card or driver’s license to show as your identity card, or keep a certified copy of your passport with you (this is sometimes required to enter some nightclubs).

Losing your passport will turn your trip into something unforgettable… but not in the way you imagined. To return to Brazil, you will have to make another passport, file a police report and take the record in person to the Brazilian Consulate in Los Angeles to make a new document. It sounds simple, but in practice it’s tedious and time-consuming.

9) Don’t leave any packages or purchases in the trunk of your car.

It’s true that Las Vegas is in the United States and many people think that this is the country of safety and tranquillity. Wrong. There are people of bad faith in all corners of the world, so it’s always good to keep an eye out. Unfortunately, the number of thefts in casino parking lots is on the rise, and when this happens there’s nothing we can do about it.

10) Don’t leave open suitcases or valuables lying around in the hotel room.

For the same reason, it is always wise to be careful. In a place full of people from all over the world, who can guarantee that all the employees are honest and well-meaning? Use the room safe to store your most important items.

11) Don’t take chocolates, waters or snacks left in the room if you don’t intend to eat them.

You know that tray full of attractive snacks that you find in hotel rooms? Beware… they could be responsible for an absurd bill when you check out.

Most hotels in Las Vegas are equipped with a sensor system to detect room consumption. This means that if you have taken a chocolate to look at it, read it or show it to someone and then put it back, the simple fact that you have taken it already counts as consumption on your bill. If you take it out, put it back, take it out again… that’s two consumptions. And if you do this with all the items, your pocket will feel the pinch. Of course, there are ways to talk to the hotel and explain the misunderstanding, but if you don’t speak English fluently, it’s best to pay attention to this tip.

NOTE: There are still hotels that don’t have the sensor system, but if in doubt it’s best to use the tip as being valid everywhere.

12) Don’t be fooled by appearances.

Waitresses, dancers, strippers and other girls who are wearing short clothes may be nothing more than women wearing a work uniform. Don’t confuse their work and don’t make undue advances. There’s always a security guard nearby who, at the slightest sign of these girls, can throw you out or, depending on the situation, even send you to jail.

It’s always worth remembering that although the movies show otherwise, prostitution is a crime in Las Vegas and there’s always a cop in plain clothes ready to catch anyone who breaks the law.

You only have to take a stroll along the Strip to see many people dressed up as characters. Mickey, Minnie, Elmo (Sezamo Village), the Transformers, Elvis Presley, the Minions, Madonna… they all walk along the Strip and at the slightest sign of interest from tourists to take a photo, there they are, all friendly. What they don’t tell you is that the photos aren’t complimentary, and they want to get paid for them. The same goes for those always helpful people who hang around the tourist attractions offering to take photos for you. If you ask them “how much do they want”, they’ll probably be scared off, so it’s best not to take a photo with them or to leave $1 or $2 dollars to hand over as a tip. And if someone complains, smile and say “Thank you… but I don’t speak English!”

14) Don’t believe the phrase “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”.

Although this is the most famous phrase referring to Las Vegas, in the age of smartphones not everything is hidden. Don’t believe that weddings in Las Vegas are just staged. Million-dollar divorce cases are caused by the recklessness of people who thought they were only joking…