Arriving in Las Vegas:
The gateway to Las Vegas is McCarran International Airport (LAS), only 5 miles south of Las Vegas' business district and immediately east of the southern end of the Strip.
McCarran International Airport (LAS), which is just a few minutes' drive from the Strip, is well served by nonstop and direct flights from all around the USA (see below for flight times) and a handful of international destinations. It's also consistently rated among the most passenger-friendly airports in the United States.
To Las Vegas: from New York, five hours; from Dallas, two hours; from Chicago, four hours; from Los Angeles, one hour and from San Francisco, one-and-a-half hours.
Also, McCarran Airport is close enough to the Strip that if you ever find yourself with more than an hour on your hands, you can easily catch a 5- to 15-minute cab ride to one of the South Strip casinos, such as Mandalay Bay or MGM Grand, and kill some time and hopefully get rich! Additionally, as you might expect, McCarran has lots of slot machines to keep you busy in true Las Vegas style.
Getting around Las Vegas:
If you're exploring the Strip or Downtown, it's best just to park your car (it's free at most casinos) and walk. To get from one end of the Strip to the other, you might want to take a cab or the monorail. For other points in the city and beyond, it is recommended you use a car. Both CAT buses and trolleys fill the Strip and can take some time in traffic but you have the comfort of knowing that both will only cost you $2.
Cabs are relatively expensive ($3.20 initial fare plus $2 per mile and $0.20 per 33 seconds) but can be very convenient and worthwhile, especially if a few of you are splitting a fare. A good rule of thumb is this: if you think you'll be operating beyond the Strip during your stay, consider a rental car. Otherwise, just plan on using cabs. Look at it this way: the few dollars you may save by renting a car rather than taking taxis is more than made up for in navigation and parking aggravation.
The Monorail runs from the MGM Grand to Harrah's before making a jog out to the Convention Center and terminating at the Sahara. The ride makes great sense on weekends when even the Strip's back streets are full of traffic. It is also a great way to see the city without the stress of busy traffic lanes.
Walking and Your Safety:
The Las Vegas Strip is over 4 miles long from one end to the other, walking the strip will take considerable time. If you decide to try walking here are a few tips: Wear comfortable, good fitting shoes. Summer months are very hot, during daytime walks take bottled water with you and stop often at the many casinos or convenience stores to get a fresh bottle. Obey walk signals at traffic lights, many tourists are hit by cars every week driven by other tourists that are looking at the sights.