Teachers get something most workers never do: a long summer. For plenty of educators, at least one of those summers includes Las Vegas, a city built for grown-ups to switch off. Here is how to plan a trip that fits a teacher's calendar and a teacher's budget.
When to go
Summer is the obvious window, and it is hot. Daytime highs in Las Vegas regularly pass 100°F (38°C) in July and August, so plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning and spend afternoons by a pool or indoors. Early June, just after school ends, is a little milder. Midweek stays are usually much cheaper than weekends, which suits a teacher's flexible summer perfectly. Watch for big conventions and fight nights, which push room prices up.
The Strip or downtown?
The Strip
Las Vegas Boulevard's famous stretch of mega-resorts: Bellagio's fountains, Caesars Palace, the Venetian's canals, the Luxor pyramid. Big pools, big shows, big prices. Expect nightly resort fees on top of room rates.
Downtown and Fremont Street
The original casino district, with the canopy light show of the Fremont Street Experience, older casinos with lower table minimums and generally cheaper rooms. Livelier and more casual.
A casino floor primer for first-timers
Even if you only plan to play a little, a few basics make the casino floor less intimidating:
- Join the player's club. Membership is free, and the card tracks play to earn points, dining credits and sometimes room discounts.
- Check table minimums. They are posted on a small sign at each table and change through the day; weekday mornings are cheapest.
- Start with games that are easy to learn. Blackjack and roulette have simple rules, and many casinos run free lessons in the morning.
- Know the odds. Every casino game has a built-in house edge. Our casino math explainer shows which games give you the most play for your money.
- Set a gaming budget before you arrive and treat it like the price of a show. See budgeting summer pay for a casino weekend.
- Tip the dealer occasionally if you are enjoying the table; it is customary.
Beyond the casino
- Shows: resident Cirque du Soleil productions, magicians, comedians and headline concerts.
- Pools: many resorts have elaborate pool complexes; some allow non-guests for a fee.
- Food: from celebrity-chef restaurants to cheap eats off the Strip.
- Museums: the Neon Museum's boneyard of old casino signs and the Mob Museum downtown are favourites with history-minded teachers.
Day trips
| Destination | Rough distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Red Rock Canyon | About 17 miles west | Scenic drive and hikes among red sandstone |
| Hoover Dam | About 35 miles southeast | 1930s engineering landmark on the Colorado River |
| Valley of Fire State Park | About 50 miles northeast | Red rock formations and ancient petroglyphs |
| Grand Canyon West | Roughly 120 miles east | A long day trip to the canyon's western rim |
Other casino resorts teachers like
Vegas is not the only option. Atlantic City puts beach and boardwalk next to the casinos, Reno and Lake Tahoe add mountains, Biloxi offers Gulf Coast resorts and many states have large tribal casino resorts within a few hours' drive, often with spas, golf and concerts. For a shorter summer budget, a regional casino resort can deliver the same switch-off for a fraction of the travel cost.
Combine it with PD: several education conferences and institutes meet in Las Vegas in summer. See education conferences in Las Vegas for what to do once the sessions end.