Shopping in Las Vegas
Although Las Vegas is best known for its casinos, the city is also widely renowned for its shopping potential. Boutique shopping is a big draw, with a presence from many international luxury designers, as well as inexpensive factory outlet shopping.
Key areas
Factory outlet malls are very popular in Las Vegas, due to the considerable savings they offer on brand-name goods. The Belz Factory Outlet World, 7400 Las Vegas Boulevard South, offers over 140 outlets with brand names such as Tommy Hilfiger and Liz Claiborne. If you are tempted to splash some cash on clothes, it’s certainly worth paying a visit to these outlet malls to compare the range of goods with those on sale at the resorts – you might not find everything you’re after, but the choice is plentiful.
Shopping centres
Shops are located anywhere tourists might happen to pass with money in their pockets - in other words anywhere in Downtown and on the Strip. The Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes are situated among cobbled walkways that wind through designer boutiques culminating in a replica of St Mark's Square. The Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino offers the Miracle Mile, a shopping complex offering over 170 brand-name retail shops. Most recently, the CityCenter development has introduced Crystals, a 46,450 sq m (500,000 sq ft) commercial district showcasing an array of exclusive retailers.
Opening hours
Stores are open seven days a week, normally 1000-2200.
Souvenirs
If you’ve still got cash in your pocket after trying your luck on the casino floors, you won’t have to look far to find options for souvenirs. To judge by the profusion of in-resort stores, in fact, you’d think it was virtually obligatory for people to return from a stay weighed down with memorabilia, clothes and Vegas collectibles. The good news however, is that these endless malls and boutiques are generally stocked with quality goods. There’s plenty of cheap tack too, of course, but if you’re keen on picking up the latest designer gadget or hottest new clothing label, the right place won’t ever be far away. A large number of stores cater for wide-eyed gamblers who have just cashed their chips in, so expect to see some seriously top-of-the-range merchandise on sale.
Classic souvenirs range from the obvious (playing cards, shot glasses, embossed betting chips and so on) to the utterly extravagant (US$30,000 Vegas watch in 18-carat white gold, anyone?), and even for picky shoppers, there’s hardly a shortage of creative choices. Elvis and Rat Pack-related souvenirs are always big sellers, with everything from vintage photos and varsity jackets on offer, while literary fans can spend big on securing first edition copies of Hunter S Thompson’s classic gonzo novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Vying for the most popular souvenirs of the lot, meanwhile, are the omnipresent mini-replicas of the ‘Welcome To Las Vegas’ sign, examples of which now occupy mantelpieces the world over.
Tax information
A non-refundable state sales tax of 7.25% is charged in Las Vegas (Clark County Nevada).
