Local time Las Vegas

Currency

US$

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).

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

Related Articles

10 fun facts about Vegas

What goes on in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas, but some of the crazier stories that originate from this hedonistic playground are just too good not to share

Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

SEE MORE

New York New York Hotel and Casino

This 2,000-room resort and casino is easy to spot: it's the one with the Statue of Liberty out front, standing proudly beside a miniature Brooklyn Bridge. Rooms in its Empire State and Chrysler Building towers are large, well-appointed and can be surprisingly good value. If you pick upon the faint sounds of screaming coming from outside, don't be alarmed. It's adrenaline junkies hurtling around the full-size rollercoaster that loops around the perimeter.

The Palazzo

Another to offer five-diamond luxury (Vegas has more hotels with this top industry rating than anywhere else in the USA), The Palazzo opened at the end of 2007 and has already earned a reputation as somewhere that takes bling and exclusivity to suitable heights. It's an all-suite property with a European influence and the largest standard accommodation on the Strip, and offers no fewer than 38 dining options to boot, shared between it and its sister next door, The Venetian.

The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

With a stellar location on the Strip, attentive service and the best rooms boasting balconies overlooking the Bellagio's water fountains, The Cosmopolitan has deservedly become one of the top-rated hotels in Vegas since it opened in 2010. Rooms are sophisticated, modern and spacious, and amenities include a casino (of course), a nightclub, restaurants, rooftop pools and a spa. Make sure to have a cocktail in the bar built inside a giant chandelier featuring two million Swarovski crystals.

Fremont Hotel

It may not have an Eiffel Tower outside or a Grand Canal running through it, but the Fremont has a longer-standing claim to be one of Las Vegas's best-loved landmarks. Now the heart of the Fremont Street Experience, when it was built in 1956 it was the first high-rise hotel in the downtown area. Its history might be long in the tooth (for this city), but the 447 spacious guestrooms are regularly renovated and modernised.

El Cortez Hotel

One of the more modest casinos in Las Vegas, El Cortez's roots actually go back to the era of 'Bugsy' Siegel, one of the city's founders. These days, this Las Vegas hotel advertises a modest selection of rooms with furnishings that are generally simple but comfortable. The friendly atmosphere and central location to downtown attractions have long been one of the draws, despite it now being outmatched by the grandiose casinos of the Strip.

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

An inventory of over 5,000 rooms makes the MGM Grand one of the big players in terms of volume, but they've done their best to retain some character. Black-and-white movie photos adorn the guest rooms, and the art deco furniture also helps. Joël Robuchon, Michael Mina and Tom Colicchio add their names to the top-class dining rooms. The casino is gigantic, with Cirque du Soleil among the entertainment options.