Vegas in the summer???

[3smithboys]

DH and I are going to be able to take a trip without our kids at the end of June/beginning of July. DH would love to go to Vegas and we would also take a day trip to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. I am worried about the heat... I get severe migraines and do my best to stay out of the heat.

I know it's hotter than hot in the summer in Vegas, but is it possible to still go and avoid the heat for extended periods? We often take cruises during the summer and hang out by the pool or pick excursions that are in/by water.

Are we crazy to even consider Vegas at that time of year?

 

[usnuzuloose]

Unless you are indoors it is not avoidable. Even at night it is still hot outside.

 

[fly girl]

I've gone in the summer (it's typically the cheapest time of year to go) but no doubt it is h-o-t!

I love to gamble so I'm indoors for the most part (pool is too brutal by 10am) but even walking outside from casino to casino can get taxing.

If you can handle short stints outside and just plan on doing indoor stuff go for it. There's plenty of shopping, shows, and exhibits if you're not a gambler.

 

[endy]

As pp mentioned above even at night it's hot.
We were camping (a tent no less) one July. Well it was still 105 at midnight. Holy Batman. Usually when we drive thru Vegas on the way to San Diego in July/August it was around 113. I always stop for gas before hitting the desert and almost melt when I get out of the car.

Spend time inside the casinos and outlet malls.

Remember it's a dry heat.

All that said if I had a chance to go I wouldn't care what time of year it is. I was there one Xmas when it had snowed and the palm trees weren't all that happy with the weather.

 

[LukenDC]

If you are from a humid climate, you may find that Vegas in the summer is not bad. The dry heat feels cooler than a hot, humid climate.

 

[3smithboys]

Thanks for all of your replies.... we are from Philly, so it does get hot and humid here in the summer. We do like to gamble, go to shows, and the pool. If we can manage to stay inside most of the time - just getting out from casino to casino - do you think we could do it?? I'm not planning on walking up and down the strip for long periods. Also, what is the best way other than walking to get from place to place? Is there transportation? Are cabs the only way?

We have done a lot of cruises, and I really don't want to go back to Disney with fast pass +... we could also try an all inclusive... I'm not even sure where to begin because we always travel with the kids!

 

[Cantw8]

It is most definitely hot but I do not recall sweating to death at night. There are numerous ways to get from point A to point B without walking outside in the heat too much. There is a monorail that connects most of the center strip hotels together, shuttle buses that run between hotels, the city bus, trams that run between hotels and a hop-on-hop off bus. If you work the system right, walking outdoors during the height of the heat can be avoided. I say go for it. Spend the hottest parts of the day in your pool. Just like Disney, take afternoon breaks back at your hotel

 

[#1hoosierfan]

We live in a humid climate, but HOT is still HOT.... Which Vegas in the summer is. The only thing I can compare it to is an oven. It was around 110 when we went several years ago in July. As others have said, it was unreal how hot it still was late into the night.

 

[mom2rtk]

Once it hits a certain point, hot is still just hot. We're from a humid climate and thought maybe it wouldn't feel so bad in the dry heat of Vegas. I was wrong.

The rim of the Grand Canyon is at a fairly high elevation though so it's usually not as bad there.

 

[usnuzuloose]

You can take the Duece bus up and down the strip. I am not sure of the cost as I haven't been in a few years. There is some walking to get from hotel to hotel some places that have bridges to get to the next hotel, so it would take a few minutes to get there. And nothing is that close. Wear comfortable clothes. But staying indoors you may need a sweater. But I like riding the deuce, it will even take you down to freeport. It is a little bit of jaunt walking from hotel to hotel in certain areas. You will see what I mean once you do it.

 

[usnuzuloose]

As pp mentioned above even at night it's hot.
We were camping (a tent no less) one July. Well it was still 105 at midnight. Holy Batman. Usually when we drive thru Vegas on the way to San Diego in July/August it was around 113. I always stop for gas before hitting the desert and almost melt when I get out of the car.

Spend time inside the casinos and outlet malls.

Remember it's a dry heat.

All that said if I had a chance to go I wouldn't care what time of year it is. I was there one Xmas when it had snowed and the palm trees weren't all that happy with the weather.

I won't get into the specifics of the walking aspect at the midnight hour with that heat, but it was a laughing moment when it was all said and done.

 

[3boymthr]

The Grand Canyon OTH is just fine in June and July so long as you don't descend into the canyon. We were there in mid July and the temps were quite comfortable. At the time we went it was 114 mid-day in Vegas (109 at 10 PM) and 82 at noon on the South Rim.

 

[3smithboys]

Thanks again everyone. I really want to go... I am just trying to get my head around how to manage everything. Since we are both teachers, we don't have great times that we can get to Vegas... we very rarely get Spring Break at the same time. The Duece bus looks like it might work as transportation.

Can you "pool hop" in Vegas or is that a no-no like Disney? What hotels would you all recommend? DH saw Aria online - it looks nice, but the pool doesn't look great. Mandalay Bay looks like it has great amenities but is far up the strip....

I also saw that Bryce canyon is a possible day trip with temps that are reasonable... we could rent a car and hit the road for a bit! Or Lake Mead?

Maybe a few days in Vegas then road trips to National Parks???

 

[fly girl]

Duece and monorail are good ways to get around, but you'll be waiting outdoors for them. Covered, but still hot. I typically walk because I stay mid strip or south end and the walks from casino to casino aren't horrific. I have also worked my way down (stayed at NYNY, went as far as Caesars) and took a cab back because it was about the same price as one way monorail and didn't want to waste time since we were going to a show.

Where to stay? Beautiful choices, but since I'm barely in the room I tend to go mid range price wise. I like NYNY, Monte Carlo, Paris, Mirage.

Pool at Mandalay Bay is incredible but you are at the end of the strip.

Aria, it's far back in the city center that I rarely go there (and the tables are pricey).

If they were offering a great deal I'd stay at Bellagio. I'd pick that over others (ie, Venetian, Wynn) because it's heart of the strip.

 

[Poohforyou]

I've been to Vegas and the grand canyon twice in late June. I'd take the dry heat of Vegas over the humidity on the east coast. It really isn't bad even in the middle of the day. Last summer there was a heat advisory (110) and I still didn't think it was as bad as a 95+ day in NJ. Just take breaks indoors frequently.

As for the grand canyon, last summer it was chilly and I was really glad I had a hoodie with me.

 

[wilkeliza]

I hate the "dry heat" argument. 100 is 100 no matter what the humidity is. We went in June and it was insanely hot. I grew up in south Texas and lived in Orlando and had never experience heat like that. I guess in Texas your drive everywhere so I never noticed and same with FL.

Now in Vegas if you budget time wisely you can travel down the strip through the hotel and only going outside to cross the street. You can also cab but plan for extra time then you think you need. We tried to cab for a show one night and the cab line was at least 30 minutes long. We ended up walking (not my choice ugh) and I ended up with heat exhaustion. It was terrible. I was on the brink of throwing up all night and couldn't regulate my body heat so I would be freezing one money and boiling hot the next. Looking back I probably should have gone to the hospital but it was my first time in Vegas so wanted to just push through and not ruin the vacation.

 

[Poohforyou]

Dry vs wet/humid heat isn't an argument, it's science. The lower the humidity the more sweat is evaporated and the cooler you feel. 100 degrees with 98% humidity will feel hotter/more uncomfortable than 100 degrees with 20% humidity.

 

[3boymthr]

Thanks again everyone. I really want to go... I am just trying to get my head around how to manage everything. Since we are both teachers, we don't have great times that we can get to Vegas... we very rarely get Spring Break at the same time. The Duece bus looks like it might work as transportation.

Can you "pool hop" in Vegas or is that a no-no like Disney? What hotels would you all recommend? DH saw Aria online - it looks nice, but the pool doesn't look great. Mandalay Bay looks like it has great amenities but is far up the strip....

I also saw that Bryce canyon is a possible day trip with temps that are reasonable... we could rent a car and hit the road for a bit! Or Lake Mead?

Maybe a few days in Vegas then road trips to National Parks???

Unless you are actually going to rent a boat and go out on a boat I have to say Lake Mead is NOT that impressive - good to stop by and say you've been there but not worth planning a whole day around. Because of the recent long term drought in the area it's very very far from it's hey day with the water receded very far down from where it used to be. It was also very very hot. Temps are about the same as in Vegas proper. The Hoover Dam on the other hand was very cool. You can drive over/near/by it (this has changed since I've been there at the time they were constructing a bypass so I'm not sure exactly what it's like) and stop and tour the inside of the dam. Very cool. If driving it's on the way to the Grand Canyon. We didn't make it there but my brother said the Four Corners is really cool and it's pretty close to the Grand Canyon and Vegas.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I lived in the dry heat areas so to me and dh it is hot but we are used to it. If you have not been there it can be over whelming to some and can't take it. You need to carry a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated. You could always get one of those things that stay cool around your neck. It may help you a little bit.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I hate the "dry heat" argument. 100 is 100 no matter what the humidity is. We went in June and it was insanely hot. I grew up in south Texas and lived in Orlando and had never experience heat like that. I guess in Texas your drive everywhere so I never noticed and same with FL.

Now in Vegas if you budget time wisely you can travel down the strip through the hotel and only going outside to cross the street. You can also cab but plan for extra time then you think you need. We tried to cab for a show one night and the cab line was at least 30 minutes long. We ended up walking (not my choice ugh) and I ended up with heat exhaustion. It was terrible. I was on the brink of throwing up all night and couldn't regulate my body heat so I would be freezing one money and boiling hot the next. Looking back I probably should have gone to the hospital but it was my first time in Vegas so wanted to just push through and not ruin the vacation.

100 in a dry climate like Vegas is NOT the same as 100 in a wet climate like Orlando. Vegas is like being in a dry sauna; Orlando a wet sauna.

Vegas in the summer is doable, but you'll want to stay out of the sun from noon-6pm.