Why You Should You Travel To Las Vegas This Year

Now that the world is waking up from the Covid-19 pandemic, many prospective travelers are wondering if it’s safe to visit Las Vegas? Are the shows going on? Are the casinos open? Are the hotels accepting new reservations? Can we go there and enjoy the place like you used to pre-pandemic?

The answer to all of these questions is a resounding yes. Vegas is open for business, the big shows are back, conventions and conferences are happening, and the casinos are open.

But here is what you need to know before booking that trip:

Do you need to be vaccinated, show a negative test, or quarantine?

Good news, if you are an American citizen you do not need to show proof of vaccination, a negative covid test, or quarantine if traveling to Las Vegas.

However, if you are traveling to Vegas internationally, you need to follow the restrictions set up by US immigration. While the US ended the travel blockade in November of 2021, international travelers are still required to show proof of vaccination along with a negative test taken within 24 hours of arrival. While this flies in the face of the WHO recommendation that international travel restrictions and vaccine mandates do little to stop the spread of Omicron, there is nothing you can do about it. And yes, they will check.

The one caveat here is that large events that have more than 4,000 people have the option to require proof of vaccination rather than a mask mandate, but this is left up the the discretion of the venue.

Do you need to wear a mask?

The health officials in Las Vegas are still caught up in the pseudoscience around masking — even going as far as to ignore the fact that even the CDC has deemed most varieties worthless —  so, even if you are fully vaccinated, you still need to wear a mask when indoors in Las Vegas. So that means you’ll be masking in hotels, shops, and casinos throughout your trip.

Or, if you’re still squeamish about visiting Vegas in person, you can always resort to playing live blackjack from the comfort and safety of your own home.

So what else has changed in Las Vegas post Covid?

While Vegas is open, it is still not all the way back to “normal.” Buffets — one of the prime attractions of the place — are not permitted. Some hotels are also not reopened yet … and others have sadly shut down, unable to make it through the pandemic. Expect restaurants, hotels, and casinos to check your temperature upon arrival. Speaking of casinos, many have closed down many tables and reduced the number of machines to allow visitors more space and also reduced the number of occupants they allow in at a time. Vegas has also toned down its marketing campaign throughout the pandemic. Rather than “What happens here, stays here” to “What happens here, only happens here.”

However, many of us have been dealing with these — and, for some, many other — restrictions for a long time and the safety protocols that Las Vegas has in place should just seem normal at this point. So go to Vegas, enjoy yourself, and get back to living life and traveling as you did before the pandemic.

To get all the updates on the ever changing Covid situation in Vegas, check out Nevada Health Response.