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3 Essential Things to Pack for Traveling

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I have just completed my 36th trip to Las Vegas and have two more planned over the summer months. With all those takeoffs and landings, I have found there are three essential things to pack for traveling. I believe in them so much, I refuse to leave home without them.

Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds

The first of my essential things to pack for traveling is my Bose Quiet Comfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds. There are many FREE sights to take in when traveling and especially in Vegas, but having options when you want to cancel out the hustle and bustle around you is needed. I use my earbuds on almost every flight I take and sometimes when sitting at the pool or on bus rides between destinations too.

I have two other pair of Bose noise canceling earphones but stick with the earbuds. The one downfall I have with the full earphone version is that I wear glasses, but my wife who wears contacts likes these better than the earbuds. The glasses cause just enough of a gap that the noise canceling does not work as well. With using the earbud version that issue is resolved. I find that they feel lighter on my head and can block out a significant amount of the noise around me.

Hardshell Suitcase

Hardshell suitcase is essential for all year round travel. Several years ago both Joni and I each bought a set of beautiful hardshell luggage. We have had these six suitcases for over five years. Traveled with them on 30 separate trips and only one has been cracked. We have even carted these luggage pieces around us when going to eat and needing to check out of our hotels.

A lot of people still say that their cloth suitcase can do the same thing. But one of the benefits of the hardshell case is helping against the weather. I have seen my bags sitting, waiting to be loaded in the plane during snow storms, thunderstorms, and other incitement weather. Where my old cloth suitcases had my clothes damp if there was bad weather. These keep my clothes dry except on the zipper seam.

My carry on is also hardshell, and I often place my computer inside. This helps protect it against the other fliers. I have found that they like to cram anything and everything in the storage bins. That extra protection keeps damage to a minimum. Plus it allows you some extra leg room instead of having to protect your computer at your feet.

Power Bricks

The final thing I find to be on my list of essential things to pack for traveling is the cheapest. The last thing I won’t leave home without is several of the power bricks for my phone and iPad. I never buy the expensive ones as I would prefer to have two or three. They are easy to charge and throw in your pocket in case the plane you have does not have a charging outlet or if it is not working. Also if you end up losing it or forgetting it in your hotel room when you check out, you are only out $5 for one of them compared to the nicer chargers that are $40-50 each.

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Las Vegas Transportation – Planes, Trams and Automobiles

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Once you get to Las Vegas there are going to be additional expenses. You will need to pay for food, activities and the additional transportation costs of getting around.  Las Vegas transportation can be hard to understand. After all those hotels aren’t really that far apart are they? Um…. yes, yes they are. A lot of the decision on whether to get a rental car revolves around what you plan on doing or if you will be drinking.  

Las Vegas Transportation

When I first visited Las Vegas I never got a car rental.  I found it too much of a pain getting around with the traffic and the other tourists who had no clue how to get to point A to point B.  Nowadays, I have found it easier to get a car since I have been there so often.  Below are some of the expected costs without a car.  

City Bus

Your first experience with Las Vegas transportation is going to be at the airport. Getting to and from the airport you have the options for a city bus (also known as RTC), taxi or shuttle bus.  I’ve found that the City bus is a pain as they only stop at the airport a couple times an hour.  You then are trying to maneuver your luggage on a city bus to save a couple bucks.  Not worth the headache. 

Shuttle Bus

The shuttle buses cost about $6.00 one way and is my preferred method of travel from the airport if you aren’t getting a car rental.  Keep in mind though you are sharing the bus with others, so I have had a wait of almost 45 minutes to get to my hotel. Taking that long to get dropped off would typically only happen if you were one of the last stops the shuttle bus was making.

The shuttle bus is still a great alternative to the city bus when considering all your Las Vegas transportation options.

Taxi, Lyft, Uber

Taxi cab costs will vary around $10-25 depending on which hotel you are coming from or going to.  You have the possibility of getting long hauled, which has happened before to me where they take a longer way to try getting a bigger fare. 

I do use this on my return trips to the airport as the shuttle buses you have to Taxicab up earlier than you should to get to the airport on the flight home.  I have not started to use Uber or Lyft yet but that will be something I will be looking into on future trips without a rental car.

Tram

The trams are great if you are trying to quickly navigate between hotels. Not every hotel has a Tram (monorail), so you need to know which ones do and don’t. We almost always use the Tram between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur. Other trams such as Mirage and Treasure Island we rarely have used.

The Tram that runs between SLS and MGM Grand charges you to ride. For additional information on the Trams check out this article on the Las Vegas Monorails.

Car Rental

My current favorite way to navigate Las Vegas transportation needs is getting a rental car. Right now this options is pretty inexpensive at around $25 a day after fees.  When I take into consideration if I go to an off-strip casino and the cost of having to use a taxi, I make up my cst. 

I use the rental car as an opportunity to stop at Target to load up on water and snacks compared to paying for it on the strip.  When you can get a case of water for the cost of two bottles on the strip it makes a difference.  I aso have found that eating options are cheaper off the strip. 

Another factor on your Las Vegas Transportation needs is taking into consideration if you are looking at going to the Hoover Dam or other tourist spots that are farther out of the way.  And don’t forget about those parking costs which can quickly add up if you aren’t prepared for thm. Check with your hotel to see what they charge.

So you can see we vary our transportation options when we visit Las Vegas, but you should be aware of what your options are and make sure you understand some basic navigation tips when visiting.

Happy Vacationing!