TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY IN LAS VEGAS: IS IT POSSIBLE? – CIAO VALENTINA
In the infamous Sin City where consumerism is everywhere, it is possible to have fun in a sustainable and responsible way. An eco-sustainable trip to Las Vegas.
The infamous Sin City where consumerism is everywhere, where the 40 million annual visitors spend their “Hangover” among sumptuous casinos, luxury hotels, all-inclusive resorts. To talk about a sustainable Las Vegas seems a contradiction.
However, it is not so. As we will see below, even the big city of bright lights has an eye on sustainability. But what can we, as tourists and visitors, do?
Here is a complete guide to enjoying Las Vegas – without missing anything out – but with an eye to the environment.
Don’t worry, fun is guaranteed!
So, let’s start from what Las Vegas is known for:
Gambling: Las Vegas is the home of gambling and most casinos are located right inside the hotels. To be sustainable we should be careful to choose a LEED Hotel (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Take for example the Aria Hotel, which is one of the last hotel-casinos built in Las Vegas with LEED materials. It has a sustainable casino inside the hotel. In fact, slot machines are equipped with a particular cooling method created to reduce energy consumption. Who would have thought of that, huh?
Hotels: as already mentioned, the Aria Hotel which has LEED certification, managed to achieve an improvement of over 30% in energy efficiency and a saving of 117 million litres of water per year. As well as Aria, the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Vdara Hotels (which are part of the same group), were built with an eye on sustainability.
Older hotels such as the well-known Caesars Palace, where I stayed, have their own sustainable initiatives. At check-in you will be asked if you agree for the room to be cleaned only at the end of your stay and change your towels only when requested. In return, they offer a 5% discount on the various restaurants inside the hotel. I like this kind of “compromise” – the hotel saves money by having less cleaning costs, the environment suffers less C02 emissions and myself, with discounted meals.
I therefore recommend that you do your research before choosing your hotel.
Restaurants: stuffing yourself with food seems like the norm here. Due to the all-inclusive, maxi American burgers that you find, consumerism and waste is everywhere. However, it is possible to find restaurants that have smaller vegetarian and vegan options – use the Happy Cow app to find them. Either way, a dinner for two won’t cost you less than $100, drinks not included.
Walk: It’s true, the limousines waiting for you outside the hotels are a temptation, but you can reach the majority of places on foot. The Strip is almost 7km long, but stopping here and there, you won’t even notice. I don’t recommend taking a bike because there are so many people that it will be impossible for you to move.
How to get around: if you want to move from the Strip to Downtown or further outside Las Vegas to the surrounding areas, consider renting an electric car.
What to do in Las Vegas Strip: feel enchanted in front of the different hotels. The vibes of Paris one night, Egypt another night, Venice and New York. Each hotel has a theme and you don’t want to miss a thing. In addition, you must stop in front of the Bellaggio and enjoy one of their fountain shows. Well worth it!
What to do in Downtown Las Vegas: definitely a different atmosphere, almost like going back to the 1960s. Stroll down Freemont Street, which was originally the centre of Las Vegas and home to the very first casinos. The huge LCD display on the roof and the zip-line are not to be missed.
Other useful tips:
- During the summer, temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius. I remind you that you are in the middle of the desert. Inside the hotels and casinos, you will find air-conditioning that goes like crazy. Bring a pashmina with you!
- Las Vegas is very expensive, even for small things. Be ready to empty your wallet.
- Even if it seems very liberal, there are many rules and the police don’t turn a blind eye. So, avoid crossing the street wherever you want, going around too underdressed and being drunk and disorderly. Fines tend to be very high.
Responsible and sustainable Las Vegas:
- Do your research before booking the hotel. Look for the one with the green certificates.
- Avoid excessive water consumption. Turn off the water tap while brushing your teeth and avoid being in the shower for hours. You are in the desert and the water comes from nearby lakes.We all know the scarcity of water that our planet is facing today.
- Use the Happy Cow app to find where to eat vegan and vegetarian meals.
- Use the Capture app to continue monitoring your CO2 emissions and limiting it.
Watch the Las Vegas video on my YouTube channel
You may also be interested SUSTAINABLE GUIDE TO THE CITY OF ANGELS: LOS ANGELES IN 3 DAYS.
Read also SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS IN LONDON: THE 9 MUST NOT TO BE MISSED.
Read also RESPONSIBLE VENICE – WHERE TOURISTS DON’T GO: FIRST DAY TOUR.
And remember: Live, Travel, Laugh and Repeat
in a responsible way
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