Places To Go and Things To Do
in
Las Vegas

This information is hearsay. It contains pointers to places people have been, things people have done, and shops people have used and reported good things. It is not a guarantee of attitude, quality, or service.

Nothing is without risk! Although Las Vegas is considered by many to be safe for those who are transgender, there are no guarantees.

Use care and common sense, remain street-wise, and consider time, place, and circumstance when doing anything.

Don't push things, remember, you're in Las Vegas to have a good time, not to change the world.

Some of the emphasis is toward people who are new to public exposure in general, and those who are new to going out in Las Vegas.

The topic of where to go to meet potential partners, casual, long-term, or professional, of any gender or any persuasion, is not covered.

1. Don't overdress!

   See notes below regarding style and manner of dress. Additional discussion regarding dress appears HERE.

2. Don't congregate or hang around in groups!

   Groups of two TGs at most are suggested for most mainstream venues. A rigorous discussion of passing (or not passing) in groups appears HERE.

3. Avoid places where unescorted women do not customarily go!

   Unaccompanied women very seldom go to such places as adult bookstores, neighborhood bars, strip clubs, etc., or to the "earthier" parts of town.

4. Be VERY careful if you choose to use public restrooms!

   If you choose to use them, always use them discreetly and individually, NEVER in groups. An abbreviated version of the DLV Restroom Guidelines is presented here as a good set of rules to follow if you choose to use public restrooms.

This is the first time where a major Las Vegas Strip casino-hotel has actively pursued the GLBT market.

Paris Las Vegas is now openly and actively marketing to the GLBT community.

www.harrahs.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/glbt/

Please notice that they HAVE included the "T" in GLBT.

If you visit the Paris, please help to set a good example of those who make up the TG community.

There are two kinds of people who hang out in groups at malls, those being teenyboppers and t-girls.

No, you and your friends are not gonna pass for 16! No, the Pope is not Jewish.

If you observe women shopping in malls, you will find that they frequently shop alone, occasionally in pairs, often with kids, sometimes with spouse or SO, but almost never in groups.

No, the "office girl on her lunch break" look is not gonna work for most people. No, the "bridesmaid on the way to the reception" look probably won't work either. :)

Yes, I know, this is not what many of you want to hear. :)

All Strip hotels and casinos will have free and (somewhat) convenient parking.

Strip hotel surface lots and parking structures are well-lit and well-patroled both day and night.

Downtown is a different (and varied) story. Some places have convenient no-hassle parking, but most have some restrictions, such as a time limit or validation (which can be as simple as a self-service time stamp or the hassle of a wait in a long line at the slot club booth). There are also public pay lots downtown. People use these, so at least some people must consider these a better option than the casino lots.

Off-Strip places (Boulder, Rancho, Henderson, etc.) will have similar parking facilities as the Strip hotels.

All casino-hotels of any significant size, as well as other businesses such as nightclubs, shopping malls, etc., offer complimentary valet parking. This is convenient and free, except for the tip to the attendant. A tip of $1-2 is expected when you pick up your vehicle. No tip is expected when you drop off your vehicle, however.

The distance between the self-park lots and the casino or hotel lobby can be quite a hike (especially in heels) at many of the newer and larger hotels.

A few hints about valet parking:

• On weekends, and even on busy weekdays, you will occasionally see "Valet Parking Full" signs. Not always, but quite often, some appropriately-applied palm grease makes that "Full" sign a blind spot. In any large hotel, cars are being picked up continuously, so there will often be room for an attendant to squeeze somebody in.

• In the summer, the temperature in a parked car, even with the windows cracked, can approach the level necessary to melt steel. Some hotels use covered parking for valet parking, some use surface parking, and some have both available. If you find your car delivered to you with all windows down, the air conditioning full blast, and the attendant wearing asbestos gloves while touching the steering wheel, you can be sure your car was indeed baking in the sun while you were doing your thing.

  Some (not all) hotels which normally use surface lots for valet parking do indeed have some covered spaces to be used for their high rollers and other "special guests" and it's usually easy to elevate yourself to "special guest" status by handing the attendant a couple $$ when you drop off your care with a courteous request of "out of the sun, please" or words to that effect. I've actually had an attendant refuse the tip, explaining that they really did not have any covered spaces available. It does not hurt to ask.

• A few downtown casinos insist on validation for valet parking. Sometimes (not always) a $ or two can bypass this.

(This is my opinion based on my observations. I'm not accusing anybody of engaging in illegal business, I'm just reporting my conclusions on what I've observed and what I've heard from others, as well as my speculation on what may happen if things change.)

The Las Vegas Lounge, under current management, has been in business since late 1999. In 2000 it was a nice neighborhood bar with a TG twist. In early 2001 or so, its focus appeared to change.

I'm under the distinct impression that the majority of the "business" that goes on in association with the Las Vegas Lounge is not the sale of alcohol. Ask around. This is no secret. It's very well known in the community.

It continues to go on because, for one reason or another, somebody is looking the other way ... for now!

As was the case with a recently-demolished property on Las Vegas Boulevard, that "looking the other way" will eventually come to an end.

When it falls, it will probably fall very hard, and I surely don't want to be in there when it does fall. When it falls, there's a good chance that anybody present will be at least briefly detained, ID'd, and entered into some public record.

If this kind of place appeals to you, that's fine, as long as you understand the risks and rewards.

However, if all you want is a nice discreet bar in which you can relax, have a few drinks, and be yourself, there are countless better choices for you, several in the immediate area. See the big list.

I would really hate to see somebody's evening be spoiled, or worse, because of a mistaken impression that this property is the only, or the best option for a "safe" and TG-friendly bar.

An occasionally recurring topic among the DLV organizers is whether it is wise for transgender people, individually or in groups, to go to the trendy "straight" singles clubs such as Studio 54, RA, Voodoo Lounge, Ghostbar, etc.

No conclusion or even a consensus has been reached regarding whether it is a good thing or a bad thing for TGs to go to these clubs, however, several facts and observations have been made:

• Even if the factor of gender is not considered, most TGs do not fit, demographically, the profile of the other women who go to such clubs. Most TGs tend to be older and physically larger than the other women present, and therefore will have difficulty blending.

• The people who frequent these clubs are very visual. Looks are very important to them. You will be looked over, inspected, evaluated, very closely.

• Clubs such as these are considered to be the mating territory of avowedly-het males (and females). Males especially may regard the presence of TGs to be an encroachment on their territory. (Remember that the combination of testosterone and alcohol is an explosive mixture under the best of circumstances.)
  • Self-professed straight males often consider TGs as an affront to masculinity.

  • Males on the move may view TGs as competition for the attention of GG's.

  • A straight male unknowingly coming on to a TG may become very upset upon the revelation of the gender status of his intended target.

• Although unescorted women do customarily go to these clubs, those who do will overwhelmingly be interested in meeting straight cisgender men.

• A few of the DLV people have ventured into these clubs (54, Rio). Minor incidents (catcalls, restroom) were reported.

My suggestion is that you venture to these clubs only if you have a significant amount of mainstream public experience, a very high confidence level, and are of the approximate age, size, etc. of the other women who go to the clubs you intend to visit.

If you are tempted to use one of the "Outcall Services", those adult "entertainers" who come to your hotel room, and advertise heavily, be aware that these often operate outside of the law or just within it, and incidents of assault and attempted robbery have been reported.

This is not just my opinion, this has happened! Not to me, but to somebody I know well. Stay away from these people!

A number of reader comments and questions have to do with North Las Vegas.

While many areas of North Las Vegas are quite safe, and lots of very good people live and work there, North Las Vegas (a separate jurisdiction) does have the reputation of being somewhat gritty and unsalubrious.

Although North Las Vegas is ethnically and socioeconomically diverse, the proximity to a large military facility and a plethora of such businesses as adult bookstores, pawnbrokers, buy-here-pay-here lots, cheap liquor stores, etc., add to an atmosphere that is not accepting of those who deviate from the stereotypical norms.

The larger casinos in North Las Vegas, such as Jerry's Nugget, Speedway, and the new Cannery, should be perfectly safe for those who blend well and are comfortable with most mainstream situations. However, such things as the adult businesses (the "adult industry" is outside the scope of this document) and neighborhood bars should be avoided.

As I would suggest for any unfamiliar area, I suggest you avoid North Las Vegas unless you are familiar with the particular area you intend to visit and have reason to believe you will be safe.

One particularly questionable area is on the boundary between Las Vegas and North Las Vegas and is roughly bounded by Owens Ave., Foremaster Lane, Las Vegas Boulevard, and Main Street, north of Cashman Center. This has been the scene of homeless encampments¸ people residing in storm drains and ditches, and does appear to have a concentration of hookers, drug dealers, and the like. This area is traversed when passing between downtown Las Vegas and North Las Vegas on the local streets. I suggest you avoid this vicinity, day or night.

And, now a Third Opinion on North Las Vegas.