Las Vegas is hands down one of the craziest places to travel to. Between the extreme heat, the sensory overload, the millions of options for food and drinks and endless opportunities to party, it’s like Disneyland for adults. Not over-exaggerating in the slightest.
I recently traveled to Las Vegas (and this time, it wasn’t for work but just to get away for a few days - for once!) and I realized, taking into account that I am a 27 year old in Sin City, that there really are specific essentials you must pack that you never knew you needed. From pregame needs to hangover cures to skincare, these items are some that should always make your packing list.
A Speaker
You can never predict whether your hotel is going to have a good speaker. A speaker is completely necessary. Music for pregaming is a no brainer! Anyone else think it’s a total buzzkill having to have your phone on full volume, submerged in an empty cup hoping for music amplification throughout the entire (loud) room when instead it’s only heard within 5 feet of where your phone is? Yup, this needs to be avoided all together.
Pedialyte
Shots at 9 am before brunch and then drinking potent libations at the day club in 108 degrees for 5 hours can put anyone over the edge. It is SO easy to hit a low point in terms of dehydration when you’re in Vegas. I was never a believer in Pedialyte until I was not only fighting a sinus infection in Vegas, but had been sipping all day in the heat. Needless to say, not even a solid nap, gatorade and chugging a liter of water was doing the trick. Added in Pedialyte and I was brought back to life.
Pretzels
Quick breakfast before your next meal that you have no idea when will be? The answer: pretzels. Snack before the club? Pretzels. Hungover? Pretzels. Pretzels are the answer to everything!
3 Six Packs of Smartwater
It is ridiculously easy to go through a pack of water in the first day and a half of staying in Vegas because you swell in an instant between the weather, the food and the excessive drinking. Plus, if you’re sharing the room, these go fast.
Disposable Camera
Forget instant gratification. Bring back the 90s and early 2000s! It’s so much fun taking photos and not knowing how they’re going to turn out until after you get them developed. Remember how you used to do it in middle school? The not knowing and anticipation gives you the excitement to look forward to after your trip (I get the post-Vegas blues and I am sure I am not the only one).
Face Oil or Gel Water Cream
No matter where you’re traveling from, there’s a 98% chance you’re coming from significantly different weather than Vegas. It’s constant dry heat. For a naturally oily-skinned person like me, I love it because my face clears up and it’s completely matte the entire trip. On the contrary, anyone with naturally dry skin could run into some annoying skin maintenance. Oily or not, a face oil and/or gel water cream is something that I LOVE to bring to Vegas because your skin soaks up the benefits without looking overly dewy and you can use it really any time of day — even under makeup. I’ve been using LIT by Kana Skincare which is a hemp phytocannabinoid +16 plant based face oil and the Deep Moisture Fix Hydrating Water Cream by Care Skincare.
Melt-proof sandals
Are sandals that melt really a thing? Yes. For starters, I’d recommend NOT bringing any type of jelly sandal. I have these really fun jelly sandals that are my go-to, and I wore them to the pool. I kept them in the shade and I was only there for 2 hours or so. Well, when I went to put them on, one completely broke because the heat melted it. Word to the wise - sturdy, non-meltable sandals only! The heat doesn’t play.
Portable Phone Charger
The heat drains the phone battery super quick. If you’re at a pool party during the day, there’s for sure no outlets nearby, especially if you don't have a cabana. Don’t lose your group because your phone dies! A portable phone charger should be your Vegas bff.
Charcoal & Vitamin C Pills
Charcoal pills are something I always carry because they help to de-bloat and detox. Vitamin C pills are also clutch to have on hand because between going in and out of extreme heat, to walking through chilly casinos and breathing in smoky and dry air, it can totally bring your immune system down. Taking one a day a few days leading up to your trip is a good idea too.
Tide To-Go Pen
There’s a good chance that one of these things can happen to your carefully curated, on-brand-with-Vegas wardrobe selects: Either someone can spill a drink on you, you can drop your food on yourself… and notice it happen on the spot before anyone else does. Or you can be so in another world that you don’t even notice that both of the above happened and there’s no hiding it, now that it’s too late. Get rid of it quick before it settles in too much. Stains are a major fashion faux pas.
