December Overview
- High temperature: 60°F (16°C)
- Low temperature: 27°F (-3°C)
- Hours daylight/sun: 8 hours
- Rainy days to be expected:1
Choose
Los Angeles as your vacation destination in December if you are after some beautifully mild weather rather than the freezing cold that’s prevalent in most other big US cities. Temperatures
highs reach 68°F (20°C) even now and the
sun shines for 9 hours each day. There is a bit of rain to be expected with
4 rainy days on average for the month and
temperatures can drop to 49°F (9°C) so do pack some warmer clothes and an umbrella too. The
ocean water temperature off the coast of LA measures 60°F (16°C) in December.
While in Los Angeles you can still relax at the beaches and explore the outdoors in December- there are plenty of wintery, Christmassy things to do as well. From
Ice Skating to the
Christmas Lights and
The Nutcracker, Los Angeles has everything to make your holiday season an extremely special one. And the ‘City of Angels’ is famous for throwing some of the
best NYE parties ever!
Best Time to Visit Las Vegas
Spring, especially the month of May, as well as fall are the best times to visit Las Vegas. It is pleasantly warm during the day and you will only need a warm coat as the sun sets.
Only in the months between December and March will you have daytime temperatures below the 70s F (20s C). The nights cool down to freezing point during these months.
In the months between June and September it can get really hot during the day with highs of 107°F (41°C). But even then it’s acceptable to spend the days near the pool as the heat is very dry. And in the evening it cools down to more pleasant, mild temperatures even in the hottest months.
Things to know about Las Vegas
Las Vegas is probably the most unusual city in the United States. The sights within the city are simply made up of its huge hotel complexes and shopping malls of which most are located on one single street called the Strip.
Here you can spend one moment in Venice, the next in Paris and a few steps further you will be in ancient Rome where you can see white Tigers as well as erupting volcanoes. It’s a whole city built as a theme park for adults but kids can have plenty of fun too!
Below you can read about what you definitely have to see while in Vegas, which hotels are actually worth the money, how to best plan a visit, what to look out for when visiting with children and much more…
Hotels The choice of hotels in Las Vegas is enormous. Nowhere else will you find that many hotels on one single road and nowhere else are the price differences so large as they are in Las Vegas. Here is a summary based on the average cost.
Cheap hotels Given the vast offer of hotels, cheap hotels start from $50 per night. Of course you can’t expect the service of the high end hotels but you are sure to have good fun together with some other party friends!
- Luxor: This hotel opened in 1993 and is without doubt one of the most impressive buildings in Las Vegas. The Sphinx at its entrance, the lighting of the pyramid at nighttime and especially the internal of the pyramid is well worth a visit. The slight disadvantage here is its location on the south end of the Strip.
- Flamingo: Much more centrally you will find the Flamingo. And with a bit of luck you will have a perfect view across the highlights of the city right from your hotel room. From the outside you will find that the hotel needs some renovations but the updated rooms are quite ok.
- Linq: Probably a bit better than the latter is the Linq. Until recently it was called Imperial Palace but has been renamed after a complete renovation. It’s located in the middle of the strip and probably offers the best quality for a cheap price.
Medium priced hotels In the mid price range you should expect to pay from around $100 per night unless you plan to travel on a weekend or during a convention. Hotel standards are pretty high.
- The Mirage: A real classic on the Strip! It’s famous for its white tigers, Siegfried & Roy and the erupting volcano. Even though it’s not one of the newer hotels it still has class. Its tropical atmosphere with lots of water around is really pleasant and its breakfast is probably one of the best in town.
- Caesars Palace: Another must see classic! Besides its age it still is one of the most beautiful hotels in Vegas. As well as its architecture and flair, the incredible pools all around are really impressive and it touches the luxury hotel category.
- Paris: Directly opposite the Caesars Palace you will find the Paris. It is located in the absolute prime location on the Strip as well. The architecture of the hotel including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are very impressive. The rooms are spacious and the hotel buffet good.
Expensive hotels Within the 5* luxury category you will find names such as the Bellagio and the Wynn. The latter even comes with its own golf course. The add ons you will make most use of will probably be the gigantic hotel pools and huge rooms. Prices start from $200 per night.
- Aria: That’s a pretty new and consequently modern designed building. It might seem pretty basic from the outside but it’s really fantastically designed inside. First choice are the ‘Sky Suites’ from where you have the absolute best views. But also the standard rooms and especially the pool area are really worth it.
Bellagio: This hotel is most famous for its fountains and after 20 years of its opening, it’s still one of the best hotels in Vegas. Really impressive are also the decorations in its lobby which they change according to the seasons. Rooms and service are worth every penny too.Wynn: A tick more luxurious is the Wynn. It opened in 2005 and even in terms of Vegas standards it really does impress in terms of its luxury equipment, service and design. It even makes you want to relax in the hustle and bustle of the city if even possible.The Venetian: This is another luxurious hotel which is located on the northern strip though.
Off the strip you will find places such as the Red Rock Resort which is recommended in case you are looking for more peace and quiet and it’s in the middle price range. The M Resort is located on the very south end of the Strip and is one of the luxurious hotels. It is quite a drive away but if location doesn’t matter, it’s a great choice too.
3 days in Vegas… Two to three days are perfect for a first visit and you will be able to see all the main attractions, hotels and buffets. Much longer might get tiring in the heat and with all the stimulations around… The only thing you have to see in Vegas is the Strip with all its hotels, malls and other attractions. Given the heat during the day, it might be good to explore the inside of the hotels during the day and stroll around outside in the evenings. The Strip is very long so it’s a good idea to split the exploration over two days and check out the northern half on one day and the southern half on another…
One day at the Northern Strip To explore the Northern Strip start around Flamingo Road and the Flamingo Hotel. This hotel already opened in 1946 and gives you a bit of a Miami Art Deco vibe. Check out the flamingos in the courtyard. Next, check out the Linq and its High Roller from where you can get great views of the city. You can give the Harrah’s a miss and head straight to the Venetian. Take a gondola ride just like in Venice and stroll along The Grand Canal Shoppes. Further north you will find the luxury hotel Wynn which is designed in a Japanese way with enormous flower arrangements, water and great restaurants.
On the opposite side of the strip you will find the Circus Circus. Built in 1968, it got into its years and so did its adjoining Adventuredome. You can stroll through the Fashion Show Mall and head on to Treasure Island. It used to be all in a Caribbean style but changed a bit and lost a bit of its charm over the years. Much more impressive is the Mirage with its White Tigers and beautiful atrium. But another level is Caesars Palace which follows. It’s built in the style of the old Roman Empire and impresses inside and out. The Forum Shops are well worth a visit too and you should also check out the buffet.
One day at the South Strip Start your exploration of the South Strip with the Paris Las Vegas. A must are the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the little streets inside. The village buffet is also well worth a visit. Give the Planet Hollywood and a few more little hotels and shops a miss and head further to the MGM Grand. It used to be famous for its lion cages (they aren’t there anymore). Take a photo with the lion statue! Have a look at the Tropicana which was built in 1957 and again gives off some of that Miami vibe. A bit further south you will find the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign.
Heading back in the opposite side you’ll find the Mandalay Bay which gives a happy holiday feeling and impresses with its Shark Reef Aquarium. After that are the 4 hotels of Luxor, Excalibur, New York-New York and MGM Park which were all built in the 90s. Take some time to really explore inside and outside the pyramid at the Luxor and the streets of the New York-New York. Also check out its roller coaster. And at the end you will find the Bellagio. It is probably the most beautiful hotel in Vegas and you must take your time to see its fountains outside as well as its botanical gardens inside.
One day at the surroundings On your third day it might be a great idea to take a day trip to some of the stunning areas surrounding Las Vegas. Ride along the Scenic Drive to Red Rock Canyon to hike around and take in the stunning nature. Not much further and even more beautiful is the Valley of Fire. And a highlight could of course be a helicopter trip to Grand Canyon. The hoover dam is another must see is the well known hoover dam.
Or if you are into shopping you should visit one of the Outlets around Las Vegas. We would most recommend the Premium Outlet Las Vegas North which with over 150 shops is a great choice.
Las Vegas with children: Given Las Vegas’ nature as ‘Sin City’, you wouldn’t think of it as a family vacation destination at first. But actually, the beautiful hotels have so much to offer for children. Top of the list are the pool landscapes! The children can enjoy these with the matching heat! Then most of the hotels also offer child care so you can actually also head out and do some gambling too.
When walking with children through the casinos (it’s actually allowed to walk through with them) you mustn’t ever stop- just keep walking! In terms of attractions with children, at the fore of your list should be the Adventuredome Theme Park, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the Shark Reef Aquarium, the High Roller Observation Wheel, a Gondola Ride and an Eiffel Tower experience.