17 Top Las Vegas Packing List Items + What NOT to Bring (2018)

Updated on April 17, 2018 by Lyric Fergusson

What should I bring on my Vegas trip?

Las Vegas is the notorious party playground for adults. Whether you’re going for a getaway, a conference, a bachelor/bachelorette party, or a spontaneous trip with your friends, it’s the perfect destination to let loose. The key is knowing what to pack for Vegas, and what NOT to bring.

Whether you’ll be spending your time at the exclusive casino pools, air-conditioned shops, fancy acrobatic shows, or night clubs, this packing list has everything you need for a great trip to Sin City.

1) Gorgeous Outfit – A night out in Las Vegas is a great reason to wear a killer outfit. If you’re going out on the town, go bold with a super sparkly dress or a bold halter jumpsuit like the one pictured. This one is not too expensive, and will have all eyes on you!
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2) Rosewater facial spray – The combination of sun, alcohol, smoke from various sources, dry air, and dust from the surrounding desert can really take a toll on your face. This spray is a great soother, and will help you maintain the health of your delicate facial skin while you’re in Vegas. Plus, it smells heavenly.
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3) Handheld cooling fan – Deserts tend to be hot… no kidding, right? This fan will help you keep cool when needed. Don’t worry about looking touristy – the ratio of tourists to locals in Vegas is already so high that you won’t need to worry about sticking out. Save yourself the discomfort of being overheated with a personal, hand-held cooling fan!
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4) Portable lipstick-sized charger – Whether you’re out hiking in the Nevada desert or exploring the Vegas Strip, you don’t want to be repeatedly interrupted by having to go back to your lodgings to recharge your phone, camera, or other electronics. This charger holds multiple charges that you can use to power up your devices. It’s also tiny (the size of a tube of lipstick) so it’s very portable and can even be recharging your item while it’s tucked safely in your daybag. You may find that some casinos and event locations have recharging stations, but it costs quite a bit to use them, so having your own portable charger is ideal.
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5) Packing Cubes – Packing cubes are well worth the investment – they make packing and finding your items afterward much easier. We have tried 5 different kinds of packing cubes, and these Shacke Pack “cubes” are by far the best quality for the lowest price. They’re compact, come in several different sizes, are washable, and will last a long time so you can continue to use them on your other trips.
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6) Cute swimsuit for pool parties – It’s hard to overstate just how dressed-up people get in Vegas. Even pool attire tends to be on-point! Choose a swimsuit that makes you feel great, and that’s a step up from your typical day-at-the-beach swimwear.
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7) Swimsuit cover-up – A fashionable swimsuit cover-up is a must-have. It’s fun to wear, looks great, and is a sexy way to protect your skin from sun over-exposure too. Plus it’ll give you more comfort and style than wearing a damp towel around while you’re not in the pool!
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8) Travel garment steamer – Packing compactly and efficiently often means scrunching up certain items, including your best party outfit. Irons provided by accommodations are often dirty and their heat levels can be unpredictable, so a hand-held steamer is the best way to avoid ruining your favorite getup. This one is incredibly highly rated and works very well. It’s definitely worth it to bring it!
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9) Partying / Hangover Kit: Activated Charcoal, Alka-seltzer, OTC pain medicine, electrolytes – Without getting into too much detail about the kinds of shenanigans that most people get up to while in Las Vegas, I’d like to suggest a quality hangover kit. Make a quick pack of your preferred pain killer, Alka Seltzer, electrolytes to help rehydrate you, and activated charcoal to absorb any lingering toxins that may be in your system. It’s a fantastic way to ensure that you’ll still be able to enjoy daytime activities after a night of taking in the nightlife that Vegas has to offer. Many hotels offer these kits at the front desk, but they’ll charge you an arm and a leg for them, so bringing your own is definitely the way to go.
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10) Cute but practical daybag – A daybag is a good idea for carrying the items (camera, water bottle, sunglasses, wallet, etc.) that you need with you during the day. As a bonus, you’ll also have a handy bag that can hold any of the purchases you make while you’re out! With as much fantastic shopping as there is in Vegas, you’re sure to bring home a few souvenirs, and you’ll need a place to carry them until you get back to your accommodations.
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11) Filtered Water Bottle – Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Not to sound too much like your mom, here, but it really cannot be stressed enough. Vegas is in the middle of a desert, and the heat from the sun is only magnified by all of the reflective surfaces all around the Strip. Pair these elements with the fact that most people indulge in dehydrating activities while in Vegas, and it’s a recipe for potentially dangerous health issues. Bring a water bottle with you to help you stay on top of the matter, and to help you save on purchasing bottled drinks while you’re out! It’s a great money-saver.
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12) Fashionable walking shoes – You’ll be walking – a LOT. Cabs are expensive in Vegas, so you’ll want to walk anywhere you can. Plus, walking is the best way to see various street performers and to do window-shopping. These ones are super comfortable and cute as well.
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13) Hanging Toiletry Bag – You’re going to bring along a lot of standard toiletries and styling items, and I doubt you’ll want to pack and unpack all of those things every single time you use them. The best way to make toiletry packing and use as efficient as possible is to bring a hanging toiletry bag. It will give you easy, shelf-like access to your products without you having to pack and unpack every item just to get to the one you need.
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14) RFID-blocking wallet for going out: women’s and men’s – As fun as Vegas is, it also tends to attract certain unsavory types – thieves chief among them. A great way to protect your credit/debit card information from being digitally stolen is to use RFID-blocking technology to protect them. It’s not an expensive technology, and there are tons of wallets and purses on the market that contain the right equipment to keep your financial info safe. These two options are great, and stylish too!
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15) Portable white noise machine – Trust me, Vegas is noisy ALL THE TIME. There’s a reason it’s called “The City That Never Sleeps.” It’s a good idea to bring a white noise machine to use in your room while you sleep. It may also be advisable to bring a face mask to help shut out the bright lights from outside.
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16) Travel Insurance – Travel Insurance is a no-brainer. Anything can happen in Vegas, and if something bad happens you really don’t want to be stuck footing the bill for whatever it is. If you get sick and need to see a doctor your local insurance company may very well refuse to cover certain costs. We use and recommend World Nomads, which will also replace lost or stolen items and will pay for hotel rooms and plane flights if yours get canceled. Things can always go wrong, and for a tiny fraction of your trip cost, travel insurance will take care of you if they do. The peace of mind alone makes it worth it!

View their plans at WorldNomads.com ➜

17) Virtual Private Network (VPN) – If you’re unfamiliar with VPNs, now is an excellent time to learn. Whenever you use public WiFi at a hotel, nightclub, restaurant, or any other place, you’re putting all of your data at risk if it’s not shielded via encryption. A VPN adds a layer of encryption for your internet data to prevent hackers from accessing your personal or financial information! Don’t learn the hard way (like I did on a recent trip) how crucial this technology is.

Another handy feature of VPNs is that in countries or locations where the internet is censored, it can act as a “key” to unlock your access. Plus it’s very affordable, and as easy to use as touching a button on your device!
View NordVPN.com Options ➜

Other packing list items for Vegas:

Makeup removing wipes
Deodorant
Kindle
Sewing kit
Small Notebook (Journal)
Pens
Stain Removing Supplies
Plastic Packing Bags

Scarf
Mini manicure kit
Luggage tags
Small Flashlight
Extra Flashlight Batteries
Sunglasses
TSA-approved locks
Mini hairbrush

Aloe
Camera
Extra phone chargers
Shaving kit
Headphones
Headphone splitter
Kindle Cover
Sleep mask

What to wear in Las Vegas:

In the city that never sleeps, definitely keep it cute but casual during the day. Bring swimsuits, tank tops, shorts, cover ups and sundresses. Nighttime attire can get formal, so bring a few cute dresses or jumpsuits. On the plane or car ride, wear comfortable and breathable clothing, like leggings, tee shirts, or a loose dress. Before you go, make a list of the activities that you’ll be participating in during your trip, and decide what you need for each one. That way, you won’t forget your maid-of-honor badge or cocktail dress, if necessary!

What NOT to take to Las Vegas:

Hair Dryer – Almost every hotel and lodging has one!

The following items are banned from casinos:

1) Hula Hoops
2) Megaphones
3) Vuvuzelas

4) Pets
5) Bath Salts

These items are TSA prohibited:

1) Flammables
2) Firearms
3) Sharp objects
3) Liquids (unless you follow the liquids rule)

4) Household tools
5) Camping equipment
6) Medical tools
7) Various miscellaneous items

FAQs about my Vegas trip:

1) How can I plan the ultimate girls’ getaway weekend?

Take a look at Skyscanner.com and set an alert for cheap flights to Las Vegas! If you’re road tripping, use the Roadtrippers app to find awesome hidden gems off the beaten path.

2) I always break out when I travel. How can I keep my skin healthy on the road?

Bring everything you normally use on your skin with you on your trip. The dry airplane air and weird hotel food definitely don’t do your skin any favors. Face masks are a great idea, and always use a face-specific sunscreen!

3) How can I avoid overpacking?

Before you commit to bringing anything, make a list of what activities you’ll be doing throughout the whole trip. Plan out each day’s outfit, and try to stick to items that can be reworn and repurposed. For example, a simple black dress that you can wear during the day with sandals can also be dressed up for going out at night by adding some lipstick and cute jewelry. By bringing multipurpose clothing items (a sort of capsule wardrobe), you can pack much lighter.

4) How do I choose the right bag to bring with me?

It’s all about personal preference! A rolling bag is always a good option if you want to save yourself shoulder or back pain.

5) What is the rule for carrying on liquids?

According to the current Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations, you are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item.

6) What counts as liquids?

Any liquid, aerosol, gel, cream or paste. This includes contact solution, mascara, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, etc. Keeping your liquids in a separate zip lock bag will make the security process go so much more quickly.

7) How do I choose the right carry-on bag?

Think about what you’re bringing. If you’re taking your laptop with you, you’ll want a bag that can accommodate it. If you prefer to keep weight off of your shoulders, use a rolling bag. If you’re going to be doing some backpacking at your destination, just use your backpack!

8) How can I keep my bag organized?

Keep your liquids in ziploc bags, and your clothes in packing cubes or more zip lock bags. Keep your toiletries separate from your electronics. Make use of your carry-on pockets to stay extra organized.