happytourist

We have a three-hour layover in Las Vegas (5:30 to 8:30). Is that long enough to get out to a restaurant and back? What restaurants/casinos would be closest? The buffet lines are usually too long at mealtime so we'll probably have to rule those out.

Lori

You do not want to leave the airport. You have to go through security again on the way back and security lines are often (very often) long - if it were me I would not take the chance. 3 hrs is really not alot of time, just get a sandwich or something at one of the many airport places to eat. It won't be gourmet dining but you won't miss your flight either. By the time you use rest rooms to freshen up, eat somethng and maybe play a few slot machines you will be boarding your flight

travelinwifey

You can try but it may or may not be possible. If your flight is on time sometimes it can take 40 minutes to get a taxi depending on a lot of things- conventions, peak travel time, etc. You can walk out of the airport and see what the line is like. Then I would allow an hour to go back through security. If you are traveling through on a Thursday or Friday it will be very busy with travelers leaving town before the weekend hotel rate increase. The nearest major casinos would be the MGM Grand, NYNY, and the Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Personally I wouldn't do it as it may end up very stressful trying to get in and out of the airport with a short amount of time for dinner.

vegaslocal

Four hours would be enough time, but three hours wouldn't. Especially since your connecting flight will begin boarding before departure time.

If your connecting flight is delayed, you might be okay. Check out the security line from the "secured" side. If there is no line you might grab a taxi to the Hard Rock. You could grab a bite at Mr. Lucky's coffee shop and grab a cab back to the airport in time to depart.

If you are one of those "type-B-que-sara-sara" people, you might be okay. I'd be panicked from the moment I left the airport, so I'd stay put just to avoid the stress.

happytourist

Thanks for your help. That's what I suspected--that three hours just wouldn't be long enough. It doesn't look like there are any really nice restaurants in the airport--I guess you're supposed to spend your time at the airport slots, not in restaurants.

vegasnative

There are some decent restaurants in the airport. Depending on what gates you are coming in at depends on what you have to choose from. At the D gates there is quite a good selection of restaurants. At the C gates there is a pretty good Mexican place called Jose Cuervo Tequilaria (something like that). Anyway, at every gate area there is your typical bar & grill food also. I think there is even a Wolfgang Pucks Express (D gates??). You'll find something, but there is no way I would leave the airport if you only have 3 hours inbetween flights.