Nevada might best be known as the home of Las Vegas. Regarded as "The Entertainment Capital of the World," Vegas is a world-renowned tourist destination featuring casinos, theaters, street entertainment, restaurants, glitzy resorts, and more.
But beyond Las Vegas lie a number of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. The area's natural diversity allows visitors to experience natural beauty within its national parks, lakes, mountains, and wide-open spaces, and it also provides an environment ideal for outdoor recreational activities like hiking, biking, fishing, and even skiing.
As you’re planning your trip to Nevada, make sure to purchase visitors medical insurance to protect you against any unexpected mishaps.
Visitors Medical Insurance for Travelers in Nevada – FAQs
Visiting the United States is exciting, especially if you’re taking a trip to Nevada to go to Las Vegas or Reno. But don’t let the excitement of your upcoming trip make you forget the importance of visitors medical insurance.
Do I need visitors medical insurance for Nevada?
Compliant medical insurance is only legally required for visitors to the United States who are on a J visa, which excludes most tourists. But from a practical perspective, it really is essential. A single trip to the hospital in the USA can empty your bank account faster than a bad night of blackjack. And since there’s not way to guarantee you won’t get sick or injured while visiting the USA, you need the financial protection of visitors medical insurance.
Why buy visitors medical insurance before traveling to Nevada?
In the USA, most people cannot afford to go to the doctor, let alone visit the hospital, without medical insurance picking up much of the bill. As an international visitor, the health insurance from your home country won’t be accepted here. You also cannot be covered by the insurance of a family member who lives in the USA. Visitors medical insurance is specifically designed to provide short-term medical coverage for visitors to the US, and is highly suggested for all USA tourists and business travelers.
Nevada’s Most Popular Places for Travel
Though most people who travel to Nevada only go to Las Vegas – which we will certainly cover – there’s more to the state than just “Sin City.” Here are our picks for the top Nevada destinations to pencil in on your itinerary.
Las Vegas
With more than three million annual international visitors, Las Vegas is one of the top 10 destinations in the United States for tourism. From the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign to the Caesar's Palace hotel resort, from the Colosseum concert venue to the Egyptian-themed Luxor hotel, icons of the city have cemented its reputation as a larger-than-life oasis of excess.
The Las Vegas Strip, colloquially known as "the Strip", is a 2.5-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard packed with themed entertainment venues, luxury hotels, fine dining options, and glowing neon as far as the eye can see. Famous hotels along the Strip include the MGM Grand Hotel; the Bellagio Resort and its dancing fountains; the Mirage Hotel and its active volcano, which erupts at regular intervals; and the Paris Hotel, which includes a 46-story replica of the Eiffel Tower featuring an observation deck and restaurant.
Reno
Reno, on the Nevada-California border, is known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". With a population of only about 250,000 as of 2018, it's still the second-largest city in Nevada and a popular tourist destination in its own right. The city is largely known for its casino industry. But other highlights include the National Championship Air Races, featuring races between aircraft ranging from WWII-style planes to modern jets; the Great Reno Balloon Race, the world's largest fee hot-air ballooning event; and the National Automobile Museum, which houses more than 200 vehicles—among them cars owned by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and John Wayne.
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam, located about 45 minutes southeast of Las Vegas on the Arizona-Nevada border, was completed in 1936. It was the largest concrete structure ever attempted at the time of its construction. The dam stands 726 feet high and contains Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the country. It provides hydroelectric power to Nevada, Arizona, and California. The facility offers self-guided and guided tours of the dam as well as guided tours of the power plant. The view of the lake and beyond from atop the dam is spectacular.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the border between Nevada and California, sits at an elevation of 6,225 feet. Excluding the five Great Lakes, it's the largest lake by volume in the US. Lake Tahoe is a popular tourist destination year-round. Summer visitors enjoy beaches, hiking, camping, jet-skiing, boating, scuba diving, and more. Winter visitors come for the skiing: Popular ski destinations on the Nevada side of the lake include Heavenly Mountain Resort, Diamond Peak, and Mount Rose Ski Resort. The area also offers lakeside casino resorts.
Great Basin National Park
Nestled on the Nevada-Utah border, Great Basin National Park is known for its variety of natural formations. Its most popular feature is its groves of bristlecone pine trees, the oldest non-clonal organisms on earth. (The park was the home of Prometheus, the oldest known tree on the planet at a minimum of 4,862 years old, until it was cut down by a graduate student in 1964.) The Lehman Caves were designated as a national monument by President Warren G. Harding in 1922. The caves lie at the base of Wheeler Peak, which also contains Wheeler Peak Glacier. The park has several developed camping sites and is a popular spot for hiking and backpacking.
Key Guidelines for Travelers in Nevada
Depending upon where you visit in Nevada, there are different guidelines you should follow. We will touch on just a few, to help make your visit go as smoothly as possible.
Visiting Vegas with Children
While Las Vegas has tried for decades to position itself as more of a family-friendly destination, it’s still largely geared towards adults. The vast majority of the entertainment is centered around gambling and drinking, and many places won’t even let you enter without a valid ID proving that you’re over 21. You can certainly visit Vegas with your children and find some fun things to do, but don’t plan on them being able to tag along to the casino. There’s also a strict 9:00 P.M. curfew for unaccompanied minors.
Las Vegas Taxi Tips
A cab can be a great way to get around Vegas, but it’s a little different than in other cities. For one, you can’t hail a cab (or Uber) from the edge of the street. Taxis and rideshare cars can only legally pick up passengers from designated areas, usually in front of casinos. Also, if the cab driver asks if it’s your first time in Las Vegas, don’t say “yes,” even if it is. They may purposefully take a longer route to charge you more. This is called “long-hauling,” and can cost an unsuspecting tourist more money.
Desert Dangers
Outside of its major cities, Nevada is largely arid desert. If you plan to camp or sightsee, keep in mind that the temperature swings between day and night can be massive. Pack a coat and gloves on a warm winter day if you’ll be out until dark. Also, keep an eye out for snakes and scorpions, as this is their natural habitat.
Pickpockets
Las Vegas and Reno are havens for pickpockets. They’ll bump into you in the massive crowds on the streets, only to make off with your wallet, or try to snatch your purse. Your best bet is to always keep your cash in a money belt. If you win big at the casino, lock up extra cash in your hotel safe instead of carrying it around.
Trade Show Dates
This is also Las Vegas-specific, but very important. Las Vegas is the United States’ hub for trade shows, and any one of them can bring in thousands, if not tens of thousands of extra visitors. If you come to Vegas during a week when a massive trade show is in town, you’ll find hotels packed to the brim, and restaurant and event reservations impossible to make. Make sure to do your research.
Before You Travel to Nevada – Do This
- If you’re planning on visiting Las Vegas or Reno, book your hotel and any events well ahead of time. Rooms and shows sell out quickly during busy times.
- Budget ample travel time – Nevada is roughly the size of Germany or Spain. If you are planning on driving to different locations across the state, take the vast distances into account.
- Don’t gamble with your finances – Get visitors medical insurance to protect yourself.