We want you to have a great time. Below, we briefly describe the most important things to remember during your stay, and also give you an outline of fun things to do here in Exciting Las Vegas!
First let me say thanks for staying in our hostel! Let me first share a little about us. After five years of backpacking in very different hostels all over the world, we noticed a big difference in hostels’ social make up, amenities, etc.
We are a young hostel, fortunate to fill up sometimes, so remember to book ahead so you don’t lose your bed. We are not a wealthy chain…just a single, small hostel – about 20 rooms.
However, we have been very lucky to have some awesome people help improve our community/home as we can afford.
If you are new to hostelling, keep the right expectation…hostels are not the Hilton or even 3 star motels but with the right expectation you can have a great time and share some amazing experiences with your new friends from all over the world.
Here is what is important to us:
Location: We decided on a great ON STRIP location where we could quickly bus or even walk to most of the tourism places and the highest concentration of nightlife & restaurants in the city. Just a short stumble home - no cabs baby because buses run all night, every night!
Security: We are located in the arts district – mostly businesses - great for security and safe parking. We also have a tough security coded front door, a ‘no unregistered guests’ policy, personal security lockers for your valuables, and video surveillance for top security.
Atmosphere/fun: Many hostels we visited had either, curfews, lock-outs or early quiet times. Others had no social activities, or good common areas to cook & mingle. We know what it is like to be in a new city without knowing anyone. We wanted almost nightly activities in a ‘mingle-friendly’ common space where people could easily meet. We also wanted our guests to make their own decision when to go to bed on holiday.
In Vegas, with your new hostel mates, you can ‘keep the dream alive’ all night until the next afternoon & carry on at a neighboring pool or casino! Our common room is a great place to hang out with staff and other guests & watch free movies before taking off to drink the night away.
Staff: You can really tell the difference between someone who is working just to make money and someone who really loves the hostel lifestyle. We make a point to hire the right people. I hope you find me and the staff helpful and friendly. We have always admired hostels where many guests and staff change their travel plans to stay longer - a very easy place to get 'stuck'.
Cleanliness: One advantage to being a young hostel is most everything is new. New carpet, new paint, new bathrooms & kitchen make the place look great. New beds & nice mattresses make for a good night’s sleep.
The hostel is cleaned throughout the day. Please help us by cleaning up after yourself. We often have people tell us, “your bathrooms are so clean, it is the first hostel I didn’t feel I need to wear flip flops in the shower”!
We wish you a fun-filled stay and hope you will recommend Hostel Cat to other backpackers you meet.
Reception is open from 9am- 1am. If you are leaving before 9am, ask about an early checkout the night before and we’ll take care of you.
Please either pay or checkout before 11 am or you may lose your deposit. If you are not leaving Las Vegas until later, please feel free to hang out and use the facilities until 8 pm. We will gladly store your luggage free of charge for the day. Please bring your sheets, key and bed receipt to Reception when ready to check out. Leave pillows & blankets on the beds. Please do NOT fold your used sheets – we will wash them.
Please put your receipt on the vacant bed of your choice! If you move, move it with you. Sleeping Bags/outside bedding are NOT permitted in any room - thanks. With 10,000 people passing through yearly, this is how we keep the hostel bug free – yes!
*We change code to front door frequently for security. A note will be on the door to tell you to get the new code from reception so you can continue your 24 hour hostel access. No lock outs no curfews, no worries, mate!
Laundry facilities are available in the kitchen with free soap!
We have FREE wireless Internet in all common rooms!
Water is a scarce resource – please try and save water! Do not leave water running. Show respect for others: if you want to take a long shower, please do so at night.
Turn off heat/air con & lights when leaving the room or when comfortable. Do not put heat over 73. Do not put air-con below 80.
Smokingis not permitted indoors. If you go outside to smoke, please put your butts in the ashtrays – not on the ground.
Only registered guests are allowed in the Hostel so please do not invite your friends over. This is to ensure the security of everyone’s items.
Here’s some great stuff to do in Las Vegas.
Almost every major Casino has something free – Bellagio’s water show, lions at the MGM Grand, etc. They also have paid things like roller coasters, shark aquariums & amazing shows from $20-$150. Hire anything from a scooter to a helicopter over the Grand Canyon.
Eat cheap right around here. Apart from 7-11 & several fast food places with $1 menus, you have Great Thai - $6.50 lunch specials, Cuban - $10 & Mexican food - $2-7 within a few blocks.
Albertson’s supermarket is the closest big one about 1 mile East on Charleston. Open until 12 midnight. Big discounts are available by giving them the hostel phone number at check-out (702-380-6902).
Buffet you say? There are cheaper ones downtown like Main Street Station from $10-$13 – tons of food & desert & comes with non-alcoholic drink, like a soda w/ free refills. Nicest ones? About $40 at the Wynn & the Rio has a great seafood buffet.
If you are buying alcohol you will be asked for ID to show you are over 21 most places. Your country’s drivers license should work, your passport definitely will.
The nightlife is amazing! And yes. You can drink on Las Vegas Blvd & Fremont Street Experience. Currently, the top clubs are Lavo, Tao, Exess, The Bank & Pure. Drais is an after hours place that starts about 1-2am.
Party cheap & for those under 21? My staff love to do this. Go to Fremont Street Experience. If you are 21+, buy cheap booze at the liquor store there, put it into your giant McDonald’s coca-cola from a couple blocks away & walk around with alcohol in hand! There are live bands until about midnight & a DJ until about 3am. Plus a 4 block long light show for every hour until midnight – ALL FREE BABY!
What’s good tonight? Friday & Saturday everything is awesome! Mon – Tabu, Foundation Room, Cathouse. Tue – Lavo, Tao, Blush, Studio 54. Wed – Surrender, VooDoo Lounge, LAX, Blush, Pure. Thur – Haze. Sun – The Bank.
Free alcohol you say? Yes. When you gamble, you can order free drinks – tip $1 per round or per drink please. No tip? She may stop bringing you drinks.
Shows? There are several booths with discounted tickets – the closest ones are in the Circus Circus or on Fremont. If you are flexible, see what shows are discounted for that night & pay about 40% less. If you get a show that has assigned seats, go immediately to the venue to get the best seats reserved. My favorites are Mystere – humor & acrobatics. A cheaper one that has lots of different acts is the Ultimate Variety Show. If the hypnotist show that follows that is slow, they will offer you $5 tickets (normally about $40).
Going to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Mexico or surrounding? Ask Our staff for recommendations – if they are newer & don’t know, ask me.
I really want you to have a great stay in Vegas & in the Cat. You may never be here again, so live it up! Best wishes & happy travels.
–Chandler, Assistant Manager & the Hostel Cat Team - Hostels Las Vegas