Washington to Las Vegas Flights

  About Washington

Washington DC, is the capital city of the United States of America. The city reflects the rich history of the United States with its neoclassical monuments and iconic locations. The place will keep you engaged with its compelling slew of tourist attractions. As the capital of the United States of America, Washington DC has many traditional attractions with important museums and monuments. Make sure to visit all the Smithsonian American museums as they shed light on various cultural and historical significance of America.

Best time to visit Washington DC

Washington DC's summers are the peak season for travel. However, to steer clear off all the touristy crowd and to engage in some real fun, it is best to opt for spring and autumn. Summers in Washington DC are from June to August when the city experiences sweltering heat and a tremendous tourist crowd. Some of the fun events and festivals hosted by the city during this period include Capital Pride Parade, National Mall Fourth of July Celebration and Summerfest DC. While they may seem like enjoyable activities to participate in, the exorbitant prices of surviving a trip might pull you back. Although many locals ring in summers in other parts of the US, tourists might find Washington DC to be a tad bit expensive during peak season. Even hotel rooms in Washington DC are expensive. The months leading up to summer, though, are quite pleasant and even easy on the pockets. Spring brings with it the season of blossoms as the month of March begins with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Watching the cherry blossoms bloom is a trip and definitely worth experiencing. The city also witnesses the National Memorial Day Parade, another interesting festival to be a part of.

Maybe not summer but the season following summer in Washington DC is just as favourable for tourists. The autumn season is just next to perfection and definitely something all tourists would enjoy. The weather is exquisite and calm as the brisk winter air starts to slowly take over the city. Booking a hotel in Washington DC becomes cheap and affordable too as the summer crowd takes away the expensive tags. However, as many business travellers make their way into the city, the hotel deals might still be a hard snag unless you make prior hotel bookings in Washington DC. The city witnesses the H Street festival and Library of Congress National Book Festival during autumn. The cultural festivals with their historical significance only add to the experience one might take in during a trip to Washington DC. If you want to downscale your budget further, then winter is the best time to visit for you. The city streets freeze up while the temperature ranges between 5 degree Celsius to 7 degree Celsius. The perks, though, are the slash in hotel room prices, which is a sweet deal if you want to experience winter in the city.

Places to visit in Washington DC

The first thing to check out would undoubtedly be the Lincoln Memorial. The location would make quite a postcard-worthy click with Honest Abe's memorial in the background. Next, you can visit Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials, popularly referred to as 'the Wall', which has names of all the Americans who succumbed to the Vietnam War. Just around the Lincoln Memorial is the beautiful Tidal Basin, a must-visit, especially during spring. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a treasure trove which celebrates exquisite aircraft, including Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5B and Wilbur and Orville Wright's 1903 Wright Flyer, to name a few. It is a fascinating place and would certainly pique your interest. The city also has the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum which showcases the atrocities faced during the World War II. Do not miss the National Gallery of Art and The White House and the Washington Monument.

Things to do in Washington DC

Majority of the things that you can do in the city pertain to some of the sightseeing. Washington DC is recognised to be the city with a plethora of historical monuments and a haven for American history. The city offers a peek into the country's history as well as important events. Aside from indulging in the past of the country, one of the things you should definitely do is get tickets to a show at The John F Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts. You can explore the US Capitol's Library of Congress to get more understanding of the politics. A picture next to Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial also sounds like a good thing to do. You can also take a break from all the history lessons and head to 9:30 Club to relish some live music. The club has hosted many big bands, including RHCP and Nirvana.

Food and Restaurants in Washington DC

Washington DC's food culture is as diverse as the capital can get. There is an abundance of succulent eateries spread across the city. From piquant Spanish delicacies to oyster shots, there are many ethnic and global restaurants that will get your attention. Check out H Street Northeast, in the Atlas District to get some of the ethnic action as there are Belgian, Japanese and many more cultural kitchens. To get the sophisticated gourmet experience at an upscale restaurant, you can visit José Andrés' hotels such as Zaytinya and Oyamel Cocina Mexicana. Old Ebbitt grill and 1789 are also some lovely places where you will get the high-end fine dining experience. However, if you are on a budget, then opt for some eateries such as Ben's Chili Bowl and Good Stuff Eatery. These places have some signature dishes that you shouldn't miss at any cost. From lip-smacking burgers to rice bowls, the two joints offer an interesting palette of flavours in their meals that is worth all the money shelled out. Good Stuff Eatery's burgers are famous as they have been curated by chef Spike Mendelsohn.

Another major highlight to add to Washington DC's food culture are the farmer's markets in the city. Located in the District, a group of farmers huddle up to sell their fresh goods which come in all forms, colours and shapes. You'll find organic vegetables, healthy fruits and a colourful spread of goods at the market. It is a good place to get some of the fruity and healthy veggies action. Columbia Heights Farmers Market and FRESHFARM are two recognised markets that you should check out when in the city. Interestingly, the city also has lovely breweries and brewpubs, which came into existence in the recent past. However, the best way to enjoy the DC spirit would be to indulge in some brunch options. Tabard Inn, Kafe Leopold, Equinox, Cava Mezze, Juniper, Cafe Milano, to name a few, would be the best places to start your brunch rendezvous

How to reach Washington DC

Flight connectivity to Washington DC from India is quite decent but overpriced. There are no direct flights to Washington DC from India and layovers are the only way to reach the capital city. The demand for flights to Washington DC are not as much as for New York City or Chicago. Hence, the connectivity is also quite poor. There are only a handful of airlines that operate from India to Washington. Airlines such as United Airlines, Air Canada, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, to name a few, are the only ones that have flight services to Washington DC from India. There are no nonstop or flights to Washington DC from India, and usually, a layover or connecting flight is the only way to go. The United Airlines has flight connectivity to Washington DC from Newark. Many of the flights use the international route of Newark to reach Washington DC. Emirates is the only other airline that stops at Dubai for a layover before flying to Washington DC. Cathay Pacific also has flights to Washington DC from Delhi. Mostly, the connectivity is only from the Dubai and Newark international routes to reach Washington DC. The popular route to Washington DC often chosen by travellers is from Newark

Travellers require a transit visa to enter the USA and to reach Washington DC. Since the flights have connectivity from Newark, the non-immigrants are required to show a transit visa to let the authorities know that you are just taking a connecting flight to a different destination. A transit visa is a type 'C' visa where basically, you need to show at the Newark airport that you are just taking a connecting flight to Washington DC. To acquire these, you could apply for them at the American embassy, or you can do it online. The provisions are faster online and would be beneficial to you. The flight duration to Washington DC from India is approximately 17 hours, which is subject to change depending on the availability of flights. Do not expect cheap flight tickets to Washington DC. Not only is the capital expensive but even flight tickets to Washington DC is quite exorbitant. Even the accommodation is high-priced, and it would be best to make flight and hotel bookings to Washington DC well in advance to avoid expensive rates.

  About Las Vegas

Nevada's jewel and the United States' casino capital, Las Vegas is one of the best places to visit in the United States. The city has a culture and lifestyle that only beckons tourists who wish to splurge and party. Las Vegas is a great tourist spot with stunning attractions that could put many other places in the country to shame. Not to mention how it is also quite lit with neon lights and themed-casinos.

Best time to visit Las Vegas

Las Vegas witnesses extreme hot temperatures during summers. However, the winter season between December to February is extremely famous for the Sin City among travellers. Vegas bustles with extravagant holiday parties as the city hosts a bunch of parties during the holiday season. Thanks to the popularity of the season and the place, flight bookings and hotel accommodations in Vegas see a tremendous spike. To avoid expensive hotel room prices and flight tickets to Vegas, it would be ideal to make reservations ahead of time, six months in advance, if possible. The months leading up to the winter season in Vegas are also quite pleasant and perfect to hit the casinos. The crowd visiting the city during this time is also considerably less, making travelling and accommodation cheaper and convenient. September to November sees a tremendous drop in the temperature from 34 degree Celsius to 18 degree Celsius. This season does experience amazing festivals and events too such as Las Vegas BikeFest, Las Vegas Greek Food Festival, Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival, Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and iHeartRadio Music Festival.

The spring in Vegas also has an agreeable climate as the temperatures waver between 21 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius. The desert city also hosts the country's best music awards such as Billboard Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Viva Las Vegas to name a few. In March, the NASCAR Weekend is also hosted, which is perfect for an automobile enthusiast. The racing event attracts a plethora of crowd, especially those who get the thrills from watching racers burn fuel and drive to take home the trophy.

Places to visit in Las Vegas

Much of Las Vegas' list of places to visit falls on the slew of casinos that is basically the city's highlight. However, there are some specific places that will blow your mind. While you let the neon lights and kitschy signs drive you through places, do a drive by the Strip. It is the epicentre of Las Vegas and has the most iconic sights such as the Bellagio Fountains, the Eiffel Tower at Paris, the pyramid and sphinx of Egypt, The Luxor, to name a few. These places are literally what give Las Vegas the luxurious feels. They have also managed to bring a Venetian vibe to the city with the Venetian Casino and Grand Canal. There are replicas of some highlights that can originally be found in Venice. At the Polynesian-themed casino of The Mirage Casino and Volcano, you will find exquisite sights and Hollywood-references. It is after all known to have made an impact in Ocean's Eleven movie where Danny Oceans robbed this as part of the three establishments on his list. They also have an MGM Grand Casino, which features from Hollywood. New York-New York and the Big Apple Rollercoaster is an immaculate execution of bringing New York to Las Vegas.

Talk about fancy casinos, and you simply cannot miss the Caesars Palace Casino and The Forum Shops. The casino has made more appearances in movies than some of the actors even! The theme is Roman, and the vibe is very European. Interestingly, part of their entertainment treasure troves also includes Cirque de Soleil, which consists of some of the finest forms of acrobatic feats. Stepping away from all the casino madness, you should check out Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which has features such as the Mojave Desert and more. You will run out of fingers and toes, but the number of tourist attractions in Las Vegas would still continue to rake up. Visiting Vegas is an experience that is definitely worth all the trip.

Things to do in Las Vegas

With casino keeping a tab of your finances, make sure that you also save enough aside for some desert indulgence. There are various activities such as horseback riding, dune buggy adventures, a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon, a bird's eye view of the Hoover Dam and a little bit of trekking at the Red Rock Canyon National Conversation Area too. You can also expand your trip by hopping from casino to casino to explore more of the colourful city. One of the best things to do would be visiting the Pinball Hall of Fame and learning more about how the game came into existence and what the relevance of the said Hall of Fame is in Las Vegas. You can also give yourself some more adrenaline rush, aside from at the casino table, by driving a fast-car at SPEEDVEGAS.

Food and Restaurants in Las Vegas

Much like the plethora of choices you have in casinos when you visit Las Vegas, you will also find a lovely spread of options for where to eat and what to eat. The vibrant city is full of places with a high-range dining experience and cheap but affordable settings. It has a kind of food experience for all kinds of people and their varied mood. You will also find culinary institutes curated by world-famous chefs such as Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse, to name a few. Divulging in some exquisite dishes made at their establishments would certainly be quite the icing on the cake. For an Italian rendezvous, you can visit Chef Julian Serrano's Lago, which overlooks the Bellagio fountain. It would be quite the sight to devour while you enjoy some posh Italian cuisine. If you're in the mood for something Asian, look no further and head to Wynn's dining experience and walk into Wing Lei to gorge down their Michelin-starrer Cantonese and Shanghai meals. To indulge in the celebration of meat, you can pay Chef José Andrés at his establishment, Bazaar Meat. While you're there, do not forget to check out the Kobe beef. It is to die for.

To keep the dining experience light and easy on the pockets, you will also be able to find some budget food at Sin City. There are various centres that host all-you-can-eat buffet styles with lines of pizza, crabs, Chinese to even some beer and liquor. To get some nice sushi, if you're in the mood, head to Kabuto. Or you can go to Juan's Flaming Fajitas and Cantina for some Mexican meals. Here are some more names that would intrigue you - Weera Thai Restaurant, Arawan Thai Bistro and Dessert, Andiamo Italian Steakhouse, Le Cirque. While you're in the city, do not miss some of the wine and breweries that can give Los Angeles and New York City a tough competition. It is worth the indulgence.

How to reach Las Vegas (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Las Vegas from India is quite good. However, there are no direct flights connecting Las Vegas with any Indian metropolitan cities. Much of the international routes to Las Vegas from India pass through the European belt. In fact, some of the connecting flights to Las Vegas can be taken from European countries as well. Depending on the airlines that you have chosen, accordingly, you'll receive connecting flight options. There are other international routes to Las Vegas as well, such as the one travelling from Hong Kong to San Francisco. The popular route to Las Vegas though is the one passing from Europe. Sometimes there is one flight you need to change, which could be from within the US. Other times there are requirements to switch two flights from Europe as well as the US.

A plethora of airlines such as United Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airways, Air India, etc., fly to Las Vegas and have great connectivity. The city has two major airports, but you'll mostly land at the McCarran International Airport. There are private jets too that are chartered and land in Las Vegas. There would be no trouble to reach Las Vegas in general. However, the ticket prices might be a little steep. As the city runs on tourism and casinos, Las Vegas witnesses massive crowds of tourists throughout the year. Due to this, flight tickets to Las Vegas are always expensive. But a little snooping around on the internet might bless you with some cheap flight tickets to Las Vegas. In fact, if you're lucky (something you definitely need if Vegas is on your mind), you might even get combo deals of flights and accommodation in the city.

Although lavish lifestyle and expensive restaurants and hotel deals are what Las Vegas aims at, you might be able to find some affordable hotel deals in Las Vegas. It would be best to book your flight and hotels in Las Vegas in advance. That way, you'll be able to snag some pretty good deals too.