Las Vegas or Monte Carlo: Giving a Casino Trip as an Experience Gift

For a milestone birthday, a big anniversary or a stag or hen do, some couples and friends skip the gift box altogether and give a trip. The two most glamorous casino destinations for British travellers are Las Vegas and Monte Carlo: one all neon and spectacle, the other all chandeliers and sea views.

Las Vegas: the spectacle

Las Vegas, in the Nevada desert, is the world's most famous gambling city. The Strip is lined with themed casino resorts, from fountains and replica landmarks to vast gaming floors, while downtown's Fremont Street keeps the older, more intimate casinos and a famous light canopy. Beyond the tables there are big-name residencies, shows, restaurants, pool clubs and day trips to the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam.

• Getting there: there are direct flights from London and, at times, other UK airports, taking around ten to eleven hours.
• Entry: British visitors usually travel under the Visa Waiver Program and need an approved ESTA before flying; check the official US government site, as requirements and fees change.
• Age: the legal gambling age in Nevada is 21, so a Vegas casino trip does not suit a younger birthday.
• When to go: spring and autumn are most comfortable; summer days are extremely hot.

Monte Carlo: the elegance

The Casino de Monte-Carlo, in the Principality of Monaco, is the most famous casino in Europe. It opened in the 1860s, and its current building, with its belle époque façade and opera house, owes much to Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opera. Inside, the gaming rooms are a riot of gilding, frescoes and stained glass. Curiously, Monaco's own citizens are not allowed to gamble there.

• Getting there: fly to Nice Côte d'Azur airport; Monaco is a short drive, train or helicopter hop away.
• Entry: visitors show photo ID; there is usually an entrance fee for the gaming rooms, and the atrium can often be visited during the day.
• Dress code: smart clothing is expected, and in the evening a jacket for men is a good idea. Sportswear will not get you in.
• Events: the Monaco Grand Prix in late May, tennis in April and the yacht show in September make the principality busy and expensive; plan around them or build the gift around one.

How to give a trip on the day

A trip is an experience, but the birthday or anniversary still needs something to unwrap. Some ideas:

• A clue box: a single casino chip, a dice, a roulette-wheel charm and a guidebook, to let them guess the destination.
• Personalised travel kit: engraved luggage tags, a leather passport cover with initials, a wash bag.
• A "boarding pass" card designed with the date, destination and their name.
• Engraved flutes: "Monte Carlo" or "Las Vegas" and the date, for a toast at home before you go (see our glassware guide).
• A set of chips in a little case, labelled "for the tables", representing the gambling budget you are including.

Building the gambling budget into the gift

If the trip includes time at the tables, decide the budget before you go and include it as part of the gift: an envelope for each evening, for example. Treat it as the cost of the entertainment, like theatre tickets, and stop when it is spent. Learn the basics of the games beforehand: roulette is easy to pick up, blackjack rewards learning basic strategy, and the croupiers in both cities are used to beginners. In Las Vegas, tipping dealers and cocktail servers is customary; in Monte Carlo, the atmosphere is more formal.

Closer to home

Not every gift needs a long-haul flight. London has casinos with plenty of glamour, including the Hippodrome in Leicester Square, and a night at a West End casino with dinner and a show can be a fine birthday treat. For a party at home with the same atmosphere, see our casino-night party ideas.

Bring home a keepsake

A single casino chip, kept rather than played, is the classic souvenir of a Vegas or Monte Carlo trip. Mount it in a shadow box or keepsake box engraved with the date: our guide to keepsake boxes and photo gifts has ideas. And if the trip is for an anniversary, our anniversary guide explains which years go with which materials.

Written by the Ribbon & Tag editors.