I’ve probably spent way too much time in strip clubs, so I sometimes forget that a lot of people, especially when visiting Vegas, are going for the first time.
If you’ve never been to a Vegas strip club (or any strip club), you might not know exactly what to expect.
Strip clubs are different. You can’t always just walk in and have a great time. There are hustles and tricks to watch out for so you don’t spend all your money before getting any action. There are also some tricks customers can use so they have the best experience possible.
Below, I’ll go over everything you need to know to have the best time possible when visiting a strip club for the first time.
First Off, Pick The Right Club
This is important because every club is a little different. Some are very high-end and focus on bottle service or table service, Others are total dive bars with dingy VIP rooms, but have wild girls willing to give extras. There’s also everything in between.
Decide what experience you want and be honest with yourself. Some guys love the dirty clubs, and others hate them.
Then you need to decide on a budget. Obviously, the high-end clubs are more expensive. So you need to find what matches your budget and what atmosphere you want in the club.
In Vegas, clubs like Peppermint Hippo or Treasures are higher-end and more expensive. Palomino is mid-tier and right in the middle. A club like Chica Bonitas is considered a dive bar. All have their positives and negatives, so it depends on what you want.
Set Your Budget Before You Go
If money is no concern, then you can skip this step. But for everybody else, you want to set some kind of budget before you go. This is especially true if you’re new to strip clubs.
The strippers can come at you fast in a busy club. With the music, a few drinks, and women crawling all over you, you can quickly lose track of your spending without even realizing it. Happens all the time.
Whatever your budget happens to be, that’s up to you. But you can sort of narrow it down based on some average prices.
Lap dances at most clubs in Vegas are going to run $25 to $50 each, with most in that $25-$35 range. VIP rooms are usually priced by time, and 30 30-minute start at around $200. Some have drink minimums for VIP rooms, so that adds about $40 or so.
If a club is busy, you’ll probably have to buy at least 4 or 5 dances at a time. At slower times, a stripper may be more willing to do just one or two dances.
If you’re new, I would suggest just getting regular private dances at first. The girls or the club may try to talk you into a VIP package of 30 minutes or more. These can be fun, but if you don’t know what’s going on, you can waste your money and not get anything more than you would get with just normal private dances.
Just remember, the strippers may “bend the truth” when it comes to what they do in VIP when trying to sell you on the idea.
If you’re new, stick with private dances at first to get a feel for what goes on.
Transportation to The Strip Club
Most Vegas clubs offer free transportation to the club. Just keep in mind that it’s only one way and you’ll need your own ride back to wherever you’re going afterward.
They will also offer some kind of discounted cover if you use their transportation. Usually, it’s half off the cover charge, but some offer to waive the cover charge completely on certain days.
If you’re in a group, then it can be worth it. The pickup service is also pretty easy. Just call the number on the club’s website and book the ride. The one downside is that someone may not always answer the phone at the club, so that can be hit or miss. If you’re sure you’re going to a specific club, try to call as early as possible in case you have to call several times before you reach someone.
One downside of the strip club transportation is that the vehicle is almost always branded with the strip club’s name. That means when it pulls up to pick you up, it may have the name of the club in giant letters across the sides.
Some people are fine with this, while others may find it embarrassing, so it’s something to be aware of.
But overall, the free transportation is not a scam or a hustle in most cases. They may try to hard-sell you on a package deal when you arrive, but you can always just say no, regardless of what they tell you.
Walking in the Club
When you first walk into a strip club, you’re probably going to get approached by the most aggressive stripper in the whole place. This is the girl who hangs out near the door and tries to be the first to approach people as they walk in.
This type of stripper is pushy and really tries to drain your money before you even have a chance to get a drink. You should almost always turn this girl down. She’s usually the worst stripper in the club. She might be hot, but her dances are the worst, and she just churns through customers as they first walk in.
I go into more detail about the type of strippers you can usually find in Vegas here.
Of course, you’re free to get a private dance from the first girl who approaches you, or any girl for that matter. It’s your money. But if you’re new to strip clubs, be aware of these pushy strippers right when you walk through the door.
Their dances are usually boring and very clinical. They just snipe guys as they first walk and try to land a few dances before the guy realizes she’s boring.
Strippers Don’t Work For The Club
One misunderstanding people have is that they think the strippers are employed by the strip club. The strippers pretty much work for themselves. They can come and go as they please.
This also means they can mostly set their own rules as far as contact during private dances or how much they charge. The club has some basic ground rules, but the girls can do whatever they want within reason.
This is important because newcomers often think of a strip club like a regular business, where the employees are expected to act a certain way. Strip clubs aren’t like that at all.
However, girls who are more “flexible” when it comes to extras tend to end up at clubs that allow extras. However, this can also attract scammer strippers, since the club is looser with how they oversee the girls working there.
Overall, just be aware that each stripper you deal with is completely unique, and it doesn’t matter where they happen to be working. Don’t assume a stripper working in a nice club is 100% honest.
Understanding Private Dances and VIP Rooms
In Vegas, most clubs have private dance areas and VIP rooms. Private dance areas are for when you buy a few dances at once, say 5 dances for $125. The rooms are private or semi-private, but there’s usually no door, and security can probably see inside.
The VIP rooms are private, usually with a door that prevents people walking by from seeing inside or hearing anything. Nicer clubs have VIP rooms with their own sound system and furniture.
You would think that means that extras only happen in the VIP room, but that really depends on the club. I’ve had plenty of extras in the regular private dance area.
I go into more detail about it in this article about strip club VIP rooms, which talks about how you don’t always need to spend more to get extras in a strip club. It’s a good read if you’re curious how all that works.
The important thing is that if you’re new, don’t let a stripper talk you into a VIP room if you don’t really want to. If you just want a few private dances to test the waters, find a stripper who is cool with that.
A good stripper will still give you a great lap dance even if it’s not in the VIP room. You just have to pick the right one.
If she’s constantly pushing for the VIP room and seems sort of “disappointed” when you just want regular dances, you should probably skip it and find a new stripper.
Remember, You’re in Control
This is the biggest thing that first-timers seem to forget. You’re in control at the strip club. You decide how much to spend and which girls to spend it on.
This also means the fun you have is completely up to you. If you pick the right strippers and stick to your budget, you’ll have a great time.
If you let the club or the strippers get the best of you and talk you into things you don’t want, you’ll probably walk out of the club feeling like you got ripped off.
This doesn’t mean you have to be stand-offish or rude, but just remember it’s your night at the strip club, and make sure you guide in the direction you want.
If you follow these tips, you’ll have an amazing time and start counting the days until you can visit again.
If you’re looking for more insider information about Vegas adult nightlife, check out my Ultimate Vegas Strip Club Guide or my 2025 Vegas Escort Report. These guides are full of insider information you can’t find anywhere else. If you’re planning a wild trip to Vegas, these are a must-have!
