Is Las Vegas tap water safe to drink?

Safe, and regulated as tightly as any big-city supply in the US. It is hard water and can taste of chlorine, which is a matter of flavor, not safety.

Where it comes from

About 90% comes from Lake Mead, Colorado River water that has crossed the Rockies, treated at the Southern Nevada Water Authority's plants and tested constantly; the rest is groundwater. It meets every federal standard, and the authority publishes its test results every year. Hotels are on the same system, so the tap in your room is the same water locals drink, and Strip restaurants cook and make ice with it.

The taste

Las Vegas water carries a lot of dissolved minerals from the river and can taste faintly of chlorine straight from the tap. It is harmless; it is also why the shower glass spots and your hair feels different. A night in the fridge or any cheap filter bottle fixes the flavor.

Skip the minibar water

The minibar bottle is a $6 to $10 convenience, not a safety upgrade, and some resort fees include a couple of bottles anyway (Wynn's does). A refillable bottle and the gym or lobby fountain is the move.

Drink more than you think

The desert pulls water out of you faster than you notice, especially with alcohol and air conditioning in the mix, and heat illness is real here in summer. The local rule: a liter before you walk the Boulevard and a glass of water for every drink at the bar.

More first-trip practicalities are in first time in Las Vegas; heat by month in best time to visit.