Vegas in July? Hot. It's going to be hot. Don't be surprised to see temperatures reach triple digits. But, like the cliche says, at least it's a dry heat, so it seems a little easier to deal with than the thermometer alone would make you think. The combination of heat and lack of humidity has a few curious effects on the bodies of visitors not accustomed to such a climate. You're going to sweat a lot — A LOT — in places that aren't particularly pleasant to sweat in. At the same time other parts of your anatomy will dry up. Places that are bothersome when they're parched. Here are three packing tips that will make life a little easier:

• Pack more underwear than you think you'll need. This may be the single piece of advice I most frequently give to friends about to make their first trip. You'll be amazed at just how good switching to a new pair of unmentionables in the middle of the day can make you feel.

• Pack some heavy-duty moisturizers. Your face and hands will start to feel effects of the dry air quickly. As soon as you arrive it's not a bad idea to frequently slather on whatever lotion or cream you prefer.

• If you're at all prone to dry nasal passages, bring along a bottle of saline nasal spray and squirt that stuff up there regularly. One of my buddies regularly fails to follow this advice, and he regularly gets a Vegas nosebleed.

(For good measure, here are a few more general-purpose travel tips.)

Las Vegas shows really cool things. The very best are elaborate spectacles that amuse, titillate and amaze. But what they aren't, though, is cheap. Luckily there are a few dinner shows on the Strip that strike a good balance between affordable and entertaining. A pair of interactive theater presentations — Tony N' Tina's Wedding (Planet Hollywood) and The Sopranos' Last Supper (Tropicana) run from about $60 up to about $140 and include a very nice meal to go along with the show. Of those two, Tony N' Tina's would be my preference, but both are good. For something a little less theater-like and more along the lines of spectacle, the Tournament of Kings dinner at the Excalibur is something every Vegas visitor ought to enjoy at least once — horses, jousting, explosions and dinner eaten with your hands… just like Thanksgiving in East Texas. Tickets to this feast run a little over $60.

You're making your trip plans at a good time, actually. Vegas has been hit hard by the economic downturn and they're doing everything they can to bring visitors back. Hotel rates are excellent these days and you can always find an airfare special. Start by using the FirstTimeLasVegas.com Hotel Picker to decide which place is right for you, then check prices on packages using our travel search engine page. You're sure to find some good deals.

There's no shortage of ways to spend money in Las Vegas. If gambling and shows aren't enough to fill your trip, you could do like the smart locals (and savvy tourists) and head to one of the area outlet centers, just don't expect your wild Vegas experience to continue in the stores. You'll find some good deals, but they're pretty much just like any other outlet mall you've ever visited. There's nothing stereotypically "Vegas-ey" about them.

But if cost-conscious shopping is on your agenda, the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, located 40 miles south in Primm, Nevada, contains many high-end retailers at up to 75 percent discount. That sounds like a great bargain, but don't forget to take into account that original prices were in the upper hundreds of dollars. A daily Shoppers' Shuttle is available from the Las Vegas Strip with departures from the MGM Grand, Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood and the Fashion Show Mall (by Treasure Island). The round-trip fare is $15 and includes a coupon book with more than $800 in savings at participating stores. The shuttles do fill up — and these are full-sized motor coaches — so reservations are recommended for this outing.

A little closer to the Strip are the Las Vegas Premium Outlets where you can find discounts of 25 to 65 percent. There is a city bus that drops off and picks up here, but a cab ride isn't going to be too bad. I really recommend skipping the hassle of a bus ride and spring for the taxi.

There really isn't much difference between the two outlets other than the stores they contain. If you're in the market for a particular brand you'll want to check each outlet's directory before making a decision on which to visit.

However, you don't have to travel off the Strip or leave the city altogether in order to spend good shopping money. Most of the larger, newer hotels contain a mall's worth of shops, ranging from the super-pricey (just check out any of the jewelry stores in ANY of the upscale casinos) to the moderately high-end (FCUK at the Venetian Shoppes). There aren't many great bargains to be found in these places, but the merchandise is top-notch.

My personal favorite place to browse and buy is the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. The interior has a canal running through it, as the gondoliers sing opera to passengers and sometimes passers-by. There's also Le Boulevard at Paris, where you can stroll on cobblestone streets while perusing all things Parisian. And if you tire of walking, take a trip up the Eiffel Tower replica to survey the scene. The faux skylines makes it feel as if you're outdoors… but you'll be thankful in the summertime that you're not, and that Las Vegas has some of the best climate control systems in the world.