STLV Trek to Vegas is the world’s biggest Star Trek Convention on most years. It’s a sprawling event covering 5 days in Las Vegas and is a must-visit for any sci-fi fan (and certainly Trekkie). The scope of STLV, not to mention a trip to Las Vegas, means a lot of moving parts that can make it hard to wrap your head around what one actually does at a Star Trek convention.
You can watch the video above for your complete guide to STLV and read on for the highlights.
What Is STLV?
STLV one of the many fan conventions run by Creation Entertainment. It’s not a pure Star Trek convention (STLV does have guests and panels covering other fandoms) but is mostly about the show Gene Roddenberry created. STLV takes place every year in the early part of August and goes from Wednesday to Sunday at the Rio Hotel and Casino which has recently been acquired by Hyatt.
Planning Your STLV
The first step is to sign up for a World of Hyatt rewards program account if you don’t already have one. You can earn and use Hyatt points for booking at the Rio, but you can’t claim points after a stay (unlike most airline mileage programs). You’ll want to book a room at the Rio – which is off the strip and makes staying a other properties much less convenient – at the very latest in mid-May to ensure you can find a room to meet your needs.
- Once you’re at the hotel, you can sign up for a Rio Rewards card. That will not only let you earn points for any purchases at the hotel (minus your room) but Rio will send you free stay offers throughout the year. Using a Rio Rewards promotion you can often get at least one day of your booking before or after the convention for free.
The STLV tickets can be purchased as general admission or under a variety of tiers, each with perks of their own. For general admission, the busiest days are Saturday and Sunday so I recommend purchasing tickets at least a month in advance. Throughout the year around many United States Federal Holidays, Creation also runs sales on tickets. You can sign up through their website to get notified of any promotions.
- Personally I like to get to Rio the Sunday before STLV, plan some side trips like Area 51, and leave the Tuesday after the convention. (There’s an unofficial Star Trek pool party on the Monday after STLV which helps with recuperating after the long weekend.)
What’s STLV Like?
STLV is like a Star Trek buffet, you can pick and choose how you want to make your plate. There are panel interviews with actors, crew, and writers who will take audience questions, a packed vendor’s room full of merch, science talks, concerts, and more all happening often at once. You’ll need to pick and choose in between all the events and any photo ops or autographs signings you have scheduled.
- Photo ops are fun but if you want to interact a bit more with a given Trek personality, getting an autograph is the better way to go. You’ll pay for the autograph but many will take a selfie with you for free. Plus you get a few more moments to chat with the Trek actor, writer, or crew.
Money Saving Tips
An extra day before STLV gives you time to visit a nearby grocery store and buy snacks plus any alcohol you want. The Rio, like most Las Vegas resorts charges high markups for food and booze so going to a nearby grocery store can save you hundreds of dollars over an STLV. I’d also recommend bringing or buying a filtered water bottle so you can drink from the room faucet. The convention spaces all have free water available but having a bottle will cut down on waste.
No Cosplay Needed
You don’t have to dress up but if you want to, there’s no limit to how creative you can get. At STLV you can be a different character every day but just be sure to wear good walking shoes. The steps down the long Rio hallways add up quickly and be sure to pop down to the Masquerade Bar in the evenings where most everyone at STLV passes through at some point to unwind.
For any Star Trek fan, STLV is a convention to visit at least once. Creation does run other regional ST-Conventions in other U.S. cities also worth considering but for the biggest show for the best show, there’s no place like STLV Trek to Vegas.
