On The Cheap in Las Vegas
Everything in Las Vegas is expensive. Everybody in Las Vegas wants something out of your pocket. Everywhere you go in Las Vegas, your wallet gets lighter. We know, we know. It can feel that way if you’ve just landed on the Las Vegas Strip and gotten a little “sticker shock” at how pricey some things are.
But it just isn’t true. Everything in Las Vegas isn’t expensive—in fact, some things are downright bargains, and even right on the Strip, you can indulge in a certain kind of fun known by the four letter word beginning with F. That’s right, F-R-E-E.
Here’s the first piece of advice: join every casino players’ club. Why? Because they’re free, they offer discounts at nearly all connected restaurants and often other attractions, and if you should want to gamble, you might as well add up some points for more freebies. Unless you are a very high roller (and therefore, not reading this) the way you get comps is through these points. Currently, I think that the Caesars Entertainment club seems to be dropping prices almost everywhere for their members so look at menus in the Caesars properties. ( Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Paris, The Quad) Do you see those numbers in parenthesis? Yes, you pay less just for being a member.
Like just about everywhere, breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day on the Strip. But if you go on the late side of things to one of the ‘big food’ spots (think Hash House A Go-Go or Serendipity 3), that plate of chicken and waffles may end up being all you want to eat all day! Or find one of the better value buffets—the Orleans, Gold Coast or Palms, all not far off-Strip. If you choose another cheap one, don’t blame me.
Vegas is entertainment in itself, and yes, checking out the casinos is free, but it can also be exhausting. Stick to the ones that really interest you, whether that’s the theme-fantasies of Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and New York-New York, the high glamour of City Center and the Cosmopolitan, or Strip central’s lavish Wynn/Encore, Venetian/Palazzo and Caesars. The huge shopping malls in all of them offer more than just envy, but particularly at the Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes, operatic performers and human statues mix with street artists and of course the famous gondolas (which many think are just as fun to watch than ride in!)
Feel like a drink? Your more “classic” casinos are where to go to get them for a reasonable price—think Tropicana, Harrah’s, Riviera, even Circus Circus and Slots-O-Fun. But here’s an even better tip. Go to any bar with video gaming, put some money in (say, $10 or $20) and think about betting. As long as there’s money in your machine, they will (or should) serve you for free. They don’t insist you gamble, but they have a feeling it’s going to happen. And, as you might know about casinos, they are usually right.
If you have your heart set on a show, consider Frankie Moreno at the Stratosphere—the multi-talented musician’s show is considered the hottest in town even by many fellow performers! Magicians like Mack King and Nathan Burton are also great value. Maybe you just need a good laugh, in which case look for a deal on Carrot Top, Louis Anderson or the Improv at Harrah’s
You do not have to go to a nightclub to hear music (although, if you’re in a group of good looking ladies, you won’t have to pay to get in, anyway). Instead, consider one of the better casino lounges, like the Zebra at Palazzo or Book & Stage at Cosmopolitan. Is Diplo going to be busting out the beats? No, of course not, but relax and enjoy yourself, you’ll be impressed with the talent level.
Still hungry? Chinese Dim Sum at Kjs or Ping Pang Pong is always a good call (if you can eat more than $20 per person at either, I’m impressed). Or, you might want to look into some of the post-Midnight “Graveyard” specials some casino restaurants offer. Downtown, that means the California Hotel, while near the Strip, consider the South Pointe or Mr Lucky’s at the Hard Rock Hotel. The 24-hour Fatburgers also offer better-than-average fast food.
