The Cheap Las Vegas Vacation
Sticker Shock. They call it that when costs sneak up on new car purchase, but the effect can be the same with a vacation in Las Vegas. Sometimes it can seem like every direction you turn in Vegas, it takes more money, and every simple thing is twice as much as it should be.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little bit of planning and keeping eyes open, you can wrangle the deals and have a very inexpensive fun time here—even if you’re just saving more money for gambling. We won’t judge.
Here are some tips:
Hotels
Do you need to be on the Strip? Look for a deal at certain older or transitioning hotels: Luxor, Circus Circus, Riviera, The Quad in particular. But keep an eye on all the (including possible “resort fees” that might be charged when you check in). Also, consider what’s important to you about your hotel: the room itself, the casino, the swimming pool, or the dining and entertainment. If you don’t need to be on the Strip (especially if you have driven in your own car), consider some very acceptable off-Strip resorts including Stratosphere, Gold Coast, The Orleans, Boulder Highway hotels including Boulder Station and Eastside Cannery and Downtown Fremont Street hotels including El Cortez, The California, Golden Gate and Four Queens. Review sites can be confusing, but check the web for photos, they rarely lie.
Dining
Your first instinct: hit the buffet, right? Well, maybe. But some buffets can end up being more expensive than a regular meal (especially at dinner), make you wait on a long line, and still not offer what you really wanted. The best buffet deals are definitely off-Strip: all the Stations casinos, The Orleans, South Point, and in the very cheap (but still decent) range, Main Street Station and Gold Coast. Other buffets are cheap for a reason.
If you’re not picky and fast food will do, there are good options at Excalibur, Monte Carlo, and Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian. Hankering for one of Vegas’ famous gourmet burgers? Consider FatBar, where you can drink right on the Strip and get a really nice burger for under $10. For just a pinch more, hit Kerry Simon’s KGB burger in Harrah’s, still one of the best at any price.
Also keep an eye out for “graveyard specials” (discounts from midnight to 6 AM) and coupons at your hotel: some are definitely good deals.
Drinking
Believe it or not, many bars on the Strip have amazing happy hour specials (and not just during happy hour), so look around. The new RockBar at the Venetian has some impressive all-you-can-drink offers, if you’re so inclined. Also remember, most casino bars will comp your drinks if you have put money in the video machine in front of you (you’re not required to actually gamble the money, just put it in). That’s up to their discretion, so ask.
Entertainment
Want to see a good show without going broke? Comedy in particular can be a bargain (especially if its one of the smaller clubs, like the Improv at Harrah’s or Brad Garrett’s), daytime shows like magician Mac King are often a deal, and local emerging talents like Frankie Moreno (Stratosphere) give you great bang for your buck, too. Even Cirque du Soleil shows will have promotions during certain times of the year. Off-Strip tickets are almost always cheap, even if it’s a big name. Ask around—and not just at the concierge desk.
Nightclubs and Party Pools
Like everything else, there is fierce competition in the nightclub/dayclub world, and if a particular spot just happens to not be the absolute number one place at the moment, they may be happy to waive your cover charge—if you’re the right person for them. The “right person” is usually young, female, stylish and fit, and if you are among a group of them, so much the better (and if you’re not, sorry, this isn’t a civil rights issue). On occasion, clubs/pools will let presentable guys in too, as long as they are with at least as many girls. It’s always a better idea to inquire and get on host or server guest list during the day (or the previous day), than just show up at the door.
Vegas now has a lot of casino lounges and pubs that can feel almost like nightclubs, but don’t charge anyone a cover, so you might well consider one of these. ICandy at Mandalay Bay and Caramel at Bellagio are two that come to mind, but there are many more. Some restaurant bars are also hot spots: STK (Cosmopolitan) and Andrea’s (Encore) for example.
Attractions
Don’t forget lots of free attractions around the Strip, including the Bellagio fountains and conservatory, the Mirage Volcano, the Venetian’s Grand Canal and many other displays in the casino resorts. The Fremont Street Experience is also a unique spectacle. There’s a good chance the ‘free’ things to do here will end up being some of the most memorable parts of your trip. Honestly.
Transportation
Distances are deceiving in Las Vegas, so you’ll find you can’t walk as far as you thought. If you didn’t drive your own car, take a shuttle from the airport (taxis can add up quickly), and check out the Deuce buses—they runs regularly from the Strip to Downtown and back. Some off-Strip hotels also have complimentary shuttles to the Strip, but service can be limited. Unless you’re going to/from the Convention Center, the Monorail is not as good a deal.
More General Advice
Join the players club, whether it’s at the hotel you’re staying at, or the hotel you’re gambling at, or the hotel you’re eating at. There are usually discounts connected to being a member, and it costs nothing to join (you must be 21).
