Las Vegas is one of the most famous vacation spots in the United States. However, it is not the cheapest place to take a trip. Even if you are not planning to spend the day away at a casino, you could still spend a hefty amount of money on restaurants, hotels, entertainment, and other accommodations. Fortunately, there are tons of other activities you can do during a trip to Vegas, all within a reasonable budget. For this guide, we are going to provide you with a guide for enjoying Las Vegas on a budget.
Budget Hotels
Finding a hotel is something you obviously need to do when staying for a duration of time in Las Vegas. Fortunately, there are a decent number of affordable hotels if you know where to look. One of the best things to do is to check online and compare prices for hotels. Places like Kayak and Trivago work great for this kind of situation. However, here is a general view of what you may find.
During the peak season, a bed in a four to six-bedroom will cost you around $30. If you are considering getting a room with more than eight beds, then be ready to pay around $25 or so. During the off-season, a bed in a room with eight beds or more shall cost somewhere around $22 each night, while smaller rooms will cost around $20.
A basic private room for two with an ensuite bathroom costs around $75 per night during peak season. The price should be around $50 during the off-season. There are cheaper hotel options in Vegas near the Strip or downtown. Nightly rates for a budget hotel room begin around $50 in peak season. In the off-season, budget rooms can cost about $39. Airbnb is an option in Vegas, but not many of them are located near the Strip. There are also tons of high-end hotels offering low prices, so it’s not really necessary to get an Airbnb. A shared room averages around $37 per night, while a private room is around $70 per night.
Budget Transportation
If you were not aware, the Strip is very close to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. The traffic there is quite heavy, which makes taxi rides expensive. If you want a really cheap option then take the airport shuttle minibus. These shuttles can drop you off at your hotel. There are several various companies, but they disembark from just outside the airport’s baggage reclaim and they charge around $10 for the ride.
The strip is easy to get around by foot, but distances can be somewhat farther than they look. If you need a rest or are planning to go farther, then hop on a Deuce. These double-decker buses tend to run up the Strip to Fremont Street 24 hours a day, every 15 minutes. The cost for riding one of these is $6 for two hours, $8 for 24 hours, or you can purchase a three-day pass for $20.
You can also take the Las Vegas Monorail, which passes through the SLS station to the MGM Grand station. The tickets cost $5 per ride, or for a better value, you can get the 24-hour pass for $13. Three smaller monorail trams run from the Mirage to Treasure Island, Bellagio to Monte Carlo, and Mandalay Bay to Excalibur.
Food and Drinks
When it comes to cheap dining, go to the restaurants that are off the Strip or downtown area.
You can also find some great value pre-theatre menus if you are alright with eating early during the evening. There are also restaurant discount coupons in the booklets that are readily available in hotel rooms. Fortunately, there are tons of cheap places you can find in the city. Some hotels and casinos offer buffets that can cost between $10 or $25.
If you head to the middle of the Strip close to Ballys, there are several cheap chain restaurants such as Chipotle, McDonald’s, and Subway, where you can find some cheap food. You can get some slices of pizza that cost around $4, and you can find burgers even at casinos for $10.
Vegas also offers tons of mid-range dining options, especially around the downtown area and Fremont Street. Dining out here will cost around $20 per main course, including meat and pasta dishes. Some beer will cost you around $6, but you can save money by grabbing a beer at the corner store for less than $6, plus it’s legal to drink in the streets in Vegas.
Las Vegas does have some of the best quality dining restaurants in the world. If you are willing to splurge a little, then consider trying out the fantastic meals. You can get a price fix for three-course meals between $59-200 or more in Vegas. However, you can also get some delicious meals with two courses at around $50.
Entertainment
Las Vegas is known for having some of the best shows around, whether it’s a well-liked music performer or even the Cirque du Soleil. Getting advanced tickets to these shows can set you back a few hundred dollars, but it is possible to get discounted prices as a Tix4Tonight outlet, which can be found throughout the Strip.
The tickets they sell are for performances that are happening that day, so you will not know what’s available all the time. Although you will be saving up half prices on the face value, so it could be worth checking out. The place opens up at 10 am, so going in would be ideal to have a more extensive selection of tickets.
Casinos sometimes have free shows that you can go to as well. The most famous one is the Bellagio Fountains, with over a thousand fountains choreographed to music. The show happens every 15 minutes from 8 pm till 12 am, and every 30 minutes during the afternoons.
You can also go to the volcano located outside the Mirage, which erupts in the hour from 6 pm to 11 pm. Plus, there is a free circus show with clowns and acrobats every hour from 11:30 am till 11:15 pm, but they sometimes go for a little while longer on the weekends at Circus Circus.
The downtown area has the Fremont Street Experience that has all sorts of interesting things you can do. You can watch the free Viva Vision light and music show every hour from 6 pm or 8 pm till midnight, and there are sometimes live bands playing. There are also live dueling piano shows every night in bars at places like Paris and Harrah.
Club entries tend to cost money and tend to be cheaper for women than men. Discounts flyers are sometimes handed out on the street or approached by club promoters who can get your name on the guest list. Clubs tend to start pretty late in the evening, but you can get your hand stamped so you can go in and out whenever you want.
Top Views
Las Vegas’s tallest building is the Stratosphere Tower, and it has an observation deck that offers a fantastic view. The entry cost for this place is $25 per person or half the price if you are staying at the Stratosphere. You can also receive discount packages if you want to go on the wild rides at the top while you’re up there.
If you want a more central viewpoint, go to Paris Las Vegas, it is a half-sized replica of the Eiffel Tower. The entry fee for the Eiffel Tower is $18 during the daytime (from 10 am till 7 pm) and $22 during the night time (7 pm till 1 am), with free admission on your birthday. You will need to provide proof, so make sure you bring a photo ID.
One of the city’s latest viewpoints is the Higher Roller Ferris Wheel found at the LINQ shopping and entertainment district. This 550 feet tall Ferris wheel is the tallest one in the world, and it takes 30 minutes to finish a rotation. You can save time by purchasing a ticket online in advance, with it costing $20 during the daytime or $30 at night. You can also do a Happy Half Hour with an open bar for $35 before 7 pm.
Conclusion
Las Vegas may seem like an expensive place to take a trip, but that is if you decide to only stay at the Strip. There are tons of spots you can go to that offer great prices and can be just as fun as the Strip or downtown area. It is well worth the trip, and you will find yourself enjoying your time there all without having to spend a massive amount of cash to do so. Just plan and decide on where you want to hit up during those times. Don’t be afraid to check out ticket boots regularly to see if you can get any cheap ticks on those days as well.