Las Vegas On a Budget

Published February 6th, 2008

Ahhh… Las Vegas.  I can only describe it as Disneyland for adults.  It really is another world, built right in the middle of the desert.  This unique city can give you great value for your money with so many things to do in one place.  I’m going to share with you some of the ways we get the most out of our money when we visit Vegas.  There’s much more to do than what’s mentioned here, but I felt these were some of the best values.  I’ll focus less on the obvious gambling and entertainment so many other people have already covered, and more on the other gems to be found in and around the city that never sleeps. 

Deal..or no deal

Obviously getting there and where to stay are going to be a big part of your expenses.  Vegas  is a busy place that has no problems filling hotel rooms most of the time.  If you want a good deal, make sure to not go when there is a major event or convention on, and you can usually get a much better rate if you go during the week.  If you have previously been to Vegas and joined one of the loyalty clubs at the hotels, they will sometimes have better rates or deals for members.  Ask for a corner room, even if they can’t give you one, they’ll usually upgrade you to a room with a nicer view.  There are also some better prices off “the strip” (the popular main street called Las Vegas Boulevard) but on your first visit, specially if you don’t have a car, I recommend staying on the strip to get the most out of your trip.

There are flight and hotel deals out there to keep an eye out for.  Generally these can be pretty good if you’re traveling by yourself.  If you’re going with a group you’re probably best to find a deal on the hotel room, split it, and find your own flights etc.  I have found some great deals through www.travelzoo.com  This is a very cool site.  Every week Travelzoo’s people scour the web for the best deals, compile a top 20 list and email it out to their subscribers.  They also have a Canadian edition at http://ca.travelzoo.com/.  If you’re flexible and plan ahead there are some smokin’ good deals to be found through them.

Food

There is no shortage of food in Vegas.  Sadly, gone are the days when hotels would attract you to stay there, and practically give away the food at cheap buffets.  Now the buffets, are bigger, more showy, and more expensive than ever–but there is a way around it.  If we want to eat at a buffet, we go to a lunch one, early to mid afternoon–instead of the more expensive dinner version.  The selections are excellent and the prices are often considerably less than at dinner time.  Lunch is also a great way to try any of the other famous a la carte restaurants that are popping in Vegas: Some even offer 3 or 4 course tasting menus at lunch time!

If we’re talking buffets, most of the ones in the big hotels on the strip are great, my favourites are the Le Village Buffet at Paris Las Vegas, the one at the Luxor, and Bally’s.  Off strip, the best buffets are at the Green Valley Ranch, and the Red Rock Hotel and Casino.  Not a buffet, but the Monte Carlo brew pub on the strip has a great selection of microbrews, brick oven pizzas, and sensational steak at reasonable prices.  Word on the street is that there’s a giant hot dog to be had for only 99 cents at Slots-A-Fun (next to the Sahara), but I’ve not had it myself.

There are plenty of food courts on the strip both inside your hotel and outside.  Last time I was there, I discovered that the prices at certain chain restaurants and coffee shops were actually more expensive in the hotels–for the same stuff.  In general, you might have to get out of bed to walk a few steps down the road to get your breakfast, but you’ll definitely save a few dollars.  Like I said, we save the major eating and fancy restaurants for lunch time, and then have a reasonable dinner.  One chain that is a dinner favourite for us is Panda Express–good quality and creative Chinese dishes at great prices.

If you have transport to go off the strip, the Lotus of Siam is a wonderful Thai restaurant that is worth a visit.  Toto’s offers delicious Mexican food at a great deal.  Also, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is a Las Vegas institution that MUST be visited:  They have the biggest and the best sandwiches, hands down.  Great value for your money–and I’ll bet you won’t even be able to finish your sub without some help!

Transportation

If you want to rent a car, it’s best to pick it up at the airport, and book ahead of time.  This is a great and inexpensive way to see some of the sights and attractions off the strip. You can get a rental car from your hotel but it will be pretty expensive for the convenience.  Even if you don’t have a car, it’s easy to get around on the strip. 

The public transport CAT (Citizen’s Area Transit) is the only bus that goes all the way from the top of the strip right through to downtown, stopping at every major hotel along the way–you’ll see the blue signs by the road.  The bus runs 24/7 and often. The previous routes 301 and 302 have now been replaced by the “Deuce” double decker buses and are all one route–last I checked the fare was $2.  Tip #1: Check out the bus route before you go, if you ask at the hotels they will either tell you that the bus doesn’t come near their hotel, or they don’t know–I guess they do this so you will use their affiliated transport instead.  Tip#2 Avoid the bus during rush hour as all of the employees pile into the buses on their way to and from work.

There is a monorail that goes between the MGM and the Sahara stopping at selected places.  The monorail is fast, specially if you want to go far, but can be expensive.

There are tourist trolley buses that are also reasonably priced ($2.50 the last time I checked) and go as far North as the Stratosphere.  I believe the trolleys stop running at midnight.

There is a free shuttle bus between the Rio and Harrah’s.  Also, there is a free tram between the Excalibur and Mandalay Bay: on the Northbound trip is also stops at the Luxor.

Bottom line: The buses and trolleys can save you a lot of money getting around on the strip–you just need to be patient as they aren’t speedy.

Gambling

Just briefly on the strip:  Slot machines are fun but a good way to lose your money quickly.  Some alternatives include hanging out in a Keno lounge for an afternoon getting a few games in for a few dollars and enjoying some free tasty beverages.  Although the drinks are free, if you tip the waitress, they will come back more often.  Other less expensive but fun endeavours are the Big Six wheel in many casinos, and 25 cent roulette at the shady but cheap Casino Royale.

Absolutely Free Things To Do on the Strip 

A must see is the water fountain show outside the Bellagio–make sure to see it before it gets too late in the evening as it doesn’t run all night.  The Bellagio also has a botanical garden under a huge skylight that’s worth checking out.  There is a plexiglass lion habitat at the MGM grand that is worth seeing (it is a nice habitat–and the animals don’t even live there–they live offsite where they have more room to play and exercise).  Outside the Mirage is a volcano that erupts on the hour.  If you’re into a Mardi Gras type of atmosphere, at The Rio you can see the Ipanema Beach Party in the Masquerade Village area of the casino, where floats go by overhead with characters dancing and throwing beads to the crowd.  Another absolute must-see is the Freemont Street Experience downtown–a unique music and light show like no other that runs every half an hour.  My only regret was that I didn’t try a deep fried Twinkie downtown!

Cheap Thrills

Check for current prices for the following attractions, but they are something fun to do other than throwing your money away!  At the Venetian they have both indoor and outdoor gondola rides–a very unique experience complete with singing gondolier.  If you are looking for an adrenaline rush try the Manhattan Express roller coaster at New York New York, Speed at the Sahara, or the various death defying coasters on top of the Stratosphere!

The Luxor has IMAX movies and an IMAX 3D ride as well.  You can get a pretty good deal if you do 2 or 3 things together.  Other motion rides on the strip are Race For Atlantis at Caesar’s Palace and The Magic Motion Machines at the Excalibur.

If you’re interested in animals check out the Dolphin experience at the Mirage or the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.  The shark reef is a bit pricey (around $15 for an adult), but you can easily spend a couple of hours there.  If you have a real interest I think that you can call ahead and arrange a guided tour and students of all ages can attend pre-arranged lectures during weekdays.

There are a lot of coupon books floating around Vegas with discounts on attractions.  Coupons can also be found online and in the hotels–who knows, there may be a coupon for something you’re interested in doing.

Nearby road trips

My favourite day trip is to nearby beautiful Red Rock Canyon.  There is a 13 mile loop that you can drive, and areas where you can get out and hike if you like.  You can even drive into the middle of this little canyon.  The best time of the day to go is in the morning when it’s not so busy.

Enjoy the scenic drive to Hoover Dam, there is a lot of historical significance here, and it is right on the border of Nevada and Arizona.  My husband thought it was the coolest thing ever.  I thought it was very impressive but felt a bit of vertigo.

Another tourist favourite is the Valley of Fire State Park.  Many of my friends have enjoyed great hiking, scenery, and a top notch visitor centre here, but I’m going to have to make it on my next visit.  Of course the Grand Canyon is within driving distance to Vegas, but it’s about a 280 mile drive each way, so you’d need to get a very early start to visit either the North rim (better views and less crowded) or the South rim (more popular with the tourists).  Other options if you’re only going to do it once are either a land or air tour to get the best views of the canyon. 

Well, I know this was a lot of information to digest, but I really hope that it helps you to get the best value out of your trip to Las Vegas.  I plan on going back again within the next couple of years so please email me if you find any more great bargains.

Update April 2008…

This article has become increasingly popular over that last few months!  If you found it useful, or have any other Vegas tips that might be helpful to others, please post them in the comment section below. Thanks, Amanda :)

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