Are you looking to visit Las Vegas and enjoy your time but don’t want to break the bank? Let us help you! There are tons of ways to enjoy yourself and stay within budget. We have been to Las Vegas twice, most recently in September 2021. We visited both pre-COVID and during COVID and can give you great insight into the best way to see and do all the things on a modest budget (or at least modest for Vegas prices).
Where to Stay
Find a centrally located hotel on the Strip. This will help you cut down on taxi/uber/bus costs. We stayed both times at the Linq which is directly across from Caesar’s Palace. The Linq is connected to the Linq Promenade which has numerous restaurants, bars, shopping, and the High Roller Ferris wheel. I know some people prefer to stay on Fremont Street and it IS cheaper, but we did not like that area as much and the cigarette smoke was horrible for my allergies.
Cheap Eats and Drinks
There are several fast food places located along the strip. Our personal favorite is In N Out Burger in the Linq Promenade. “Secret pizza” Pizzeria in the Cosmopolitan hotel is another great find for New York-style pizza. It is on the 3rd floor near the chandelier bar. Look for the hallway lined with records. Follow them and you will find the pizza! Another good way to save money is to purchase beverages at CVS or other vendor stores along the strip. Don’t pay for drinks from the numerous bars, it is perfectly legal to walk around with drinks from anywhere. We always visit CVS upon arrival and stock up on snacks, water, and alcohol to take back to our room to have for the duration of our stay. When we visited the first time in 2017, you could also get free drinks while gambling. However, oddly we did not get a single free drink in 2021 while gambling. I’m guessing this was due to COVID, but I’m not sure.
Take a Day Trip Outside the City to Visit Nature
Rent a car for the day and drive out of the city. Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Valley of Fire are just under an hour drive from the strip via car and the drives are gorgeous. On our first trip, we chose to combine Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire into one full day. Our first stop was Hoover Dam and we got there as soon as they opened. Parking is $10/car. Stop at the visitor’s center if you would like a guided tour. We walked around on our own and took in the engineering marvel that is the Hoover Dam. From the Hoover Dam, drive just over one hour to the Valley of Fire State Park. It consists of almost 46,000 acres of rock formations and beauty. We did not hike due to time constraints and instead drove the 6-mile White Domes Road, stopping often to take photos and take in the scenery. The fee to enter is $10/car. On our second visit to Vegas, we rented a car again and took a trip out to Red Rock Canyon which is only 30 minutes outside the city. Entry is $15/car. We did the 13-mile Scenic Loop Drive. This trip took about half a day and we used the rest of the day to visit attractions off the strip in Vegas since we had the rental car all day.
Take in a Show
It is a must to do a show while in Las Vegas. There are shows to meet everyone’s preferences from singing, dancing, improv, magic, etc. During our first trip in 2017 we saw Britney Spears and the Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil show. This most recent visit we saw Blue Man Group. If you are planning to go to a big musical guest such as Britney Spears, definitely book those tickets months in advance if you can. For the regular shows such as Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group, we always wait and book these upon arrival. There are several ticket booths throughout the strip that sell discounted tickets. This way we don’t commit to a time/date until we know our schedule a bit better. We also usually wait and see what show has the best discount once there and we use that to determine what show we see. If you are dead set on seeing a specific show, book prior to arrival.
Walk the Strip
If the weather is nice/tolerable, make sure to take time and walk the Strip. First, it’s free! And second, you can’t appreciate all the things while driving or even on a bus, it must be experienced by foot. Make sure to stop at the Bellagio fountains which have a show every 30 minutes with music and lights. Stop in at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat to see flamingos and other wildlife at their outdoor exhibit. Visit the Venetian and feel like you are in Venice, Italy with gondola rides on the canal. Make sure to stop at the famous Las Vegas Sign for a photo op. There is almost always a line to get a photo but the line moves quickly.
Visit the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Looking for a free activity and an escape from the outside weather? A visit to the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is perfect! It is a beautiful floral extravaganza that changes 5 times a year with the seasons and the lunar new year.
Hotel Pool
Almost all hotels in Las Vegas charge a resort fee for use of the property including the pool. Make sure to get your money’s worth and visit the pool at your hotel. Most of the pools are very nice and are not to be missed. Plan to get there early in the morning as they get quite busy. We always arrive as soon as they open so we can get chairs. Make sure to note that outside food and drink are not allowed so you will need to purchase these items at the pool area if needed.
Fremont Street Experience
You have to visit the historic Fremont Street at least once during your visit. This is old school Vegas. This is where the rat pack stayed during their heyday. You can almost feel the ghosts of the famous walking around. As soon as you get there, look up! You will see the beautiful and free Viva Vision light show that covers the entire ceiling of Fremont Street. If you are looking for adventure, book the Slotzilla zip line and fly over all of Fremont Street. Sadly, we were not able to get tickets. If you want to do this, make sure to book well in advance as it sells out quickly. If you enjoy gambling, I recommend you do so here as both the slot machines/tables and the drinks are cheaper at Fremont Street than they are on the Strip.
Las Vegas is not known for being a cheap vacation. However, there are many ways to visit on a budget with plenty of free and cheap experiences. Have you been to Vegas before? What other recommendations do you have for free and cheap entertainment?
Recent Comments