A trip to Vegas doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little bit of planning before your trip and some management during, you can easily maintain a budget in Las Vegas to keep yourself happy and your wallet even happier. Budget in Las Vegas like a local by following these tips and tricks!
If you’re looking to experience Vegas on a budget, you’ll need to start planning weeks or months before your trip to get the biggest bang for your buck. One of the most crucial expenses to be savvy on is accommodations. Consider these tips as you start booking your hotel rooms and suites!
Location is key when it comes to following a budget in Las Vegas. Think about where you’ll be spending most of your time and book hotels that sit near by all of the excitement. Yes, accommodations on the outskirts of the strip may be cheaper at first glance, but you also have to take into account the money you’ll be spending on transportation costs to get where you want to be. If you need to spend a few extra dollars to stay where the action is, it might be worth it when you factor in other costs.
In order to successfully budget in Las Vegas, you need to focus not only on your special occasion, but the city’s special events as well. Vegas is a hub for major conferences, UFC fights, holiday celebrations, festivals, and much more. Save some money on hotel rates and other expenses by choosing vacation dates that don’t fall on the same days as these events.
Along with considering dates and location, a resourceful Vegas visitor scours the web and other sources for discounts and deals. The first route you can try is joining a hotel’s membership program. Certain hotels offer gaming memberships through their casinos and becoming a member sometimes includes exciting rewards. Discounted room rates, comped dinners, and show tickets are just a few perks you can get from simply joining.
In addition to hotel memberships, check to see which hotels apply AAA, veteran, student, teacher, or first responder discounts to bring your rates down a little bit if they apply to you.
If you aren’t familiar with Vegas, you may not realize that the Strip alone is 4 miles long and a trek to walk across (especially if you’re wearing heels). Planning which transportation you’ll be using throughout your trip is another important aspect to remember if you want to enjoy Vegas on a budget. Luckily, there are multiple modes of transit available to tourists or locals looking to explore Las Vegas.
Uber and Lyft are the most popular ride sharing services in the country and a fantastic option for transport in Vegas. They are much cheaper than taking a taxi, and you can find them everywhere along the strip. Check to see if there are any promo codes for rides to get an even cheaper rate!
Get where you need to go without emptying your wallet by traveling around the city on the Las Vegas Monorail. The monorail is a super convenient way to travel because it has seven different stations that run along the entire Strip. Don’t worry about waiting around forever to board because trains are scheduled to arrive at the stations every 4-8 minutes.
Depending on how long your stay is, you can purchase affordable tickets that range from a 1-ride pass ($5) to a 7-day pass ($65). Realistically, you will most likely need a 24-hour pass ($13) or a 2-day pass ($23) that are pretty inexpensive when you think about all of the rides you’ll take during your trip!
If your budget in Las Vegas is looking super low dollar, tram systems will be your best friend because they’re free. There are three different trams you can ride and they’re located at separate monorail stations. Don’t let the term “monorail” throw you off. These trams are basically shorter versions of the Las Vegas Monorail mentioned above, except that they’re completely free!
Moving past the more practical considerations, it’s time to think about how you can have a blast with affordable activities that don’t break your budget in Las Vegas.
While it’s easy to go wild and blow thousands of dollars when you’re in the city, stick to these cheap things to do in Vegas and you’ll be golden.
Before you rule out any other iconic Las Vegas activities like clubbing and shows, take the time to do a bit of research to see if there are any discounts or loopholes you can work with. Here are a few ideas to reference when building your itinerary for Vegas on a budget.
Tix 4 Tonight is a super nifty resource to use to get your hands on cheap show tickets. The only catch is that (as the name suggests) the tickets are good only for the day you buy them. Because they’re last minute seats, you can score tickets for up to 50% off. Grab your tickets at a variety of booths at the Fashion Show Mall, Circus Circus, Town Square, Planet Hollywood, and Bally’s Grand Bazaar Shops. Make sure to get there early to beat the crowds!
Along with Tix 4 Tonight, take advantage of other discounts if available to you. AAA, student, military, and special hotel guest rates are common discounts that can help you stick to your budget in Las Vegas.
Most people visiting Vegas plan on at least one night of clubbing, so it’s worth figuring out ahead of time how you can party it up while keeping your spending down. While there’s no magic tip that can change the fact that women most often get into clubs easier and for less money than men, there are a couple strategies your group can follow to make the most out of the situation.
First things first, get on the guest list for any club you want to check out. To get on these lists, you can call or text a club promoter, contact the club directly, call the hotel where the club is located, or go to the concierge desk at your hotel to sign up. The second part of clubbing you need to consider is alcohol. Buying alcohol at clubs is the worst move you can make when traveling to Vegas on a budget. If there was ever a better time for pregaming, this is it. Find the best happy hour deals in Vegas or drink your own alcohol before you get to the club.
Running the streets of Las Vegas can be an exhausting experience, so deciding what you’ll be munching on is imperative for keeping your energy up. Eating in Vegas on a budget is totally possible if you take the proper precautions and choose your venues wisely.
If you want quick and easy dining that’s cheap, restaurants off the Strip or in downtown Vegas are the way to go. There are plenty of affordable dining options that get the job done without draining your bank account.
Staying on the Strip is probably the more enticing option when it comes to fueling up on yummy food during your stay. You don’t necessarily have to drop hundreds of dollars to eat at nice restaurants either. Follow these tips and you just might be able to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in style and on budget in Las Vegas.
Sticking to your budget in Las Vegas is a breeze if you plan ahead and put into practice these tips and tricks! Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime Vegas experience that will leave you and your bank account ready for round two in no time.
