Las Vegas on a Budget
If Las Vegas is known for one thing, it’s doing everything to excess—and that includes spending. Your visit to Sin City doesn’t have to break the bank!
Las Vegas can be just as budget-friendly as any other travel destination. With our tips and tricks, you can cut your unnecessary spending—or leave yourself more cash for the nightclub later on.
Let’s jump in!
1. Visit mid-week
One of the easiest ways to save money in Las Vegas is to visit in the middle of the week, and your flights will be cheaper as well. Suzanne from The Travel Bunny suggests you “book your Vegas trip for midweek for hotel savings—hHotel prices are cheapest on a Wednesday and Thursday.”
Visiting during the slow season (July and August, as well as mid-December) may also result in cheaper rates.
TRAVEL TIP: If you’re hoping to sample Las Vegas’s active party scene, confirm that your favorite day or nightclubs are open during the week.
2. Watch convention dates
A lot of conventions are hosted in Las Vegas, and room rates can skyrocket as a result. Book your trip around these dates to get the best prices. This calendar can help you avoid any major conventions.
TRAVEL TIP: If you’re coming to Las Vegas for a convention, booking as early as possible might get you a lower rate.
3. Stay in Downtown Las Vegas
The hotels downtown may offer fewer fancy amenities like spas, headline shows, and dayclubs, but the rates will be cheaper—and so are the table minimums. Downtown Las Vegas is just a few miles north of the Strip, and it’s home to a vast mix of restaurants, bars, casinos, and other entertainment, so don’t worry about getting bored!
Check out our guide to visiting downtown Las Vegas to learn more.
4. Join your hotel’s rewards program
You’ll get freebies just for signing up. If you gamble, you’ll earn even more rewards and comps, as long as you gamble at the right casino.
5. Stay in the middle of the Strip
Your room rate will be the same, but you’ll have an easier time getting around the Strip without paying as much for cabs or other transit.
6. Talk to your concierge
Your hotel concierge get help you score tickets to shows, the High Roller Observation Wheel, and other can’t-miss Vegas attractions. They can also tell you where to eat without breaking the bank.
7. Visit with friends
Victoria from Pommie Travels suggests splitting your room with friends: “Las Vegas can be pretty expensive (especially if you’ve lost all your money in the casino) so it’s always nice to go with some cash in your pocket. If you want to save money I’d highly recommend going with a few friends and splitting a room with two queen beds.”
8. Try the Las Vegas Explorer Pass
With the Las Vegas Explorer Pass, you can visit a selection of three or five of the 25 most popular attractions in Sin City for a lower price than individual admission would cost.
Learn more about the Las Vegas Explorer Pass.
9. Book show tickets and tours online and in advance
If there’s a particular show you just have to see, booking your tickets online in advance is often cheaper than waiting till you arrive in Las Vegas. You should also consider booking a room at the hotel that hosts your show—you may get a discounted show ticket.
If you aren’t particular about what you want to see, you might be able to get cheaper last-minute tickets at a Tix4Tonight kiosk. There are 10 kiosks located along the Strip and in downtown Las Vegas.
TRAVEL TIP: Check online for discounts on show tickets and tours at places like Groupon and Vegas.com, suggests James from Escaping Abroad.
Guided tours and day trips to popular Southwest locations like the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, and Red Rock Canyon are also often cheaper when you book ahead of your visit. Plus, you don’t have to worry about missing out if all the tours are full by the time you arrive in Las Vegas! Take a look at these popular tours:
10. Shop smart for snacks
Hannah and Adam from Getting Stamped recommend picking up snacks, bottled water, and toiletries from nearby pharmacies rather than from within your hotel: “Stop by Walgreens and pick up some snacks & drinks for your room to save some money on food & drinks.”
11. Don’t rent a car unnecessarily
If you’re planning on staying on the Strip and don’t intend to do a whole lot of exploring, don’t spend money renting a car. Parking can be expensive, traffic is crazy, and it’s generally easier and less stressful to either take cabs or ride-sharing services, walk, or hop on the monorail.
If you’re planning to explore outside the city limits, then you may want to consider renting a car or taking a group tour to places such as Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, and Death Valley.
12. Party smart
Ladies, talk to club promoters to try to get free entry into nightclubs. Gentlemen, if you’re in a group of only guys, try to join up with women—you’ll get cheaper entry into the club. A 2:1 ratio of women to men is best, but if you don’t have any ladies in your group, booking bottle service is likely your cheapest bet.
If your chosen night club is attached to a restaurant, eat dinner at that restaurant—you might get discounted club entry. Just ask your server!
Get more tips for partying in Las Vegas in our guide.
13. Get drinks on the casino floor
If you’re going to a club, pre-game on the casino floor—gamblers get free drinks. Make sure you tip your waitress. Start with $5, then $1-2 for subsequent drinks.
14. Check out some free attractions
There are tons of cool, free spots to hit up during your stay, such as:
- Fremont Street Experience: A free light show, called “Viva Vision”, runs every hour from dusk till midnight. There’s also usually live music downtown.
- Bellagio Fountains: A coordinated music, light, and water show shows every 15 minutes from 8PM till midnight, and every 30 minutes during the day.
- Hotels: Most hotels will have free attractions like aquariums, gardens, and shows. Circus Circus offers a free circus show every half hour from 11AM till midnight. The wildlife habitat at the Flamingo is popular as well, as is the conservatory and botanical gardens at the Bellagio.
- People Watching: If you want to save money in Vegas, Turner from American Travel Blogger suggest checking out some low-cost (and high-interest!) attractions like the Mob Museum or Neon Museum, or “just people watching in Old Vegas”. You’ll certainly be able to spot some colorful characters!
15. Bring all the cash you need
ATM fees can be significant, up to $6 per transaction. Taking out enough money before you travel or hit the casino floor can help you avoid this hidden cost, and can makes it easier to resist temptation and stick to your budget or gambling limit.
16. Don’t rely entirely on taxis
Use the Deuce—a double decker bus that run the length of the Strip up to Fremont Steet 24 hours a day every 15 minutes—to get around the Strip. It’s $5 per ride, or $12 for a day pass.
There are also three monorails that run for from the Mirage to Treasure Island, the Bellagio to Monte Carlo, and from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur for free. Ride sharing options like Uber and Lyft are also good choices.
TRAVEL TIP: If you’re visiting from outside the United States, an international mobile data plan can help you avoid racking up huge roaming fees.
17. Hit the buffet during a transition period
At Las Vegas buffets, you pay when you sit down—not after you eat. If you sit down shortly before dinner service starts, you’ll pay the lunch price but you’ll get the dinner menu. Make sure you confirm meal service times before you head to your chosen buffet!
Get our tips for taking advantage of a Las Vegas buffet.
18. Use coupon booklets
Look at your hotel’s check-in desk and inside taxis for coupon booklets. They contain lots of coupons that you can use at restaurants and around the city. “When you check in to your hotel you’ll usually be given a leaflet with a bunch of food/drinks tokens, so it’s always worth using those”, advises Victoria.
19. Check out a happy hour or pre-theater menu
Many restaurants run a pre-theater menu between 4 and 7 PM for showgoers before the dinner rush. You may also be able to find some solid happy hour deals.
20. Take advantage of student and military discounts
Some hotels offer discounted rates for students and those in the military. Don’t be afraid to ask!
21. Limit your gambling!
Turner from American Travel Blogger recommends setting a daily budget and making sure you stick to it: “If you are going to skimp, I would try to go easy on the gambling. Make sure to know your limit and bet under it. Don’t forget to get the free drinks and walk away when you are ahead. If you succeed in this, let me know how.”
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Written by Ria Borja
