Vegas on a Budget (or things to do when you don’t gamble or drink)

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One of the most commonly questions asked is how to do Las Vegas on a budget.  Translation:  cheap.  Although the very cheap days of the past are long gone, you can still find quite a few ways to save hundreds if you do it right, and maybe if you aren’t afraid to do a little walking or wait a little longer.

You can start out with this website.  The pricing guide will show you the cheapest weekends to travel to Vegas and is the primary purpose of this site.  Check out the resort guide to see if you can live with a cheaper resort to save.  All prices include Friday + Saturday night, resort fees, and taxes.  Total cost.

People often ask if it’s better to book early or wait, and it’s always better to book early.  Keep checking the resort website for current prices and if the price drops you can cancel the existing booking and make a new one.  Or just keep the original booking if it’s more expensive.  Either way you’ll have your room locked up and will get the cheapest price.  Just make sure you read the cancellation policy time frames.  I’ve been told they won’t price match themselves when you arrive.

Below are some tips I’ve collected over the years:

Alcohol/water/other

The Strip has several CVS/Walgreens stores that are open 24 hours a day.  Also, there are the ABC stores franchise which have really great deals.  You can find cheap water like 2 for $3/$4 at these stores instead of paying $15 for the room mini-bar.  Stock up as much as you can.  Chapstick at Bellagio is $6.09 after tax (Dec 2024).  Alcohol is a fraction of the casinos gift shop prices and the have a huge selection including single cans. They also sell styrofoam ice chests and ice that you can bring back to your room.

Deuce Bus / Monorail

You can save a ton if you use these transportation options instead of Ubers and Taxis.  The Deuce bus is a double-decker but that runs up and down the Strip and also stops at downtown, The Las Vegas Sign, the airport, etc.  List of stops.  The cost is $8 for a 24-hour pass or $20 for a 3-day pass.  They have an app or you can buy tickets from the machines at the stops.  Runs 24/7.  The monorail runs on the East side of the Strip behind the casinos.  It takes a bit to walk to but it’s about $14 for a 24-hour pass, but note it’s not a 24-hour service.  List of stops.  There is a convention center stop.

Cheap Eats

There are still some places you can get cheap eats in Vegas.  Your best bet is to search “Cheap Eats Las Vegas” on YouTube to find hundreds of videos.  Add in “2024” or “2025” to see more recent videos.  Facebook has a lot of Vegas groups so you can ask the crowd for recommendations near where you’re staying.  The picture on the left is Tacos el Gordo.  I got 3 tacos and a large drink for $16.  Next to that is Tacos el Pastor and also Peppermill.  None of these will break the bank.  Ellis Island has $4 pizza slices and $22 BBQ rib plates.  Off-Strip places can be 10 minutes away and are considerably cheaper, like Shang Artisan Noodles where they hand pull the noodles, or smaller casino buffets from $18 and up.  If you look, you will find them.

Nature

A lot of people don’t know about the nature spots around Las Vegas, but they can be breathtaking, especially Valley of Fire (left).  It’s about an hours drive from Vegas.  For a grand total of a $5 entry fee you can spend the day there driving to different hiking spots.  Get there early, there’s only 1 payment kiosk and the line gets backed up.  Another option is Red Rock Canyon, which is about 30 minutes from the Strip.  It has a 13-mile looping road where you can stop and take pics. A day pass is $20 but you’ll need reservations.  Even a tour at Hoover Damn is $30 or less if you buy direct.

Quirky Museums

One of my favorite things about Vegas are all the “museums” in the area.  You can see a history of The Mob, Neon Signs, Art Houses, Atomic Testing, Pinball, Burlesque, Titanic, Movie cars; there’s a lot to do.  All of these places start at $40 or less for admission (except The Arte Museum, $50), and are close to The Strip or Downtown.  It’s an easy way to burn through a couple of hours and see something uniquely Vegas.

Fun That’s Under $50

In addition to the quirky museums, Vegas also has a lot of cheaper activities, some of them suitable for the entire family.  There’s the Shark Aquarium at Mandalay Bay (from $29), the Slotzilla zipline that flies you over Downtown (from $49), and the Fly Linq zipline at the Linq (from $44),  For thrill rides on The Strip there’s the Big Apple at New York New York (from $29), the High Roller at The Linq (from $29), the Stratosphere Tower (from $21 including 1 ride), the Adventuredome at Circus Circus (from $25), and various escape rooms (usually a minimum of 2 people).  Want fine art?  The Bellagio Art Gallery starts at $19.  Prices are from December 2024.

Grab a drink (or a soda) at a rooftop bar

Vegas has some really amazing rooftop bars with views of the Strip and downtown.  They have lower rooftops where the buildings tower over you or high rooftop bars which show you the entire city.  Keep in mind that some of the more expensive bars charge a fee to enter which no longer makes it cheap.  But there are other places like Brewdog that is on the Strip (left).  I just wish I would have gone at night.  You can get drinks as low as $16 and appetizers for $20 or less, and 3-6 is a Happy hour which gives you up to 50% off.  Have a drink and sit on the terrace and absorb the chaos of Vegas from afar.

Cheap Gambling (tables)

Want to limit your losses to $100 or less?  Just about everything on the Strip will be $25 minimum on weekdays, and more on weekends. If you want to stay close to The Strip and Downtown, you still have options.  Ellis Island and The Strat have lower limits on Strip or next to it where you can find $5 minimums.  Downtown has a lot of cheaper options overall, just about every casino will have minimums that are a fraction of The Strip.  With that is a trade-off of being at “average” looking gaming areas and some desperate gamblers.  If you’re willing to drive and go off Strip, smaller casinos will have lower minimums.

Sports and Pools

Depending on how many people you have, sports facilities like Top Golf and Atomic Golf will pay off.  You pay a flat fee for the bay (up to 6/8 people) so the cost per person can be as low as $25 each for 2 hours depending on when you go, and they’re on The Strip.  The hottest pool ticket is Stadium Swim at The Circa downtown (from $25).  Their pools are heated during winter and they have a massive video board that shows live sports and odds.  Naturally, expect to pay premiums for things like food and beverages.  In the end, there’s always your hotel pool.  Some are amazing.

Discount Websites

These can be hit and miss.  If you want to see if you’re really getting a deal, be sure to go to the casino website to compare direct prices.  This can be for rooms, shows, activities, etc.  A lot of people use Vegas.com.  They often have discounted show tickets and there’s an amazing list of upcoming concerts. Others use coupons from The Las Vegas Advisor.  Groupon is still around and they can have some great deals for Las Vegas.  Another option is Priceline.  ProTip:  Search for the Priceline hotel images online.  Google will match the picture to a hotel so you’ll know which one you’re getting.  Just be sure to research and use a site that has positive reviews.

Mailing Lists

Sign up for the free rewards program at every casino on the Strip.  You’ll (slowly) start to receive offers about discounts and sales.  Sometimes it’s a special offer, but most times they’re letting you know about a sale you otherwise wouldn’t be aware of.  There’s also a YouTuber who has a free monthly newsletter talking about the Vegas deals going on that month.  Here’s his website, and here’s a sample from September 2024.  You can also joining my mailing list for cheap travel dates at the HotterVegas.com front page.  I send out mailers when the new pricing guides come out.

Other Options that Require Some Work

myVegas Apps MGM (PC, Android, Apple)

The word is spreading around about these apps since they offer good deals and not a lot of effort.  The rewards are for MGM properties and partners.  You earn points for the first hour of play daily.  The slots have auto-spin and so you just hit the spin button and set your phone aside for an hour.  Rewards are for free rooms for a night (some hotels, not all), BOGO buffets, drink deals, etc. for MGM and partners.  Sample rewards.  No cost, just points and there are no junk fees.  If you want to buy chips it increases the rewards, so you’ll start seeing 2-night offers instead of one.  Your choice. There really is no catch, you’ll see YouTube influencers using it. There are a lot of rules so it does require research.  Facebook has a good group about it.  Read the stickies first.

 

MGM / Caesars Credit Card

It took me a long time to sign up for this because I don’t open new credit cards casually, but I’m glad I did.  MGM gives you automatic Pearl status and Caesars give you automatic Platinum status when you get their cards.  No annual fee on both and free parking at any of their resorts which can save you a ton.  I don’t know much about Caesars but MGM also gives you Slot Dollars based on monthly spend, and in 5 months I have about $350 in slot dollars.  This can be converted to resort credit to use on dining, resort fees, etc.  The interest rates aren’t good so they aren’t cards to carry debt on;  pay off your balance at the end of the month.  At MGM you can apply at the rewards deck and they will print out your card for immediate use.

There are Always Free Things

Besides cheap options, Vegas has a lot of free options to spend time on.  A YouTube or Google search will show a lot of choices, but below is a small list:

 

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If you have anything you want to add, please email me at the email address on the top of the page.