How to Experience Las Vegas in Style without Breaking the Bank
Las Vegas is famously known as an over-the-top adult playground that can easily empty your wallet. However, with some planning and insider tips, you can still experience Vegas in style without spending a fortune.
The key is knowing when to splurge and what you can skip to keep your trip both affordable and memorable.
This guide will walk you through how to enjoy all the glitz and entertainment Vegas offers while sticking to a reasonable budget.
Find Reasonable Airfare and Hotel Rates
Flights and hotels are usually the biggest expenses for any vacation. Luckily, Las Vegas has so much competition for your tourism dollars that deals can be found if you’re flexible and vigilant.
You can set up flight alerts for reasonably priced roundtrip airfare to Las Vegas by using websites like Going.com to track prices and get notifications when rates drop.
The same goes for hotels; prices fluctuate widely, especially mid-week vs weekends. Use a site like Priceline to set your own price via “Name Your Own Price” for 4-star hotels in coveted locations on the Strip.
Checking rates a month or more out and aiming for Sunday-Thursday stays will yield the best deals.
Experience Free Entertainment
Between gambling venues trying to draw you in and over-the-top productions trying to sell tickets, there are actually lots of free things to do all over the Strip.
Every night, the Bellagio Fountains feature an incredible choreographed dance show with lights and music. Mirage Volcano is another must-see free attraction, erupting with sights and sounds that erupt every 90 minutes after dark.
Many casino hotels also have stunning free attractions like the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio, the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, and the ABSINTHE Carnival Midway at Caesars Palace.
You may also like to check out Las Vegas Places to Visit You Should Know About.
Walk Through Iconic Hotels & Malls
Simply exploring the jaw-dropping hotels like Caesars Palace, The Cosmopolitan, and Venetian/Palazzo transports you into the essence of Vegas glory.
Marvel at the intricately themed casinos and shops, massive chandeliers, golden foyers, and exotic attractions as you wander through.
The shops and displays themselves inside malls, like the Grand Canal Shoppes and the LINQ promenade, also provide plenty of free eye candy.
Take Advantage of Resort Credits
One way to score major perks with little out of pocket is to use resort credits that come with lots of Vegas hotel packages. These credits can be used on anything from signature cocktails to meals to show tickets.
Packages found on sites like Expedia can come with $50 or more in credits upfront, allowing you to indulge in something you’ve already budgeted for. This way, you can pick where you want to splurge, like a fancy dinner, rather than overpaying for every meal.
Attend Free Shows & Events
From street performers to happy hour concerts, many resorts offer smaller-scale, often free entertainment to enjoy.
Circus Circus has ongoing circus acts perform under the big top. Excalibur, Harrah’s, and other hotels feature dueling piano shows for a singalong good time in various bars around the properties.
Downtown’s Fremont Street Experience is an immersive playground of musicians, dancers and street performers that come alive at night. Soundwaves shows projected onto the Viva Vision canopy showcase spectacular light and music shows for free nightly.
A trip to Las Vegas doesn’t have to derail your budget – with some flexible travel dates, savvy shopping skills, and researching all the free attractions and entertainment available, you can still experience classic Vegas in style.
Use the insider tips above to indulge in the over-the-top excitement while keeping your trip affordable.
Taking advantage of deals and lesser-known free events allows you to splurge more selectively on a few signature Vegas experiences that will make your trip truly memorable and magical.
