Thinking about traveling to Las Vegas for the first time? Well, it doesn’t have to be a hugely expensive trip. With the right planning and groundwork, you can do Vegas on a budget. Read on for some tips on how to make your trip affordable and enjoyable.
Las Vegas is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with over 42 million people visiting each year. This means there is definitely an opportunity to find a budget-friendly room option in Sin City.
There are a number of ways to do Las Vegas on a budget without sacrificing any of the fun or excitement that comes with visiting this legendary city. Here are some tips to make your trip more affordable:
Make a Budget for Your Trip
Finding out how much money you are comfortable spending is always one of the first things to do when traveling, so you don’t go overboard. The first step is to create a travel budget, and it’s even more crucial to keep track of your spending to prevent unintentional overspending. There are many different factors to take into account when setting your travel budget. Divide your budget into sections to make planning and adhering to it easier.
Discover When to Go to Las Vegas
Vegas is most enjoyable to visit in the spring and fall. End of February to early May and mid-September to early November are generally regarded as those months. Both times are known for having mild weather. The fact that hotel prices soar when Vegas is at its best is a drawback. During the busiest months, spending several hundred dollars per night is not unusual.
The off-seasons are the least expensive times to travel to Las Vegas. Mid-November to the end of February and mid-May to mid-September are the best times. If you reserve more than just one or two nights, you can also save. One open secret is that booking a midweek stay will always result in lower rates. Airlines offer promotional packages pretty much all year long for traveling there.
Get a Low-Cost Flight
Vegas travel is frequently extremely affordable. In fact, despite what most destinations would have you believe, getting there might be one of your trip’s least expensive activities. It’s a good idea to check the airline’s direct website once you’ve found the lowest price across search engines, just to compare. To avoid any outside booking fees, book directly through the airline’s website if the price is the same.
Booking your flight at the last minute offers almost no advantages. Plan your trip at least a month in advance. You won’t often find a good last-minute deal, so don’t rely on it. You will find much, much better deals if you can be flexible with your travel dates and destination.
Make Your Accommodations Reasonably Priced
Since most visitors to Vegas want to spend a few days living like a rock star, there are only a few hostels there. Hostels are a type of lodging that frequently offers affordable rates and a friendly atmosphere. It is comparable to a shared dorm with bunk beds. The majority of hostels are affordable while still providing a comfortable place to stay. Despite the fact that rooms are shared, most hostels let you pick a dorm with a set number of beds that may or may not be full. Choosing the right hostel requires careful consideration of the views.
An additional choice is to book an Airbnb. This could be the ideal way for you and your friends to stay together and split the cost if you’re traveling in a group. Unlike hotels, most Airbnb homes don’t charge a resort fee, and many of them have free parking. You can pick a place with a kitchen so you can prepare your own meals and cut costs.
Eat Cheaply
A great way to stretch your money and save money for more exciting activities is to find cheap food in Las Vegas. You typically have two options when it comes to eating: a fancy, extravagant meal or the same fast food you get at home. Always try to find inexpensive places to eat for breakfast and lunch before treating yourself to something more expensive for dinner.
A budget breakfast in Las Vegas can cost between $6 and $10, while the least expensive lunches and dinners are less than $15 and $20, respectively, according to various surveys. Given how expensive food can be in Las Vegas, inexpensive meals are in high demand.
Skip the Rental Car
The Las Vegas Monorail is a hidden gem that makes navigating the Strip quickly and easy. You might decide to board The Deuce, a double-decker that is currently associated with the Strip. It is a very cost-effective choice and stops at all hotels.
Rome2Rio can be used to plan your route from A to B, and Bookaway can be used to reserve local transportation online in most cases. The Downtown Loop, a shuttle connecting downtown Las Vegas with the city’s major attractions, is also free to use, but it has one significant drawback: it only operates until 6 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Reduce ATM Fees
Consider how much money you might require for your trip to Las Vegas. If you decide to rent a car, get cash at your bank’s neighborhood location. If not, think about bringing enough money from home. Although you can’t plan when you’ll need money in a hurry, having cash on hand can be useful.
Purchase a Water Multipack
Another basic necessity in Vegas that is outrageously expensive is water. Dehydration can occur even if you don’t drink alcohol because of the sun and heat. While you’re out and about, water will probably be useful to have with you. Even though you could bring a re-usable bottle, it’s very difficult to locate water fountains where you can fill one up. It is absurdly expensive to purchase a single bottle of water. Get yourself a multipack of water as a favor.
Visit the Silverton Hotel’s Aquarium
All ages adore this aquarium, which is just one of the features that make Silverton Casino the best family hotel in Las Vegas.
Visit the Silverton Hotel’s 117,000-gallon reef aquarium to see mermaids and thousands of fish. It is home to many different species of tropical fish, stingrays, and sharks. Visit the Mermaid Lounge’s 500-gallon aquarium of jellyfish as well. Watch them feed interactively every day at 1:30 and 4:30.
Check out the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The 14,000-square-foot indoor botanical garden is one of Las Vegas’s most impressive free attractions. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that you must not miss, thanks to their amazing attention to detail. Every season, the Botanical Gardens are transformed by the incredibly gifted horticulture and engineering teams into a display of invigorating sights, sounds, smells, and colors.
Bellagio’s Botanical Garden’s seasonal floral display transports you around the world, from lunar new year themes to holiday season themes. Take some pictures because every botanical display is unique because the display changes with the seasons.
See the Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
The sign, which is located at the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, is well known to almost everyone on the planet. That’s partly because the sign, created by Betty Willis, was never copyrighted, enabling it to be printed without restriction or authorization on mugs, t-shirts, and other knickknacks.
The best memento of Sin City would be to have your picture taken here. To avoid the crowds and improve your chances of finding a parking space, arrive early. Alternatively, if you’re up for some exercise, it will take you about 15 minutes to walk here from Mandalay Bay.
Travel to the Seven Magic Mountains
Enjoy a quick stop at one of the most well-liked free activities in Las Vegas to break up the long drive to sin city. The previous barriers around the artwork have been taken down, and now anyone can visit it and take as many photos as they like as long as they don’t leave any trace behind.
Ugo Rondinone, a well-known Swiss artist, created Seven Magic Mountains, an art installation in the middle of the desert, which is cleverly positioned south of Las Vegas Boulevard. These vibrant dayglow totems are made of 30- to 35-foot-tall stacks of real boulders. The desert can get warm, so before your trip, think about the weather and pack the right clothes. Also, be aware that there are no restrooms nearby.
Discover M&M’s World Las Vegas
The Coca-Cola Store is right next door to M&M’s World, making it simpler to visit both illustrious businesses. This unique 28,000-square-foot entertainment-retail complex is a tribute to all things M&M. M&M’s World offers more than 7,000 gifts, souvenirs, and tasty treats, making it the ideal family vacation. Take pictures of the Instagram-worthy store interiors, which are a true dream come true for children and children at heart. Don’t miss the fun activities, such as the free 3D movie, the exclusive merchandise, or the opportunity to create your own chocolate.
Visit the Ethel M Cactus and Chocolate Garden
The magnificent Botanical Cactus Garden at Ethel M Chocolates is the biggest and most extensive collection of its kind in Nevada. The three acres of drought-tolerant ornamental cacti and other succulents in the Ethel M. Botanical Cactus Garden are based on the English landscape model of naturalistic design.
Take a self-guided tour of the Ethel M Chocolates factory and stroll through the biggest cactus garden in the state of Nevada. The 3-acre botanical desert terrain offers over 300 species of cacti, succulents, and other desert plants for you to explore. Visit their shop for freshly made sweets and observe how traditional Mars chocolates are made there. Your weekend plans won’t compare to a day spent here.
Visit the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat offers an alternative kind of wild. The tranquil, garden-like ambiance is the ideal setting for some alone time and reconnecting with nature. A group of Chilean flamingos, as well as parrots that can be photographed, can be found in the lush outdoor area of the hotel grounds. There are also numerous water features with waterfalls, swans, ducks, and other wildlife. Observe the two brown pelicans in the habitats as they are fed every day at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino will appeal to nature lovers and young children alike.
Listen to Live Music
Although you probably already know that Las Vegas has world-class entertainment, you might not be aware that many bars offer free live music. In Las Vegas, where there are too many bars and lounges to count, there is free live music everywhere.
Watch the Mirage Volcano’s Exploding Fireballs
Every hour on the hour in Vegas, the volcano in front of the Mirage Hotel erupts with fireballs that are more than 4 meters high, and a soundtrack of actual eruptions completes the spectacle. The most recent modification to the volcano was in 2008, when it underwent a complete renovation with new sound effects and visuals.
This free attraction on the Las Vegas Strip will make your heart race as the volcano starts to rumble and then explodes in fire spray and steam. The Grateful Dead-themed fire and light show takes place every hour on the hour from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Although it sounds more impressive on paper than it actually is, there is no reason not to enjoy the exciting Volcano show since it is free.
Explore the Pioneer Trail
The Pioneer Trail is a tour of early Las Vegas that honors the lives of numerous individuals who contributed to the creation of this distinctive city. Each forged a significant link in the web of history that ties this community to one another and to other communities. The visitor is given the chance to consider how the past has shaped the present and what legacy will be left for future generations by the sharing of this knowledge.
The Springs Preserve and Biltmore Village are the starting and ending points of the self-guided Pioneer Trail, a driving tour of 16 historic sites located northwest of the Strip. You will get a sense of the daring spirit of the men and women who contributed to the development and cultural heritage of the valley as you move from site to site. Additionally, you will leave knowing how difficult it is to survive in this formerly desolate desert.
Take a Look at the World’s Largest Gold Hunk
In the early 1980s, Kevin Hillier went metal detecting for the first time in his Australian hometown of Wedderburn. He discovered a 61-pound golden nugget barely a foot underground, not a bottle cap or a paper clip. The Hand of Faith is the largest known golden nugget, the second-largest to be found, and the largest to be discovered using a metal detector.
The Hand of Faith, the biggest gold nugget known to have ever existed, weighs 61 pounds, was sold for more than a million dollars, and is currently on display at the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas, which is entirely appropriate. A replica is located in the Golden Nugget’s lobby in Laughlin, 100 miles away.
View a Huge TV on Fremont Street
The Fremont Street Experience, a five-block pedestrian mall encircled by neon lights and marquees, is the main draw of downtown Las Vegas. The majority of it is located beneath a 1,400-foot-long canopy that is equipped with the biggest LED screen in the world. It is known as Viva Vision and uses more than 16 million pixels to produce ultra-high-definition imagery and surreal 3D effects. All through the night, themed video shows are broadcast, usually on the hour. Every year, more than 23 million people come to see the lights.
Explore the Boulder Dam Museum
Visit the Hoover Dam on a day trip to Boulder City, where there is also a free museum where you can learn all about the famous structure. The museum is located on the first floor of the Boulder Dam Hotel. The Boulder Dam Museum provides information about the engineering behind this modern marvel as well as the risks and difficulties that its construction crews had to deal with in the scorching Nevada sun. A trip to the Hoover Dam Museum will enthrall bookworms as well as culture lovers alike. Discover more about our distinctive past by exploring the intriguing exhibits and collections available here. This museum of historical artifacts is situated in Boulder City, a place that has a lot to recommend it.
Visit AREA 15
This is the newest and most popular attraction in Las Vegas, combining art, shopping, and dining. Although admission is free, tickets are required to maintain capacity. There are many murals and free art installations to explore. Tickets for specific exhibits can be bought separately or in a group on the AREA15 website.
The mind-boggling, absurdist experience that is Omega Mart is one of AREA 15’s highlights. Omega Mart, Meow Wolf’s second permanent installation, is a dynamic, immersive art experience. Participants wander through an extraordinary supermarket that transforms into fantastical settings and unanticipated vistas.
Visit the Pinball Hall of Fame
The Pinball Hall of Fame, a 10,000-square-foot structure chock full of pinball machines, is situated just off the strip. There were several other vintage arcade games, and it was fascinating to see pinball machines from the 1950s up to the present. You can go take pictures and observe people playing if you don’t want to spend any money. Also, be aware that all purchases made here benefit charities. Since it is a non-profit museum, older pinball machines from the ‘heyday’ of the game—the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s—predominate.
The Pinball Hall of Fame is open daily from Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Pay a Visit to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
A 13-mile scenic drive, hiking and biking trails, plants and animals, geology, camping, cultural resources, and much more can be found in Red Rock Canyon. Information and interpretation about recreational opportunities are available at the Visitor Center. Additionally, the facility has both indoor and outdoor exhibits, as well as a book and gift shop.
You can check out the Red Springs Loop and the Kraft Boulders area, which has a free parking lot outside of the Scenic Loop, despite the fact that the main entrance has a fee and currently a reservation system for a $2 additional fee to control capacity. See our post for more information.
Check out Gold Strike Hot Springs
Our favorite hike in Vegas so far is without a doubt Gold Strike Hot Springs. It offers stunning scenery, some enjoyable scrambling, and natural hot springs where you can unwind and cool off. The trailhead is about 40 minutes from the strip, halfway between Boulder City and Hoover Dam.
It is a very crowded hike that is very popular. Going early, beginning before sunrise, and going during the week are the best strategies for avoiding people. Summer is not the time to go on these hikes. It’s exposed and far too hot.
Take a Trip to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge
This is a replica of Florence, Italy’s renowned Ponte Vecchio, which was constructed between 1335 and 1345. A brand-new resort neighborhood called Lake Las Vegas is situated 17 miles east of the well-known Las Vegas Strip. Go shopping, take a stroll around the lake, and, if you really want to turn up the romance, reserve a romantic gondola ride so you can sneak a kiss under the bridge.
Enjoy Yourself in the Downtown Container Park
Visit a Burning Man exhibit, shop, and see a performance. View the musical lineup and upcoming events here. From Wednesday through Sunday, the praying mantis sculpture also exhales fire.
A fun outdoor destination for dining, shopping, and entertainment is the Downtown Container Park. This unusual location, which is made entirely of shipping containers stacked on top of one another, features a variety of boutique stores and dining options. Within a few blocks of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard, there is a children’s play area with a 30-foot slide and a water feature. You can also leave a love lock at no cost on the DTLV sign inside or the heart sculpture outside.
Go To the Paris Eiffel Tower
No place offers a better view of the glittering Las Vegas city lights than the Eiffel Tower’s viewing deck, which is 46 stories high. This must-see attraction is regarded as one of Las Vegas’ most romantic locations.
While access to the top is fee-based, taking pictures in front is always free. Originally intended to be an exact replica, this remake had to be scaled down due to the proximity of the airport in order to avoid obstructing air travel.
Check out Circus Circus
Since its debut in 1968, Circus Circus in Las Vegas has been a mainstay of the north end of the Strip. Circus Circus’ footprint has grown significantly over the years, and in addition to nearly 125,000 square feet of gaming space, it now includes over 3,500 hotel rooms and an RV park. The property originally opened as a standalone casino without a hotel.
This is the largest permanent circus in the world and one of the most popular free shows in Vegas. And the best thing is that each show has a different troupe of performers, so if you’re spending a decent amount of time at the hotel, you could see a different show each hour.
Jugglers, unicyclists, acrobats, and aerialists perform remarkable stunts high above the casino floor for about 10 minutes per show. Shows start at 11:30 a.m. and run every hour until late at night—past midnight.
In this article, we covered Las Vegas, which is a popular travel destination. We hope that our suggestions will make it simpler for you to take your ideal vacation.
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