Las Vegas on a budget
Traveling on a budget needn’t take away from the experience. You can still fully immerse yourself in the local culture, try new things, and explore the culinary delights of your destination. You just have to be smart.
There are many destinations across the United States and around the world that might seem prohibitively expensive for those traveling on a budget. Places like New York, San Francisco, Copenhagen, London and Paris can, of course, be very expensive, but you can also explore them on a budget.
Las Vegas is another one of these cities. It is the world’s casino capital, with the city’s famous strip lined with some of the world’s largest and most resorts like the Venetian, the Bellagio, and the MGM Grand.
Yet, here’s how you can get the Las Vegas experience on a budget.
Hotels
There are hotels in Vegas that will cater to any budget. Cheap doesn’t have to mean bad either. If you use comparison sites and are flexible with your dates, you can find rooms in hotels like the 4-star Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino for as little as $30 per night.
For this money, the hotel is located 2 miles from the city center, but it’s only a short walk along Elvis Presley Boulevard to the Las Vegas Strip. You also won’t get breakfast, but you’ll find plenty of cheap options around the city.
Las Vegas at night
Casinos
Of course it is not compulsory, but going to Las Vegas and not going to a casino is like going to London and not trying fish and chips, or going to Paris and not looking at the Eiffel Tower. The city was built around the casino industry, so it is just part of what makes Las Vegas was it is. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a long time or a lot of money in a casino. There are many low bet tables and slot machines.
Some of the smaller casinos have low minimum bets, with games like roulette on offer for as little as just $1. Its rules are also simple, making it a great game for beginners. Also, unlike some casino games, the rules of roulette remain pretty consistent wherever you go, although there are different variations like French, European or American roulette, so it could be a good idea to get to know the basic differences among them practicing roulette online before you go so that you look like a pro in front of your travel companions.
Eating
Las Vegas is also known for its high concentration of Michelin starred restaurants and celebrity owned establishments. However, there are also plenty of places to get good food without a hefty price tag.
Just about every style of cuisine is available for a reasonable price. In Monta Noodle House, you’ll find delicious Japanese ramen dishes. At Secret Pizza, you’ll find some of the best (and quickest) pizza in Las Vegas. And you’ll find plenty of traditional American food at Vickie’s Diner.
There are also many of the typical fast food joints you expect to find everywhere in the United States. While they are cheap, you miss out on many of the tasty delights available in the city.
Activities
There are plenty of cheap and free things you can do in Las Vegas. You could spend days wandering around the city admiring the unique architecture, which is modeled on landmarks from around the world.
You’ll find a slightly smaller Statue of Liberty outside New York New York, and an Eiffel Tower outside the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. There’s also the legendary Welcome to Las Vegas sign, the Bellagio’s dancing fountains, and the erupted volcano at the Mirage Hotel.
The Fremont Street Experience is another wallet friendly activity. The canopy covered pedestrian area is packed with live music and street performers, and is surrounded by many of the old Las Vegas casinos of decades gone by.
Traveling to Las Vegas needn’t cost the earth, as long as you follow the usual tips for traveling on a budget like planning in advance and traveling off season. Even when you’re there, there’s no need to break the bank on dining, gaming, or other activities.
