Vegas...on a budget: any suggestions?

[Norm Apter]

My wife and I will be going to Vegas over Memorial Day weekend. Given driving time, we're looking at probably just two full days and two nights.

I've been once but it was about ten years ago and only for 2 days. She's never been. Neither of us are into gambling and even if we were we just don't have disposable money at this point for that kind of activity. I know its a gambling town, but this trip is designed to be more of a relaxing weekend getaway/mini-vacation more than anything else.

We've already booked a hotel. So, aside from accomodations, any suggestions on where to go / what to see/ where to eat for people like us on a budget?

Norm

[hearingimpared]

I'm not a gambler Norm in fact I despise it as I just see it as lifting the toilet lid, inserting cash, closing the lid then pushing the lever, just like a slot machine. I've been to Vegas three times as my wife loves that sh*t. I was bored to tears when on the gaming floors, however there are some really really great restaurants and the shows are abundant and spectacular.

As far as your question about what to see and where to eat goes, just walk up and down the strip, you'll find what you are looking for at every turn of the head.

Mike (Keiko) recently did a stint there and may be able to be of more help.

Have fun Bro.

[MikeC78]

I'd recommend you check out a Cirque Du Soleil show, If you can swing it. I'd recommend either Mystere or Zumanity to be more on the sensual side.

I don't know where you are staying, but the buffet is going to be the cheapest. Honestly, nothing in Vegas is really "budget" conscious. Since you are only staying a couple days, just walk the strip and check out the different places. The tower will have a nice view obviously, along with some amusement rides. Check out Caesar's Palace and the Venetian if you want to do some shopping with a great atmosphere. The Bellagio has a really nice water show on the strip that usually runs by the hour.

You will definitely not have enough time to see everything. Swing over to the "old part" of Vegas and check it out, food and drinks are cheaper there as well. Moreover, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!! Enjoy...

[tonyb]

Food is not cheap anymore on the strip like the old days. There is a place with good food about in the middle of the strip called Cafe Barbareba. Topas style. Shows are expensive,shopping is expensive,and well,the gambling of coarse is the reason to be in Vegas. If you go outside the city,lots of horseback riding, sites to see. You sure some guy named Curly isn't dragging you out there to look for gold ?

[steveinaz]

Comdey acts (Harrahs notably) tend to be inexpensive, Hit www.vegas.com to get your tickets cheapest, and before they are sold out. Note: Frank Calliendo (sp?) is at the Monte Carlo now.

Cheap eating:
Hit the drug store next to the Monte Carlo, and get some donuts, danish, etc for breakfast. There is McDonald's, Burger KIng, etc on the strip now, which can help keep the trip cheap. The Denny's next to Harrahs is still there as well.

As Tony said, gone are the days of cheap buffets--

[Amherst]

Norm, I may have one for ya, though it's not the cheapest, one of the neatest things I've done on any vacation. This is a first rate excursion to one of the great wonders of our country. Call Pink Jeep Tours. Book a day trip to the Valley of Fire. Make sure the guide asks you to "listen" at the right time!

I would tell more, but don't want to spoil it. Has to be seen and heard for ones self.

[Keiko]

Freemont Street and downtown is generally less expensive on food. Some neat little shops and vendors there also. If you like beer, check out the Triple 7 pub inside the Main Street Station. Some of the best brews on the planet, Norm. The light show on Freemont Street is free and worth the time checking out. Strips OK for sight seeing, but for activities and shows, it is pricier. We saw O when we went last year and it was worth every penny. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Cirque shows in Vegas.

There's a free water and laser show at Sam's Town, Hotel & Casino called the Sunset Stampede. Four shows daily at 2, 6,8 and 10PM. Treasure Island, on the strip also has a free outdoor show. The Sirens of TI. Four shows daily also at 5:30, 7, 8:30 and 10PM.
Here's a link to more free attractions in Vegas. Have fun!

http://www.lvlg.com/lasvegas/attracts/neatplce.htm

[exalted512]

Bring your walking shoes! Going to be hard to see everything the strip has to offer in just a couple days.

The food at margaritaville is good and fairly inexpensive. Theres also a CVS on the strip that we went for a gallon of OJ and donuts.

I would also HIGHLY recommend the cirque shows...simply amazing. Last time me and the wife went, we saw O and it was bad ass. These shows are a little on the pricey side...but soooooo worth it. Stay away from the Eiffel tower restaurant...very expensive....i was in for a shock on that one. Then they didnt even have what I wanted off the menu...haha.

Going up to the Eiffel tower is cool though, especially at night before the belagio's water show comes on. Its even more spectacular from viewing it from up there...I have some cool pictures from that.

The treasure island hotel has a cool show at night thats outside and free.

And did I mention bring your walking shoes?
-Cody

[Keiko]

Comdey acts (Harrahs notably) tend to be inexpensive, Hit www.vegas.com to get your tickets cheapest, and before they are sold out. Note: Frank Calliendo (sp?) is at the Monte Carlo now.

Cheap eating:
Hit the drug store next to the Monte Carlo, and get some donuts, danish, etc for breakfast. There is McDonald's, Burger KIng, etc on the strip now, which can help keep the trip cheap. The Denny's next to Harrahs is still there as well.

As Tony said, gone are the days of cheap buffets--

Steve, sorry to disagree, but booking through vegas.com is a ripoff, IMO. You end up paying a service/booking fee dealing with them. Better off buying tickets directly once you're there. Vegas's economy is suffering badly right now, just like anywhere else. Capacity is way down and it's unlikely anyone would not be able to purchase show tickets directly through the Casino. Save on that ripoff booking fee.

If you really want to eat cheap, check out the Petro truck stop on I-15 at Speedway Blvd, Exit 54. Breakfast is the bomb and for dinner they have steaks that I went mad cow over. Very cheap and very good.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

We were gonna do Vegas a while back, but then I realized I don't like gambling and I don't care for all the shows, so I couldn't really think of a compelling reason to go. I'd like to do the Hoover Dam and the Valley of Fire thing sounds pretty cool, so I'm sure we'll make it out there one of these days.

[tonyb]

Take the Jeep tour,as someone suggested,It will be relaxing,eat up most of a day,and be fairly cheap when you consider what you would spend in that time on the strip. The other day can be spent seeing the free shows at the various hotels plus the tram can take you up and down the strip fairly cheap. One more tip I learned in my youth. The chicken ranches....um....they don't have chickens there.

[steveinaz]

Steve, sorry to disagree, but booking through vegas.com is a ripoff, IMO. You end up paying a service/booking fee dealing with them. Better off buying tickets directly once you're there. Vegas's economy is suffering badly right now, just like anywhere else. Capacity is way down and it's unlikely anyone would not be able to purchase show tickets directly through the Casino. Save on that ripoff booking fee.

We've never paid a booking fee thru Vegas.com, ever, and prices were consistently less than at the Hotel/Casino where the show is playing.

We just returned from Vegas about 3 weeks ago (Stayed at Mirage; our 10th trip to Vegas), trust me, Vegas isn't hurting anymore.

[steveinaz]

We were gonna do Vegas a while back, but then I realized I don't like gambling and I don't care for all the shows, so I couldn't really think of a compelling reason to go. I'd like to do the Hoover Dam and the Valley of Fire thing sounds pretty cool, so I'm sure we'll make it out there one of these days.

Your right, if you don't like gambling or shows--Vegas is NOT the place to go.

[polkatese]

Norm, driving to Vegas on Memorial day weekend is not advisable. Guaranteed those 4-5 hours drive will turned into 9+ hours one way. I went one time during Memorial day weekend, back in 1989, and we swear would never to do that again ever. Or Labor day weekend for that matter. Last Labor day, a friend did that and had the exact same problem. And things are getting worse. I'll pay for the flights if I really have to go during those times.

[steveinaz]

If you need to cross Hoover dam, do it in the morning. You'll be fine. Same on the return trip, make sure you check out early to get across the dam early.

I've made this drive countless times. We usually spend the night in Wickenburg Arizona, then leave early in the morning, to be across the dam no later than 10am--we've never had a problem with that plan.

Holiday weekends will be PACKED for sure.

[packetjones]

Go downtown to freemont street and check out the light show at night. Is free and is very impressive.

[steveinaz]

If you see the Concierge in the Imperial Palace, you can get 2 free tickets to the ($20/ea w/o coupon) car show--which is actually pretty cool.

[reeltrouble1]

well, you can check out the acutal damm, its pretty cool, the lake is a short distance by drive, offers water sports and beaches, lots of golf in the area, but hey its a resort tourist town, so prices are on the high side without local knowledge, ID. I always liked to pick one show I really wanted to see, paid the dough and enjoyed myself, then I tried to cheap out on other stuff.

We did always try to stick close to a gambling budget, we only won once out of four trips, but had fun spending the money on ourselves we won.

RT1

[Kex]

Norm, driving to Vegas on Memorial day weekend is not advisable. Guaranteed those 4-5 hours drive will turned into 9+ hours one way. I went one time during Memorial day weekend, back in 1989, and we swear would never to do that again ever. Or Labor day weekend for that matter. Last Labor day, a friend did that and had the exact same problem. And things are getting worse. I'll pay for the flights if I really have to go during those times.I've never had traffic that bad, luckily, except on one occasion when the freeway was closed between Las Vegas and Baker because of a serious accident, but then, I never drive to Vegas to go to Vegas: I'm always just passing through. The I-15 between L.A. and Las Vegas is one of my least favorite stretches of road. There's a lot of traffic on just about any day I've been on it, it's mostly only two lanes, the road surface is has frequent damage, and a significant proportion of the drivers are complete nutters (weaving all over the place, so that everyone else has to stand on their brakes to let them in; overtaking on the right, in the truck lane, ...).

If you don't mind old-fashioned greasy spoon type restaurants, Peggy Sue's 50's Diner in Yermo is a nice place to stop, and I don't think there's anything worth stopping for in Baker, so it's the only real choice between Barstow and Las Vegas AFIK. It's really worth it to take a break IMO ... and probably safer too ... rather than drive non-stop, but that's up to personal preferences I suppose.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/3129
http://www.peggysuesdiner.com/PeggySues50sDiner-Contact.htm

[mhmacw]

vegas changes so fast its hard to say whats still there but when i lived there the buffett in henderson was three plates of food(breakfast) for 2.99. if you break the city limits and dont go to the top of the stratusphere youd be doing your self a huge disservice. spectacular view and one heck of an elevator ride haha. theres a little pub on rainbow near the tropicana end thats named dave's. they have be best hot wings on the planet. freemont street at about 10 pm is a must! buy a beer bone and its dollar refills all night anywhere on freemont street and a really cool souvinere. if you like rides....the scary ones haha...check out the jesus swing at the mgm grand its not something youll likely forget lol. the bigshot on top of the stratusphere is also a memorable ride and one i would suggest trying to time at sunup...before you eat lol. vegas is a money magnet! all you have to do is be polorized properly and you can just about have vegas pay you. call or check with hotel desks as most will offer discounts only if you ask and comps if your friendly. lastly...dont "buy" drinks in the casinos if you wnat a drink find a girl make your order and throw a few coins in a slot. youll still pay the drink amount but you just might hit something. youd be suprized what 5.00 tips do as far a seating and drinks and service. if you tip the service people they will take care of you. hope you enjoy your weekend be sure to take pics ....

[Huck344]

Westward Ho used to have a $99 hot dog and beer, but that place is long gone. You aren't going to find many discounted shows on Memorial Day weekend, but there may be a few. When I was in college, I used to drive out to Vegas twice a month with some buddies (to be young and not worry about bills!!!). Here are some of the things we did to save money.

1.) Keno - Yeah it's boring, but if you sit in the keno lounge and pretend to be playing, you can get all the free drinks you want. If you feel guilty about getting free drinks, just play $1 every few minutes.

2.) Buffet - The cheapest buffet is at Circuis Circus. But, I warn you, the food is not that great and the lines are long. . . But, it's cheap. Lots of places still also have the late night steak and eggs deals. Hooters Casino still has $0.25 wings after midnight.

4.) For a fun night of dancing, go to one of the many lounges that most casinos have. Drinks aren't that cheap, but much cheaper than a club. Dancing is free and it is usually some cover band that plays motown oldies and some other stuff. I've had more fun in these lounges than in most clubs that charge a $40 cover.

5.) Be careful of all the coupons - You will get coupons galore from the time you check in. Make sure you read the fine print.

6.) Rewards/Club Program - Join the rewards program for whatever casino you are planning on staying at. They will email you deals once a week or so. You may be able to use them on your trip.

BTW, almost every hotel has free valet parking (since you are driving).

[jgido759]

I did Vegas one year on Memorial Day weekend and it me hours to go anywhere near the strip via car. Would never do it again on a holiday weekend.

[TNRabbit]

I was there in Feb & it's OMFG expensive. As said, the Cirque de Solei shows are excellent, and all of them are over $100 each or pretty close to it.

We went to a show called "Hypnosis Unleashed" or something like that. It was in a small basement room of the Flamingo, I think. Pretty seedy location, but the show was a freakin' HOOT. Have fun & don't overthink the hypnosis part. I thought I'd crap my pants it was so funny.

Prepare to walk A LOT. Don't bother taking a taxi; it's faster to walk. You can get monorail tickets for $5 per ride, but it only goes to certain locations, so know beforehand where you're headed & how far the nearest station is.

Red Rock Canyon (@ 45 mins west of town) was cool; next time I go, I'm planning to spend an entire day there hiking to all the locations around the perimeter. Not for the faint hiker, however.

We walked up to the Stratosphere & rode the scariest effing rides in the world on top of the building (@ 1100 feet); they have a couple that go out over the edge of the building...scared the beejus out of me but it was WAY COOL. The Stratosphere also has a GREAT & cheap buffet. Best cheap buffet I found in Vegas.

[Des Moines]

The Hard Rock Hotel is a great place to hang.

Beware of the super cheap deals $29 because they are usually in an area of the hotel under construction.

[steveinaz]

We always hoof it, Taxi, or monorail. We use valet parking, and don't see the car for a week. There's no way I'd drive anywhere in Vegas--too much of a PITA.

[BeRad]

I'll be there about the same time. (may 30-june 5)
If you are on a budget and enjoy beautiful scenery, rent a car and drive up through Fire Valley National Park. Bring a camera and comfy shoes and spend an hour just hiking around. The scenery there is breathtaking. When you leave out of the far end, drive up around to the Hoover Dam. The dam is cool to see, but you won't be spending much time there. Then drive back in to Vegas.

I did this last year when I went and it only took 4 hours. I could easily spend all day in that park walking around taking pictures. It is just that beautiful. Also, a very cheap way to spend a morning or more.

The rio seafood buffet is a must if you like seafood or sushi. (42 dollars per person last year)

If you are there on the Monday night, go to the back parking lot of the Riviera. We have a huge party with live band and free beer (maybe 2000 ppl) for our pool tournament. :)