How to Stay in Las Vegas for Cheap

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 12, 2021 References

Las Vegas is one of the most popular vacation spots in the United States, featuring a wonderful variety of casinos, restaurants, and stage shows. However, it is also incredibly expensive, with trips often costing thousands of dollars per person. Thankfully, frugal travelers can utilize some simple tips to save money and make the most of their visit.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Booking an Inexpensive Room

1
Visit during the middle of the week for cheap hotel rooms. The Las Vegas strip is busiest on Friday and Saturday, when lots of people fly in to enjoy a weekend away from home. During this time, room prices go up to match the increased demand. However, once everybody leaves on Sunday, the cost of a reservation plummets, with many hotels offering steep discounts to simply fill up rooms.^{[1]
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2
Stay at traditional hotels instead of casino resorts. Casino hotels like the Luxor and Bellagio are a standout feature of Las Vegas. However, they are also incredibly expensive, meaning you won’t find a lot of cheap rooms in them. Instead, try staying at business hotels that don’t house casinos or stage shows, chain hotels like the Hilton, local apart-hotels, or even Airbnbs.^{[2]
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- Since major casino resorts offer gambling and entertainment options, you can visit and enjoy them even if you don’t have a room there.
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3
Look for hotels with lots of free perks. Like the hotels in many major cities, Las Vegas resorts hide additional fees behind good-looking room rates. These can come out of nowhere and eat up your extra cash. To avoid this, look for hotels that offer free, inclusive perks such as complimentary WiFi, food, and valet parking.^{[3]
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Buy unused hotel reservations. Las Vegas is an extremely popular vacation spot, and as such, reservations get canceled all the time. Websites like RoomerTravel put these reservations up at a discounted price, meaning that while you may not be able to pick the date, you can get into an expensive resort for relatively little money.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Finding Low-Cost Dining Options

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Eat at buffets to get the most amount of food for the lowest price possible. Las Vegas buffets are extravagant, well-stocked smorgasbords filled with tons of different foods. The cheapest options are the buffets at Station Casino and the Riviera, but most hotel buffets are worth the price of admission for the sheer amount of food you get.^{[5]
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- Some casinos may require you to have a Player’s Club Reward Card to eat at their buffet.
2
Leave the strip for cheaper dining options. The Las Vegas strip is the most popular area of town for tourists, meaning it has the most expensive restaurants. Fremont Street, the downtown area frequented by locals, features a variety of dining options at more reasonable prices. Fremont even has its own hotel buffets thanks to places like Gold Coast and the Fremont Casino.
3
Buy alcohol from cheap resort bars and specialty stores. Whether you’re drinking wine, beer, or something else entirely, Las Vegas offers plenty of hard drink options. Avoid expensive bars where you can rack up a huge tab in no time. Instead, get your liquor from actual spirit shops, which will be far cheaper than buying individual drinks, or inexpensive resort bars like the $1 Bar at Casino Royale, which offers $1 Michelobs and $.75 Coors Light draughts all day.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Enjoying Cheap Entertainment

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Gamble at casinos on Fremont street for cheaper tables and better odds. Las Vegas is most well known for its extravagant strip casinos like The Venetian and Caesars Palace. However, if you want to play at tables that have lower bet minimums and odds that are more friendly to casino patrons, you’ll need to travel to Fremont Street. This downtown area is home to vintage casinos like the Four Queens, Binion’s, and El Cortez, establishments frequented by Las Vegas locals.^{[7]
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Go to stage shows featuring less famous performers. In addition to gambling, Las Vegas is known for their extravagant stage performances from big names like Cirque du Soleil, the Blue Man Group, and Britney Spears. However, the strip houses plenty of acts that, since they’re not as well known, are far cheaper than their famous contemporaries. Some great, low-budget performances include:
- Mike Hammer’s comedy magic show at the Four Queens Resort. Tickets cost $29.
- Marc Savard’s comedy hypnosis show at Planet Hollywood. Tickets start at $27.
- Aussie Heat, a male revue at Planet Hollywood. Tickets start at $49.
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Look online for free or discounted tickets. Though Vegas shows are usually quite expensive, many acts receive regular price cuts to encourage more people to come. Websites like TripAdvisor feature updated information on how much shows cost and what discounts, if any, are available. Some acts, like comedy magic duo Penn & Teller, occasionally offer free tickets in exchange for donating blood or participating in fundraising walks, while others give out tickets in charity raffles.
- Though not as common, some acts offer free tickets to taped or rehearsal performances.
- When purchasing tickets, make sure to ask about student and military discounts.
4
Visit local museums, parks, and outdoor attractions. In addition to gambling and stage shows, Las Vegas offers a wide variety of cheap entertainment options ranging from local museums and art galleries to parks and thrill rides. If you’re looking for something extremely cheap, check out:^{[8]
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- The Shark Reef, an aquarium at Mandalay Bay. Admission is $20.
- The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Admission is $18.
- The Neon Museum, an outdoor collection of neon signs. Tours start at $19.
- The Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden. Admission is free.
- The Adventuredome at Circus Circus, an indoor amusement park. Rides cost $6 to $12 each.
- The SlotZilla Zip Line, which takes you over the Fremont Street Experience. The line costs $20.

Warnings

Don’t come to Las Vegas expecting to win big. Though gambling may seem like a good way to offset your trip costs, it is far more likely to drain you of all your money.

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