Plan Your Trip To Las Vegas To Save Money And Get The Most Out of Your Experience
Las Vegas embodies an endless celebration, bright lights, and a culture of entertainment, but it is often associated with high expenses. Many visitors worry that a vacation here will inevitably hit their budget hard. Is this city really only accessible to the wealthy, or does careful planning allow you to make your trip vibrant and still affordable? Let’s look at eight saving strategies that will help you get the most enjoyment without overpaying.
Main ways to save on a trip to Las Vegas
It is really possible to save on your trip if you consider the key areas of spending. These include: choosing the right time to visit, using hotel bonus programs, searching for alternative accommodation options, optimizing transportation costs around the city, gastronomic tricks, buying show tickets at a discount, free and inexpensive entertainment, as well as using airport lounges. Let’s look at each strategy in detail and find out if Vegas can really be made affordable.
How to choose the best time to travel and not overpay
Is it possible to save simply by changing your travel dates? The cost of a vacation in Las Vegas varies greatly depending on the season and events. The most budget-friendly time to visit is during periods of low occupancy, which experts call the shoulder season (the time between peak and off-peak seasons). Usually, this is late March to May, as well as September to November. During these months, the city is not overcrowded, and hotels are forced to lower their prices.
It is worth avoiding major events such as the CES exhibition or the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival. On such days, prices for everything rise sharply, and there are almost no available rooms left. According to Booking.com, a two-night stay at Circus Circus hotel on weekdays can cost less than 3,000 rubles per night, while on weekends the price jumps to 14,000 rubles.
Special attention should be paid to mandatory fees — the resort fee. This is an additional charge that almost all hotels collect regardless of the rate. On the Strip, the amount can exceed 3,500 rubles per day, and it is not included in the base room price. Information about this can be found on the official hotel websites and aggregators.
Using hotel bonus programs for a better stay
Do points and loyalty programs really work in Las Vegas? Many chain hotels cooperate with international programs and allow you to book rooms on attractive terms. For example, Marriott Bonvoy allows you to use accumulated points for free or discounted nights at MGM Grand, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and other iconic hotels.
IHG program members get access to rooms at the Venetian or Palazzo. The World of Hyatt program opens up accommodation at the Rio Hotel & Casino, and Hilton Honors cardholders can easily book Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Additional points can be quickly accumulated by getting a co-branded credit card or using the transfer function from other bonus programs, as is done, for example, by Chase Ultimate Rewards.
It is recommended to monitor official offers on the hotel chain websites, as well as study the terms on specialized travel portals like NerdWallet and The Points Guy, where reviews and tips are regularly published.
How to choose accommodation off the main street and save money
What is attractive about staying outside the central Strip? Firstly, outside the tourist center there is often more space, it is quieter and calmer, and the room price is significantly lower. For example, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, located away from the main hustle and bustle, often offers rooms with better value for money.
However, it is important to consider transportation costs. Buses and free trams between major hotels help avoid extra expenses. Renting a car or taking a taxi is not always justified, especially if you plan to travel around the city frequently during rush hours. Experts advise calculating your route in advance so that expenses do not eat up all your savings.
When searching for good deals, it is worth paying attention to the Chinatown and Arts District areas, where there are many cozy and affordable cafes with authentic cuisine. Here you can easily find lunch for 1,000–1,500 rubles, which is noticeably lower than in hotel restaurants on the Strip.
How to optimize transportation and travel expenses
It may seem unnecessary to save on transportation when everything is close by. In reality, taxis and car rentals in Las Vegas are expensive, especially during major events or in the evening. The city offers budget alternatives — free trams between hotels, convenient bus routes, and extensive pedestrian zones.
There is good news for road trippers: a number of hotels, such as Treasure Island and Tropicana, do not charge for self-parking. This allows you to save up to 1,000 rubles per day. Air-conditioned pedestrian crossings and covered galleries make walking along the Strip comfortable even in the heat. The Deuce city bus covers the main tourist routes — a day ticket costs about 600 rubles.
Gastronomic life hacks for tasty and affordable dining
Is it possible to enjoy the famous buffet and stay within budget? The tradition of visiting buffets is an important part of the Vegas experience. Simple tricks can help you save: arrive at the junction of two rates to pay for breakfast but try lunch dishes, or vice versa — get a table at the end of lunch and wait for the dinner menu to appear.
Popular buffets like Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace offer tables starting from 4,000 rubles, and at Excalibur — from 2,000 rubles. In non-tourist areas, such as Chinatown, you can find family diners and cafes where a hearty lunch will cost 800–1,200 rubles.
Discounts on shows and entertainment
According to media reports, the city welcomed more than 40 million tourists last year. Traditional Las Vegas entertainment — casinos — still attract many travelers, despite the growing popularity of IGaming, which offers thousands of games, promotions, and no deposit bonuses. The city’s gambling industry understands that this may change in the future, and therefore strives to be more diverse, attracting tourists with different interests.
It is important to note that Vegas offers not only luxury vacations but also entertainment for any budget. Moreover, there are plenty of opportunities to save.
Can you imagine Las Vegas without shows? Tickets for famous Cirque du Soleil productions or star concerts are often expensive, but there are ways to get them cheaper. For example, official hotel and show websites regularly feature promotions and special offers for guests.
The Tix4Tonight service offers tickets with discounts of up to 50% for evening performances on the day of the event. The booths are located right on the Strip and at the airport. It is also useful to look for promo codes on travel forums. Several little-known offline casinos in Vegas cooperate with online casinos and offer exclusive no deposit bonuses for their visitors. This allows you to avoid overpaying for online entertainment and get the most benefit.
In addition, some tourists save by choosing inexpensive entertainment such as local cinemas, where daytime screenings are noticeably cheaper than evening ones. It is important to remember that the best seats sell out quickly, so it is better to plan your purchase in advance.
What to do in Vegas for free or for a symbolic fee
Need a break from spending? The city has many interesting and inexpensive activities. The Pinball Hall of Fame museum invites you to play on retro machines for just 25–50 cents. Admission is free, you only pay for the games. Those wishing to get out into nature should go to Red Rocks Canyon: entrance is 1,500 rubles per car, the route includes hiking trails and viewpoints with ancient petroglyphs.
The popular photo spot Seven Magic Mountains is a free open-air art space located 16 km from the city. Information about free events and festivals can easily be found on the city website www.lasvegas.com and in the official accounts of the city hall.
How to combine comfort and savings
The last chance to save is to use airport lounge zones. Holders of premium credit cards (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, American Express Platinum, Priority Pass) have access to separate lounges at Harry Reid Airport. Here you are offered full hot meals, drinks, comfortable chairs, and fast Wi-Fi.
Lounge reference: at the Chase Sapphire Lounge, guests are treated to a menu from Momofuku, at the Capital One Lounge — fresh snacks and desserts, and the Centurion Lounge from American Express is famous for its diverse lunches. It is recommended to check access conditions in advance on the bank and airport websites, as the rules may change.
Why is it important to consider all strategies? A rational approach to planning will not only help you save money but also fill your trip to Las Vegas with real discoveries — because each of these tricks opens up new facets of the city, making you want to return again.