The USA is known for being an expensive destination, especially with the amount to see. Las Vegas has been a place to tick off for a long time, ever since seeing it on Friends as a young teenager. When we started looking into it, the prices were as expected. However, we found a way to do Las Vegas on a budget without missing out.
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Accommodation
There’s plenty of choices for accommodation in Las Vegas on a budget. We wanted an affordable option, though wanted to feel safe and comfortable as this was our first time in the USA. After considering a few options, we finally settled on Rio.
We got a great deal on a room, and overall were very pleased with our choice. We could walk to the main strip and stay in a proper Las Vegas hotel and casino. The room was definitely dated, and at times the hotel and casino felt a little empty, but considering how much cheaper we got this for than other hotels we had no complaints.
For 3 nights we paid a total of $150. We recommend using vegas.com to find your accommodation!
Entertainment
This is the main one, the reason everyone goes to Las Vegas. Luckily we aren’t that big on partying, or gambling so this does help when you are looking to save money in Las Vegas. However, we definitely didn’t miss out!
Walking around, exploring and getting lost in the hotels and casinos was one of our favourite things about Las Vegas, and of course you can do this for free. You can even find free shows and things to do all over the strip. Some of our favourite places were Caesars Palace (The Forum), The Venetian (Little Italy), Bellagio (Water Shows), and Circus Circus (Circus Shows).
We were shocked how much the casinos were on the main strip. At the big names it was often a struggle to find games with anything lower than a $25 minimum bet, often it was $50. For visiting Las Vegas on a budget, we couldn’t get far. We took it slow and only bet what we were happy to lose. However, if you head downtown you could find some cheaper options at around $10 minimum bet.
Also, don’t forget to head to the Las Vegas sign to get the obligated photo. There is a queue, but no cost!
For 3 nights we spent around $100. It really depends how much you are happy to spend, and how lucky you are.
Grand Canyon Trip
One thing we did want to make sure we saw on this trip was the Grand Canyon. We booked a full day bus tour which included the Grand Canyon West Rim and The Hoover Dam. Lunch was also included on our tour. We really recommend seeing this if you do go to Las Vegas, as it’s a stunning natural sight only 2 hours away.
We got a promotional offer on vegas.com so only paid $140 for the two of us.
Food
This was another hard one to do on the cheap, and we didn’t want to miss out too much. For breakfast and lunch we often made use of supermarkets. Even on the strip we found some shops and we could get a decent lunch easily under $10 per person.
In the evenings, we mainly stuck to the food courts located in the Casinos. Panda Express was a favourite for a cheap filling meal! We did go out for dinner a couple of times, and heading off the main strip you will find cheaper options. In downtown we got a great deal in a proper American bar with possibly the best burgers we have ever eaten.
For 3 nights we spent around $150 on food and drink for two people.
Transport
Even if you aren’t trying to, you will end up walking a lot in Las Vegas. You can walk for an hour, and still be in the same hotel! However, we chose to mainly walk around the strip each day to save money. This is certainly doable, however some places the distance was a bit too far, and we used buses over taxis.
The Deuce Bus covers the whole Las Vegas strip, The Downtown, and even goes to the Las Vegas sign. A single fare is $4 per person, however we recommend buying a 24 hour pass which is just $8. There are also several buses for the airport.
For transport we spent around $40.
Flights
Direct flights from the UK to Las Vegas are always going to set you back. You can find some deals of course, however we had a different plan altogether to allow us to visit Las Vegas on a budget.
We had already booked to go to Mexico for a couple of weeks. Therefore, we started thinking about how well it would work to tick off a weekend in Las Vegas while on this trip. We often do this, if we visit one place we look to see where else we could also visit nearby. Here’s our guide from our time in Playa del Carmen if you are interested.
We mention Skyscanner a lot, but this is honestly where we usually start with looking for flights. After searching we found a good deal to fly to Las Vegas for a few days from Mexico.
Our flights to Las Vegas cost around $250.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this has helped you if you are looking to explore Las Vegas on a budget. Our total cost as a couple for this trip was around $830. We had a great time in Las Vegas and really enjoyed seeing the sights and exploring the hotels & casinos.
