Known for everlasting elopements by Elvis, boozy bachelor/ette bar crawls, and, of course, gobs of gambling, it can come as a shock that Sin City can be considered a family friendly and a budget friendly destination. Anticipating that getting you there will lead to you dishing out in the casinos, Las Vegas hotels are surprisingly affordable. If you have self control and don’t spend all your time at the roulette table, it can make this vacation hot spot significantly cheaper to visit than other major metropolises. While there are trams that go between the main hotels on the strip, Ubers and Lyfts are inexpensive and will be your best way to efficiently explore the city. Keep reading to know where you should splurge and the best all round activities loved by singles, friends, couples, and families alike.
Day 1: The Strip
Breakfast At Mon Ami Gabi
No matter what else you do in Las Vegas, you have to have breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas. Breakfast is from 7am-11:00am, plates average around $18-$20, and reservations can be made on OpenTable. You can’t go wrong with opting for an elegant table inside or a classic bistro set up outside. Either the arches and tile work of the interior or the views of the replicated Eiffel Tower you’re granted from a patio seat will make you feel as though you were transported to Paris. If you aren’t facing the Tower, you’ll still get a view of the Bellagio Fountains. On our visit, my partner with celiac and I enjoyed splitting the gluten free eggs benedict and gluten free french toast paired with lattes. Don’t worry, as this isn’t actually Paris, you can still get milk alternatives.
The Venetian Canals
Since you had breakfast in Paris, it’s only fitting that you take a stroll through Italy as you digest. The Venetian is located just a short walk from Mon Ami Gabi and they have accomplished bringing a slice of Venice to the strip. While the architecture throughout pays homage to Italian style, the show stopper here is their recreated Venice Canal. Just like in the real Venice, you can take a gondola ride guided by a striped shirt wearing gondoliere. Prices range from $34 to $39 per person depending on the day. Winding from the exterior to the building’s interior, outside you’ll be flanked by Gothic-style balconies while inside you’ll be on view to those sitting at the indoor restaurant patios or shopping from the designer brands of the Grand Canal Shoppes.
Caesars Palace
Much like the Venetian, Caesars Palace transports you to Italy, but this time to the streets of Rome. While you will continue to enjoy ceilings painted to look like the sky, shopping, and restaurants, you can also find stocked fish tanks, spiral escalators and Roman statues. Inside, you can admire the large focal, “Fountain of the Gods,” and outside you can enjoy a replica of the Trevi Fountain. The casinos on the strip string from one to the next internally and you’ll have difficulty finding the exits – genius from a business standpoint but a nightmare of a fire hazard. This does mean that you will be able to simply wander from Caesars Palace to your next destination.
Bellagio Gardens and Fountains
The Bellagio – the crème de la crème of Los Vegas casinos, and for good reason. The biggest way to save money in Vegas is to enjoy what the casinos have to offer off of the casino floor. That being said, I still had to gamble a little at the Bellagio as an avid Ocean’s 11 fan. Sadly, I don’t have George Clooney’s wallet so my $40 budget went quickly and was short lived. Luckily, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens are free and famous for their intricate beauty. Visiting in December, we were transported into a winter wonderland of horticulture, but the displays change each season and are never the same. It is worth revisiting. After taking your time strolling around the garden, head outside to the iconic Bellagio Fountains. This coordinated water, light, and music show occurs every 30 minutes from noon to 6:30 PM on weekends, 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM on weekdays, and every 15 minutes from 7:00 PM to midnight daily. Each showing is different but all are magical.
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
An infamous Instagram vs. Reality moment, you’ll learn that to pose with the iconic “Welcome To Las Vegas” sign, you’ll have to wait in an astounding line on essentially the median of Las Vegas Blvd. If you are someone that is desperate for the perfect picture, like me, it’s worth the wait. But after 30 minutes in line for the straight on angle, I found that I preferred photos from off to the side. If you take your pic from there, you can avoid the line and be done quickly. Just make sure to not get in the way of those patiently waiting. If you walk to the sign, you’ll walk right past the Pinball Hall of Fame. Here, aficionados can play machines dating from the 1950’s to the 1990’s for 25 to 50 cents.
See a Show
After visiting Las Vegas, most people are going to ask you “did you see a show?” That is because the city is renowned as one of the premier entertainment destinations of the world. There is truly something for every budget and taste, from comedy, to magic, to the famous Cirque du Soleil. If you are unable to decide, consider a variety show. We saw the America’s Got Talent Super Stars Live at the Luxor. Throughout the show, which was a compilation of past acts from previous seasons (not a live recording of the television show), we were awed, brought to tears, and gripping our stomachs from laughter. Art fans may enjoy the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit. A 30 minute projected experience of the artist’s greatest works, it has gained notoriety on social media.
Day 2: Beyond The Strip
Top Golf
Top Golf has locations across America, but if you don’t live near one, this will be a special experience for golfers and non-golfers alike. Top Golf is a gamified version of your grandfather’s favorite sport. With ball tracking, virtual markers, adult beverages, and even an Angry Birds collaboration, your time here will be packed with fun. You pay by the bay by the hour, so the more members of your party you have to split it with, the cheaper it will be, but fewer people means more playing time for you! They have deals for going on weekdays and earlier in the day.
Fremont Street Experience
When you think of Vegas, the strip may be what comes to mind, but Fremont Street is the birthplace of the city. With faded buildings, cheap souvenir shops, random street performers of …varying skill, and flashing lights, this pedestrian street (closed to cars) can feel like Times Square meets the Atlantic City boardwalk. There are a few highlights here that make it worth the trip downtown, the most obvious being the giant tv-screen canopy that spans the length of the six blocks. While there are programmed lights 24/7, the Viva Vision light shows take place on the hour from 6pm – 2am every night and mix music and digital art for a free and dazzling show. You can check their schedule to see which musical act they will be featuring as well as book tickets for the Slotzilla zipline, though the short distance and high prices make it a hard sell.
Downtown Casinos
Another highlight of downtown are the casinos. Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, El Cortez, and Golden Nugget Las Vegas are the oldest casinos in the city. With that, you can expect them to be more dated, but trying your luck in one of them can be a bit of historic fun that feels more local and casual. If you weren’t aware, most casinos will give you free drinks while you are playing on the gaming floor, a great money saver if you play slow. Waitstaff frequent the high stakes tables the most but will occasionally come to the “penny” slots. You can flag down servers while you are at a table or machine, but if you walk up to the bar you’ll be expected to pay. We weren’t offered any free drinks while in the big casinos on the strip, but had two each at Golden Nugget in the short amount of time we were there. Downtown Las Vegas is also where you can find The Neon Museum and The Mob Museum.
Evel Pie
Many of the downtown hotels offer cheap buffet options, but I recommend instead heading to Evel Pie, an Evel Knievel themed pizza joint located right past the famous cowboy neon sign. The vibes here blend hipster grunge and biker bar, with its own neon sign, memorabilia covered walls, a pinball machine, and vibrant murals on the front and back patio. They have a large variety of specialty or build your own options, and those looking for a deal can snag a slice of cheese pizza and a local ale for $7. Their gluten-free options are pretty much limited to a gluten-free deep dish pizza, but being that this is rare to find, it is a unique treat. If you would prefer to head back to the strip before your next meal, head to Rainforest Cafe where the sounds of thunderstorms and elephant trumpets accompany your cuisine. Hey, when in Las Vegas, you might as well keep it kitschy.
Area15 and Omega Mart
Being in the middle of the desert, it’s no surprise that Vegas can feel a little… otherworldly. One of the newest editions to the entertainment scene opening in 2020, Area15 feels like Area 51. When you enter this neon oasis, you’ll be unsure if you are at a music festival or on another planet. Highlights here include Haley’s Comet, an indoor zip line, The Beast, a restaurant by four-time James Beard Award winner Todd English, Lost Spirits Distillery, a modern cirque show and distillery tour, and Omega Mart by Meow Wolf. What looks at first to be a grocery store, Omega Mart is a mind bending, alternate reality playground fun for both children and adults. Nothing is quite what it seems, and if your senses weren’t already confused enough, you can buy a card for just a few extra dollars that will lead you on a mysterious quest through this strange world, seemingly built by someone on hallucinogens or a writer of Black Mirror. If you want to see everything, you could easily spend a couple hours here, so make sure to go on a day where you have some energy. If you become a Meow Wolf fan, check out our Santa Fe blog to start planning a visit to their other trippy experience. There are plenty of additional activities at Area15 that could keep you there for a full day, from virtual reality experiences to ax throwing. Be sure to check out their bundle deals.
Hotel Details
When picking a Vegas Hotel, you have plenty of options. As mentioned, staying on the strip is cost effective. It also saves you on time getting to your must-sees. MGM and Caesars practically own the strip, and staying with them will mean that you can earn points for your stay on their individual rewards systems in addition to money spent at their casinos. While you probably won’t rack up enough points to redeem for your first trip, frequent visitors can use them for hotel stays, participating food and beverage locations, entertainment venues, and more, such as choosing the song synced to the Bellagio fountains or swimming with sharks at Mandalay Bay (MGM Rewards).
If staying at the Bellagio is on your bucket list, definitely do it, but the lowest tier rooms at all of the MGM hotels are comparable in appearance. We stayed at the Luxor and enjoyed a large, king room for about $80 per night. Being at the end of the strip, the main floor was quieter and less chaotic. While we didn’t mind the extra walk, if you want to be further entrenched in the hustle and bustle, consider New York-New York Hotel And Casino (MGM) or Paris Las Vegas (Caesars). Both are still budget friendly. Be warned, the staff at the hotels will try to sell you on things, so be ready to say no. We paid for a future package that ended up being through a third party that was terrible to communicate with and were out $100 from the experience. Avoid the sales pitch and just enjoy your stay!
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