Let’s face it, Las Vegas is probably the most fun place on Earth. But it can also be one of the most expensive places to vacation. And that’s not even taking into account your luck at the tables or the slots! But don’t worry, if you are looking to have a good time in Las Vegas, you can still do it without having to break the bank. Here’s a few of my tips on how to do Las Vegas on a budget.
How to Enjoy Las Vegas on a Limited Budget
Hotel
The first thing you have to take into consideration is where you’re going to stay. Now the first time I went to Vegas it was for UFC 84. The fight was in the MGM Grand Garden Arena that night and all the festivities were at the MGM as well. We opted to stay at the Tropicana because it was more than half the price of staying in the MGM. Not only that, but we weren’t planning on being in our hotel room that much anyway. All you really need it for is a couple hours of sleep a night. You’re not going to be using it for much, so I never understood the people that spring for the elaborate hotel rooms. What is it for?
Anyway, if you go on a week where there is a UFC event, you may end up paying a little bit more for hotels on the strip. And before you ask…yes, you do want to stay on the strip. It’s where almost everything you will want to be doing is. If you can go during the week, that will save you even more money as the prices are jacked up for the weekends. My suggestion is to do a little research. Shop around. Hotels never want a room to be vacant so there are always great deals to be had. The Excalibur, Luxor, and New York – New York all have pretty good values. And they are at the end near Mandalay Bay and MGM.
Food
Now food is the other thing that you have to be careful with when you go to Las Vegas. There are so many amazing restaurants to choose from and they can get extremely pricey! If you want to go to a 5* restaurant in Vegas be sure to bring the Platinum card because it’s going to cost you. However, if you’re not a baller like that and don’t fell that dropping a couple hundo on a meal is ideal for you, you’re not alone. Here’s what I do for food in Vegas.
First thing is that I do intermittent fasting. This is kind of a fitness and nutrition thing, but it can help you save some serious money on food. I only eat and drink anything with calories during a 6-hour window per day. Typically from 6pm to midnight. I eat nothing during the rest of my day. I will have black coffee, which is an appetite suppressant and water. And you will need a lot of water in Vegas, especially with all the walking you’ll be doing.
If you’re not into intermittent fasting, there are plenty of low-cost options that can suit you. One of my favorite spots is Fatburger. It’s just past MGM on the Strip. Unfortunately, we found this little gem the last day we were there on our first trip to Vegas. But every time we’ve gone since then this has been one of my first stops. It’s an amazing burger, and the prices are reasonable, especially when compared to other places in Vegas.