Any advice for Vegas vacation in a week?
I am going to Vegas Sat. March 3-Wed. March 7. Does anyone have any advice on how to have a good time on a limited budget? For example, how to get free/discounted stuff.
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about 2 years ago
When you get there, find one of the local magazines at the hotel. I don’t remember what it’s called, but is has all of the activities for that week as well as many great coupons.
You can also look into Vegas.com website.
about 2 years ago
go to the lesser known casinos for the buffets, get discount coupons at the chamber of commerce, and go to the 1/2 price show place for discount tickets.
about 2 years ago
Stay at a smaller casino off of the strip – better rates, the food is less expensive, and it’s easier to get comped at the smaller casinos.
about 2 years ago
When you go to Las Vegas these usual things you will want to see for FREE:
1. Number one on my list is to watch the fountains displays in front of the Bellagio hotel. It usually runs every 15 minutes in summers starting at 3:00 PM; runs continuously until about midnight. Each show is different (there are more than 20 different tunes choreographed) so stay and watch at least 2 or 3. ALSO, go inside the Bellagio hotel to its lobby and view the beautiful glass sculptured ceiling AND the seasonal floral arrangements in the Atrium.
2. The “Sirens of TI” show (spectacular) in from of the Treasure Island Hotel; it runs every 90 minutes starting at about 4:30 PM. Simply stand on the sidewalk in front of the TI Hotel.
3. The volcano erupt in from of the Mirage Hotel; starting at dark until midnight. Again, just stand on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.
4. Go down to Fremont Street and see the light shows. There are usually 3 or 4 different shows, starting after dark (about 8:30PM) and lasting about 5 or 10 minutes each.
5. Go to the RIO hotel to see the Masquerade in the Sky show. It is like Mardi Gras parade, only suspended from the ceiling over the gambling floor. It runs every 60 minutes starting about 3:00 PM; the last show starts at 9:30 PM..
6. Go to the MGM Grand hotel to see the Lion habitat. This is better then the tiger habitat at the Mirage Hotel because there are usually trainers in with lions to keep them active.
7. Go to the Mirage hotel to see the white tigers that Siegfried and Roy show used. This is kinda passe because the tigers rarely do anything but sit and stare.
8. Go in Caesars Palace and walk through the Forum shops to the first fountain (its spectacular) then take the first fork to the left to go see the aquarium. Then continue on through the shops to the second fountain and wait for the show to start.
9. Go into the Flamingo hotel to see their animal habitat with flamingos and penguins.
10 The Excalibur hotel also has a free show starting at 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
If you are a Star Trek Fan, go to the Hilton (off the strip) for “Star Trek The Experience”; it cost about $25.
People go to Vegas to sightsee as well as gamble. You can see most of the stuff on the Strip by walking, so you don’t need a rental car. There is a free monorail between Bellagio and the Monte Carlo Hotel and also another free one between Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. The one on the opposite side of the street which runs from the MGM to the Hilton you have to pay to ride. There is a free bus between Harrahs Hotel to the RIO Hotel that runs every half hour. There is also a free bus that you can get outside the Barbary Coast Casino that will take you to the Orleans and some other off strip casinos.
Plan which hotels/casinos you want to visit each day so you can make the most of your walking and the free monorails and scuttles. When you get to Vegas you will probably have in your hotel room a free guide to the city called either “What’s ON” , “Showbiz”or “Las Vegas Today”. These are helpful guises as they have a map of the Strip and city with the hotels marked, current hotel shows and prices, plus useful coupons. Some coupons will give you a free souvenir from certain hotels; you just have to take the coupon to the hotel. They also list hotel restaurants and buffets time sand prices.
Do join ALL of the players clubs because they are your ticket to
lower priced return trips. The hotels will email you, or send by regular mail, specials on room rates and shows. The players clubs are free; all they want to see is your driver’s license. You can join some of these clubs online before you go.
The hotel coffee shops and buffets are now much more expensive than they were years ago. So, if you want to eat for less go to the food courts located in many hotels and also try one of the several Denny’s restaurants on the Strip (one in the Casino Royal hotel/casino). There are also a number of McDonald, Burger King, and other fast food places on the Stip. You can get breakfast and dinner buffets a few dollars less at the Imperial Palace hotel/casino and at the Gold Coast hotel/casino. Buffets also cost less at the Circus Circus hotel/casino and in Fremont St hotel/casinos. There is an Outback Steak House in the Casino Royale Hotel and another across from the RIO. There is a Cheesecake Factory and a Planet Hollywood in Caesars Forum shops. There is a Margerittaville in the Flamingo hotel. I recommend Tony Roma’s, a ribs and chicken restaurant; one in the Stardust hotel/casino, one on Fremont St and another on Sahara Ave near Paradise Rd.
about 2 years ago
I notice those little things “like when they close a major strip hotel and it’s partly torn down” >The Stardust has been closed for quite some time now< Other than being a player and having the casino give you the RFB(comp your, Room, Food & Booze) treatment. The Las Vegas Advisor's POV is the best.
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com > Tons of 2-4-1 coupons>9 for hotel stays – 25 for buffets – 20 for shows – bunches for restaurants/drinks/rides & nightclubs plus 40 some odd for gambling(matchplay, etc)I ‘m not trying to sell anything! NO, I don’t get a commission! The $50 Palms coupon & the three $10 free play coupons more than double the cost of membership. The information I receive, from the other members and the LVA staff saves me many times the $37. There are over 30,000 of us LV nuts who belong and we watch out for deals/bargains/freebies/etc and pass them along to each other.
If you watch the travel channel shows on LV I guarantee you, you have seen LVA staff and members. Anthony Curtis, Bethany Coffey, Bob Dancer, Jeff Compton, Jean Scott(the Queen of Coupon),Michael Shackleford(the Wizard of Odds), Max Rubin, Ken Van Vechten, and on and on.
The LVA also has up to date info on >All LV buffets>Free spectacles>shows>Free hotel shuttles>gambling infoanyone can use 99% of the LVA’s information for free only, the members forum, monthly newsletter and POV are paid members only…
If you intend to play, sign up for and use the hotels slot club card. It can’t hurt and you might be surprised at the future offers you receive for discounted or free rooms and often times much more. >A good place to play, for low limits and where they appreciate the $10 a hand player is Palace Station. “Low rollers” are most appreciated at “locals” and downtown casinos.
The Orleans is a good place to play low limit table games.The Orleans is Pai Gow Poker heaven, they have at least 8 tables and most of them are $5 even on Friday & Saturday night. Plus the Orleans has the hottest cocktail waitresses in LV.
If you would like to give video poker a shot, try the LV Hilton. They have nickel 9/6 JOB(99.54%) in their “super book”. You can play a great game, drink free and watch sports in the greatest sports book on the planet. They had at least 27 nickel machines when I was there in December and more than that number at the quarter level.
The Stratosphere has a very nice bonus for first time slot club members, plus if you like the place, they are also very good about marketing offers to players. If you’re a first time sign up for Harrah’s “Total Rewards” card they give two free tickets to see Mac King>the best afternoon show in LV by far.
A good show that will not cost you a fortune is Dirk Arthur “Extreme Magic” at the Tropicana tickets are only $29 to begin with and often times “Today in LV Magazine” has 2-4-1 coupons for his show.
How about some meal deals
$4.99 complete steak dinner at Ellis Island>not on the menu you have to ask for it
The Steak and Shrimp special at Hard Rock>$7.77 again, you have to ask it’s not on the menu
The world famous .99c shrimp cocktails at the Golden Gate>on the LVA’s top ten list of “best values” since 1983..
Graveyard specials>full list on the LVA site, my favorites are at Orleans.
Prime Rib dinner – California – $6.99
$1.25 foot long, 1/2 lb hotdog at Slots-A-Fun>and you can load it up with chili, cheese, etc…
The best buffets for value in LV
Main Street Station
Orleans
Palace Station
The Seafood buffet at Fremont with the LVA’s 2-4-1 an incredible seafood spread for $8>only in LV
Best Buffet
Mirage
You can save money and usually time if you take the city bus(CAT) from the airport to your hotel. You catch the #108 Paradise or #109 Maryland Pkwy North bus from “Ground Level Transportation 0 ) which is on your right as you approach the baggage claim at McCarran. The bus stops at McCarran about every 10 minutes, you can easily wait for a cab over 30 minutes, at busy times it’s an hour, if there is a large convention/special event or it’s a Friday/Satuday I have know people to wait more than 2 hours for a cab. Their web site for more info
http://www.rtcsnv.com >Cat/Deuce(bus) info
between the bus and free hotel shuttles(LVA site) you can save yourself a lot of time and money.
It will be a lot tougher on the weekend but it never hurts to try. “The $20 trick” when you check in, have a $20 in your hand and ask the clerk if she/he has an upgrade available, they are going to say, NO/Can’t do that/It will cost you X amount >in which case you can pony up the difference if you really want the upgrade, or they will say “let me take a look” in which case you have a good shot, it you get the upgrade, and at the end of the transaction, when he/she hands you the room keys, you say “thank you very much” and give him/her the $20 handshake, don’t be too obvious. It helps if you know the hotel well enough to know what an upgrade might be, such as, a room with a certain view, or a jacuzzi suite, etc.
I go to LV 2-3 times a year for 2 weeks at a time, I have going “on the cheap” down to a fine art.
about 2 years ago
Sandy’s Vegas Guide
Things to remember:
1.Drinks are free when you’re gambling. Sitting at a bar and playing a few dollars in a poker machine will get you a free drink. Sitting at a machine in the casino will get you the same. Tipping the waitress or bartender a dollar or two will keep her coming back. If you walk up to the bar and order drinks, you’re going to pay lots more, even for soda or bottled water.
2.Player’s Cards: Before you begin gambling, get a player’s card. Most places offer sign up deals (a coffee cup, a free meal, assorted coupons). If you get a card where you’re staying and you use it while you’re gambling, you can “save” the points and use then toward your room when you check out. Some casinos will combine accounts for married couples, some don’t. I always get a card in my name and ask for a second card. I play with one and my husband plays with the other. That way all the points are going to one card, and accumulate faster. Plus … you’ll get offers in the mail for your next trip!
3.Beware of time-share people! As you walk through the hotels and along the strip, you’ll be approached by people who want to give you free show tickets, free tours, free meals, etc. These are time-share sales people. They promise freebies in exchange for an hour of your time. I warn everyone about this but some people just don’t listen. A friend of mine decided an hour of her time was worth giving up in exchange for a show. So her and her husband accepted, were put on a bus and taken to a “presentation” and weren’t bought back for SIX hours. Their only escape would have been to take a cab back to the strip but that would have been expensive and they wouldn’t have gotten their “free” show tickets. The best way to get these people to lose interest in you and move on to the next person is to say, “Thanks, but we’re leaving tonight.”
4.Free Pulls: Some of the casinos offer “free pulls” on a special slot machine as you walk in the door. There are usually no strings attached, you pull the lever and win something. Usually it’s a key ring or a hat; sometimes it’s a free buffet. Sometimes it’s a coupon for a “fun book” (a book of coupons for that casino). To get the fun book, you can be sure you’re going to have to walk to a far, far corner in the casino. They want to get you WAY inside.
5.$40 for $20: Some casinos offer $40 in slot play for $20. What they don’t tell you is that it’s on a bank of “special” machines, and you can’t cash out for cash. Instead, you play the $40 and then choose a prize based on the credits. So before you hand over your $20, take a look at the prizes being offered. If there’s something in there that’s worth paying $20 for – have fun. If not, keep walking.
6.Valet: If you’re going to be renting a car while you’re there, valet parking is the way to go. For a $2 tip, you can park at a hotel or casino and visit the nearby hotels and casinos.
7.Bus: If you use the busses that run up and down the strip, put your wallet in your front pocket. Vegas is the favorite vacation spot for pick-pocketers, too.
8.Cabs: Cabs are more expensive than a bus, but faster and less waiting. Almost all hotels have a cab line outside one of their doors, a line of cabs waiting for the next fare. A hotel employee will whistle for the next cab in line when you ask for a cab.
Things to see (and most are FREE!):
1.The Freemont Street Experience: Every night there is a light and music show that stretches for blocks. It’s an amazing thing to see … and it’s FREE. Freemont Street is in downtown Vegas, you’ll need to take a cab if you don’t have a car. The street is blocked off from traffic and you can stand in the street and look up and watch the show. (Another place to keep a close check on your wallet.) There’s a different show every 30 minutes, beginning at 8:00 or 8:30 PM. Show times and pictures can be seen at: http://www.vegasexperience.com/ Be sure to check out the video! Freemont Street also has performers and kiosks all along it. Lots to see and worth a trip. Downtown used to be nasty and scary, but they’ve cleaned it up and it’s clean and safe now. Just don’t wander too far off Freemont on any of the side streets. You probably wouldn’t want to anyway, most of the action is right on Freemont.
2.The Fountains at Bellagio: Don’t miss this! It’s a 900-foot long row of fountains that “dance” to music. The songs change, and it’s awesome to see. More info at: http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/bellagiofountains.html While you’re there, go inside and check out the conservatory. Very impressive!
3.Caesars Forum Shops: If you feel like strolling through Rome, check out the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This is also where the talking statues live. More info on the shops and a link to info on the talking statues at: http://www.vegas.com/shopping/forumshops.html
4.The Canal at the Venetian: This is pretty amazing and a MUST see. You feel like you’re in Italy as you stroll along the canal and visit the shops. You can even take a gondola ride. Check out the Canal Shoppes at: http://www.venetian.com/shoppe/index.cfm and get information on the gondolas at: http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/gondola.html?f=m0at&t=stripat
5.The Volcano, The Tigers and The Aquarium at The Mirage: If you go up the moving walkway and through the front door at the Mirage, you’ll see the white tiger. Pretty cool to see. Head through the foliage to the front lobby and check out the wall behind the check-in desk. It’s a HUGE salt-water aquarium. In front of the hotel there is a huge waterfall that turns into an erupting volcano (loud, bright, and hot!) at night. A trip to Vegas without seeing the volcano erupt just wouldn’t be a trip to Vegas. http://www.themirage.com/
6.The Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo: An outdoor habitat located within the Flamingo. You can see the live flamingos (still haven’t figured out how to kidnap one) plus lots of other birds, fish, and turtles. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/wildlifehabitat.html
7.Masquerade Village at The Rio: Masquerade Village is inside the casino at the Mirage. There is a parade in the sky with music and dancing and lights that’s pretty cool to see. This is located off the strip, too far to walk, but there is a free shuttle that goes from Harrah’s to Rio and back. More info and a video at: http://www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rlv/entertainment/entertainment_detail_07.html
8.The Eiffel Tower at Paris: You can take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/eiffeltower.html?f=m0at&t=stripat
Other Info:
You can find a map of the strip and downtown Las Vegas here: http://www.vegas.com/map.html
You can find a show guide here: http://www.vegas.com/shows/index1.html?key=show01 This site has a search engine that allows you to enter the dates you’ll be in town.
More GOOD Las Vegas info:
http://www.visitlasvegas.com