7 Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Next Las Vegas Trip

Any Las Vegas vacation is fraught with peril. No, you aren’t likely to cross paths with hordes of zombies. There’s an even scarier enemy that lurks on the Strip.

…What’s scarier than hungry zombies chasing you down Las Vegas Boulevard? An empty wallet.

Veteran gamblers understand that you are likely going to be handing over a large amount of your bankroll to the casinos. And winning the casino’s money is a puzzle that gamblers have been trying to piece together for decades.

But what if I told you there was a way to ensure your wallet stayed fat and flush even when the cards don’t fall in your favor?

Here are seven simple ways to save money on your next Las Vegas trip:

1 – Skip the Strip

Don’t limit yourself to the bright lights on the Strip for your hotel accommodations.





You can get much more bang for your buck by staying in one of Las Vegas’ other hotels. In fact, in many instances, you’ll save money even after accounting for travel around town.

You CAN find a quiet place to recharge your weary soul away from the chatter and chaos of the casinos.

I’ve found that being off casino property after a particularly long or tough session does wonders for my state of mind. You may enjoy the convenience of the short elevator ride to your room after a bad beat. Just imagine if you had saved $100 on your room, though, you’d probably still be gambling.

I recommend taking in all that Las Vegas has to offer. It’s a fun town with much more to offer than just the typical fast-flying casino scene. You can check out that scene and other parts of town that are more affordable, too. Just ask the locals!

2 – Show Me the Discount

Las Vegas is a wonderful town to catch a show. You can get tickets to everyone from, ahem, Carrot Top to Cher. Obviously, ticket prices can vary greatly.

Some shows can come with a hefty price tag, but you may be able to score discounted tickets.

Start by going straight to the hotel’s website. You may also check other sites, like consolidators and coupon sites, for last-minute deals. I’ve scored incredible deals to shows both ways.

If you happen to be staying on property, the hotels will often have select tickets reserved for guests for next to nothing out of pocket. Just speak to the concierge or visit the staff at the players club for available tickets.

And if you still aren’t able to get in to see your favorite performer, check out ticket brokers. There are several locations along the Strip or even at the airport where you can score same-day tickets.

Going these routes won’t guarantee that you are able to get inexpensive tickets to the show of your choosing, but you may find some great deals.

3 – Free Parking

If you’re taking Uber or Lyft around Vegas, you’re going to be forking over cash hand over fist. I took a short ride back to the hotel during “peak” event pricing and spent as much as the dinner I had just enjoyed.





Also, if you find yourself in Las Vegas with a car, you’d be crazy to not use the free parking offered at many hotels. Of course, be responsible, especially if you plan to indulge in adult beverages while gambling.

The Monorail is another affordable way to get anywhere on the Strip. You can get an all access pass for under $10 a day. Besides the incredible convenience, you’ll also be staying out of the desert sun.

If never leaving the air conditioning sounds like your speed, keep in mind that many hotels along the Strip are actually connected by walkways.

For the ultimate moneysaving hack, the city buses are your answer. Both inexpensive and convenient from anywhere in the city, you get to enjoy the pinnacle of people-watching while you save money. Just don’t look too hard.

Many visitors to Las Vegas fail to recognize these options as potential savings. Fortunately, you will have another avenue to cut money out of your travel expenses and into your bankroll.

4 – The Fremont Street Experience

One of my favorite things to do in Las Vegas is to head downtown.

Why go to Downtown Las Vegas when the Strip is calling? The Fremont Street Experience is something every visitor to Las Vegas needs to take in. After all, Downtown Las Vegas is where it all started. Long before the Strip came along, gamblers flocked to Fremont Street to strike it rich.

70 years later, players continue to dance with Lady Luck from the famous Golden Nugget to Binion’s Horseshoe along Fremont Street. The Downtown casinos may lack the exquisite celebration of opulence their cousins on the Strip boast. But, if you appreciate a no-nonsense approach and the best odds in town, you’ll be right at home.

Here, you’ll find some of the loosest slots in Las Vegas. You also won’t get that 6 to 5 payout trash on blackjack. It’s all 3 to 2 here, just as the gambling gods intended. Why such loose slots and fair payouts?

Well, the casinos downtown have to compete fiercely to draw gamblers in the door. Casinos on the Strip have a steady flow of full wallets constantly pouring in.

Fremont Street has lots of free attractions as well. Viva Vision light shows take place every night after 6pm hourly, and free live music shows can be enjoyed Downtown most weekends.

5 – Avoid Peak Travel Times

Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps. The party never stops, so by heading to Sin City while the masses are back at home, you may be able to save big bucks.





More specifically, the area is generally less inhabited from March through May and September through November. If you slide into town during either of these windows, you’ll be enjoying the best deals on anything from hotel accommodations to air travel.

The cherry on top is that the casinos typically extend the best deals of the year between these times.

As you might expect, it is in your best interest to avoid holidays or dates which host huge events. These create an influx of potential gamblers to the city. Along with this huge increase for demand, so go the prices.

For your best chances to save some money, travel mid-week. I have found rooms and flights on a Tuesday for 20% of what those spending the weekend in Vegas hand over.

Unfortunately, those pesky resort fees are going to pop up 365 days a year. So, don’t fail to take those into account when booking.

If you want to negotiate these down, the hotel may work with you. Just be sure to have that worked out before you show up at the front desk.

6 – Airbnb

I dedicated time in giving you the benefits of staying in an off-Strip hotel earlier. You shouldn’t feel like that’s your only opportunity to save money on a bed.

Services like Airbnb and Vrbo are wonderful choices to find a premium place to call home base. This is a great way to swap out the glitzy hotel for something with a more homey feel and cut your bill by half.

This is especially useful when traveling with friends. My buddies and I regularly take trips, and by pooling our resources, we can get amazing houses for $25 to $30 a person per night.

When traveling anywhere for personal time, I almost exclusively use one of the above services. Not only does it often rival accommodations you’ll find at any hotel resort, but you get all of the comforts of home. This also means you can prepare your own meals. That alone can save you hundreds of dollars.

7 – Skip Sin City Altogether

To piggyback off that, casino gambling trips shouldn’t be targeted strictly to Las Vegas.

Today, over 15+ states have licensed casinos. Many of these offer all the games you’d find at your favorite Strip casino.

I have been fortunate enough to visit WinStar World Casino multiple times while visiting family. They’re not only the largest casino in the world, but they also offer A-List performances year-round and a world-class golf course.

If a Vegas vacation isn’t in your budget, and you need to scratch that itch to gamble, hit your nearest casino for a “near-cation.”

Conclusion

When you’re planning a vacation, thinking about your budget can be pretty stressful. And as a gambler, you have to factor in the extra cost of gameplay.

Apart from spending money on accommodations, airfare, rentals, dining, and other attractions, you also have to manage your bankroll, how much you should be spending per day on gambling, and other forms of entertainment you may want to partake in.

With these easy, simple ways to save money on your next Las Vegas trip, you’re sure to leave the desert a much happier traveler!