Everyone should experience Las Vegas at least once in their life. Unfortunately, many people are turned off by the idea because of the perception that you have to spend a ton of cash to make it happen. But the extravagant experiences that you see in the movies is not the only way to experience this amazing city. While it is easy to blow a lot of cash at casinos, bars, and overblown venues, there are enough free and cheap things to do here to have an unforgettable vacation without burning a hole in your pocket. If an impromptu Vegas vacation sounds appealing to you, read on as we break down the best way to make your budget dream vacation a reality.
Finding Cheap, Last-Minute Flights to Las Vegas
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The first step to landing a cheap, last-minute Vegas vacation is finding a good flight deal. This can be tricky, depending on where you are coming from, but there are a few tricks you can use to make sure that you get the best deal possible. First of all, be flexible with your dates and travel times, as airlines use surge pricing to maximize profits during times of high demand, so flying in the middle of the week or in the early hours of the morning can save you a pretty penny. Check out package deals that combine your flight with a hotel as well, as you can potentially save some money that way too. You can also sign-up for fare alerts whenever you complete a GoLastMinute flight search, then keep an eye on pricing and just take your trip when prices are lowest.
Don’t Overspend on Your Hotel
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Oftentimes, what makes a Vegas vacation expensive is that people overspend for an extravagant hotel. While it can be tempting to pamper yourself in this way, it probably isn’t a good idea to spend all your cash on the place where you will primarily just be sleeping. Look for hotels that aren’t in the most convenient locations, as those will be in lower demand, then rely on public transportation(more on that in a moment) to get to places like Fremont Street of the Vegas Strip. By forgoing extravagance and convenient locations, you can drastically cut down your lodging costs. With a cheap hotel and good flight deal in hand, you will have what you need to make a cheap Vegas vacation a reality.
Rely on Public Transportation
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Some cities have amazing public transportation that makes moving around without a car easy as pie. Las Vegas is not one of those cities. In fact, it has been reported that Vegas has one of the worst public transits in the nation. This makes it tempting to rent a car or rely on taxi cabs, but those options are money suckers that will skyrocket the cost of your trip. Your two best options for getting around are the monorail and the bus system, which are much cheaper and will get you where you need to go, even if they are not ideal. When picking your hotel, use google maps to check how long it will take to get to places you want to go using public transportation, so that you know that you have suitable options for getting there.
Walk the Las Vegas Strip
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The casinos, restaurants, and venues that line the famous Las Vegas strip are expensive attractions that do not make for a cheap vacation. However, walking the strip and enjoying the lights and activity is an experience in and of itself, and it is worth spending an evening seeing it. The skyline here is adorned with magnificent spectacles like the newly christened Sphere, which provides endless free light shows. Check out the Fountains of Bellagio for a free musical show and live out your own Ocean’s Eleven fantasy. Be sure and snap some selfies for your socials, and entertain yourself with some of the best people watching you will find anywhere.
Fremont Street Experience
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The Fremont Street experience was designed to attract tourists away from the Strip, so it is full of free and cheap attractions that rival its competition. You will often find live music being performed, with live performances promised each and every night. The Viva Vision Light Shows are put on every hour starting at 6pm, and are displayed on the world’s largest digital display. If you can spare the roughly US$50 for it, there is even a zipline 12 stories above the street that is well worth the price. Check their website for an events schedule before you go to make sure you have the best possible experience!
