|
Downtown is great, and several of the hotels by Fremont Street have
recently seen an upgrade – the Golden Nugget actually quite posh yet
cheaper than the Strip.
Entertainment
There is tons of free entertainment, and just because it is free
doesn’t mean it sucks. Check out the Low Budget section to see a
quick list of must-sees.
One of the many things Vegas is known for is all of the great
shows. Prices for these range from around $20 for some of the comedy
and entertainment off of the Strip, and the Cirque du Soleil shows
and other featured shows on the Strip usually run from around $60 on
a slow night to over $100 dollars – they are worth it though. And it
is a good idea to keep at least one famous Vegas show as part of
your budget.
Guess what, if you are here in the summer it is going to be hot.
That means around noon you will be thinking about cool water and
lounging by a beautiful pool. Most hotels have one, and Strip Hotels
and Downtown Hotels have some of the most beautiful pools you’ve
ever seen. Getting in is free with your room key unless it is an
adult pool like Bare at the Mirage or Tao Beach at the Venetian it
there may be an entrance fee, usually about $20 – drinks here are
going to be more expensive as well. (Hint: If you bring the hot
stripper from last night, or your wife just had a boob job, take
them and you might get in for free. Vegas loves pretty girls – dudes
not so much, even if you are pretty).
If golf is your thing, there are about a dozen courses throughout
Las Vegas. Check your wife into your Hotel’s Spa for the day (just
about every hotel has one) and hit the courses. You’ll both be
refreshed and ready for a night of debauchery.
Gambling
Not surprisingly Vegas keeps very close track of how tourists
spend their gambling dollar, and it turns out that on average you
all spend about $559 dollars each gambling on a Vegas trip – don’t
worry though, that takes into account the High Rollers on private
tables spending millions a hand. A casual gambler can have a lot of
fun if they only bring $200-$300 designated for gambling – and hey,
if you win you can spend even more.
The first trick to having a good time gambling on an average
budget is to know your limits – gambling limits that is. A good
lower limit for Blackjack is $5, and that will make you last for a
long time because even the most unlucky will win the occasional
hand. You can go as high as $10 if you feel a streak coming on, and
for the sake of all that is holy, if you are new to gambling take
the dealer’s advice – they want you to win really, that’s how they
get tips.
The games of Roulette and Craps are fast and furious, keep your
bets to a 10 dollar per roll/spin spread across the table and you’re
sure to have an exciting time. Yes putting your wad on snake eyes is
fun – for about the time it takes someone to roll the dice anyway,
that’s not how you last in Vegas though.
Slot machines are everywhere, and they usually range from a
dollar up. Don’t wander into the high limits area of your casino
though or you may feel a turning in your stomach as you watch the
extremely wealthy shove stacks of $500 bills into the greedy
machines. Stick to the casino floor, and smile for the waitress so
she brings you more drinks (and tip her – usually a dollar per
trip).
Transportation
Taxi is the primary mode of Transportation throughout Las Vegas.
Try to make sure the driver sticks to the Strip to avoid undue
charges if you’re going Downtown. Also, check your map before hoping
in. If you’re staying at Mandalay Bay, Luxor is right next door.
Most cabbies won’t bother warning you before the meter starts
running. The tram is another great way to get around, though it only
makes a handful of stops on the strip, most of what you will want to
see is within walking distance of one of the stops. Limos cost
around $60, so if you have a large group it might be worth it,
otherwise we’re used to Limos in Vegas and it’s not that impressive
so save your cash.
Getting Here
It seems like nearly every city in the world has at least one
direct flight a day to Las Vegas, however, you could save a few
bucks with a connector coming out of LA or Phoenix. Look for
airlines that have multiple daily flights to the area and you might
find lower rates. Also, coming here during slower seasons and mid
week is less expensive, and booking in advance is always cheaper. |
