And there are buses that run throughout the city. Yes, there are free trams between a handful of resorts. The massive casinos on the Strip might look close to each other, but they're actually pretty spread out. ( Plus, they are sometimes hard to find.) And while walking is my normal way of seeing a city, temperatures in Las Vegas can easily top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Taxis, Ubers and Lyfts in Las Vegas can be very expensive. You may unsubscribe at any time.īut I set out to see how, on my 19th trip to Sin City, I could find some new experiences without breaking the bank. Those are all great activities for your first or second trip to Vegas.īy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. The same for hiking in Red Rock Canyon or driving to the Valley of Fire. The location was better but the room was far from glamorous.Įnough has been written about the free shows in Vegas: the Bellagio fountains, the Mirage volcano, the circus act at, well, Circus Circus.

On another trip, I booked an America West vacation package and stayed at Harrah's. I flew a TWA red-eye and stayed at the cheapest room at Circus Circus, known still today as 'The Manor House.' It's really a motel next to the RV park, and the room rate included two free passes to the buffet. In 1999, when I turned 21, my college friend and I did a crazy cheap trip to Las Vegas. Those deals still exist, but you're going to work just a little bit harder to score a 99-cent shrimp cocktail. The theory was: Lure visitors into the casino and they will gamble away more than enough cash to subsidize those cheap meals. Las Vegas was once known for its cheap steak dinners buy one, get one free show tickets and a steady stream of complimentary booze. And good tickets to a hit show or superstar concert are likely to set you back more than the cost of your hotel room.īut that doesn't mean that Vegas is only for high rollers.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Luxury boutiques line the resort shopping malls.

Some of the country's best restaurants have outposts in the city, and sky-high prices to match. And I'm not just talking about at the casinos. Fortunes are won and lost every day in Las Vegas.

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