If you’ve ever seen National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation or The Hangover, you’ll know that visiting the Las Vegas can be a lot of fun but can also quickly drain your bank account.
Since it is such a popular destination, travelers are constantly looking for ways to save. Here is a collection of resources to make your next trip to Sin City a little more affordable.
Vegas.com
What better place to find out about all that a city has to offer than to go to its official website? Vegas.com provides information about hotels, flights, car rentals and activities in and around the city. Want to know about all of the shows? This site will give details on showtimes, descriptions and more. Discounts and other savings are regularly added so check this site often!
Expedia and Travelocity
Both Expedia and Travelocity of these aggregators frequently offer great packages for travel to Vegas and can be a great resource for booking flights, hotel and car rentals in one spot. It’s not always the cheapest option but it’s usually affordable enough considering how easy it will to keep track of all three reservations since they are all in one spot.
Get a Las Vegas Travel Deal
Of course, there are other sites that offer similar options including Priceline and Kayak. Some people swear by Hot Wire since the savings really can be incredible but the major drawback is that travelers cannot pick their own hotels and are stuck with whatever “secret” deal they’ve signed up for. As long as it doesn’t matter where you stay (you can, however, choose the neighborhood, star rating, etc…), it’s a very good option.
Unexpected trip? Check out our last minute trip resources.
Hotels
Finding a decent hotel in Vegas depends a lot on what you’re expecting and, of course, how much you can afford. This is one area, however, that can make or break a trip so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of saving money on accommodations.
Some of the hotels are a little older and the wear and tear is showing (i.e. Circus Circus) but I’ve met travelers who have made a tradition of staying someplace and vow to always return. If you don’t fall into that category, it’s probably a good idea to go with a newer or recently renovated place since each establishment sees thousands and thousands of visitors every year.
One way to still save money is to look on sites like Vegas.com or the actual website of the hotel for deals that include vouchers for free meals, gambling money, spa treatments, show tickets or other perks.
Transportation
I always rent a car when I go to Vegas but that’s because I love to shop (more on that in a bit). I tend to book my car rentals on sites like Hot Wire and I’m often able to get a decent rate.
If you don’t want to rent a car, you can take an airport shuttle to your hotel or grab a cab. Taxis are in abundance throughout the city but if you happen to get stuck in traffic, it could be very expensive.
On the strip, a great way to travel is by monorail. Buying a pass for several days costs very little and it’s easy to get from one place to another – especially if you’ve had a little bit to drink.
Outlet Malls
One of my favorite things about Las Vegas is the shopping. There have been times where I’ve saved enough on certain items that I needed that it more than compensated for the cost of travel. For example, if you live in a colder climate and need a winter coat, you could find the same item for half the price since Vegas is so warm.
There are several outlet malls that I really enjoy and they all have something to offer but the ones I recommend are the Fashion Outlets, Premium Outlets and the Disney Character Warehouse.
Las Vegas really can be a fun place to visit and if you check out any of those resources above, you should be able to enjoy your trip without stressing about money.
