VegasPundit.com Itinerary: Las Vegas for Under £50 a Day

It is indeed possible to ‘do’ Las Vegas for under £50 a day!  That’s about $75 US at the time of writing.

As a matter of fact, the most expensive part about doing Las Vegas is getting there.  Round-trip tickets from Europe and Asia cost upwards of £500-£700.  Even if you’re flying in from Canada or anywhere in the US, you’re still looking at paying between two or three Benjamins.

In my backpacking-across-Europe days, I learned how to stretch my pounds, euros and dollars, simply so I could stay on the road longer.  This is experience I still put to good use when looking for bargains.  Now fully grown-up, I have to say that I do enjoy my creature comforts when travelling around the world – flushing toilets, food whose provenance is known, and excellent sound insulation in hotel rooms.  … The stories I can tell you!

So is it possible to do Las Vegas for under £50 / $75 a day, but do it like a VIP?

The answer is yes, and VegasPundit.com will show you how, with one possible itinerary.

Accommodation

It’s not a secret.  Las Vegas has excellent deals on hotel rooms.  There are over 150,000 hotel rooms in Greater Las Vegas, and the law of supply and demand apply!  Unless you’re going at the height of tourist season, when there are five massive conventions in town and a boxing match, all on at the same time – you can get excellent deals.

If you can time your visit to Las Vegas to be mid-week, you’ll really maximise your savings on your hotel room.  Hotel room rates drastically rise at the weekends, so if you’re on a £50 / $75 budget, a weekend stay could be tight but still do-able.

For a £50 / $75 daily budget, I’d say plan on spending half on your hotel room.  Start with doing a search on Expedia and Travelocity.  These will give you a good idea about the range of pricing you’re looking at. 

At the time of writing, this gave me good results in the price range I was looking for.  The mid-week rate at the El Cortez Hotel Resort and Casino was only £27 / $40.  Bargain.  The El Cortez is a jewel in the crown of old Las Vegas.  It also has a stunning Lobby Bar, serving up classic cocktails like Mint Juleps and Brandy Alexanders.  The area around the El Cortez is also vibrant, with loads of bars, restaurants, galleries and gambling – and gives a real taste of Classic Las Vegas. 

Don’t book just yet.  Do check to see if the hotel has any special deals or packages.  I just did, and found that the El Cortez is offering Vintage Rooms for £23 / $35.  In addition, the hotel would throw in a $20 food credit and $15 free play in their casino.  And who knows, with that free play, you may even be PAID to stay at the El Cortez.  Ultra bargain.

Accommodation.  Sorted.  Budget left over, £27 / $40.

Transport

Staying in old town Las Vegas, you don’t really need to rent a car.  Fremont Street and its glittering overhead light show is just one block away.  The Golden Nugget (a former Steve Wynn property), Binion’s, and the Plaza Hotel and Casino are moments away.

Las Vegas has an extensive bus system, which can whisk you between Downtown and the Strip fast. The aptly named Deuce, starts at the Fremont Street Experience and takes you down Las Vegas Boulevard to the Mandalay Bay.  You can get on and off at any of the major resort casinos including the Mirage, Caesars Palace, Bellagio and Excalibur.  The SDX bus is an express service that goes from the Fremont Street Experience to the Mandalay Bay, with less stops.  These two bus services also go to two sets of Las Vegas Premium Outlets, where designers brands are often marked down 75%.  Cost?  $7 for 24 hours.

Transport.  Sorted.  Budget left over, £22 / $32.

Food and drink

Of course, there fast food places galore up and down Las Vegas Boulevard.  But why come to Las Vegas just to go to a ubiquitous McDonald’s or Subway?

Gone are the days of 99 cent shrimp cocktails and steak and egg breakfasts for under a fiver… But are they?  For breakfast or a late night supper, you can still go to Bill’s Gambling Hall on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo.  3 eggs, bacon and sausage, hash browns and toast can be had for just $4.99.

Lunch?  Try Alberto’s at 3025 Las Vegas Boulevard.  It’s fast, Mexican and ultra-good – and best, for just $7.50 you could probably feed two people.

Oh yeah, remember that food credit at the El Cortez?  Dinner.  Done.

Food and drink.  Sorted.  Budget left over: £10 / $15.

Entertainment

There are loads of things you can do for free or very cheaply in Las Vegas.

The Fremont Street Experience is probably Downtown Las Vegas’ best and free attraction, and definitely worth spending some time at.  Cruising down the Strip on the Deuce is also an excellent way to sightsee – pretty much taking in all of the major resorts and casinos.  If you wanted to gamble your last £10 / $15, you can really make it stretch by playing penny slots.  And depending on the resort casino you’re at, if you’re playing any of the slot machines, cocktails are normally on the house!

Entertainment.  Sorted. 

Summary

Doing Vegas for under £50 / $75?  Done.  As always, we’d love to hear from you.  Let us know if you’d like us to cover anything, or if you have any questions about Las Vegas.  Leave a comment here or Tweet us!

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