When I was a kid, my family visited Las Vegas a lot! We did lots of fun kid-friendly activities in Vegas, but once I turned 21 and was in college in Northern Arizona, I rediscovered Sin City! There was only one problem, now I was a financially independent adult. Helllooooo budget. I quickly learned how to save money in Vegas so here are my top tips! With these budget tips, I went to Las Vegas 3 times during my undergrad and once so far while in grad school.

General Las Vegas Hacks

1. Groupon is Your Friend

I love Vegas because so much is available on Groupon for the area! I’ve used Groupon for everything in Vegas including hotels, attractions, and food! The reduced hotel rates are unbeatable (especially if you pair Groupon with Rakuten (Ebates)). Food in Las Vegas is expensive, so any vouchers for food help…especially if you don’t care where you eat. If your heart isn’t set on anything, check Groupon first. For example, I previously bought $50 worth of food and drinks at Hexx Kitchen + Bar (in Vegas) for only $30 on Groupon! The food was good and the view was better!

2. MyVegas Slots app

I apologize in advance if I get you hooked. The MyVegas Slots app is a free app that is an automated slots game that is completely free to play. The best part is you get REAL rewards for playing redeemable in Las Vegas! I recommend signing in through Facebook on the app, because you can play on Facebook on a desktop too. Just set the game to go automatically and check in every now and then, and rack up real rewards points.

Redeem the points for reduced hotel rates, show tickets, dining credits, drink vouchers, and coupons like 2-for-1 drinks or $25 off a spa service. You can only choose rewards on the mobile app, not the Facebook game, but the points will connect in your account. So, anything you earn on Facebook will appear in your mobile app as well (and vice versa).

3. Student Discounts in Vegas

ID.me pairs with Caesars Hotels (Caesar’s Palace, The Harrahs, Flamingo, Paris, etc) for discounts for students, teachers, military (active and veteran), seniors, government employees, first responders, and nurses!

As always, I recommend bringing your student ID with you wherever you travel. It never hurts to ask!

Read more >> How to Save Money for Traveling as a Student

How to Save Money on Vegas Hotels

4. Stay in Cheap Hotels

I know everyone will tell you to stay off the Strip, but I personally don’t agree. If you plan to spend your time on the Strip at the casinos, seeing shows, or at the bars, it might actually cost you more in Ubers to travel to-and-from your hotel. However, if your hotel has a free shuttle and you don’t mind having your schedule revolve around that, you can get a hotel off the strip for as little as $25 a night.

Now hear me out! You can still stay on the Strip for pretty cheap. Here are cheap hotels to consider: Luxor, Excalibur, New York New York, The Harrah’s, Bally’s and The Flamingo. These hotels cost $35 a night on average.

Don’t forget that all hotels have their own fees, so while the base price might be $35 a night, you might also have to pay $20 per day in fees. It’s usually in the fine print on Groupon and on hotel booking websites so just pay attention to what you’ll need to have financially available when you check-in.

Final note: you will need someone 21+ to check-in. If you’re going with a group in college, make sure a 21+ year old reserves the room so they can check-in.

5. Watch Out for MGM Parking Fees

As you narrow down a hotel, be sure to consider parking fees. All MGM associated hotels have a surcharge for parking per day. Here’s the breakdown:

Luxor and Excalibur: $10 per day

MGM Grand, Mirage, New York New York, and Mandalay Bay: $15 per day

Bellagio and Aria: $18 per day

Obviously these can add up, so take that into account when you are budgeting for your hotel!

Each of these hotels also has charges for visitors parking (not just hotel guests) so if you stay for over an hour you’ll be charged a fee.

That said, I recommend The Harrah’s, Bally’s or The Flamingo for cheaper accommodation with free parking!

How to Save on Food & Drinks in Las Vegas

6. BYOS: Bring Your Own Snacks (and Alcohol)

I already mentioned how helpful Groupon is at reducing food costs, but still eating out can get pricey real quick! It helps to bring your own snacks especially if you need drunchies, late night snacks, or something to hold you over while you wait for bigger meals. You can also bring your own alcohol into your hotel room, so if you need a fridge, make sure your hotel room has one prior to booking. Many hotel rooms have mini-fridges, but not microwaves so keep this in mind. You can’t exactly reheat leftovers or make makeshift microwaved meals in your room.

7. Splurge on Breakfast

Another way to reduce food costs, is to do your splurging at breakfast. Breakfast naturally costs less than dinner, so that’s the perfect time to find somewhere amazing to try! My personal family favorite is America in New York New York. There’s an amazing giant 3D map of the USA and they have incredible French toast made with croissants!

8. Hit Up Happy Hours

Happy Hours are the key to cheap meals and drinks in Las Vegas. You might need to venture off the Strip like to Fremont Street, but you’ll find incredible deals at Happy Hours. Drinks for as little as $3 and food for $10 or less is hard to beat in Vegas!

9. Free Drinks When Gambling

If you’re newly 21 in Las Vegas, this may be new information. But if you sit in one location while gambling for a decent amount of time, the staff will bring you free drinks! Obviously, this is a trade-off. If you’re spending lots of money on gambling, then are you really saving money?

Just something to consider if you do plan on gambling.

Keep in mind that they are more likely to serve you if you are at higher costing games.

10. Reuse Your Cup for Cheaper Refills

Fat Tuesday is a special drink establishment with locations throughout Las Vegas. They create specialty frozen daiquiri cocktails that are dangerously delicious! When you purchase one, they come in a reusable cup. If you bring the cup back to any Fat Tuesday location, the refill is cheaper and you don’t need to get the same drink each time. The cost depends on the size of the cup. The cheapest is 22oz and $10, where the refill is $9 and the largest is 100oz for $38 where the refill is $28. There are plenty of in between sizes and you can add a house shot to each drink for only $2.

Be sure to try the flavors before you commit! My favorites are the Pina Colada, Mango, and Electric Lemonade! (Psst you can get more than one flavor in a cup).

How to Save Money on Transportation in Vegas

11. Use the Free Monorail System

There are three free transportation systems that connect some hotels on the Strip. First is the monorail, which runs between Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur Next, is the tram running between Bellagio, Aria, and Park MGM. Last is the tram from Mirage to Treasure Island and back. It’s very short, but sometimes you just don’t want to walk. I hear ya!

There is a longer monorail system, which can be cheaper than Ubers that runs behind the hotels on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd from MGM to Sahara Station (near the Stratosphere – now called the STRAT). It stops at popular hotels along the way like Bally’s, Paris, Flamingo, and the Harrah’s. One ride is $5 and a day pass is $13. There are other 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 day passes as well costing up to $56. But, considering an Uber can cost $20, this isn’t bad at all!

Don’t forget to check if your hotel has any free shuttles! Many do, but they can get crowded so be prepared to look for other modes of transport!

12. Carpool

It may seem self-explanatory, but carpooling will obviously save some money on ride-shares. If you have a group, split the transportation cost. Or alternatively, look for carpool Ubers for a reduced fare. Stay safe!

13. Walk walk walk

The majority of hotels, restaurants, and attractions on the Strip span a 2.5 mile section, so it’s really not that bad to walk everywhere. You will definitely get your steps in while you save some money on transportation costs.

Free Things to Do in Las Vegas

1. Seven Magic Mountains – Visit this beautiful art exhibit of brightly colored rocks in the middle of the Nevada desert, just 20 minutes from the Strip. It makes for a great photoshoot location!
2. Bellagio Fountains – Catch this free fountain show outside the Bellagio hotel every 15-30 minutes until midnight. The schedule varies depending on the day, so check the schedule.
3. Fremont Street Experience – This classic Vegas experience shouldn’t be missed! Fremont Street is an 0.8 mile covered street that has popular casinos, restaurants, shopping, and an unforgettable light show on the ceiling at night! You can also Zip-line from one side to the other!
4. M&Ms World (if you manage to walk out without buying anything) – Marvel at the massive M&Ms wall with every color and M&M variation you can think of in this 4-story M&Ms store!
5. Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens – The Bellagio really loves free activities! Inside the hotel is a walkthrough Conservatory and Botanical Garden with rotating themed displays.
6. Coca-Cola Store – Again, this is free if you manage not to buy anything.
7. Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel – Real flamingos? Sign me up!
8. Volcano at the Mirage – Witness the volcano eruption show outside the Mirage for a fun, family-friendly activity!
9. Wander the Grand Canal Shops at the Venetian (and St. Mark’s Square) – The Venetian is one of the most beautiful hotels to just wander around and take in all the detail!
10. Photo Op at the “Welcome to Las Vegas” Sign – You can’t visit Vegas without snapping a pic at the iconic sign (especially if its your first time)!

Read these other Las Vegas posts:

Everything you need to know about the Seven Magic Mountains

Kid-friendly things to do in Las Vegas

How to spend 2 days in Las Vegas

The 7 most unique restaurants to try in Vegas

My Travel Essentials

• • Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
  • Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
  • Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
  • Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
  • Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
  • Merino Wool – Where are my chronic over-packers? Merino wool is the material you’ve been looking for. It’s naturally anti-microbial, so you can rewear it…so, less clothes to pack! I’m a fan of WoolX Merino.
  • Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
  • Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!