Even Cheap Vegas Travel is Enjoyable
November 30th, 2008 at 04:09pm Under Travel tips
If your idea of a vacation involves sleeping in a hostel room with 20 other people, eating 99 cent buffets, scoring free casino game plays and outdoor people-watching, then Vegas travel is for you! Sure, some couples, high-rollers, celebrities and families come to Las Vegas Nevada without a budget, staying at the most luxurious resorts, eating only the finest cuisine and paying upwards of $300 for front row Vegas shows, but for the easily appeased there is a whole other side that others may miss. After all, everyone feels like a big-shot on the Las Vegas strip, whether they’re paying out like a slot machine or not!
Do you have champagne taste and a beer budget? Don’t worry, even though the celebrity chefs have moved to town, there are still cheap Las Vegas eats to accommodate you on your Vegas travel experience. Oyster Bar at Pennazi (Harrah’s Hotel) will stuff you for $10, Carnegie Deli (Mirage) will give you a pound of corned beef for $11 and Burger Bar will hook you up with some creatively decorated burgers for $12 and but don’t forget to sample one of the 24 beers!
If you’re a lover of the all-you-can-eat buffets, then Green Valley and Red Rock are two of the best low-budget options (we’re talking $10 and under here). Main Street Station will also run you under $15 for some of the best buffet food on the Las Vegas Strip. Some sit-down places to check out for under $15 are Binion’s, California, Ellis Island and Four Queens.
The beauty of traveling to Vegas is the amount of free attractions and Las Vegas shows that are available. At The Bellagio Hotel, there is a magnificent indoor conservatory and an impressive outdoor “dancing fountain” show that is choreographed to music every 15-30 minutes. Similarly, the 54-foot-high volcano erupts at The Mirage every night, which is an impressive sight. The Sirens Battle at Treasure Island is good eye-candy for guys and may be cool for little ones, but will undoubtedly disappoint your “Pirates of the Caribbean” loving teen.
You can check out the lion display at MGM Grand and the flamingos at The Flamingo Hotel at no cost. Twelve million lights shine on Fremont Street, with a special display every 30 minutes. Circus Circus has acts every half hour as well, with hire wire walkers, clowns and magicians touring the building. Perhaps the best free Vegas strip show is the Masquerade in the Sky at The Rio, where sky-high dancers and pulsating music meet. Sci-fi loving, techno music fans will love that there’s no cover to get into Mandalay Bay’s Eyecandy Sound Lounge & Bar.
You may have heard that you can score free alcohol while gambling in any Las Vegas casino. Hello, that’s part of what makes Vegas travel so enticing! Even though the drinks are free, it is customary to tip the waitress $1, although if you tip $2 or more, you can rest assured you’ll get more free drinks than usual. If you want to save money, then try to avoid the clubs.
Some good spots for hanging out and drinking lower-priced drinks include Canaval Court (Harrah’s), Margaritaville (Flamingo), Trader Vic’s (Miracle Mile Shops), ESPN Zone (New York-New York) and Slots of Fun. At Nine Fine Irishmen (New York-New York), you can find a pint of Guinness for $6 and The Bunkhouse in downtown Las Vegas is a cheap traveler’s bar just one block from the USA Hostel.
Mike Selvon has some great informative articles. If you enjoyed this article, please visit his website for part 2 on Vegas travel, and also learn more insider Las Vegas activities tips.
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