The Best Way to Save Money While in Vegas
OK gang, I am back. I took a little time off away from work, away from this site, away from the Metro, away from just about everything. I went to Vegas.
Now hold on, before you flood my inbox about how an author for a large personal finance site like this gets off going to Vegas, let me explain…There is quite a bit of valuable information I can pass along that you might find interesting.
On the way to our hotel, the cab driver asked us (in one of the raspiest voices you could imagine, “What are your plans during your stay?” We had been a few times before, mostly in college for the annual Spring Break Trip so we kind of new what was around here to do but we feigned carelessness and said Not much, just going to hang around. He immediately began telling us all about the restaurants both on and off the strip and explained at great length the difference in cost for each. It was somewhat enlightening that were being given such valuable information from a man who was looking for tips. He was a nice guy though so, we tipped him. What he said though was important and you should take note. If you are on a strict budget, one block away from the main drag will get you to the same places to eat at half the cost. Having said that, lets start with food:
Food
One of the largest expenses on a trip like this, is the meals. Every hotel is packed to the gills with amazing restaurants that you have never even heard of, food made by glamorous chefs that make more in a month cooking food, than you spend on food in a year. With all the richness of this food comes a high price. What I would recommend would be to go to one nice restaurant and fully enjoy it, and bring the remainder back to the hotel room. Make another meal out of it and it as cheap;y as you can for the rest of the trip. Commit to one great meal and then refrain. Every expensive place is going to be the best, but be warned that food can seriously add up quick. Visit places off the strip a little ways, try a cheap buffet, stretch your meals in your room. Have the experience but leave some of your budget for some other adventures as well.
Drinks
Here is a tricky one. We spent a fair amount of time at our pool, from very early in the morning until the heat caused nausea. At the hotel where we stayed, in the blistering heat your were offered two sizes, one that was $9 and another that was $15. For only $6 more dollars you could double your drink size! Bargains galore! Then, to make things even better, you didn’t have to pay! At least …. not for a while, they would gladly just put it on your room and you can sort it out later. How nice! I tell you what, these places are experts at what they do. Buying drinks anywhere and “charging it” is epitome of “out-of-sight, out-of-mind.” To save some money: Consider how much you might drink in an average day, factor in a 15-20% tip on that amount and bring it in cash. Once you run out, that’s it. The drinks are paid for and there are no surprises later. Go to an ABC store and have your own drinks in your room. (You will end up paying for one bottle when you buy one drink elsewhere: See Clubs below.)
Hotel
We got lucky this trip and found a great deal at the Mirage for 4 people, 3 nights at $400 for the group. I am not sure where we got that deal but once I find out I will put an update here. There are tons of websites that have great deals and most of the larger online airline ticket arenas also have great deals when you bundle your tickets together. One more thing: Do not touch the mini bar. Even if you move stuff around, its weight sensitive and you will be charged unless you put everything back and ask they your fridge be reset. Check hotels off the strip for even better savings if you can’t get something reasonable at a mega resort.
Airline tickets
We have discussed this before and have shown that Mobissimo.com is pretty competitive as is CheapOAir.com. For this trip we ended up with CheapOAir.com. One pair of tickets ran about $670 while another pair a few weeks later ran about $860. Plan in advance and you can save money here, that was a lesson I learned. For the most part however, you really just have to dig and make a few sacrifices as far as direct flights and times in order to make it somewhat affordable. The airlines are grasping for air (or fuel, I guess) and have a nasty tendency to take it out on the consumer. Take your time and plan ahead and you will get a great deal.
Entertainment
Similar to plane tickets, if you spend time price comparing, you can usually find a good deal. If you want to go to a huge show, buy them early, as prices will rise as the date gets near. For smaller shows, see if you can get a ticket later closer to the start time as they might be anxious to get rid of some seats. Either way, with the right amount of time you can get a good deal here.
Gambling
My advice to anyone who goes to Vegas, be very, very cautious about gambling. You can have great fun even if you don’t gamble at all. If you do, be sure that you know as much about whatever game you are playing like the back of your hand. Every game in a casino is design to take your money. And ATM’s charge at least $5 to get money out. The very decor, sounds and smells are all engineered specifically to part you with your money. Check this list out:
There are no clocks. It is very easy to lose track of time. The longer you stay hooked up to a table, or slot machine, the more you spend and if you stay longer than intended, well that’s OK right? Wear a watch.
- Everything around the casino floor adds excitement. Live music, interesting dancers, prize giveaways, cars waiting to be won with just one quarter…
- Its incredibly easy to stay alert. The room is chilly staving off any sort of sleepiness, the drinks are quick and refreshing (and free if you are betting, another enticement), and some have even rumored that they pump oxygen into the vents to keep people awake. I don’t believe this but who can really say for sure?
- The casino floor is a maze of multicolored carpet that and tables and machines and anywhere you want to go has to be on the other side of the games and tables. From the moment you step away from the check in desk to start heading towards the elevator, you are haunted and teased by the most interesting games you can imagine, all of which take cash in any form.
Clubs
All I can really say about this is, stay away from them. Girls get in free, but guys pay a small car payment just to get in. Then you get drinks and you can forget it. Its an incredible amount of money that you will think about for quite a long time. They are full of awesome lights and every song you have ever heard and another half that you will never hear again. Its like the movies. Its insane and the people are nuts. That’s all I can really say right now.
Most of this seems pretty obvious I am sure, but when you are there, money takes on a completely different meaning. You feel as though you will never run out and you are just going to get this one last thing and that’s it. Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a time and place for Vegas and taking vacations and letting loose. We have to do that, its in our nature. But in moderation, of course. Plan and budget and show discipline, and you will regret far, far less. Remember that Vegas is designed from the beginning to take your money and convince you that you need to do it.
The cab driver on the way back to the airport had less physical advice and more philisophical ideas. He said that there were two sides, one where people visited and one where people lived. Strange how they rarely mix. The visited side is not meant to last, its designed almost too well. All that opluence and glamour is being paid for constantly. Vegas makes about $500 billion (with a “B”) a year. Thats net, not gross. The plane ride out there is full of energy and excitement, but the trip home is somehow so much quieter. You will find a new appreciation for it when you get home and see your $8 six pack of beer in the fridge. You will think about all the lights, and sounds and you realize that sometimes there are things just as good, at a regular price, under a little 40 watt bulb, in your own fridge. $
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Comments
A good way to avoid over spending on gambling is to not stay at the casino. Stay somewhere where there is no gambling and when you go to gamble take cash (never card) and just spend what you have with you. Never more
@ Tiffanie: Your right on about ABC stores, they are much cheaper and as long as you reset your fridge’s weight (you request it I should say), you can keep your extra booze in your room. Vegas is open container so you should be all set. Work is taking me to Hawaii soon as well, I am excited although the plane ride is going to be “not fun” from DC.
@ Ryan: Just taking cash is a great idea. The whole experience can be fun and rewarding if you have discipline and enjoy it in moderation. Learning the rules like the back of your hand are definitely in order.
Oooooh! First of all, welcome back and it sounds like you had a great time. Second of all, I LOVE the ABC Stores. When we were in Hawaii last year for 9 days, they had roughly 50 ABC Stores in a 2 mile radius in Waikiki. Not even kidding. Everything was an ABC Store, haha. Needless to say, we ended up shopping there for stuff a lot, liquor included
Definitely cheaper. I miss those ABC Stores…they are one of the recurring memories from our trip to Hawaii lol.