Weekend in Vegas, on the Cheap

[Neuqua]

So from August 10-14th I will be going to Vegas for the first time with some of my ex roommates.

The hotel and airfare has already been paid for and so that isn't an issue. However, my goal is to not end up spending more than $100/day while there. Is that going to be possible? Luckily, I'm not a big food enthusiast and so sacrificing the buffets and such for cheap fast food is already a foregone conclusion.

Anyways, I know a bunch of people here have their own experiences and so while I'm catching up on former threads, if anyone has any advice I'd love to hear it. I'd love to hear about great values that I should take advantage of, and also some things that regardless of price, is a MUST to check out (like the horse racing game :) )

[Chief Rum]

So from August 10-14th I will be going to Vegas for the first time with some of my ex roommates.

The hotel and airfare has already been paid for and so that isn't an issue. However, my goal is to not end up spending more than $100/day while there. Is that going to be possible? Luckily, I'm not a big food enthusiast and so sacrificing the buffets and such for cheap fast food is already a foregone conclusion.

Anyways, I know a bunch of people here have their own experiences and so while I'm catching up on former threads, if anyone has any advice I'd love to hear it. I'd love to hear about great values that I should take advantage of, and also some things that regardless of price, is a MUST to check out (like the horse racing game :) )

Being cheap in Vegas is like buying your girlfriend a bag of Peanut M&M's for her birthday-- it not only doesn't work, it shouldn't even be attempted.

[Galaxy]

Vegas is very upscale now....Not sure how one can visit on the cheap (at least on The Strip).

[Neuqua]

Lol, well the trip is happening regardless.

I need positivity people!!!!

[primelord]

Eat at the In and Out burger everyday. I am only kind of kidding.

If you are any good at poker you could easily sit in a 3/6 game with $100. You will need to play pretty tight, but the good news is the 3/6 games are ridculously soft and it's highly likely you can win there.

[Glengoyne]

Eat at the In and Out burger everyday. I am only kind of kidding.

If you are any good at poker you could easily sit in a 3/6 game with $100. You will need to play pretty tight, but the good news is the 3/6 games are ridculously soft and it's highly likely you can win there.

Three/six is a good spot to be in for most Vegas Casinos. Don't get sucked into the 2/4, no fold'em hold'em just isn't all that fun. I also had a good run playing 4/8 my last time in town.

As for eating...That is tougher, but you can do it.

Also there is the "fofc" horse racing game you can milk for a bit.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Don't get sucked into the 2/4, no fold'em hold'em just isn't all that fun.
I've only been to Las Vegas once, but the 2/4 no fold'em hold'em was reasonably profitable for me, and if I'd stayed at the tables for more than 4 hours, it probably would've been great.

[Maple Leafs]

If you're going to gamble, drink at the tables. You get drinks for free that you'd pay $7 for at the bar ten feet away.

If you want to gamble cheap, go to the Casino Royale. They have $2 blackjack, and still serve drinks to players. But you have to be aggressive about asking the waitress for them, they won't necessarily ask you. Remember to tip, even a dollar chip every time or two is enough to let them know you're not a total deadbeat.

In front of the entrance to the Imperial, there's a little restaurant/club that has decent food that's pretty cheap. Good location too, since it's in the middle of the strip and you'll be tired from walking around. It's usually pretty cool (temperature wise) in there too.

If you want a cheap dinner buffet you may need to go downtown. If you do, the silver seven brewhouse has cheap drinks from 3 - 5 in the afternoon, or at least they did last year.

[Subby]

Did you not read my trip report?

Aladin Buffet.

[Peregrine]

http://www.cheapovegas.com/

[SuperGrover]

You can always go to Chipotle everyday. You get the works in a burrito and that's about 1500 calories. Do that twice and you've got a day's worth of sustenance for about $12.

[QuikSand]

Seriously, listen to the BALLERZ above.

In-n-Out Burger is a solid play, and for a few bucks you still get a semi-new feel to it, since they don't reach anywhere near where you live. There is one near the south end of the strip, and another near the north end on Sahara.

If you're willing to spend $100 a day, then you really ought to hit the Aladdin buffet at least once -- lunch there is only about $16 (maybe $20 after tax and a tip) and it's really well worth it -- plus you can stuff yourself full enough to only need a modest meal later on that day. Really now -- don't cheat yourself and spend $9 getting some crappy Subway or Panda Wok junk when you can actually have a quality vacation experience for just a little more.

The mechanical horse racing game is at the MGM, very close to the sports book. For about a $20 investment, you can come away completely entertained for four hours, and totally drunk as a skunk, if that's what you want.

[JonInMiddleGA]

$100 a day is kinda tough IMO, and that's coming from somebody who is almost strictly a .25 video poker player.

In order to do it, I'd say the first thing you have to avoid are cab rides. You'll also have to cover some hours with some of the free stuff, like standing around waiting for the Fountains at Bellagio to do their thing.

[jbmagic]

It can be done for $40 dollars a day.

Rachael On Food Network did it.

[AENeuman]

Westard Ho would have been the best place to eat...

Victorian Room at Barbary Coast good breakfast/late night deals.

If you like baseball you can put 5 bucks on a game and get free drinks while you are watching it, Luxor seemed to be the quickest

Again, no cabs, no lap dances, no clubs

You can always do what I do at Giants games; walk around with a coke bottle half filled with rum bought from a liquor store

[KevinNU7]

When I was in Vegas for my honeymoon the wife and I walked around and saw 17 casinos during the day. During the day when some of the casinos are kind of dead we would find a cheap Pae-Gow table and I would basically get hammered.

PaiGow is a great game, if you play exactly the way the dealer wins you win slightly less than 33% of the time, the dealer will win slightly more than 33% of the time and you will push 33% of the time. It is the perfect game to drink to because you only lose essentially 1/3 of the time. I remember we played at Treasure Island during the day at a $10 table and I had 12 drinks in 2 hours and ended up up $75 and about $70 in free booze.

[Flasch186]

check out Thunder from down Under at the Excaliber....

[Logan]

Casino Royale is about as close as you can possibly come to that "bizarro" casino featured in "Vegas Vacation" that had such fine games as Pick a Number, Which Hand?, and the old-time favorite, War.

But they have $1 Michelob Lights and $1 Margaritas all day.

Whether or not you can make it on $100/day depends on what kind of gambler you are. Is that not counting gambling money? If its not in there, you should be fine. If it is, just win a lot on your first day, and you'll be covered.

Are you planning on going to the big clubs? If you are, you have no shot unless you clean up at the tables. Plan on spending a minimum of $20 for cover (or, as I recommend, $40 to pay off the host so you can skip the massive lines), plus a fuckin ton more on drinks.

Do you have extra cash, and this is just what you would like to spend as a hopeful limit? Or is $100 a day all you can absolutely afford? You're in Vegas for the first time, live it up to whatever is in your means. It's not a place you want to be watching every dollar, otherwise what's the fun in taking such a vacation?

Maybe you have some old jackets that you can return for some spare cash. :)

[hunter135]

Vegas is a town where $ 100 will last you the morning. I have been there a number of times and it gets more enjoyable each time.

You must spend some time on the casino floor at the Hard Rock. Great music, great people. You might get a random celebrity sighting. Best time to be there is around 2:30 AM. Its not the same feel if you are there during the day.

The best time during Vegas is from 11:00 PM until 5:30 AM. Trust me.

You have to spend some money in Vegas. I allow myself $ 750 per day and if I am a winner, I spend more than that. Go to the GhostBar at the Palms one time. Its great ... and the drinks are really not too expensive if you stay with the beer.

The Rain dance club is packed and recommended to stay away.

Spend some money at eat at the Top of the World restaurant at the Stratosphere. Awesome view.

Go to Freemont Street in the old Vegas at night. You can eat and gamble cheaply there. Cool place.

Go to the Double Down bar ... best dive bar in Vegas. But go with a group of friends, you might need back up.

Buy a hooker ... its fun.

The ESPN club in NYNY is a cool place. Video games plus numerous channels of sports. I got to watch Penn State basketball.

Go the the Comedy Stop at the Tropicana. Its a cheap place to see three great comics plus they give you two complimentary beers.

[Maple Leafs]

If it is, just win a lot on your first day, and you'll be covered.
This is good advice. Definitely do this.

[Logan]

Oh...you and your buddies should buy a table at the HOB Foundation Room on top of Mandalay Bay. There's an open deck outside that gives you a crazy view of the Strip.

Found my favorite picture, which I think I've put on the board before. Excuse the shitty night setting on my old digital cam.

http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~ljaffe/223720730DUPZyv_ph.jpg

[st.cronin]

I will be in Laughlin, NV next week, which is apparently just a short drive from Vegas.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Echoing the cheap nature of old downtown, i.e. Fremont Street.

I'm an oddball I guess, when I'm flying solo in LV and only have to entertain myself I prefer it to the Strip by a wide margin. The food is cheap, the atmosphere is often tacky to the point of being campy, but the bottom line for me is that it "feels like" Las Vegas ... or at least what the Vegas I really enjoy feels like.

The downside to Fremont, on the $100/day plan, is the cab rides eat up any savings if you're staying on the Strip. And having done it once, I do not recommend using the bus to cut down the cost. Unless of course you just really enjoy other people's body odor.

And speaking of Fremont, I would like to endorse the reviews at cheapovegas.com . I hadn't looked at that site before but their takes on the various downtown spots seem very on target based on my experiences there.

[Neuqua]

$100 is not an absolute ceiling just a preferred spending limit. I'll be bringing along my credit card also, just in case of course. :)

I think I'll go for the Aladdin buffet atleast once, and also I've heard a lot of good things about In'n'Out so that's on my list as well.

I want to spend most of time at sportsbooks and then at night go to play poker. I'm not saying I'm a great poker player but I tend to do ok online atleast. Unfortunatly I'm a better tourney player than ring game player, but I wouldn't say my skills are lacking in either. I'm glad I heard from you guys to go to the 3/6 tables instead of the 2/4 I would have probably ended up going to. I'm going to have to play really tight then it seems.

Keep the advice coming, I'm trying to make best with the situation and looking to enjoy the heck out of the trip, regardless.

[Dekanth]

$100 is not an absolute ceiling just a preferred spending limit. I'll be bringing along my credit card also, just in case of course. :)

I think I'll go for the Aladdin buffet atleast once, and also I've heard a lot of good things about In'n'Out so that's on my list as well.

I want to spend most of time at sportsbooks and then at night go to play poker. I'm not saying I'm a great poker player but I tend to do ok online atleast. Unfortunatly I'm a better tourney player than ring game player, but I wouldn't say my skills are lacking in either. I'm glad I heard from you guys to go to the 3/6 tables instead of the 2/4 I would have probably ended up going to. I'm going to have to play really tight then it seems.

Keep the advice coming, I'm trying to make best with the situation and looking to enjoy the heck out of the trip, regardless.


It might help to know where you are staying.

[Neuqua]

I've got a room booked at the Luxor

[JonInMiddleGA]

I've got a room booked at the Luxor

That's where we stayed last trip, nice rooms, pleasant & helpful staff. If you're staying on the Strip, that's one of the better locations IMO (stupifying priced places notwithstanding).

[Daimyo]

Where and when is the best place/time to find a 3/6 Limit Hold'em game?

I've been in Vegas since Friday for a conference at Caeser's Palace. I've eaten well, but haven't gambled a dime thus far because I've been so busy. Luckily it looks like I'll have a lot more free time over the next five days.

[cartman]

If I didn't already see that you have the airfare and hotels paid for, I'd recommend going during the week. Sunday through Thursday are definitely the cheapest days to be there. I remember when I was working on a project for Circus Circus properties, it was dead during the week, at least compared to the crowds that appeared on Friday night/Saturday.

[Flasch186]

I've got a room booked at the Luxor

nice...right next to the excalibur for your show.

[Lorena]

I'd recommend the Tournament of Kings Dinner Show (http://www.excalibur.com/entertainment/tournament_of_kings.aspx) at Excalibur. I think the tickets are under $50.00, but the dinner is an experience... no utensils, you eat with your hands.

[ShaqFu]

Vegas is fairly easy on $100 or less per day. Get as many of the free coupon books as you can, using 2-for-1 deals and the specials for meals. Try to eat at off-peak times. Go to the coffee shops and ask for specials that aren't otherwise on the menu. There are plenty of cheap meals available, especially off-strip and downtown.

As far as gambling, Casino Royale isn't bad. Slots-O-Fun has cheap gaming too. Sahara, Strat and Circus Circus usually do to. Otherwise, go downtown and hit the dumpy places like Gold Spike. If you can fetch a cab and don a flack jacket, head for The Western, which is a bonafide dump.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I'd recommend the Tournament of Kings Dinner Show (http://www.excalibur.com/entertainment/tournament_of_kings.aspx) at Excalibur. I think the tickets are under $50.00, but the dinner is an experience... no utensils, you eat with your hands.
It is a pretty good show, and the dinner is fun, although it's certainly not top-notch food. To get dinner and a show for around $50, though, is a hell of a deal.

There's a nice Pumpy picture out there of me at the show, too, so you know it's good.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Oh snap, timestamp bug ahoy.

[Subby]

I really liked The Venetian. Their card room is practically brand new and the staff was excellent. They were spreading a number of games, including 3/6 limit.

[Neuqua]

Ok well, I'm going to be leaving Thursday morning, every excited.

Is there some place I can find these "coupon" books or do I just look around once I get there and find them there? If there's a place online, I'd go ahead and print them out here and have them ready to go.

Also, where are the best places to play the 3/6? Is there a specific time recommended to go play when more fish are out?

[Samdari]

Is there a specific time recommended to go play when more fish are out?

If this is your first time in Vegas, pretty much whenever you get there.

[Esquared1]

Regarding Casino Royale. . . My friend called it the place for "Fisher Price 'My First Vegas Trip'"

Anyhow, if you gamble, and have 3 to share a cab, go downtown. Don't walk there, if you enjoy losing you $100, plus getting a shiv in you ribs.

[Galaxy]

Echoing the cheap nature of old downtown, i.e. Fremont Street.

I'm an oddball I guess, when I'm flying solo in LV and only have to entertain myself I prefer it to the Strip by a wide margin. The food is cheap, the atmosphere is often tacky to the point of being campy, but the bottom line for me is that it "feels like" Las Vegas ... or at least what the Vegas I really enjoy feels like.

The downside to Fremont, on the $100/day plan, is the cab rides eat up any savings if you're staying on the Strip. And having done it once, I do not recommend using the bus to cut down the cost. Unless of course you just really enjoy other people's body odor.

And speaking of Fremont, I would like to endorse the reviews at cheapovegas.com . I hadn't looked at that site before but their takes on the various downtown spots seem very on target based on my experiences there.

Do you think the new Vegas lost it tacky apperance?

[Galaxy]

Spend some money at eat at the Top of the World restaurant at the Stratosphere. Awesome view.




Heard they had the best steaks ever.


Any new casinos being built?

[ice4277]

I'm going to be in Vegas in 2 weeks for a convention at the Orleans. Anybody ever stayed there or had experiences with it?

[Daimyo]

Any new casinos being built?
Aladdins is being rennovated and will reopen when its done as Planet Hollywood. Other than a theme change, not sure how different it will be though. Hopefully they keep the buffet.

[Dekanth]

Any new casinos being built?

Plenty of cool designs in the works. The one I am most excited to see is the Cosmopolitan. Check it out here: http://www.cosmolv.com/ It is scheduled to open in 2008.

Project City Center will open in 2009.

The Palazzo, which reminds me of a cross between Monte Carlo and Bellagio will open in 2007.

Echelon Place will open in 2010 (scheduled).

Bellagio really started a trend of upscale (5 star) hotel building on the strip, which is going to price out a lot of people, but they are clearly making a lot of money with this strategy.

I am pretty happy staying just off strip at places like The Orleans, Sun Coast, or Rio. I think you get a better bang for your buck, but the new places ARE very nice too.

[Esquared1]

I'm going to be in Vegas in 2 weeks for a convention at the Orleans. Anybody ever stayed there or had experiences with it?

I'll be in Vegas in two weeks too. . . Orleans is nice enough - would not walk far out of the place though.

[Dekanth]

I'm going to be in Vegas in 2 weeks for a convention at the Orleans. Anybody ever stayed there or had experiences with it?

It is a great place to stay and play, IMO. I've stayed a few times and love it. I always have a great time at this hotel. I really feel it is vastly underrated. They have a free shuttle to the Barbary Coast that runs every 20-30 minutes, so you can get transported right to the center of the strip for free.

[Galaxy]

Plenty of cool designs in the works. The one I am most excited to see is the Cosmopolitan. Check it out here: http://www.cosmolv.com/ It is scheduled to open in 2008.

Project City Center will open in 2009.

The Palazzo, which reminds me of a cross between Monte Carlo and Bellagio will open in 2007.

Echelon Place will open in 2010 (scheduled).

Bellagio really started a trend of upscale (5 star) hotel building on the strip, which is going to price out a lot of people, but they are clearly making a lot of money with this strategy.

I am pretty happy staying just off strip at places like The Orleans, Sun Coast, or Rio. I think you get a better bang for your buck, but the new places ARE very nice too.

The Echelon Place and The Palazzo are more large-scale expansions of the current properties, Wynn and Venetian.

The upscale movement is making Vegas a hell of destination, from spas, shops, dining, nightlife, shows, ect.

[ice4277]

It is a great place to stay and play, IMO. I've stayed a few times and love it. I always have a great time at this hotel. I really feel it is vastly underrated. They have a free shuttle to the Barbary Coast that runs every 20-30 minutes, so you can get transported right to the center of the strip for free.

Excellent, thanks. The shuttle will come in handy.

[ice4277]

I'll be in Vegas in two weeks too. . .

An impromptu FOFC meetup is in order!

[Scholes]

I think the excalibur still has their keno lounge where you can put 25 bucks in and sit at a booth with your friends and drink free for around 2.5 to 3 hours straight. We do this all the time before we go out.

[Honolulu Blue]

I'd separate the money you intend to gamble from the money you spend on expenses. Expenses are expenses and the gambling stake is an "investment" - you don't want to lose it, but you can if things go bad enough, and you're willing to do so if there's enough of a reward.

Separating out the gambling stake, hotels, and airfare, I think it would be pretty easy to stay under $100 a day. Just stay away from:

1) Premium shows,
2) Premium restaurants,
3) Strip clubs,
4) Night clubs,
5) Taxis, and
6) Hooker bars (if you're tempted by that kind of thing)

There are so many places to go and things to do in Las Vegas, the 'Dawg and his Crew would ban me if I listed them all. So do a search in the usual places and you'll come up with plenty of ideas.

I'll just note that food is cheap pretty much everywhere, so I wouldn't bother doing the fast food thing.

As for gambling, play the games you know and like and think you can do well at, and you should be OK. There's probably not a lot of time to learn any new games before your trip, and lessons at the table are bound to be expensive (except for the free craps/roulette/BJ/poker lessons offered at some casinos).

Have fun, and tell us all about your trip when you make it back.

[KJDelaney]

Great. More tourists.

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

Separating out the gambling stake, hotels, and airfare, I think it would be pretty easy to stay under $100 a day. Just stay away from:

3) Strip clubs,
4) Night clubs,
6) Hooker bars (if you're tempted by that kind of thing)



Darnit. There goes the budget for my Vegas trip next month. :p

[Esquared1]

An impromptu FOFC meetup is in order!

Yes, I'll take my 338 posts with me too!

Anyhow, I'm there the night of the 17th and leave 11PM on the 21st. Will spend the 17th on the strip, the rest downtown.

[Esquared1]

Great. More tourists.

. . .Looking up address on google. . . will stop by while in town. . . :)

[KJDelaney]

wow, lucky me.

[Neuqua]

Update-

Thanks to Poker, my daily expenses limits no longer became an issue. First time in an actual casino too, was a great experience.

[st.cronin]

Posting my thoughts on Vegas after my first trip there.

We stayed at the Tropicana, which was very cheap (@ $50/night) and very nice. It looks kind of old and tacky from the outside, but the room was very comfortable, and the pool area is really fantastic. You can actually play blackjack IN THE POOL, although those tables were closed last week due to some construction.

I have to say, though, that I hated pretty much every single casino on the strip - very little atmosphere, unfriendly dealers, cranky cocktail waitresses. The casinos on Fremont were a vastly better experience - I particularly liked Binions and the Golden Nuggett.

[Neuqua]

Our group agreed that the best environment to play was at O'Shea's by far. Very college atmosphere.

[st.cronin]

Our group agreed that the best environment to play was at O'Shea's by far. Very college atmosphere.

I didn't play at O'Shea's, I don't think. On the strip I played at Treasure Island, Tropicana, Sahara, MGM, Casino Royale ... Sahara I liked the best. I think if I stay on the strip again it will be at Sahara. Although Tropicana was quite nice.

[JeeberD]

Posting my thoughts on Vegas after my first trip there.

We stayed at the Tropicana, which was very cheap (@ $50/night) and very nice. It looks kind of old and tacky from the outside, but the room was very comfortable, and the pool area is really fantastic. You can actually play blackjack IN THE POOL, although those tables were closed last week due to some construction.


But the important question is, did you beat the chicken in tic-tac-toe?!?!?