Las Vegas On A Budget
Description:
Las Vegas is full of fancy accommodations and expensive restaurants, but you can still experience the City of Neon without breaking the bank. Downtown hotel casinos are a good alternative to the pricier Strip, public transportation will allow you to park the car, and free lounge shows will leave you with more money to take back home, even if Lady Luck isn’t on your side.
Author: Terrisa Meeks
Day 1 - Las Vegas
Stay Downtown to take advantage of lower room rates, as well as to experience some Old Vegas ambiance. The Four Queens and El Cortez offer good rates, and the El Cortez has a Las Vegas history that includes Bugsy himself. There’s no need to drive anywhere Downtown—Fremont Street is closed to traffic and you can wander from casino to casino on foot. The Neon Museum’s vintage Las Vegas signs are installed along Fremont Street, and at night the Fremont Street Experience lights up the canopy with an hourly show. When you’re ready to hit the casino, most of Glitter Gulch’s casinos offer low limits tables, nickel poker machines, and even penny slots. Binion’s is a good place to find low limits tables, as well as the El Cortez. Drinks are on the house for players at any casino. When you’re ready for something to eat, check out the coffee shops before the buffets—buffets aren’t always inexpensive these days. Magnolia’s at the Four Queens and the Bay City Diner at the Golden Gate are good choices for budget eats..
1
Four Queens
Location:
view in google maps202 Fremont St
At Casino Center Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone:
702/385-40112
El Cortez Hotel & Casino
Location:
view in google maps600 Fremont St
Between 6th and 7th sts
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone:
800/634-67033
Neon Museum & Boneyard
Location:
view in google maps821 Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone:
+1 702 387 63664
Fremont Street Experience
Location:
view in google mapsFremont Street
Fremont St. (between Main St. and Las Vegas Blvd.), Downtown
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone:
+1 702 229 65515
Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel
Location:
view in google maps128 E Fremont St
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone:
+1 702 382 1600 / +1 800 622 64687
Bay City Diner
Location:
view in google mapsOne Fremont Street
Golden Gate Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone:
702 385 1906 / 1 800 426 1906Day 2 - Las Vegas
To get out on the Strip, save your gas money and take the Deuce, Las Vegas’ double-decker bus. You won’t move very fast, but you will get to see all the sights along the way. Wandering through any of the megaresorts will give you an eyeful, and you can find plenty of free attractions. The Lion Habitat at the MGM is free, as is the Flamingo’s wildlife habitat. The evening shows in front of the Strip hotels are free—the pirate and sirens at the TI, the volcano at the Mirage, and the Bellagio’s dancing fountains (inside the Bellagio, you can also visit their Conservatory for free and be sure to check out the Chihuly glass sculpture in the ceiling by the front desk). For an inexpensive meal, stop at the Sahara’s buffet, which is reasonably priced. Instead of splurging on showroom acts, try a lounge show at any of the casinos. There may be a drink minimum, but that will cost you far less than tickets to a Strip show.
1
MGM Grand Lion Habitat
Location:
view in google maps3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S
In MGM Grand
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone:
702/891-77773
Flamingo Hilton Wildlife Habitat
Location:
view in google maps3555 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Flamingo Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone:
+1 702 733 31114
Fountains at Bellagio
Location:
view in google maps3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Bellagio Hotel Casino
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone:
+1 702 693 71115
Sahara Buffet
Location:
view in google maps2535 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Sahara Casino
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone:
702 737 2111 / 702 737 2700Day 3 - Las Vegas
Take a drive west of Las Vegas to see Red Rock Canyon. The entrance fee is only five dollars, but if you’d like to experience a portion of Red Rock for free, look for the Calico Basin Road before you reach the entrance to Red Rock. Turn off the main road onto Calico Basin Road and follow it through the small community of Calico Basin. The road will lead you right to the parking lot of Calico Basin/Red Springs, and a raised wooden walkway will take you around a meadow. The springs and meadow are too fragile to support foot traffic. The striking red, white, and purple sandstone hills stand in back of the meadow. Be sure to bring your camera.
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Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Location:
view in google mapsState Route 159 from Charleston Boulevard
(17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip)
Las Vegas, NV 89124
Phone:
+1 702 363 1921 (Information)