Spending money for Vegas holiday

Sexual Chocolate

Will be heading to Las Vegas this summer for 7 days but not too sure how much money should I bring with me.

Basically I dont plan on doing much drinking (as in getting rubber every night) and likewise with gambling.

I do plan on visiting places such as the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and maybe Death Vally.

In Vegas itself I'm interested in seeing shows at night (hope to get at least 3 in ), visiting a gun range, maybe a little shopping and obviously food.

I was planning on bringing $1500 but someone said $1000 would suffice.

Any advice here ?

jme2010

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

I do plan on visiting places such as the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and maybe Death Vally.

I'm interested in seeing shows at night (hope to get at least 3 in ), visiting a gun range, maybe a little shopping and obviously food.

How do you plan to do those tours? You could be looking at $50-$100 spend on each one.

Shows are $70+ so that times 3.

Gun range packages are pricey $100-500 based on what you want to shoot.

Taxi's are basically $20 a ride. Even if the meter reads $15 you'd be hard pressed to even get a single back from the driver.

It's Vegas, it can be so pricey. Yeah you can have a cheap night where you don't spend too much, but to pinch pennies for 7 nights in Vegas would be my idea of torture, there's no point in going if you can't splash out at least half of the time there.

EDIT resort fees and city tax....get ready to drop $150-300 the moment you check in. These fees have to be paid at the hotel so factor them in also.

January

1500 for 7 days? We brought 3000 for 6 days and we only had about 500 dollars left leaving, that was minimal gambling, sight seeing (not grand canyon or anything, just strip attractions and the like), one show, breakfast lunch and dinner every day, a bit of shopping and drinks most nights. We are going back soon and plan to bring around 5000 spending money.

rockonollie

Vegas is not somewhere you can do on the cheap.......the hotels fleece you (things like no outside food, while charging $10+ for a glass of water). Plan your shows in advance to try and take advantage of matinees or midweek performances to get the best priced tickets. 
Just to give you an idea of how much cash the hotels haul in.......The NFL team from Oakland plan to move to Vegas, to pay for the $1.9 billion stadium, they added a 1.3% tax increase to all hotel bills, they expect that tax to raise $750 million (the city's share of the costs) by the end of the summer.

TheChizler

I had the same idea as you and ended up spending 3 times that with nothing to show for that. Minimum gambling as well.

Definitely recommend bringing a credit card (preloaded) as chip and pin debit cards are limited to a couple of hundred per day at their non-chip and pin ATMs. There are a few chip and pin ATMs but you need to walk miles off the strip to find bank operated ones.

1000.00 Deffo won't cut it
Why travel so far, to the entertainment capital of the world, and put yourself under such a budget

you'll be amazed how much you will have spent by breakfast time

The things on your itinerary are already gonna cost a pretty penny

Go to Vegas and go big!!!!
Have lots of luck too

Ps. Vegas is either a love it or hate it place. But the common thing I heard from the people who did not like it, where the ones who did not drink or gamble. Embrace the chaos.

TheChizler

Try living social and Groupon, we got the firing range dirt cheap that way.

Sexual Chocolate

Thanks everyone.

For those who seem to think I'm looking to do it on the cheap, I'm not !

I genuinely don't know how much to I'd need to last me for a week as I've never visited there before.

$2k would probably be my max inc hotel rate. Bearing in mind thats just for myself.

Speaking of hotel rate, The Excalibur I was informed is $29 per night per room ?

And to the poster who asked how I'm planning on doing the tours, assuming thats not a smart arse question, by bus. I already know the helicopters cost a fortune.

athtrasna

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Speaking of hotel rate, The Excalibur I was informed is $29 per night per room ?
.

And is a total kip. For under $100 a night you should pick up at least a 4* or maybe even a 5* on Priceline or Hotwire

Sexual Chocolate

athtrasna wrote: »

And is a total kip. For under $100 a night you should pick up at least a 4* or maybe even a 5* on Priceline or Hotwire

Yeah ? Could you elaborate?

I'm already booked.

ceadaoin.

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Yeah ? Could you elaborate?

I'm already booked.

$29 per night is the resort fee. You'll pay that plus tax on top of the room rate on check in. I've never stayed there but I doubt it's an actual kip. Maybe by Vegas standards but still a lot better than what you get elsewhere for the price

Don't get taxis, download he uber and lyft apps. Way cheaper and new customers get free rides

For a week $1000 isn't really enough if you want to eat well, see some shows and drink even moderately.

January

rockonollie wrote: »

Vegas is not somewhere you can do on the cheap.......the hotels fleece you (things like no outside food, while charging $10+ for a glass of water). Plan your shows in advance to try and take advantage of matinees or midweek performances to get the best priced tickets. 
Just to give you an idea of how much cash the hotels haul in.......The NFL team from Oakland plan to move to Vegas, to pay for the $1.9 billion stadium, they added a 1.3% tax increase to all hotel bills, they expect that tax to raise $750 million (the city's share of the costs) by the end of the summer.

What do you mean no outside food? We brought food back to the hotel no problem.

I stayed in Excalibur and will again. Cheap and cheerful (it's by no means a kip), rooms are clean etc.

Sexual Chocolate

ceadaoin. wrote: »

For a week $1000 isn't really enough if you want to eat well, see some shows and drink even moderately.

That was my first thought when it was said to me. Maybe for 4/5 days you just about get away with that much.....

I've never stayed in Excalibur, but did have a peek, it's clean and fun, Deffo not a kip. I wouldn't eat there though. Tried the Buffett once, holy god!!!!


Some tips
Day one, buy ice bucket and water and beers in local shop
Bring back to hotel, no need to hide anything
Fill your bucket up with free ice at hotel (I assume they all provide this) stick your water and beers in ice

Go to freemont (old Vegas) for cheper minimum bets. The craic is amazing there.
Don't play slots, you will loose your money very quickly
Play crapps, it is the best, most fun social casino game. Play minimum bets. Such a slow paced game, it will take you ages to loose anything. If you keep playing the simple pass line bet, at worst you will break even, but you will have scored a tonne of free beers. Who knows, perhaps you will win enough to buy a nice steak or maybe even enough for a helicopter ride

Win or loose in Vegas, you win!!!!

ceadaoin.

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

That was my first thought when it was said to me. Maybe for 4/5 days you just about get away with that much.....

We've spent that much in just one night occasionally

It's just about doable I think, if you buy booze and food in the shop and stick to fast food if you eat out. No shopping. But what would be the point in going to Vegas to do that?

eeloe

I've been to vegas a lot, and i think it's quite possible to do a week for 1500 if you're a bit frugal.

I've never once went and "held back" either, saying that i'm quite happy to eat in i-hop/denny's for breakfast, and a decent-ish place for dinner(outback steak house and the likes) allow yourself about $70 a day for food and drinks(water and soft drinks) and you're good.

Tickets for shows can be got every morning at Tickets4tonight booths, there's a few on the strip, tickets won't be front row or anything, but you can certainly grab some bargains there.

Shopping, DON'T BUY ANYTHING on the strip, until you've been to the outlets, i paid $95 for a pair of Superstars on the strip on our first trip, went to the outlets the next day, got the same pair again for $25.

dar100

Just back from Vegas on Saturday, the gun garage does an excellent package, it's called bang for buck, it's 500 for two people, but got it for 300 on Vegas group on . Got to shoot all sorts of machine guns, AK 47 Tommy gun, m16 etc

For an extra 50 I got to shoot a .50 cal sniper rifle , what an experience!!

Done helicopter over the strip at night,

Dinner in stratosphere was excellent too

R.D. aka MR.D

I've been to Vegas twice and had a blast both times. First time we spent about 75-100$ a day and the second time we probably spent maybe 50-80$ a day each.

Surely you can find the prices of tours online and show tickets? Tot them up and then see how much of the 1500 you have left.

As another poster said, they try to nickel and dime you on everything! Don't feel pressure to pay money for something it seems like a rip off.

Del2005

[Deleted User] wrote: »

but you will have scored a tonne of free beers.

Unless you tip near the price of a drink you'll be waiting a long time to get your "free" drinks. Tip a $ and you'll be spitting feathers waiting for the server to return, tip $$$$$$$ and you'll never have an empty glass

Del2005

Del2005 wrote: »

Unless you tip near the price of a drink you'll be waiting a long time to get your "free" drinks. Tip a $ and you'll be spitting feathers waiting for the server to return, tip $$$$$$$ and you'll never have an empty glass

Only ever tip a dollar, have never been left waiting. Been there many a time

If you're at a slot machine on a friday/Saturday night, hidden in a corner, you might find it hard getting regular service. Once you are near other people, or at a table, it's never an issue. Even for the real cheapskates who don't tip anything

R.D. aka MR.D

R.D. aka MR.D wrote: »

I've been to Vegas twice and had a blast both times. First time we spent about 75-100$ a day and the second time we probably spent maybe 50-80$ a day each.

Surely you can find the prices of tours online and show tickets? Tot them up and then see how much of the 1500 you have left.

As another poster said, they try to nickel and dime you on everything! Don't feel pressure to pay money for something it seems like a rip off.

If you don't mind me asking, could you describe a typical day in Vegas were you got by on this budget

Sexual Chocolate

Anyone here fly with Virgin on their 747s ? Hows the flight etc ?

Sexual Chocolate

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Anyone here fly with Virgin on their 747s ? Hows the flight etc ?

Yes, it seems to be the most common mode for us Irish. Virgin/747. The flight is grand, sometimes longer than others. Around 12 to 13 hours last time from Gatwick to Vegas, that one was hardcore. Free meals, free drink (always run out) the pushy people will drink it all while you are polite and end up sober. Lots of movies and lots of space to walk around to stretch your legs. On the way over its party central, way home everyone sleeps.

adox

There's some fantastic hotels in Vegas that you won't get at the same price pretty much anywhere.

I wouldn't stay in Excalibur unless you are just looking for somewhere to sleep.

Spend a bit more on the four or five star hotels and really enjoy it. They are very cheap compared to most places in the world.

You can eat reasonably well for very cheap if you want to. Free drinks in the casinos. You could spend as little or as much as you wanted.

The shows and a trip to the Grand Canyon will cost though. If you do the Grand Canyon I'd advise the south rim. It's the furthest away from Vegas and not as popular as the closer west rim(the one with the Sky walk thing) but it's much more spectacular. It's deeper and wider than the west rim and is a sight to behold. Downside is it's further away and you should really consider flying there on a light aircraft. It's a once in a lifetime experience so splash out for the plane or you will be travelling by coach for hours on end.

Get a nice hotel. Too far to travel for OK and there are some really luxurious ones there for little money.

R.D. aka MR.D

Deleted User wrote: »

If you don't mind me asking, could you describe a typical day in Vegas were you got by on this budget

I probably should have included that in my original comment.

Well, the first time we were there was August so it wasn't so much a typical day because with my lovely Irish complexion, we only went out after dark and slept most of the day. We did different stuff while we were there but generally we had cheap lunch and nice dinner most days. So like one day we went to Gordan Ramsays burger place for lunch and the buffet at the bellagio for dinner. Another day lunch was at an Indian buffet off the strip and dinner somewhere nice. For booze we drank at the casinos or the best thing we discovered was buying a giant drink at the Paris and walking around with that all night. We were well sauced. We also went to a few of the seedier places of the strip to play the video gambling (can't remember the proper name) that they have inside the bar, if you know what I mean. Like you sit at the bar and there are screens for gambling in front of you.
We gambled a little bit in the casinos and had a blast playing the games in the circus circus. We mostly stumbled around drunk taking in the craziness of Vegas and literally went into every single casino (except the far away ones at the bottom) to see what they were all like. We walked everywhere because it was mostly dark when we went out and it wasn't so hot! We had a car too but only used it during the day for that trip to the indian place and one trip to Walmart. We were there for 5 days and I'm struggling to remember everywhere that we ate etc. It was 4 years ago!


The second time was March last year. We spent a good bit of time exploring downtown because we only really spent time on the strip the last time. Had lunch at the Jimmy Johns and dinner at Margaritaville. Again, we drank in random bars that we saw and walked from downtown back to the strip because the weather is lovely at that time of year. Had some great Mexican food near the Pawn Stars shop! We gambled way more the second time we were there but my husband is very sensible so we actually came out without being down any money.

We didn't go to any shows or anything like that, I probably wouldn't be interested in going to them unless they were free. We went to the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon before we got to Vegas the first time because it was part of a longer trip through 13 States. We didn't go to niteclubs because we have no interest in anything like that. We basically got loaded every night, walked around, gambled a little and took in the weird and wonderful sights! Got to see way more of it during the day in March which was cool.

I think if you are going to gamble loads then you would need more money but we ate and drank our fill on that budget. We never felt like we were missing out on anything or not doing something, mainly because we weren't actually on a budget as in 'i have x amount saved and I can only spend x amount'. We just did what we wanted to do.

hughes81

I travel to Vegas every year and for a week, I'd be wanting closer to €2,000.
A few tips from my experiences are below:

For the hotel, I signed up to MLife.com and got a few $ off hotel rooms.
I've stayed in Bellagio, Caesars & Luxor over the years and saved hundreds per week in Luxor.
The others are obviously more luxurious but the rooms are actually quite similar.
Luxor, Excalibur & NYNY are around the same cost and are about 30mins walk from the central hotels.
Bear in mind that there is a resort fee of $20ish per night + VAT to be added to the room cost of Vegas hotels

I've been to 2 gun ranges in LV - The Gun Store & Strip Gun Club.
My preference is Strip Gun Club. It's located up near Circus Circus.
The Gun Store is east of the strip (15mins in a taxi)
I got a pistol package in SGC for about $130.
4 hand guns were included.
If you had a few quid extra, add either a Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum (size is comical) or the Barrett .50cal Sniper Rifle.
The bullets for the Barrett resemble baby bottles!!

The grand Canyon can get expensive depending on how you want to do it.
Helicopter with Skywalk can set you back up to $600.
I got the Highlights Air Tour from Papilon which cost $130
They pick you up from your hotel and bring you to their airfield and fly over the canyon for about an hour in a propeller plane - I thought it was a bargain.

Shopping in Vegas is excellent.
The Forum Shops in Caesars is enormous, The Fashion Show Mall has some decent stores. Both are close enough to each other.
There are also 2 Outlets - North and South of the Strip.

In terms of food, in each hotel, I'd be allocating at least $20 for both breakfast and lunch and anything from a $15 burger to $80 steak meal for dinner
Tender in Luxor is a particularly good (but pricey) restaurant.

Hope that helps in some way and have a great time.
If you want any more details on anything, I'll be happy to help.

Sexual Chocolate

Cheers for that.