25 Money-Saving Tips For Las Vegas (That Most Tourists Don’t Know About)

Vegas might be the entertainment capital of the world, but it doesn’t have to be the capital of draining your bank account.

While everyone else is blowing hundreds on $25 pool drinks and overpriced meals on the Las Vegas Strip, you can be scoring free drinks at bingo, snagging 5-star rooms for half the price, and eating $5.99 breakfast deals like a local.

Papu lived in Las Vegas for six years during college, and I visited constantly—we were broke students back then, so we had to get really creative with how to stretch our meager dollars. We figured out pretty quickly where to find discounted drinks, cheap meals, and ways to stay in nice hotels without paying full price.

And despite how much time has passed, a lot of those same tricks still hold up today!

From using credit card perks to dodge resort fees to sneaky ways to BYO food and booze to the pool, these insider hacks will help you save hundreds (if not thousands) on your next trip.

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1. You can save a significant amount by avoiding weekends.

If you want to save serious money on your Vegas trip, start by booking your flights and hotel well in advance — ideally 3 to 6 months out.

We’re earlybird planners and can confirm from experience: 8 times out of 10, the rate we lock in early is significantly cheaper than anything we see closer to the travel date. Think $140 a night instead of $250.

Also, if your schedule allows, plan your stay between Sunday and Thursday. Weekday room rates are much lower than weekends — no surprise there, but still worth planning around. Between early booking and avoiding peak days, you could be saving hundreds, even thousands, before you even step foot on the Strip.

2. Avoid conference dates and festival weekends.

Yes, weekend rates can be significantly higher due to higher demand. But you know what else causes room rates to skyrocket? Conference weekends, fight nights, and festival weekends.

If possible, schedule your trip for a time when there are no major events, conferences, or festivals… unless you specifically plan on attending them. This can significantly reduce accommodation costs.

Allow me to illustrate! One of the most expensive times to visit is during the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) weekend, one of the largest electronic dance music festivals in the world, held annually in Vegas in late May.

For a 3-night stay during a regular weekend, you might spend around $600-$1,000 on a room at a 3- to 4-star hotel. For a 3-night stay during EDC weekend, the same room could cost $2,000 or more.

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is another one to avoid! This is one of the largest trade shows in the world, attracting tech professionals and enthusiasts to Las Vegas every January.

PRO TIP: To stay up to date on all the latest happenings in Vegas, you can check out our monthly guides to Vegas. Depending on when you’re looking, some of them might reflect last year’s info, but they’ll give you a decent idea of conferences and festivals happening during the month.

3. Can’t avoid a major weekend? Consider staying off-Strip.

Staying off the Strip or in nearby cities, such as Henderson or Summerlin, will save you money. Why? Because room rates are not as heavily impacted by major tourism/business events.

A lot of these hotels are resorts, so it’ll still feel like your typical bougie Vegas stay without the crowds or the price hikes.

For something closer to the Strip, Fremont Street also offers decent options.

Here are a few of our favorite off-Strip alternatives:

• Desert Rose Resort – free parking, no resort fee, all-suite rooms perfect for larger groups
• Durango Casino & Resort – Station Casino’s newest hotel, super hip and trendy
• Palace Station Hotel & Casino – ugly exterior but renovated rooms, close enough to the Strip, plus free parking

4. Off-Strip hotels have more in-room amenities, too.

If you don’t care about having a casino right downstairs, stay just off the Strip. Many of these hotels offer free parking and bigger rooms that come with actual amenities — like a fridge, microwave, and coffee maker — which you won’t usually get in a standard Strip hotel room.

Plus, there are many off-Strip hotels that don’t charge nightly resort fees! The two hotels we usually like to recommend are:

• Marriott Grand Chateau – A 10-15 minute walk from the Strip; villa-style accommodations with full kitchens (stove, coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, and toaster). No resort fee + free parking!
• Desert Rose Resort – 1.5 blocks from the Strip; one and two-bedroom condo suites with fully-equipped kitchens and living/dining rooms. No resort fee + free parking!

5. Want to stay at a 5-star hotel? Check your credit card benefits.

If you’ve got a premium credit card like the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve, don’t forget to check their luxury hotel collection benefits.

For example, through Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts program, you can get extras like a room upgrade, $30/day per person for breakfast, $200 in food and beverage credit, waived resort fees, FreePlay at the casino, and maybe even statement credit just for booking through the portal.

That’s over $700 in added value — without spending more than the standard nightly rate.

6. Don’t forget to factor in resort fees and parking costs.

When you start budgeting for your hotel costs, do NOT just look at the per-night rate. Get to the page with the total AFTER all the crazy resort fees have been factored in.

Resort fees can range anywhere from $28 to $50 per night, depending on how bougie/luxurious you get with the hotel. For a 3-night stay, that could mean an extra $84 to $150 per room.

Traveling on a budget and don’t want to pay all the pesky resort fees? Check out these resort fee-free hotels on or near the Las Vegas Strip.

7. Invite more people on your trip to split costs.

Vegas hotel rooms are often built to sleep four — think two queen beds or even suites with pullouts — so bring a couple of friends along and cut your lodging costs fast.

For example, a $500 stay split between two people is $250 each, but add two more friends and you’re now paying just $125. That’s extra money you can spend on food, drinks, shows, or other activities while you’re in town.

8. Eat an early dinner during happy hour.

Las Vegas is the land of happy hours. Really, it’s so easy to find HH’s in Vegas compared to other big cities I’ve called home over the years (like Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Jose).

If you’re not planning to dine at a steakhouse each and every night, why not try to plan a few meals and pre-game during happy hours to enjoy discounted food and drinks?

Many restaurants and bars on the Strip offer 50% off food/drink during happy hours (which typically run anywhere from 2-6pm).

We love Happy Hours for their money-saving potential — you can easily reduce meal costs from $50 to $25 per person.

9. Avoid restaurants on the Strip. Off-Strip restaurants are way cheaper.

Not only are off-Strip restaurants cheaper, but the variety is amazing too. So many cultural options, so many hidden gems!

These days, we rarely eat on the Strip even if we stay at a Strip hotel. Here are a few off-Strip food guides to give you pointers on what’s good in Vegas:

• 10 Cheap Places To Eat In Downtown Las Vegas
• 18 Must-Try Late Night Restaurants In Vegas (On + Off The Strip)
• 12 Cheap Places For Breakfast In Las Vegas (On + Off The Strip)
• 18+ Cheap Places To Eat On The Las Vegas Strip (That Are ACTUALLY Good)

10. If you have to eat on the Strip, you’ll find cheap eats at PH.

If you’re stuck eating on the Strip, one of your best bets for budget-friendly meals is inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. Unlike most overpriced casino restaurants, these spots are known for their budget-friendly menus and deals.

• Blondies Sports Bar: Known for their $5.99 breakfast special — eggs, toast, and potatoes — hard to beat on the Strip.
• Flights: A themed restaurant where everything comes in threes (think mini tacos or slider trios), and they regularly have happy hour deals.
• Earl of Sandwich: Super affordable sandwiches inside Planet Hollywood.

11. If you get a good rental car rate, rent a car.

Uber rides in Vegas add up fast, especially if you’re staying off-Strip or plan to bounce around a lot.

If you can snag a decent rental car rate through work or a discount program, go for it. It gives you the flexibility to eat at off-Strip restaurants (which are way cheaper), hit grocery stores for essentials, or do a quick alcohol run instead of paying hotel minibar prices.

It makes the most sense if your hotel offers free parking for guests — otherwise, the cost of daily parking fees might cancel out your savings.

12. Or opt for the bus or monorail instead.

Vegas has a decent public transit system if you plan ahead. The Deuce bus runs 24/7 up and down the Strip and to Fremont Street for just a few bucks. If you’re doing a lot of exploring, grab a 24-hour pass — it’s way cheaper than multiple Uber rides.

MGM Resorts runs a free monorail-style tram connecting Bellagio, Aria, Park MGM, Luxor, Excalibur, and Mandalay Bay. It’s quick, air-conditioned, and won’t cost you a thing. Great for bouncing between casinos without walking a mile in the heat.

13. For activities, check out the Groupon deals.

One of the easiest ways to find discounts on Las Vegas attractions and shows is to check Groupon. This site often has deals for popular activities, including shows, tours, and dining experiences.

You can snag discounts on popular restaurants, massages, spa days, and other fun things to do in town. It’s worth thoroughly browsing through their entire Vegas-specific section to find some off-the-beaten-path things to do in town, too!

Our rule of thumb is that if an activity is at least 15% off, the deal is likely worth it. Here are some of the best deals we’ve recently found:

• The STRAT – Unlimited Ride Wristband + Tower Observation Deck
• High Roller Observation Wheel at the LINQ
• Number 1 Escape Room – Private escape room for up to 4 or 6 (their escape rooms are actually really fun!)
• ‘IT’ Escape Room The Sewers – General admission or Private VIP Admission

14. Get the Go City Las Vegas pass for discounted activities.

We love exploring new cities around the world with Go City! With the Go City Las Vegas pass, you can save up to 50% off attractions and access dozens of attractions for one low price. 

There are two flavors of these passes in Las Vegas: the Go City All-Inclusive Pass and the Go City Explorer Pass. Both are designed to save you. loads of money compared to paying full price for top attractions.

The All-Inclusive Pass

The Go City All-Inclusive Pass is ideal for travelers who want to see as much as possible during their stay in Vegas. With the All-Inclusive Pass, you can choose between a 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-day pass that includes admission to 40+ museums, excursions, full-day tours, and activities in the Las Vegas area.

The Explorer Pass

If you don’t plan on visiting a ton of different attractions and would like to handpick your activities, Go City also has an Explorer Pass. This is the pass to get if rushing from attraction to attraction is NOT your thing.

With the Explorer Pass, you’ll pay one flat fee for access to a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7-choice pass.

You’ll then have 60 days to use the Explorer Pass on whichever attractions you’d like. There is also no need to pick attractions ahead of time, so you’ll have the flexibility to choose attractions as you go.

15. Check VEGAS.com for cheap show tickets.

Before you buy full-priced show tickets directly from the hotel or through Ticketmaster, make sure to check VEGAS.com.

They’ll sometimes have cheaper tickets for the same shows you’ll find on direct websites.

We’ve found great deals on several occasions, with the most recent one being for the Awakening show at Wynn Las Vegas. Not only did we save $20 per ticket and get seats closer to the stage, but we also saved massively on pesky ticket fees.

Whenever I plan on buying show tickets, I always visit VEGAS.com to check prices first. It’s worth a quick comparison to save some cash on your entertainment!

16. For last-minute deals, StubHub can be great.

If you’ve decided last minute that you want to catch a show in town, StubHub can be a powerful tool for savings, but the keyword here really is “last-minute”. Let me explain.

The best deals tend to be super last minute—if you search 1-2 weeks in advance, the tickets are usually more expensive than on other platforms. Even looking a few days before the show is often too soon for the best prices.

Sellers often post tickets at the last minute when they’re desperate to sell, so the day of is when you’ll find the biggest discounts.

Another tip is if you’re searching for just one ticket, you’ll almost always find cheaper options than if you’re looking for two seats together. If you’re okay with not sitting next to your friends, you’ll be able to score some really great ticket deals.

17. Military, senior, youth, Nevada resident, and first responder discounts

If you fall into one of these special groups, you will love what Vegas has in store for you. Many attractions and shows in Las Vegas offer discounts for active military personnel, veterans, seniors, youths, Nevada locals, and first responders.

When you’re booking online, take a look at all the different ticket types — for big attractions, there’s almost always more than one price.

18. Skip the cocktail bars and pre-game in the room.

A handle of whiskey can cost $25 to $80 in a store versus $300+ in a restaurant/bar.

Buy alcohol from a liquor store and pre-game in your hotel room before heading out. Buying in bulk from stores like Lee’s Discount Liquor (a local institution for cheap alcohol!) saves significantly compared to bar/club prices.

Having a real fridge in your room helps, but if you have your eyes set on a hotel on the Strip (most of them don’t have fridges, just minibars filled to the brim with overpriced goods), you have a few other options:

• fill the sink with ice
• for large groups with one dedicated “party” room, you can even fill a bathtub with ice and let that be your cooler for the weekend!
• buy a cheap styrofoam cooler at the grocery store / superstore

19. Skip the cocktail bars and get Fat Tuesdays instead.

Those oversized frozen drinks from Fat Tuesday and its many clones might look gimmicky, but they’re one of the best alcohol values on the Strip.

The bigger the cup, the better the deal — especially if you add extra shots. The big ones are great for sharing!

Plus, most places offer discounted refills if you bring your cup back, which helps stretch your drink budget even further.

20. Get free drinks by playing at the slot machines at the casino resorts.

One of the easiest ways to score free drinks in Vegas? Sit down at a slot machine or video poker terminal at a casino resort. Slow play the cheapest machine, and you’ll likely be offered complimentary cocktails by a server making rounds.

Pro Tip: Tip at least $5 on your first drink — it signals you’re worth coming back to. A decent tipper can get steady service all night without ever needing to hit the bar. Just don’t forget to pace yourself and gamble responsibly.

21. Play bingo for more free drinks.

Bingo in Vegas isn’t just for grandmas — it’s a solid budget hack. Most bingo halls offer two free drinks per game, and yes, that includes alcohol.

With electronic bingo tablets, you don’t even need to pay attention. Just sit back, sip on your drinks, and wait for your screen to flash “BINGO!” If/when it does, raise your hand and collect your cash.

22. Don’t be tempted by the overpriced hotel minibar.

Don’t fall for the overpriced hotel minibar. That tiny bottle of water? It’ll run you $7–$12 at some Vegas hotels. A small can of Pringles? Easily $8. You can literally get a case of water and a bag of snacks for the same price at a local Walmart or Target.

If you’ve got a rental car or plan to hit the Strip’s outskirts, make a quick stop and stock up on:

• water
• snacks
• alcohol / chasers / mixers
• sunscreen
• electrolytes
• coffee

Worst case, go to CVS or Walgreens on the Strip. Off the Strip, Lee’s Discount Liquors is a great spot to snag discounted alcohol!

23. Be ready to spend loads of money on coffee. Or bring your own.

Most hotel rooms on the Las Vegas Strip don’t come with coffee makers, which means you’ll often have to head downstairs to a lobby Starbucks or another overpriced coffee shop.

And when we say overpriced, we mean it: drinks are typically 30-40% more expensive than at a regular coffee shop. To avoid these insane prices, consider bringing your own travel-friendly coffee maker (this one works even without hot water) or some form of instant coffee.

If you go with the instant coffee route, when others go to get their morning fix, simply ask for a cup of hot water, which usually costs just $0.50. This small adjustment can save you a lot of money over the course of your trip.

24. Having a pool day? Bring your own food and drinks.

Don’t blow your budget on $30 chicken tenders and $20 cocktails at the pool. Instead, have someone in your group do a quick meal run — you can get way better food for a fraction of the price off-Strip or from a nearby fast casual spot.

Want drinks? Pack a soft cooler with ice, alcohol, and mixers from your hotel room. Most hotel pools don’t allow glass, but plastic bottles or reusable drink containers usually fly under the radar.

Pro Tip: Stick to sealed containers if you’re worried about pool security. Most places care more about glass than the fact you’re BYO.

25. For much cheaper gaming, dining, and drinking, head to DTLV.

For a more affordable night out, head to Downtown Las Vegas (DTLV) for at least one night of your trip. Friday and Saturday nights are always lively there.

Things are much cheaper downtown. In fact, this is where most locals go to party and hang (and definitely not the Strip).

The El Cortez offers BOGO (buy one, get one free) specials, and their table game minimums are often as low as $5 compared to $15-$25 on the Strip.

You can also visit Ellis Island Hotel Casino & Brewery or Casino Royale (on the Strip). Both have cheap table games and cheap drinks too. Also, Ellis Island has legendary food specials!

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