OT: Cheap things to do in Vegas

[Pastamom]

Hi

DH and I are going to Vegas in January to celebrate our 15 year anniversary. Since it won't be warm enough to hang out by the pool, we're looking for some cheap things to do. I know we'll explore hotels and shops, but what else can you think of?

Any cheap eats that you recommend?

Also thinking of going to a a nice restaurant one night...any suggestions?

We also thinking of going to a show one night. We are not big Cirque fans - but not ruling it out either.

Thanks in advance

 

[eliza61]

Truthfully, the best fun we had at Vegas was exploring the hotels. They are humungoeous (spelling). LOL. Go to the end of the strip and visit the Wynn, it has an exotic car dealer inside with really expensive cars that you never get to see (or at least we don't here in southern NJ). The staff is extremely nice and let you sit in them, take pictures etc.

We stayed at the Monte Carlo last New Years. How about taking a black jack class? Casinos usually hold some type of lessons for free. Dh and I are not big gamblers and we knew nothing about card games so it was fun learning the rules.

Ok, restaurants. Are you staying on the strip? Is this your first time? We love Vegas especially for the restaurants. Each casino has a good 6-10 different restaurants and I don't think I'm exagerating when I say they are all pretty good. We went last January and had fabulous meals and NEVER step inside a "celebrity chefs" place. That's why I hate Disney dining. Vegas serves just as many people and you get tremendous food and you get it consistently. not hit or miss like disney.

Inside Caesars Palace is a great Italian place called Rao's. Dh and I had dinner there. We each had a cocktail, split an appertizer, each had an entree and a dessert and the bill came to $80 bucks with tip.

Inside the Monte Carlo is a place called the Pub. I kid you not, my husband had a roast beef sandwich there that he swore was the best ever. It's a sports bar so the food selection is pub food (burgers, sandwiches, salads) but I'm telling you the sandwiches are HUGE. I had some "dry rub" hot wings. delicious. spicey without the messy sauce and tendar. great spot for lunch.

 

[ICF]

If you have a car, I'd recommend going to Red Rock Canyon.

It's only about a 15-20 minute drive from the strip and is beautiful to drive and around and see.

 

[JandJ]

It's been a number of years since we were there, but from what I remember, we bought the all access Deuce bus pass and rode up and down the strip stopping at different hotels. As a PP said, checking out the hotels was a lot of fun (but then again, we like looking at Disney hotels, so we might just be hotel freaks ). We took a free craps class at our hotel. The shops at the Venetian, Wynn, and Caesar's are incredible, even if you can't afford anything in them! I thought the M&M's Store was really fun, too. There are free, short shows outside several hotels at night, like the Belagio Dancing Waters and Treasure Island Sirens. There are discount ticket sellers all over (I think they only take cash?) and sometimes you can get a deal on dinner if you buy show tickets. Check out Fremont Street Experience and the casinos around that area are what my mom used to call "old Vegas," like the Golden Nugget. Have fun and have a happy anniversary!

 

[Peri]

We are two to three times a year visitors to Vegas.

For GREAT information on freebies, etc - go to the "California and the West" section of the disboards - there is a forum on Vegas with stickies that will give you SUCH good advice, plus the Vegas lovers post and watch there.

We like downtown a lot - often stay at the Golden Nugget - but recently have moved South to the Monte Carlo, which has a good central location.

Our favorite show is Penn and Teller!

Enjoy your visit.

 

[Jedana]

If it's still playing, Monty Python and the Holy Grail show is a riot! (not free, but was well worth the price)

Go hiking, in Red Rock.

Drive down to Hoover Dam.

Walk around, see the sights.

Go to Freemont Street

Free shows outside hotels (TI, Belagio)


As former locals, our favorite place to go was the Red Rock Casino, off of Charleston. Far enough off the strip that most tourists wouldn't go to it, and just enough locals to make it fun. The bar had a chai martini that I loved!

 

[kaytieeldr]

ALWAYS ask if there's a discount available! A few years ago, the above-mentioned Penn & Teller show was finally open at the same time I was in Las Vegas. I called the box office, and first the woman said there wasn't. Then she said, "Wait. If you donate a pint of blood at (local blood bank), you get two free tickets". So I did, and I did

They finally just took me off their call list a few months ago, when the person calling realized I live on the other side of the country.

Also check out cheapovegas.com.

 

[chrissyd1]

my favorite cheap eats - In and Out Burger!!!!!

 

[shelwoj]

We went last year for a work meeting, stayed at the Red Rock and had a rental car. We gamble and drink very little so we went to Hoover Dam, walked the strip and went to the Pinball Museum. The pinball museum is just a store front with hundreds of machines dating all the way back to the (?)20's that you can PLAY! We had a blast and spent more money there than in the casino.

We're going in January for dh's grandmother's 90th birthday party. This time we're staying at the Golden Nugget and plan on exploring Freemont Street, going to the Neon Sign Museum and back to the Pinball Museum.

Food is plentiful and we didn't have a bad meal the whole trip, no matter where we went. Looking forward to trying new places this trip.

 

[girli565]

Inside the Monte Carlo is a place called the Pub. I kid you not, my husband had a roast beef sandwich there that he swore was the best ever. It's a sports bar so the food selection is pub food (burgers, sandwiches, salads) but I'm telling you the sandwiches are HUGE. I had some "dry rub" hot wings. delicious. spicey without the messy sauce and tendar. great spot for lunch.

I second The Pub at the Monte Carlo. We stayed there last December when we made a quick trip out to Vegas and ate 3 meals there in the 4 days we were there. It's got AMAZING food and not badly priced. They have a great Happy hour menu that includes the sliders (to die for) and wings for a buck each (better deal on the sliders but still good on the wings bc they're like $12 normally). Such delicious food. And you must have their s'more dessert. It's homemade marshmallows in different flavors, gram (sp) crackers and chocolate with your own fire pit to roast them on at the table.

 

[girli565]

Also, if you really want to splurge I say go see a Cirque show (I know you said you're not fans but if you're in Vegas you can't pass it up). I suggest O at the Bellagio. It's the best Cirque show I've ever seen, and I've seen at least 4 different ones in Vegas and a few at home in Miami when they come through.

O is a stage cirque show but also has a giant pool, I was not expecting to be amazed but I sat there captivated (almost like when you're in Disney ). Try going to those ticket vendors you'll see on the street for same day tickets at a discount you might get lucky. Last year when we went the show was dark the week before xmas and we were so bummed.

 

[endy]

At the Coke store, beside the M&M's store, try the flavors of the world. It's on the upper floor. You get a try of sample size Coke flavors from around the world. I think you can also get them as floats.
Not overly exciting but it is fun to sit and relax for a few minutes. Some of the flavors are downright gross.

 

[jmunutt]

We went last year for a work meeting, stayed at the Red Rock and had a rental car. We gamble and drink very little so we went to Hoover Dam, walked the strip and went to the Pinball Museum. The pinball museum is just a store front with hundreds of machines dating all the way back to the (?)20's that you can PLAY! We had a blast and spent more money there than in the casino.

.

I too will suggest going to the Pinball Museum. It was a lot of fun. The Atomic Testing Musuem was good too, I learned a lot about the testing there.
http://www.atomictestingmuseum.org/index.asp

We also had a good time going to the pawn shop where they film Pawn Stars.
http://www.gspawn.com/

My favorite restaurant is the Pepper Mill. http://www.peppermilllasvegas.com/restaurant/index.html
I love diners and this place and it's decor scream Vegas to me. Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller goes here after the shows most nights.

We also like the Claim Jumper restaurants, we don't have them here on the East Coast.

Have fun in Vegas!

 

[TessRC]

My favorite restaurant is the Top of the World at the Stratosphere. Dinner is pretty pricey, but lunch is a great deal. The restaurant is up in the tower and rotates and gives you an amazing view of the city. The service & food are great and lunch entrees start at $15 per person which is about how much it is just to go up the tower itself. Make a reservation online beforehand and go to the Top of the World check in desk instead of the tower ticket line, they will take you up to the restaurant and after your meal they will take you up the couple of floors to the tower at no extra charge. There's a good chance you will get a chance to see the sky jumpers go by as you're eating lunch, too! Check out the Stratosphere's website to see the restaurants menu and make reservations. Have fun, Vegas is a great city!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Ellis Island has awesome food. Total dive but great food and cheap. There is a coupon book that we bought before we went and it had some great deals. Let me google....

 

[eliza61]

Op, one of the great things about Vegas is that so many of the hotels downtown and on the strip have really good restaurants.

I think people get a bit scared because you always hear about the "headliner, top Chef" restaurants but all of the hotels have at 1 buffet (vegas is the king of hte buffet) and 1 sports bar/pub/american style eatery. We love these for lunch and they are really nicely priced. Yes they are going to be a bit more than fast food but they won't break your budget.

 

[LindaBabe]

There's an Earl of Sandwich in Planet Hollywood.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

American casino guide is the book of coupons.

 

[Pastamom]

Thanks for all the great replies!!! Keep them coming

We're staying at Paris, and are planning to hit Freemont street one day/night. I think we're going to the Spa at the hotel too as a treat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Golden Gate, I think, downtown, has $.99 shrimp cocktail. You just need to sign up for their players club.
Main Street Station - also downtown - has one of the best/best deal buffets in the city. Paris's buffet is good too, but expensive; and Mon Ami Gaby is a better deal at lunch than dinner. Hash House-a-Go-Go in the Imperial Palace has awesomely sized plates of food for really reasonable prices. Two people could absolutely share one meal and have a doggy bag (if your room comes with a fridge).
If you don't already have a room overlooking the Bellagio fountains, check out the travel forums at fatwallet.com for 'the $20 trick'.
Caesars' properties (Paris is one) may still be offering their Buffet Package and Show Package. The former would get you entry into up to four buffets among the seven properties in a 24 hour period. The Show package gets you into as many shows that have seats at the properties as you can fit into, I think, 48 hours (with a few having a premium). Either package would be one flat price.