Be a High Roller in Vegas on a Low Roller Budget

I LOVE Las Vegas. It’s almost ridiculous it’s like candy land on steroids. Everything is HUGE, everything is bright and its pure purpose is to draw you in and make you believe you are in a totally other world. No wonder the saying ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’ was invented.

Many people think Vegas is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of ways to experience Las Vegas without breaking the bank.

·         If you have to do it on a budget, you won't want to stay at the Cosmopolitan Hotel or Wynn Las Vegas, where one night's stay will wipe out most of your budget. Head for the family friendly casinos like Monte Carlo and Flamingo for spacious rooms at a reasonable price. Opt out of the breakfast charge. Who is even awake for breakfast in Las Vegas and if you are… Hello Starbucks at a quarter of the price!

And that being said, try to avoid gambling at the big casinos like MGM Grand and Bellagio. Generally their minimum bets are $10 for the low roller tables, smaller casinos minimum bets are half the price. It makes losing a hand just that little bit easier.

·         Drink in the casinos. The drinks are free as long as you’re playing one of the games. Sit down at a penny machines, play slow, and drink fast. Just make sure you tip the waitress so she keeps coming back to you quickly.

·         Avoid taxis where possible. Yes you may think that the casinos look close together but if you wanted to walk from the Bellagio down to Treasure Island, prepare to put on your walking shoes and have a few stops along the way. Getting taxis however are a rip off. They have one of the highest rates in America per mile. The best tip - Use monorails between casinos to get around quickly (bonus they are air-conditioned!)

·         If you are going to spend a little cash somewhere, splurge on a show. I highly recommend a Cirque Du Soleil show.  But for those who can’t afford to be seeing Cirque Du Soleil, The Lion King or Britney Spears there’s so many free shows along the strip that are worth checking out.

You CANNOT miss the Fountains of Bellagio. This is an absolute must in Vegas. The shows are every 3- minutes before 7pm and every 15 minutes from 7pm till midnight. This breathtaking water show rushes streams of water up to 200m high and synchronizes to music in a lake the size of 8 football fields.

The Volcano at the Mirage. Every hour on the hour from 6pm till 11pm a volcano erupts shooting fire high into the sky in front of the Mirage hotel on the strip.

The street performers are also worth checking out. There are singers, acrobats, artists all performing for your entertainment. They ask for donations at the end so if you can slip away unnoticed you don’t need to tip.

·         The Las Vegas Strip has exploded with 5 star restaurants and fine dining, but for those who can’t afford to be sitting amongst the fancy china and the 8 course set menu there are lots of low cost options. There are so many take away outlets you can’t miss them. Need pizza at 2am? Sure no problem, get a slice of New York pizza the size of your head for a few dollars.
Eat at buffets at lunch time. It’s always a discounted rate for lunch, again head to the smaller casinos for a fraction of the cost of the bigger ones. Fill up at lunch and you only need a small dinner or a snack at 2am…