7 Easy Ways To Save Money In Las Vegas, Nevada

Save money in Las Vegas? Is that even possible!? Las Vegas may be many things, but it’s not known to be a cheap place for vacation. Fortunately, I’ve worked out a few Las Vegas hacks to save (at least a bit of) money while you’re there (and maybe even make some money).

A trip to Las Vegas is all about living lavishly. It’s about sitting by the extravagant pools at the hotels with a cocktail in hand and not caring about the cost of anything. So right off the bat, Las Vegas and I didn’t exactly get along. I’m not someone who can’t easily ignore a price tag.

So, I put together 7 ways to avoid going totally broke while visiting Las Vegas and still feel like you’re livin’ it up!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

How To Save Money In Vegas?

1. Download The MyVegas App To Save Money in Las Vegas

As soon as you know you’re going to Vegas, download the MyVegas app. The MyVegas App is one of the easiest ways to save money in Las Vegas. The app is a virtual slot machine that you can play and win virtual money (you’re given coins to gamble with, so you don’t have to use your own money). Essentially, the more you play, the more loyalty points you earn which you can then redeem for different rewards.

They offer discounts on room rates, Cirque de Soleil tickets, buffets… etc. The possibilities are endless!

The game is fairly easy to play, but there are a few tricks to optimize how you use your coins. Also, when you’re ready to redeem your coins, there are a few things to watch out for. Read my guide on how to play and redeem your points on the MyVegas App to take full advantage of its money saving potential. 

2. Traveling In A Group? Save Money In Las Vegas By Sharing Food

It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that food is outrageously expensive in Vegas. And unfortunately, because we, as humans, typically need to eat, there’s no avoiding it. So I found a few Las Vegas hacks to enjoy my food and not worry too much about the cost.

Of course, one of the best ways is to use the MyVegas app for discounts at restaurants. But that’s not always an option, so I had to find other ways to save.

I realized that portion sizes are absolutely massive at most restaurants. It’s usually enough for 2 people to share (and sometimes even three). Full disclosure, I eat a lot, usually as much as my boyfriend (if not more sometimes).

So we started sharing food, and we still both left satisfied. Now we were cutting down the cost of our meals by half. Plus a little bonus, it acts as good portion control so we didn’t overeat.

This trick doesn’t always work because the size doesn’t always match the price. Sometimes the price was just outrageous and they don’t give you a portion to match. That was the case at Wolfgang Puck in the MGM, and we ended up having to order two entrees.

But another money saving hack in Las Vegas is to order one appetizer and one entree. Appetizers are cheaper than entrees, and they still come with a decent amount of food.

3. Tips To Save Money In Vegas: The Buffets Are Actually Worth it

If the portions aren’t big enough for you to share, then buffets are the way to go. They’re $30-$40/ person, but you can eat as much as you want, and it includes a soda, coffee (or tea), and dessert.

If I had to recommend one buffet over any other it would be Cravings at the Mirage. Along with your meal, you also get bottomless wine and beer. There are only 2 beer options on tap to choose from, but there are 4 options for wine (red, dry white, fruity white, and rose).

4. Drink For Free!

In any casino, sit down at a slot machine and a waitress will eventually find you and take your drink order. You can order what you want (including alcoholic drinks) for free. You can tip if you want, but I didn’t always! This is meant to keep you in the casino gambling for as long as possible, so it might take a while for them to serve you.

But as a non-gambler, you can still take advantage and save some money in Las Vegas this way. I would just sit down at a slot machine and pretend to play until a waitress came by. Depending on where you go, the drinks will vary in size, but hey you can’t really complain – it’s still free!

Because water is so hard to come by in Vegas, I found this trick was very helpful in staying hydrated while walking the strip. Asking for water will only get you a mini bottle, but at least you’ll be waiting in the A/C.

5. Ride The Free Monorails To Get Around

Vegas has a Monorail on the East side of the strip, starting at MGM and going to the SLS. That’s a whopping $5/ ride!! I swear, it seems like Las Vegas wants tourists to pass out from heat exhaustion and dehydration. But, fun fact! It doesn’t ever enter the city of Las Vegas, it actually runs behind the strip.

If you’re planning on using the monorail a lot, I recommend the 24-hour pass (or redeem loyalty points from the MyVegas App).

But, what they don’t advertise are the free trams on the west side of the strip connecting 3 sets of hotels and casinos. You can pretty much make it across the whole strip with these free monorails.

The first monorail connects Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur. Make sure to choose the right tram if you want to go to Luxor because there’s also an express tram that skips it. This is a great monorail to use because the tram entrances aren’t that deep into the casino. In fact, the entrance for Excalibur is outside the hotel.

​Free Monorail #2 takes you from Park MGM to the Bellagio (passing by the Aria and Crystals Shops). This one is a real pain to get to though. The tram entrance takes you through the entire casino (and shopping areas) on either end.

It’s good if you were planning on walking through the hotels anyway and need a break from the heat outside. But I don’t think you actually save that much time with this one (but you will save money!).

I actually never made it to the third Monorail, so I can’t comment on the logistics of taking it, but it takes you from the Mirage to Treasure Island. According to this review, it’s the least amount of walking to get to.

All the free monorails are recapped in depth here.

6. Travel To Las Vegas During The Week To Save Money On Hotels

If you’re able to, another money saving tip for Las Vegas is to book your stay at the beginning of the week. I saw a HUGE price jump in nightly rates from Thursday to Sunday.

The weekend is Vegas’ busiest time so they’re able to charge more, there’s simply way more demand for rooms. You can score some really good deals if you look to stay in Vegas on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Even Thursday night can be a lot cheaper than staying in Vegas Saturday night.

P.S. Watch out! You might find a really good deal to stay at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas but double check what room they’re booking you in. The West Wing Rooms at the MGM Grand can be a lot cheaper but are NOT worth the savings. We ended up upgrading our room once we arrived it was so bad. You can read my full review about staying at the MGM Grand in Vegas here. Once we upgraded rooms, we loved the hotel!

Can’t find what you’re looking for? See a full list of Las Vegas hotels to stay at! Before booking your stay, read about my experience staying at the MGM Grand Hotel.

7. Las Vegas Hacks For Tea Lovers To Save Money

Interested in living it up wth an afternoon at high tea in Las Vegas but scared about the cost? I have the perfect way to save money in Vegas for you!

The Waldorf Astoria in Vegas has not only one of the best views, but also delicious high-quality tea. The only problem… the price. It’s $50/ person for afternoon tea there. I mean, I love tea, but not that much. That’s a lot of money to spend on a pot of tea and some snacks even for me.

But what they don’t tell you is that there’s no requirement to order the afternoon tea when you’re there. They have an à La Carte menu that you order from and you’re able to share everything on it. So you can order a pot of tea for $16, and 4 pastries or sandwiches for $12. Total that comes to $28 for as many people as you want!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a lot of money for tea, but it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than spending $50 (a person!). AND the pot is big enough for two people to share (they might even fill it up with more hot water if you ask).

Plus, for all my matcha fans out there, they serve Matcha in the pot for the same price. You can even order it as a latte with steamed milk at no extra charge.

Bonus Las Vegas Hack: Actually Make Money On Your Birthday

If you’re visiting Vegas for your birthday, you can actually come home with more money than you left with (without risking it gambling!)! I’m completely serious!

Go to Vegas on your birthday and 3 casinos will give you Freeplay money to gamble with. Freeplay money is essentially money that you can use to play slots with. Every time you lose, it takes what you bet off of your Freeplay credits. But when you win, those winnings are yours to keep!

Park MGM gives you $25, Excalibur gives you $20, and at Luxor, you get to spin the wheel to see how much you’ll get!

I just played the slots only with the credits I was given, and as soon as they ran out, I cashed out! I made $60 that night without risking gambling my own money!

Bonus Tip! Save Money By Driving To Vegas From California

Heading to Las Vegas from California, you can save money on your Vegas trip before you even arrive!

Instead of flying to Vegas, drive from California. We drove from Long Beach (not too far from Los Angeles) and would recommend the drive. It’s another way to save money in Las Vegas, it’s cheaper than flying and you can turn it into a road trip with fun stops along the way! 

P.S. Need A Place To Stay In Vegas?

We booked the MGM Grand for our stay in Las Vegas (view rates & availability here), but there’s no shortage of hotels in Vegas! Here are some alternative accommodation options I’d also recommend.

For a truly unique stay, book a room at the Venetian Las Vegas Resort. Why not pretend like your in Venice for a few days!? See room rates & availability here.

If you want to be truly pampered during your stay, book a room at the Four Seasons Las Vegas. Every room features either a mountain or strip view so you won’t be disappointed! See room rates & availability here.

If you’re looking for a hotel just off the Strip but not too far, book the Home2 Suites by Hilton Las Vegas City Center. Perfect for longer stays with a kitchenette, and breakfast is always included! See room rates & availability here.

For more accommodation options in Las Vegas, click here.

My Amazon Vegas Must Haves

Read More Guides

• How To Use The MyVegas App To Save Money in Las Vegas
• An Honest Review: Staying At The MGM Grand in Las Vegas
• 7 Fun Stops On The Drive From Los Angeles To Las Vegas

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Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API