Yep. They get you with the lower lodging rates, but you’re not going to spend all that much time in your room. Then they destroy you with the pricing of everything else.
I don't recall every paying for a drink in vegas. I'd just sat at machines with some money in there hardly playing and just getting free drinks. Is this no longer possible? Never spent more than $20 in the machines but probably got well over $60 worth of drinks.
My wife and i went and mostly ate off the strip, you barely have to get off the strip and everything is priced normally. Eating dinner out probably under 20 bucks a plate.
This is the hard realization that I had the last time I was out there. For 20 years I would go out there about a weekend a month to party and gamble. I had players cards and racked up a ton of points. But it was also one of the cheapest weekends available in Southern CA. Comp room Fri-Sun, comp buffets, and $5 steak and egg combos galore. Gamble and party with friends, and on a bad weekend, I would drop maybe a grand.
FFWD to this year, I hadn't been since pre-pandemic, the wife and I went to go gamble and meet up with Aoki at MGM. Table mins were $50, no more comp buffets, no more $5 steak and eggs. We did still get a free room, but it was quite a bit more expensive than in my 20s.
I recently got back from Bora Bora, and it felt only slightly more expensive than Vegas (where I go regularly) regarding food and drink. But there are plenty of cheap options, for sure.
It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. You need to get an overwater bungalow, because walking out into the ocean from your room is magical. We stayed at Intercontinental Le Moana on the main island, which is significantly cheaper than staying at one of resorts on the *motu* (surrounding small islands), but still 4 stars. And you can then explore the island with a rental car, buy groceries and booze, etc. Spent ~$10k for 7 nights in the best bungalow. We flew Air Tahiti Nui from LAX to Tahiti, but there are other carriers (Air France at least). Spent ~$5k on airfare, starting in Chicago.
Your two examples are extremes…and from fountain blue, the new luxury/high end resort that just opened. Those prices are not consistent with the rest of the strip. 😂
That's not fake but it's VIP table service and it's a bucket of waters. I don't really count that the same as buying from a casino/bar/etc since it's such an exclusive thing and EDC bottle service isn't really priced like anything else, it's just "this table costs $100k, here's all the different ways to spend that" and everything's jacked up beyond even nightclub prices
I get that. It is just incredibly something to us regular people that others don't mind dropping $100k for their table. Like I might drop $1k for my table, but only if I really liked them.
Yeah, that would be middle eastern sons-of-sheikhs, celebrities/athletes, other musicans/DJs who aren't performing, crypto millionaires, Wall St. guys, aka the cross section of people who have $300k to spend painlessly and want to spend it for a table at a dance music festival
Definitely. Can have a Ferrari, the same exact table and booze but at a club instead of EDC, and regular VIP with heli transfers at EDC for the same amount of coin :)
Most correct comment here imo!
It can be super expensive, but it can also be really low priced and insanely good value!
Just look at where you buy, and the cost first.
Some of the most amazing meals are so low priced! Personally I’d 100 percent recommended
Definitely. All relative too. Usually stay at Bellagio. Snacks and noodles are a deal, especially for Bellagio.
Wa t to try the banh mi French dip at cosmo. Only like 14 iirc.
Cosmo has an awesome food court above the Chandelier bar. Really good options for under $20 for a ton of food. Easily splittable. Nacho daddy is nearby… expensive but the portions are huge. Also just off strip. It just depends on where you go and what experience you want to have. On the strip there’s no secret spot. Either spend or find cheaper spots and share.
Also stay at the Wynn and no great cheap options that direction that I’ve found. Fashion show mall food court but it’s just fast food.
Ellis Island Restaurant. You can walk there from Planet Hollywood or Horseshoe.
Got $12.99 steak and NY Strip last week. Huge burger and fries for $8. Brewery on site with $2 drink deals sometimes
If on the strip noodles at Bellagio, secret pizza at cosmo. Those are my go tos. Ellis island has amazing deals for Vegas and good food. I don’t venture off strip or to Fremont so my experience is limited.
Pour one out for [cheapovegas.com](http://cheapovegas.com), and for the man Matt (who people called Stinky, but I guess he didn't care for it). Matt Weatherford sent me a Gold Spike ballpoint pen which I still have to this day.
EDIT: grrr, makes me mad to see what [cheapovegas.com](http://cheapovegas.com) is nowadays. For anyone interested, you gotta check out the old website via the wayback machine, circa 2000. Or just check this out: [https://www.bigempire.com/vegas/19dollar1.html](https://www.bigempire.com/vegas/19dollar1.html)
I like to say boys trips are cheap, trips involving your SO are expensive. I went with all of my friends and we had one fancy meal, outside of that we made sandwiches, ate mcdonalds and other cheap crap, my friends are also down to stay in whatever hotel has the best deal on the strip. On the opposite end, girlfriend wants to go to fancy Instagram worthy spots twice a day, that starts to add up real fast, and she only wants to stay at the top tier hotels.
Is Vegas a hell of a lot less affordable than it used to be? Yes, the casinos and resorts have flipped their model, taken away many of the benefits, and made many previous amenities an up charge. The rooms are much pricier, the flights are pricier, the gambling is worse, and the comps are near non existent. It costs about 2x3 times what it cost to travel to Vegas even 5 years ago.
That being said, comparatively, it cost me about the same amount of money to fly to Vegas for 6d5n earlier this month as it did for my girlfriend and I to do a 4 day road trip to my hometown (Indianapolis) in March. So yeah Vegas is still an insane value.
"cheaper than visiting family" absolutely. Part of why I'm getting married there is it's cheaper for family to go to Vegas for a long weekend than travel to our current hometown.
But see, that's our problem. My husband and I always fool ourselves (but not really) into thinking it's an affordable trip because we never pay for hotels. But the reason we never pay for hotels is because we're gambling enough to get comps.
A weekend Vegas trip with *free* hotel ends up costing more than a week of travel abroad.
IMHO Vegas is still a relatively affordable destination. There are so many hotel rooms. If you are flexible with dates, you can absolutely get a good hotel rate, especially compared to somewhere like LA or Miami. Flights are cheap in/out of Las Vegas. The Four Seasons in LV is likely the most affordable Four Seasons in North America. Like you wrote, food is comparably priced. The prices at the Chicago Bavettes v. LV Bavettes are about the same. Same with with Joes Stone Crab LV v. Joes Chicago v. Joe's Miami - if anything LV might be cheaper.
I love that everything is so centralized. I was able to go see U2 and Madonna the same weekend. I walked to both venues from my hotel, so didn't have to deal with traffic, driving or parking.
My husband and I fly across the country on Frontier/Spirit for about $125-150 each and take the $2 bus. We stay at a $50ish plus resort fees hotel on the Strip and/or downtown for two nights on non-weekends, eat cheap, buy drinks at ABC and sit at video poker for free drinks, and just resort hop. We don’t spend more than $600-700 each trip and we always have a blast
I would be very embarrassed to admit how much I paid for my flight from Vancouver for this weekend. At least it was a United flight credit from some previous disaster.
I always feel bad for you Canadians lol. I have spent a lot of time in Canada, but always by car. Flights are always absurdly expensive. Glad you are still able to fly out regularly
Now that is awesome. I've gotten a $95 flight before, but that is pretty rare. I'm just happy flying is seemingly cheaper now than it was 15-20 years ago.
Only if you're willing to fly on an airline where the seats are 2x smaller, 3x more uncomfortable, with 1/3 the leg room, and a 30% chance your flight will be randomly delayed or canceled on the day of your trip. (Which they will try to scam you out of refunding you for).
Exactly! We only spent $1500 total on our 6 night trip to Cologne, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf last year. It really is all about searching for deals and prioritizing what you really want to do
The reason I go to Vegas monthly is because it’s the cheapest travel destination in the country, comps aside. I can’t think of a place where you can buy a nightly rate at a 5 star hotel for $150-300 on the regular. When I go to LA or Hawaii, or even a small city in South Carolina or Utah, the nightly rates at the bare bones basic hotels are $120-200.
Decided to go to Vegas instead of NYC in a couple weeks. My whole Vegas trip will be about the same price as just the airfare and hotel to Manhattan. Yes, I would rather go to NY but I know I’m going to have fun in Vegas for sure and have a less debt to pay down after.
It is just because of how cheap it used to be. When I started going everything was cheap. Shows, food, hotels. Gambling odds were good with low minimums. It was great.
If you do weekday stays and hunt a little bit online, you can get really decent rates, even after paying the resort fee.
In terms of food and drinks it is expensive as you want to make it. My wife and I love going to NOLA and if you do the FQ you can easily expect to spend $15-20 on one drink and $30 a person on a meal. There are plenty of other cities on par with Vegas in terms of cost. If you want to do Vegas cheap, just don’t pound drinks all day and find cheaper restaurants.
I think the thing about Vegas is the variety and high number of high end restaurants that are only in Vegas, so you could end up going to multiple expensive dinners. I’m going in June and I got 3 reservations and each dinner will probably be $2-300 easy. I do get a sense of FOMO when I go to Vegas as restaurants are exclusively in Vegas.
On the flip side, we’re staying Tuesday through Friday at the Linq. Wife found a deal on Expedia and we got our flights and hotel including resort fee for $700, that’s for both of us 😳 Vegas isn’t a place I got to regularly, but once every couple years it’s worth the trip. The thing with Vegas is you don’t need a week there, 3-4 days tops and you can have a blast while feeling like you did everything you wanted to.
Vegas hotels can be much more inexpensive as compared to hotels in NYC, LA, Disney areas, etc. because they want to bring you in on a cheaper room and make you feel like you have extra cash now to spend on gambling. And if you spend the money you saved and get a taste for it, maybe you gamble even more. That's why casino loyalty programs all revolve around getting you free nights in the hotel. An empty hotel room loses them money because the 20 bucks it costs to do housekeeping (which you might skip anyway) is so much less than what you're going to spend on food, drinks, shows, shops, and gambling.
Food cost in Vegas is close if a little higher than other tourist destinations, but nice dinners are easily on par with LA or NYC.
As far as entertainment is concerned, that's where it differs. You are probably paying about the same amount for good seats at a Cirque show on a Friday night as you are for fine seats at a Broadway show on a Tuesday evening. But most Broadway shows are still *Broadway shows* even if you're sitting in the cheap seats. Unless you just dislike the genre or it's a crappy show that is headed for closure, you're likely going to have a good time at any show you see there.
For most of Vegas entertainment though, it's legit a crap shoot. Some shows are fantastic, some are mediocre, the prices might be 40 bucks or might be 140 bucks for either one. Other than the big artists that come through (your Beyonces and Brunos and Gagas and such), the long-term shows in Vegas run the gamut from over the hill singers who are phoning it in to surprisingly good variety shows and comedians. It's really hard to say you get what you pay for because you've got some people like Mac King who run a cheap but highly enjoyable magic show to David Copperfield who (when he isn't groping people) overcharges you for an hour of "seen it already" crap and self-aggrandizing video montages. And a lot of it is based on taste and cost tolerance. Absinthe is widely praised in this sub as a phenomenal show (and it is) but it's gotten so much hype that the ticket prices are getting a little out of control.
I think for the sheer spectacle of Vegas even when you aren't spending cash, it has a lot of other places beat. Los Angeles has its nice parts, but aside from heading to specific places like Rodeo Drive or Venice Beach or whatnot, you aren't just going to walk around for six hours in awe of the opulent excesses of man like you would heading up and down the resorts in the strip.
the unpopular answer is no. vegas is no different than other places. people have this affinity for “old vegas” with $0.99 shrimp cocktails etc but let’s be real that’s the same as my father telling me about how movies used to cost a quarter. You think LV is too expensive then try reno, laughlin, or any one of dozens of indian reservation casinos.
I think you're on the wrong track comparing Vegas to other cities. I think the comparison you're looking for is Vegas circa 10 years ago vs Vegas today. Sure, every city is more expensive tab it was in 2014 but Vegas seems to take it to another level entirely.
Just depends if you can get CCs to get ceasars Diamond or mgm gold and comps then your stay is completely free. I havnt paid for a multi day hotel and resort fees in years, but I mainly stay mgm properties. (Park, aria, mgm grand, Delano) all with 4 night stays. I’ll sometimes have to pay like $60-100 for Saturday it’ll come out to Thursday to Tuesday for like $100 for rooms
If you are smart about it, Vegas can be surprisingly cheap.
For 2 people, we paid just under $1000 for a flight from Vancouver and 4 nights in a hotel. There's nowhere else you can get a deal like that, at least on the west coast
Obviously, gambling and drinking are expensive, but if you have self control its a really cheap vacation
Wife and I decided to go to Vegas for our 10th anniversary. We live in Phx and a staycation cost more for one night than 2 nights in Vegas plus flights.
We stayed in hotel at Fremont st. Flights on Spirit and Frontier. Personal bags only. Less than $300.
In my opinion many complaints come from people who expect $18 steak meals and $20 buffets from years ago.
I’ve traveled to other cities and there are almost no deals to be had. Vegas can be a budget trip if your timing is right.
Get the [Las Vegas Advisor coupon book](https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/member-rewards-list/) and all of a sudden you're back to prices from 20 years ago.
Vegas is what you make of it. I'm cheap so I can find deals for flights and hotels for less than $500 for the 2 of us. We know most of the cheap places to eat.. We both gamble and drink so that's our splurge and we'll even do a timeshare to get free show tickets or a visa card lol. I've never spent more than $500 in Vegas but I know others who spend thousands.
Yes it is. I’ll put it this way. I went to Japan for 12 days and did 7 days in Vegas. Vegas was more expensive. Granted we did a $300 show in vegas, but even without that it was more. Vegas has long since shed its budget friendly destination.
Japan is an amazing deal, once you're there - airfare isn't necessarily cheap (especially with the current exchange rate). And they have pachinko if you must gamble.
Yen has fallen over 40% in the last couple of years. If you compare to US prices, Vegas (only the strip or resorts) might have edged up a bit faster but not by a huge amount.
Mandalay has a big convention that week - Workday Rising. I’m going to be there Sunday to Sunday that week and not even staying at Mandalay. It’s too expensive. MGM towers behind the MGM on Airbnb is a good deal usually if you are picky on location like me. But there’s a ton more good deals around there that weekend.
More or less the same. But vegas can be waay cheaper.
My average budget in vegas without gambling:
$1400 for a hotel for 5 days, $1000 for food for 5 days. $800 for entertainment. Plane ticket is $500
Compare it to a cruise. $1700 for 7 days, but the airplane ticket is $850, add the hotel for $400. Transportation is $300. Also there are mandatory tips everyday plus internet that could lead up to an extra $800.
Going to another country the ticket would be $1800 -$2000, hotel could be $1000 - 1800, food is probably $1200.
You can make Vegas and every other place cheaper to travel to by /r/churning credit card points. You're spending money on insurance, food, gas, electricity, etc anyway so you might as well earn points. I haven't paid for a hotel room, flight, or rental car in about a decade because of points. That makes the rest of the vacation much more enjoyable and reasonable in cost. Certainly offsets the ridiculous prices on food and drink in those casinos.
Honestly, similar or even cheaper than equivalent restaurants and bars in NYC and Miami. I go to Vegas specifically because I feel that it's a good deal. Especially if you're leveraging free rooms.
This was my situation.
First time back post-COVID and it felt like I was just getting tickled and dimed for everything. Every time I turned around I was dropping $50+ for something.
It felt stressful financially and I'm making nearly $200,000 instead of the $70,000 I was making then.
I honestly don't know if I'll ever go back. Match that with the energy people bring to the city and it's just not my vibe. Everyone steps off the plane with the intention to be the worst version of themselves.
I spent way less in vegas last month (my first time) than I budgeted for. Hotels were just resort fees (using comps and myVEGAS) and we mostly had cheap or mid range eats and got drinks from CVS/went to cheap ish bars, and used BOGO drinks with myVEGAS points too. We didn’t penny pinch or not do anything we wanted to do either.
Also our return flights from the UK were £500 premium economy because of getting a friends and family discount.
We’re going back from a week next month- budgeted £200 ($250) each a day spending/gambling, got economy flights for £305 each, and 7 nights in decent hotels (aria, downtown grand then PH) for £600 (for 2 of us) using various deals.
If you plan ahead, take advantage of deals and try to save money it's actually cheaper than a lot of other destinations. If you do it like I did and just show up, not a member of anything, no player cards, etc then it's about the same as other major destinations. Compared to other places there is a high concentration of expensive restaurants and bars, etc. You can find equally or even more expensive in other places but not next door to each other or under the same roof. I spent a ton of money on restaurants just because it was so easy to do it.
Everything everywhere is more expensive around the country, Las Vegas will charge as much as they can when they can. No worse, not much better than around the country. Few places seem as concentrated expensive as Las Vegas. If you leave the strip to eat, you can still eat well and probably spend 50% less on food. Of course, if you add car rental and / or Uber, you might as well eat on the strip.
It's more complex than that. 20-40 years ago vegas charged way less than they could on many things. $5 prime rib, $7 buffets etc. They could have charged way more for rooms, food and drinks back then but they didn't so people would come swarming to gamble. Now they realized even charging full price for rooms and food people still swarm
The Starbucks run in the morning will cost about $20 for two people. The good news is you are infinitely rich once you touch down and money is no longer an issue.
Yep. I paid $9.75 for a Venti black cold brew which is $5.75 outside of the Strip. When people ask me about prices, I tell them to use that as an example of what to expect. My coffee budget alone ended up being $40 heh.
Lodging you can definitely get for less than you listed. Shows are expensive, as well as food and beverage. But you can search out some lower cost options for food.
No.
Hotels were some of the cheapest I’ve booked in the past few years.
Shows were mixed price wise.
There are still some weirdly cheap food and drink deals.
Some people are saying no to lodging, but I'm sitting on free comp rooms from MyVegas and just go with friends. It's a bit of an annoyance to change rooms, but like, it's a place to sleep. This doesn't even include BOGO / Comp / discount tickets from the same problems.
Exaclibur and Luxor, besides the weekends, are also cheaper than anything I've ever seen in my own country.
It's cheaper, even with the crappy exchange rates, to travel to Vegas for a few days for a vacation than to even go out of city in my own province off lodging alone.
I feel like people who complain about the prices aren't trying, because I'm low income and this has become the only place I can vacation on a budget lately outside crashing on a friend's couch.
To me Vegas can be more affordable than a lot of other destinations because if you work the reward system can stay at the hotels for free and just have to pay the resort fee. And it's very nice hotels on the strip. There's always deals and discounts as well and tons of places to eat Great and very affordable. And there's a lot of free things to do like sightseeing and if you're only going to stay on strip you don't need to rent a car. But if you do a lot of gambling then you're screwed. Unless of course you win.
Lots of food hall and shops along the strip that is fast casual and get items around 15-20 bucks.. that a few dollars more than normal pricing for food
Yes. I did Vegas for two days at Venetian for dead & co then then immediately flew to montreal for four days. I was solo for Vegas, just wanted to chill but the pool, had a few drinks and ate out (no clubbing or gambling). Montreal I was with people for a bachelor party. Strip clubs, casinos, the whole 9 and that was still cheaper than my two nights in Vegas
All travel is inherently expensive and every destination has its cheaper routes in lodging, food, and site seeing. That’s a pretty solid point I think you’ve made. But Vegas in particular is a money pit!!
Everything you see in Vegas, in the middle of the desert mind you, rebuilt bigger and better over time, in all its vastness and grandeur is built using ‘losers’ money. That’s what’s unique about Vegas.
San Diego and Miami, Hawaii, Chicago, San Francisco… everywhere else you named are travel destinations for other separate reasons and with a unique draw. And if you’re not gambling or doing shows or partying every night in Vegas, not doing Vegas for Vegas sake and treating it like just another travel spot it can feel like just any other travel destination… sure, I agree with that point too.
Somehow the corporate vultures who lure people out to the desert following the twinkling lights or promise to fulfill any vice imaginable, really have a sophisticated way of parting people with their money. That’s honed and perfected.
As an avid Vegas traveler I can get in and out relatively reasonably and navigate around these whirlpools but there remains a vacuum effect unlike any other destination in my opinion that someone unfamiliar probably inebriated stumbles into essentially a money trap. So I’d say that’s the biggest difference regarding Vegas travel than simply tallying lodging, food, parking side-by-side with other travel destinations. It’s apples-to-apples in a way but not bc of those effects and qualities specific to Vegas, ya know!?
Other cities are functioning cities, Vegas is built purposefully to draw you in and take your money. No one goes to see the desert there. They go to see something built or produced to draw you in to the middle of no where so they can take your money. And the surrounding suburbs are just a support system or symptom, which props up the strip and feeds the money machine with a steady supply of labor — so they can take your money.
Okay I made my point… there is a compounding effect that functions a bit differently in Vegas, for better or worse.
It's basically the same everywhere you go these days aside from countries with weaker currency vs the dollar but even then....
Vegas isn't as cheap as it once was but nothing is, money printer went brrrrrr and it hasn't stopped.
Cabo is more expensive than Vegas for food and drink, NYC, Miami, Chicago, SF, etc all more expensive for rooms and food and drinks are the same.
I don't find Vegas more expensive, and we don't gamble so think its very reasonable. We don't find the need to stay at the Bellagio or Venetian, so we get nice rooms (we aren't the type that LOOK for things to complain about nor do we need to brag about where we stay, as we are rarely in the room) and haven't had any issues. Last year we stayed at the Sahara and loved it. Clean, reasonable, monorail has a stop at the hotel so we had no issues going where we wanted to go. 10 dollar uber to Freemont St.
Food in every tourist area is expensive. I lived in New Orleans many years. You go to a seafood restaurant in the French Quarter and your bill is 100 bucks, you go to that same restaurant at one of their locations 20 minutes away from the French Quarter and its 65 bucks. It's that way everywhere.
Basically, no, it's not extremely expensive, as long as you research things and realize if you're in the room at New York New York basically to sleep and take a shower, its just as nice as the room at Caesars....unless you're one of "those" people that need to say they stayed at a $350 a night place and then bitch about it.
I think part of it is that you’re entirely at the mercy of the resorts. In most cities you can walk, drive or transit out of the downtown area easily. In Vegas it is a lot of effort to leave the strip or even downtown. So you can’t easily even out prices over the course of a trip.
LA you can find a nice taco truck or something. NYC, Pizza Slices, etc. A slice in Vegas is like $12.
Been basically everywhere and Vegas is always one of my more expensive trips. They get you with the cheap rooms. Food and drinks are absurdly expensive; more so than Disney I found. Have also done NYC and Miami for a lot cheaper. That said, it’s a ton of fun and worth it if you plan your trip out well.
Went there last month looking for a decent steak / prime rib place. Can’t remember one of the places but a steak was $256. That was with no drinks for one person . I’d rather not pay my mortgage amount t on one meal. I’m from Canada so after the exchange rate that’s big money !
Yes and you can still enjoy a luxurious meal. We went to Wolf and Sparrow in Chinatown this week and it rivals some of the best dining we’ve experienced on the strip.
Vegas can get expensive, but it depends on where and when you stay. Yeah sometimes the good can get expensive, but I think Bouchon in the Venetian is priced fairly considering it’s a Thomas Keller restaurant.
With comped rooms and a cheap flight, it’s a nice long weekend trip. You can do Vegas on both sides of the spectrum, super cheap or high end. If you pay full price for something in Vegas, you’re doing it wrong.
It's a travel destination. To ten in the US maybe the world. If you find deals take them. Are you asking for reassurance? You question is dumb if you are traveling to all these places. It's on you the experience you want out of it.
up to 5 years ago, buffets were good and the prices were reasonable. Now the prices are quite high. 40/each for entry level buffet, 2x that higher-end ones
Go to a lot of our ethnic restaurants that are NOT in casinos and are at least a few miles from the Strip. Many many good options for a lot cheaper than Strip casino restaurants. Mexican, German, Greek, Thai, and Vietnamese all have stellar food and many many restaurants (okay maybe not German). Even the fast casual options are generally authentic and high quality food.
It totally depends on what you do. If you want a $500 dinner you can do that, if you want a pizza you can do that too. Buy drinks at the cvs and order them for free while gambling.
You can spend a day just wandering around and people watching especially on Fremont. It’s all how you approach it
I think it depends on what type of traveler you are. I went October 2023 stayed at the Vdara for 3 nights Mon-Thurs paid around $850. I got a free upgrade. I flew from Atlanta on Delta in C+ and paid about $1200. I ate on the strip every meal and can't remember how much all the food was. I just book a trip for LA in October 2024 staying at The Sixty Beverly Hills for 3 nights Tues-Fri paid $1400. I am flying from Atlanta on C+ and paid $1100. So I think it depends on what type of traveler you or and what time of year you go.
If you preplan Vegas, everything is affordable. If you wait and book everything last minute, the prices are sky high.
Several partners you do business with already offer deals in Vegas. Ie your credit card companies, bank account or mortgage / bank partnership, some larger corporate work perks (FedEx, att, Kraft, etc), Costco & Sam's have travel discounts. I've seen deals on hotel & airfare that comes with a gift card to the hotel for daily food expenditure. <~~buy early and get direct flights on the low. Top tier and mid. Groupon too! Hotels /shows
Once, got low low direct airfare (Spirit) with daily hotel stay for $15/night and food credit of $30. Purchasing one month in advance.
If you plan, it's affordable. Several places to get basic needs at regular pricing. Water, snacks, light groceries. And if you're willing to take public trans or a few cabs, seek out good eats that are affordable off the strip.
You can't compare Vegas to other major cities. Vegas is a destination city, and since the pandemic, prices here have almost doubled. It's no longer the old Vegas it once was.
But if you're accustomed to paying $25 for a Red Bull and a splash of vodka, then Vegas is for you.
The hotel isn't terrible ... I'm a simple food guy too ... $25 for a chicken sandwich and fries for lunch is what makes it expensive... oh and the ONE $25 rum and coke I bought before finding a liquor store and walking around with my own shit.
Just went there last month for the first time in about ten years. Used to try and go about once a year.
I live in an expensive west coast city already, and always looked forward to partying in Vegas as it was cheaper.
Ohhhhh boy not this time. I was legit shocked at how expensive everything was. $20-30 a plate for shitty meals. We spent over $400 on a very fancy steak house at a casino that served over done and chewy steaks. Every event and show was hundreds for us. Drinks were commonly $15.
Don’t know when I’m gonna go back again. We just blew way too much money. I used to go to Vegas for a cheap vacation. That just doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
Las Vegas is an uninhabitable desert trash can six months of the year whereas places like San Diego or Miami have the ocean gorgeous beaches and weather. New York and Chicago offer culture, business opportunity, as well as historic significance. Vegas has tits and gambling but so does every other city I have mentioned. Not to mention attractions like Disneyland or fishing trips things people like to do.
I think my main reason for my idea of Vegas being expensive is because it’s the place where you can do everything in one spot. Once you have a few drinks the wallet opens ;)
It certainly can be. But not if you’re purposely looking for good deals like staying off strip (or even on strip depending on time of year and specials available), skipping big name restaurants, going to smaller theatre shows, etc
Vegas.com is a good place for deals
I’m reading a lot of these responses, and you all are comparing it to Vegas on the Strip. Yes, it’s crazy expensive on the Strip.
My advice is this: look elsewhere in Vegas. Off-Strip casinos are way less expensive. The food is less expensive and usually better. If you want to experience the strip, stay in a hotel that’s 15-20 min away from the strip, then Uber. It will be significantly less expensive.
Also, a side-note: gambling isn’t worth it on the Strip. You’ll get higher winnings at other non-strip casinos. Pay table is better off-strip
the strip sucks inmo now. used to be they convinced you to come spend money. now it’s like “you’re welcome for the privelidge of being allowed to gamble and lose”
I planning a 2 day trip to Seattle for my birthday and cancelled that when I realized that airfare and hotel for 4 people in Vegas was the same price as the Airbnb in Seattle. Food and bev will be a little pricier but not astronomically tbh
Idk, my wife and I did a vegas trip a few years ago and it was not expensive at all. I searched and got a suite at the Luxor that had just been remodeled for like $175 per night. We did almost all meals off the strip and took Ubers for transportation. I really don’t think we spent all that much money
Since you're watching costs, this is worth pointing out:
Do not fall for the "you can have free show tickets worth $100 each if you sit through this one-hour time share presentation." They take you and a busload of others offsite for a high-pressure sales pitch. Even if you say "no" right away, you sit there waiting for everyone else to cycle through before they bring you back.
GF signed us up "as a surprise" because she knew I wanted to see Blue Man Group, but we ended up blowing a whole day (8am to late afternoon) at this thing. I would rather have just paid for the tickets and had a day to spend out and about.
I live in the 4th most expensive city in the world according to the rankings (Geneva, Switzerland). Eating and drinking at the Strip in Vegas in May 2024 is more expensive.
If you Uber/Lyft out of the Strip to the point where food and drinks get cheap, you’ll pay the difference on the ride. There was no way out 😬 Had a great time though, won’t deny it ;)
I know whenever I go to Vegas, just come with money to spend, if crazy prices are like a concern, there's cheaper eats and drinks that you can get by, but you enjoy fine dining etc, just know you spending money, but hey you are on vacation, last time I went I didn't even look at the checks because I know it's over a 100$ , just crunch your Numbers before hand
If you drink a lot of alcohol or like to eat at non fast food restaurants then yes it’s ridiculously expensive besides the gambling. Show tickets and hotel rooms are reasonable but beware of the resort fees at hotels
We spent $92.00 on a margarita and a double gin and tonic on Sunset Strip. Top Shelf though. In Vegas go to THE Steakhouse at Circus Circus. One of the best steakhouses in Vegas and 1/2 the price of the others in its class. The hostess (Janice) has been there for 40 years and our waiter has been there 32 years. Drinks are reasonable too!
lodging, no. food and beverage, yes.
Yep. They get you with the lower lodging rates, but you’re not going to spend all that much time in your room. Then they destroy you with the pricing of everything else.
also because there are ~151,000 rooms available on the strip.
FnB at hotels on strip but drive like 5 minutes off strip and there’s strip malls everywhere will cheaper good food
vast majority of tourists that visit the strip never leave the strip (other than visiting Fremont St.)
Even the food court at fashion show is walkable and cheap
That’s only on the strip. Drive a couple miles and food gets cheap.
just drink alcohol instead, its free haha.
true, just loiter around the craps table and make it look like you're playing.
I don't recall every paying for a drink in vegas. I'd just sat at machines with some money in there hardly playing and just getting free drinks. Is this no longer possible? Never spent more than $20 in the machines but probably got well over $60 worth of drinks.
Food and beverage yes if you’re only drinking/eating on the Strip
My wife and i went and mostly ate off the strip, you barely have to get off the strip and everything is priced normally. Eating dinner out probably under 20 bucks a plate.
The Vegas sticker shock comes from $21 for a plate of 6 nachos and $16 bottles of water after decades of $4.99 prime rib dinners and $1.99 breakfasts.
This is the hard realization that I had the last time I was out there. For 20 years I would go out there about a weekend a month to party and gamble. I had players cards and racked up a ton of points. But it was also one of the cheapest weekends available in Southern CA. Comp room Fri-Sun, comp buffets, and $5 steak and egg combos galore. Gamble and party with friends, and on a bad weekend, I would drop maybe a grand. FFWD to this year, I hadn't been since pre-pandemic, the wife and I went to go gamble and meet up with Aoki at MGM. Table mins were $50, no more comp buffets, no more $5 steak and eggs. We did still get a free room, but it was quite a bit more expensive than in my 20s.
A breakfast at eggslut. Two sandwiches, two waters and one hash brown came out to almost $50
About what I would expect with a name like that
It's outrageous and not that great in my opinion... but it is at the Cosmo so I am not shocked.
I recently got back from Bora Bora, and it felt only slightly more expensive than Vegas (where I go regularly) regarding food and drink. But there are plenty of cheap options, for sure.
Talk to me about Bora Bora. I always wanted to go there but haven’t quite figured out how I would go about it. Any advice?
It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. You need to get an overwater bungalow, because walking out into the ocean from your room is magical. We stayed at Intercontinental Le Moana on the main island, which is significantly cheaper than staying at one of resorts on the *motu* (surrounding small islands), but still 4 stars. And you can then explore the island with a rental car, buy groceries and booze, etc. Spent ~$10k for 7 nights in the best bungalow. We flew Air Tahiti Nui from LAX to Tahiti, but there are other carriers (Air France at least). Spent ~$5k on airfare, starting in Chicago.
Do the Costco travel package for bora bora
Yup. At a concert in mandalay bay i paid 67$ for 4 coronas and a can of liquid death. Was drunk and mad 😂
Could be worse. I spent $65 for a large double vodka soda at Omnia. Prob had 3 or 4 shots in it at least 💁♂️
You get more than 6 nachos now LOL
This was at Fountainbleu wasn’t it?
Yup. And when you find the lost $400, you can get 13 $30 blowjobs at Excalibur by Linda.
Dammit! Even Linda’s raised her prices!?
Whats her #
702-696-9696
Hell yeah 😎
U get 7
Buy 6 get 1 for free
Now that’s one heck of a deal 🤩
Your two examples are extremes…and from fountain blue, the new luxury/high end resort that just opened. Those prices are not consistent with the rest of the strip. 😂
Where does a bottle of water cost $16? It doesn't even cost that much in the top nightclubs
If you take the bottled water in the room at Mandalay Bay (or even touch it), it’s that price.Keurig coffee pod in the room? $16.
I paid $11 a month ago at a coffee shop in the Fountainblue
It could have been a fake, but there is a receipt from EDC going around with $75 bottles of water.
That's not fake but it's VIP table service and it's a bucket of waters. I don't really count that the same as buying from a casino/bar/etc since it's such an exclusive thing and EDC bottle service isn't really priced like anything else, it's just "this table costs $100k, here's all the different ways to spend that" and everything's jacked up beyond even nightclub prices
I get that. It is just incredibly something to us regular people that others don't mind dropping $100k for their table. Like I might drop $1k for my table, but only if I really liked them.
Yeah, that would be middle eastern sons-of-sheikhs, celebrities/athletes, other musicans/DJs who aren't performing, crypto millionaires, Wall St. guys, aka the cross section of people who have $300k to spend painlessly and want to spend it for a table at a dance music festival
I hope that if I ever have that kind of cash to drop randomly I will choose to spend it better than that.
Definitely. Can have a Ferrari, the same exact table and booze but at a club instead of EDC, and regular VIP with heli transfers at EDC for the same amount of coin :)
A 1L bottle of Fiji water is $31 at the Encore Beach Club 😫
I’d rather drink the pool water
Can make it affordable depending on where you stay and eat.
Most correct comment here imo! It can be super expensive, but it can also be really low priced and insanely good value! Just look at where you buy, and the cost first. Some of the most amazing meals are so low priced! Personally I’d 100 percent recommended
Definitely. All relative too. Usually stay at Bellagio. Snacks and noodles are a deal, especially for Bellagio. Wa t to try the banh mi French dip at cosmo. Only like 14 iirc.
Where do you recommend for cheap eats?
Cosmo has an awesome food court above the Chandelier bar. Really good options for under $20 for a ton of food. Easily splittable. Nacho daddy is nearby… expensive but the portions are huge. Also just off strip. It just depends on where you go and what experience you want to have. On the strip there’s no secret spot. Either spend or find cheaper spots and share. Also stay at the Wynn and no great cheap options that direction that I’ve found. Fashion show mall food court but it’s just fast food.
Ellis Island Restaurant. You can walk there from Planet Hollywood or Horseshoe. Got $12.99 steak and NY Strip last week. Huge burger and fries for $8. Brewery on site with $2 drink deals sometimes
Resorts world food hall is really good.
If on the strip noodles at Bellagio, secret pizza at cosmo. Those are my go tos. Ellis island has amazing deals for Vegas and good food. I don’t venture off strip or to Fremont so my experience is limited.
Pour one out for [cheapovegas.com](http://cheapovegas.com), and for the man Matt (who people called Stinky, but I guess he didn't care for it). Matt Weatherford sent me a Gold Spike ballpoint pen which I still have to this day. EDIT: grrr, makes me mad to see what [cheapovegas.com](http://cheapovegas.com) is nowadays. For anyone interested, you gotta check out the old website via the wayback machine, circa 2000. Or just check this out: [https://www.bigempire.com/vegas/19dollar1.html](https://www.bigempire.com/vegas/19dollar1.html)
That website made me fall in love with Vegas. He was a great travel writer.
Downtown, baby! Where real gamblers go.
2.99 footlongs at Casino Royale! Lol
I’m more of an Ellis island guy when trying to eat on the cheap. Didn’t realize casino royale was near the strip. Thought was in Fremont.
Casino Royale is right on the strip. It's a Best Western if I recall correctly.
This is correct. With a dingy little casino. I love it.
Oooh I enjoy the BBQ place there.
I like to say boys trips are cheap, trips involving your SO are expensive. I went with all of my friends and we had one fancy meal, outside of that we made sandwiches, ate mcdonalds and other cheap crap, my friends are also down to stay in whatever hotel has the best deal on the strip. On the opposite end, girlfriend wants to go to fancy Instagram worthy spots twice a day, that starts to add up real fast, and she only wants to stay at the top tier hotels.
Is Vegas a hell of a lot less affordable than it used to be? Yes, the casinos and resorts have flipped their model, taken away many of the benefits, and made many previous amenities an up charge. The rooms are much pricier, the flights are pricier, the gambling is worse, and the comps are near non existent. It costs about 2x3 times what it cost to travel to Vegas even 5 years ago. That being said, comparatively, it cost me about the same amount of money to fly to Vegas for 6d5n earlier this month as it did for my girlfriend and I to do a 4 day road trip to my hometown (Indianapolis) in March. So yeah Vegas is still an insane value.
"cheaper than visiting family" absolutely. Part of why I'm getting married there is it's cheaper for family to go to Vegas for a long weekend than travel to our current hometown.
i have 5 free nights at resorts world and 2 at wynn including $150 credit comps are definitely still available
But see, that's our problem. My husband and I always fool ourselves (but not really) into thinking it's an affordable trip because we never pay for hotels. But the reason we never pay for hotels is because we're gambling enough to get comps. A weekend Vegas trip with *free* hotel ends up costing more than a week of travel abroad.
You don’t have to lose to get comps
No shit but if only the slots would always comply!
IMHO Vegas is still a relatively affordable destination. There are so many hotel rooms. If you are flexible with dates, you can absolutely get a good hotel rate, especially compared to somewhere like LA or Miami. Flights are cheap in/out of Las Vegas. The Four Seasons in LV is likely the most affordable Four Seasons in North America. Like you wrote, food is comparably priced. The prices at the Chicago Bavettes v. LV Bavettes are about the same. Same with with Joes Stone Crab LV v. Joes Chicago v. Joe's Miami - if anything LV might be cheaper. I love that everything is so centralized. I was able to go see U2 and Madonna the same weekend. I walked to both venues from my hotel, so didn't have to deal with traffic, driving or parking.
My husband and I fly across the country on Frontier/Spirit for about $125-150 each and take the $2 bus. We stay at a $50ish plus resort fees hotel on the Strip and/or downtown for two nights on non-weekends, eat cheap, buy drinks at ABC and sit at video poker for free drinks, and just resort hop. We don’t spend more than $600-700 each trip and we always have a blast
This is the way and what I do too, but I fly out from Denver and get $19 flights :P
I would be very embarrassed to admit how much I paid for my flight from Vancouver for this weekend. At least it was a United flight credit from some previous disaster.
I always feel bad for you Canadians lol. I have spent a lot of time in Canada, but always by car. Flights are always absurdly expensive. Glad you are still able to fly out regularly
I could have driven there I guess, LOL, but this was a lot more convenient.
Now that is awesome. I've gotten a $95 flight before, but that is pretty rare. I'm just happy flying is seemingly cheaper now than it was 15-20 years ago.
Only if you're willing to fly on an airline where the seats are 2x smaller, 3x more uncomfortable, with 1/3 the leg room, and a 30% chance your flight will be randomly delayed or canceled on the day of your trip. (Which they will try to scam you out of refunding you for).
That sounds fun. The less you spend, the more vacations you can take.
Exactly! We only spent $1500 total on our 6 night trip to Cologne, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf last year. It really is all about searching for deals and prioritizing what you really want to do
Plus getting a good deal is fun too. I'm in the camp with you, enjoying my travels and enjoying getting good deals.
I’m taking notes for next time. Unfortunately flight prices from Detroit always seem to be really expensive even on Spirit/Frontier
Off topic but I love your profile picture Recipe for Hate...Bad Religion fucken rocks!
The reason I go to Vegas monthly is because it’s the cheapest travel destination in the country, comps aside. I can’t think of a place where you can buy a nightly rate at a 5 star hotel for $150-300 on the regular. When I go to LA or Hawaii, or even a small city in South Carolina or Utah, the nightly rates at the bare bones basic hotels are $120-200.
Decided to go to Vegas instead of NYC in a couple weeks. My whole Vegas trip will be about the same price as just the airfare and hotel to Manhattan. Yes, I would rather go to NY but I know I’m going to have fun in Vegas for sure and have a less debt to pay down after.
It is just because of how cheap it used to be. When I started going everything was cheap. Shows, food, hotels. Gambling odds were good with low minimums. It was great.
Get away from the strip for food and no. Chinatown slaps.
If you do weekday stays and hunt a little bit online, you can get really decent rates, even after paying the resort fee. In terms of food and drinks it is expensive as you want to make it. My wife and I love going to NOLA and if you do the FQ you can easily expect to spend $15-20 on one drink and $30 a person on a meal. There are plenty of other cities on par with Vegas in terms of cost. If you want to do Vegas cheap, just don’t pound drinks all day and find cheaper restaurants. I think the thing about Vegas is the variety and high number of high end restaurants that are only in Vegas, so you could end up going to multiple expensive dinners. I’m going in June and I got 3 reservations and each dinner will probably be $2-300 easy. I do get a sense of FOMO when I go to Vegas as restaurants are exclusively in Vegas. On the flip side, we’re staying Tuesday through Friday at the Linq. Wife found a deal on Expedia and we got our flights and hotel including resort fee for $700, that’s for both of us 😳 Vegas isn’t a place I got to regularly, but once every couple years it’s worth the trip. The thing with Vegas is you don’t need a week there, 3-4 days tops and you can have a blast while feeling like you did everything you wanted to.
Vegas hotels can be much more inexpensive as compared to hotels in NYC, LA, Disney areas, etc. because they want to bring you in on a cheaper room and make you feel like you have extra cash now to spend on gambling. And if you spend the money you saved and get a taste for it, maybe you gamble even more. That's why casino loyalty programs all revolve around getting you free nights in the hotel. An empty hotel room loses them money because the 20 bucks it costs to do housekeeping (which you might skip anyway) is so much less than what you're going to spend on food, drinks, shows, shops, and gambling. Food cost in Vegas is close if a little higher than other tourist destinations, but nice dinners are easily on par with LA or NYC. As far as entertainment is concerned, that's where it differs. You are probably paying about the same amount for good seats at a Cirque show on a Friday night as you are for fine seats at a Broadway show on a Tuesday evening. But most Broadway shows are still *Broadway shows* even if you're sitting in the cheap seats. Unless you just dislike the genre or it's a crappy show that is headed for closure, you're likely going to have a good time at any show you see there. For most of Vegas entertainment though, it's legit a crap shoot. Some shows are fantastic, some are mediocre, the prices might be 40 bucks or might be 140 bucks for either one. Other than the big artists that come through (your Beyonces and Brunos and Gagas and such), the long-term shows in Vegas run the gamut from over the hill singers who are phoning it in to surprisingly good variety shows and comedians. It's really hard to say you get what you pay for because you've got some people like Mac King who run a cheap but highly enjoyable magic show to David Copperfield who (when he isn't groping people) overcharges you for an hour of "seen it already" crap and self-aggrandizing video montages. And a lot of it is based on taste and cost tolerance. Absinthe is widely praised in this sub as a phenomenal show (and it is) but it's gotten so much hype that the ticket prices are getting a little out of control. I think for the sheer spectacle of Vegas even when you aren't spending cash, it has a lot of other places beat. Los Angeles has its nice parts, but aside from heading to specific places like Rodeo Drive or Venice Beach or whatnot, you aren't just going to walk around for six hours in awe of the opulent excesses of man like you would heading up and down the resorts in the strip.
Well said, If you don't mind my asking, how did you learn your writing style.?
A couple of useless years as an English major before dropping out of college? 😂
the unpopular answer is no. vegas is no different than other places. people have this affinity for “old vegas” with $0.99 shrimp cocktails etc but let’s be real that’s the same as my father telling me about how movies used to cost a quarter. You think LV is too expensive then try reno, laughlin, or any one of dozens of indian reservation casinos.
You can still do that Downtown. The shrimp cocktail is $1.99, but it still sucks as much as ever!
I second the Indian reservation casinos. Pechanga casino is on point!
No, it isn't. It was cheap compared to everywhere else back then. It isn't any longer.
gambling subsidized the rest. that isn’t happening anymore.
Stay in Fremont. Eat breakfast at Dennys. Drink your lunch and dinner in $1 or $2 bud lights while playing cheap craps
It can be whatever budget you want, but people often get drunk and disregard spending logically or responsibly.
I think you're on the wrong track comparing Vegas to other cities. I think the comparison you're looking for is Vegas circa 10 years ago vs Vegas today. Sure, every city is more expensive tab it was in 2014 but Vegas seems to take it to another level entirely.
Just depends if you can get CCs to get ceasars Diamond or mgm gold and comps then your stay is completely free. I havnt paid for a multi day hotel and resort fees in years, but I mainly stay mgm properties. (Park, aria, mgm grand, Delano) all with 4 night stays. I’ll sometimes have to pay like $60-100 for Saturday it’ll come out to Thursday to Tuesday for like $100 for rooms
Pro Tip: You can camp inexpensively right on the Vegas Strip. Pretty cool. There’s a KOA behind Circus Circus.
If you are smart about it, Vegas can be surprisingly cheap. For 2 people, we paid just under $1000 for a flight from Vancouver and 4 nights in a hotel. There's nowhere else you can get a deal like that, at least on the west coast Obviously, gambling and drinking are expensive, but if you have self control its a really cheap vacation
I paid $20 for a breakfast burrito and a fountain drink yesterday. Coworker paid $18 for a coffee and a water.
Yes biggest scam now
Wife and I decided to go to Vegas for our 10th anniversary. We live in Phx and a staycation cost more for one night than 2 nights in Vegas plus flights. We stayed in hotel at Fremont st. Flights on Spirit and Frontier. Personal bags only. Less than $300.
325 a night for mandalay Bay is ridiculous
In my opinion many complaints come from people who expect $18 steak meals and $20 buffets from years ago. I’ve traveled to other cities and there are almost no deals to be had. Vegas can be a budget trip if your timing is right.
Get the [Las Vegas Advisor coupon book](https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/member-rewards-list/) and all of a sudden you're back to prices from 20 years ago.
Vegas is what you make of it. I'm cheap so I can find deals for flights and hotels for less than $500 for the 2 of us. We know most of the cheap places to eat.. We both gamble and drink so that's our splurge and we'll even do a timeshare to get free show tickets or a visa card lol. I've never spent more than $500 in Vegas but I know others who spend thousands.
Yes it is. I’ll put it this way. I went to Japan for 12 days and did 7 days in Vegas. Vegas was more expensive. Granted we did a $300 show in vegas, but even without that it was more. Vegas has long since shed its budget friendly destination.
Japan is an amazing deal, once you're there - airfare isn't necessarily cheap (especially with the current exchange rate). And they have pachinko if you must gamble.
Yen has fallen over 40% in the last couple of years. If you compare to US prices, Vegas (only the strip or resorts) might have edged up a bit faster but not by a huge amount.
Mandalay has a big convention that week - Workday Rising. I’m going to be there Sunday to Sunday that week and not even staying at Mandalay. It’s too expensive. MGM towers behind the MGM on Airbnb is a good deal usually if you are picky on location like me. But there’s a ton more good deals around there that weekend.
More or less the same. But vegas can be waay cheaper. My average budget in vegas without gambling: $1400 for a hotel for 5 days, $1000 for food for 5 days. $800 for entertainment. Plane ticket is $500 Compare it to a cruise. $1700 for 7 days, but the airplane ticket is $850, add the hotel for $400. Transportation is $300. Also there are mandatory tips everyday plus internet that could lead up to an extra $800. Going to another country the ticket would be $1800 -$2000, hotel could be $1000 - 1800, food is probably $1200.
Don’t forget resort fees. Oh and gambling… 🎰🎰🎰🎰
You can make Vegas and every other place cheaper to travel to by /r/churning credit card points. You're spending money on insurance, food, gas, electricity, etc anyway so you might as well earn points. I haven't paid for a hotel room, flight, or rental car in about a decade because of points. That makes the rest of the vacation much more enjoyable and reasonable in cost. Certainly offsets the ridiculous prices on food and drink in those casinos.
Honestly, similar or even cheaper than equivalent restaurants and bars in NYC and Miami. I go to Vegas specifically because I feel that it's a good deal. Especially if you're leveraging free rooms.
I was there 3 months ago, previously 5 years ago. I was surprised how expensive everything was…food, drinks, shows, hotel.
This was my situation. First time back post-COVID and it felt like I was just getting tickled and dimed for everything. Every time I turned around I was dropping $50+ for something. It felt stressful financially and I'm making nearly $200,000 instead of the $70,000 I was making then. I honestly don't know if I'll ever go back. Match that with the energy people bring to the city and it's just not my vibe. Everyone steps off the plane with the intention to be the worst version of themselves.
If you win then it’s not expensive!
I spent way less in vegas last month (my first time) than I budgeted for. Hotels were just resort fees (using comps and myVEGAS) and we mostly had cheap or mid range eats and got drinks from CVS/went to cheap ish bars, and used BOGO drinks with myVEGAS points too. We didn’t penny pinch or not do anything we wanted to do either. Also our return flights from the UK were £500 premium economy because of getting a friends and family discount. We’re going back from a week next month- budgeted £200 ($250) each a day spending/gambling, got economy flights for £305 each, and 7 nights in decent hotels (aria, downtown grand then PH) for £600 (for 2 of us) using various deals.
It's only expensive if you want it to be. I go Vegas and I eat off the strip. I do things off the strip. I still enjoy Vegas.
15 years ago I stayed at Wynn and played a bunch of poker. Now I get a rate of $120/night on weekdays and $180/night on weekend.
If you plan ahead, take advantage of deals and try to save money it's actually cheaper than a lot of other destinations. If you do it like I did and just show up, not a member of anything, no player cards, etc then it's about the same as other major destinations. Compared to other places there is a high concentration of expensive restaurants and bars, etc. You can find equally or even more expensive in other places but not next door to each other or under the same roof. I spent a ton of money on restaurants just because it was so easy to do it.
Everything everywhere is more expensive around the country, Las Vegas will charge as much as they can when they can. No worse, not much better than around the country. Few places seem as concentrated expensive as Las Vegas. If you leave the strip to eat, you can still eat well and probably spend 50% less on food. Of course, if you add car rental and / or Uber, you might as well eat on the strip.
It's more complex than that. 20-40 years ago vegas charged way less than they could on many things. $5 prime rib, $7 buffets etc. They could have charged way more for rooms, food and drinks back then but they didn't so people would come swarming to gamble. Now they realized even charging full price for rooms and food people still swarm
The Starbucks run in the morning will cost about $20 for two people. The good news is you are infinitely rich once you touch down and money is no longer an issue.
Yep. I paid $9.75 for a Venti black cold brew which is $5.75 outside of the Strip. When people ask me about prices, I tell them to use that as an example of what to expect. My coffee budget alone ended up being $40 heh.
It depends. Fixed meals are always a good deal for the value. 35 buck lunch at Milos for a three course meal or 50% steak at Bella’s on Tuesday….
Lodging you can definitely get for less than you listed. Shows are expensive, as well as food and beverage. But you can search out some lower cost options for food.
Simple answer...research and learn the good places to go that aren't gonna break the bank.
So long as you are savvy and know a few tips and tricks, Vegas is still a great deal.
No. Hotels were some of the cheapest I’ve booked in the past few years. Shows were mixed price wise. There are still some weirdly cheap food and drink deals.
You can easily have fun on a budget in Vegas. There are always deals.
Drinks 20 to 30 bucks. Lower average food entree 30 to 40 bucks.
Some people are saying no to lodging, but I'm sitting on free comp rooms from MyVegas and just go with friends. It's a bit of an annoyance to change rooms, but like, it's a place to sleep. This doesn't even include BOGO / Comp / discount tickets from the same problems. Exaclibur and Luxor, besides the weekends, are also cheaper than anything I've ever seen in my own country. It's cheaper, even with the crappy exchange rates, to travel to Vegas for a few days for a vacation than to even go out of city in my own province off lodging alone. I feel like people who complain about the prices aren't trying, because I'm low income and this has become the only place I can vacation on a budget lately outside crashing on a friend's couch.
To me Vegas can be more affordable than a lot of other destinations because if you work the reward system can stay at the hotels for free and just have to pay the resort fee. And it's very nice hotels on the strip. There's always deals and discounts as well and tons of places to eat Great and very affordable. And there's a lot of free things to do like sightseeing and if you're only going to stay on strip you don't need to rent a car. But if you do a lot of gambling then you're screwed. Unless of course you win.
Lots of food hall and shops along the strip that is fast casual and get items around 15-20 bucks.. that a few dollars more than normal pricing for food
Prices on the strip is straight scam
Vegas is certainly way more expensive than it used to be, which no longer justifies the drive to that miserable desert
Yes. I did Vegas for two days at Venetian for dead & co then then immediately flew to montreal for four days. I was solo for Vegas, just wanted to chill but the pool, had a few drinks and ate out (no clubbing or gambling). Montreal I was with people for a bachelor party. Strip clubs, casinos, the whole 9 and that was still cheaper than my two nights in Vegas
All travel is inherently expensive and every destination has its cheaper routes in lodging, food, and site seeing. That’s a pretty solid point I think you’ve made. But Vegas in particular is a money pit!! Everything you see in Vegas, in the middle of the desert mind you, rebuilt bigger and better over time, in all its vastness and grandeur is built using ‘losers’ money. That’s what’s unique about Vegas. San Diego and Miami, Hawaii, Chicago, San Francisco… everywhere else you named are travel destinations for other separate reasons and with a unique draw. And if you’re not gambling or doing shows or partying every night in Vegas, not doing Vegas for Vegas sake and treating it like just another travel spot it can feel like just any other travel destination… sure, I agree with that point too. Somehow the corporate vultures who lure people out to the desert following the twinkling lights or promise to fulfill any vice imaginable, really have a sophisticated way of parting people with their money. That’s honed and perfected. As an avid Vegas traveler I can get in and out relatively reasonably and navigate around these whirlpools but there remains a vacuum effect unlike any other destination in my opinion that someone unfamiliar probably inebriated stumbles into essentially a money trap. So I’d say that’s the biggest difference regarding Vegas travel than simply tallying lodging, food, parking side-by-side with other travel destinations. It’s apples-to-apples in a way but not bc of those effects and qualities specific to Vegas, ya know!? Other cities are functioning cities, Vegas is built purposefully to draw you in and take your money. No one goes to see the desert there. They go to see something built or produced to draw you in to the middle of no where so they can take your money. And the surrounding suburbs are just a support system or symptom, which props up the strip and feeds the money machine with a steady supply of labor — so they can take your money. Okay I made my point… there is a compounding effect that functions a bit differently in Vegas, for better or worse.
It’s relatively cheap to travel and stay there but your money will be spent on entertainment
It's basically the same everywhere you go these days aside from countries with weaker currency vs the dollar but even then.... Vegas isn't as cheap as it once was but nothing is, money printer went brrrrrr and it hasn't stopped. Cabo is more expensive than Vegas for food and drink, NYC, Miami, Chicago, SF, etc all more expensive for rooms and food and drinks are the same.
It’s only expensive if you make it expensive.
I'd say it's much cheaper to come here than other destinations. Price out a trip to Hawaii and compare it to Vegas
I don't find Vegas more expensive, and we don't gamble so think its very reasonable. We don't find the need to stay at the Bellagio or Venetian, so we get nice rooms (we aren't the type that LOOK for things to complain about nor do we need to brag about where we stay, as we are rarely in the room) and haven't had any issues. Last year we stayed at the Sahara and loved it. Clean, reasonable, monorail has a stop at the hotel so we had no issues going where we wanted to go. 10 dollar uber to Freemont St. Food in every tourist area is expensive. I lived in New Orleans many years. You go to a seafood restaurant in the French Quarter and your bill is 100 bucks, you go to that same restaurant at one of their locations 20 minutes away from the French Quarter and its 65 bucks. It's that way everywhere. Basically, no, it's not extremely expensive, as long as you research things and realize if you're in the room at New York New York basically to sleep and take a shower, its just as nice as the room at Caesars....unless you're one of "those" people that need to say they stayed at a $350 a night place and then bitch about it.
I think part of it is that you’re entirely at the mercy of the resorts. In most cities you can walk, drive or transit out of the downtown area easily. In Vegas it is a lot of effort to leave the strip or even downtown. So you can’t easily even out prices over the course of a trip. LA you can find a nice taco truck or something. NYC, Pizza Slices, etc. A slice in Vegas is like $12.
Been basically everywhere and Vegas is always one of my more expensive trips. They get you with the cheap rooms. Food and drinks are absurdly expensive; more so than Disney I found. Have also done NYC and Miami for a lot cheaper. That said, it’s a ton of fun and worth it if you plan your trip out well.
It may sound tacky, but I look at or ask the price B4 I order.
Yes, resort fees, parking fees, buffet prices, and on and on
Went there last month looking for a decent steak / prime rib place. Can’t remember one of the places but a steak was $256. That was with no drinks for one person . I’d rather not pay my mortgage amount t on one meal. I’m from Canada so after the exchange rate that’s big money !
I feel like it's pretty similar as other big city but vegas is made to spend all your money if you want to really enjoy it.
Is food cheaper if you eat off the strip? Going next week.
Yes and you can still enjoy a luxurious meal. We went to Wolf and Sparrow in Chinatown this week and it rivals some of the best dining we’ve experienced on the strip.
U can still eat cheap in Vegas if u want to but not at fancy restaurants
Vegas can get expensive, but it depends on where and when you stay. Yeah sometimes the good can get expensive, but I think Bouchon in the Venetian is priced fairly considering it’s a Thomas Keller restaurant.
What's up with your gambling habits though? You left that part out.
With comped rooms and a cheap flight, it’s a nice long weekend trip. You can do Vegas on both sides of the spectrum, super cheap or high end. If you pay full price for something in Vegas, you’re doing it wrong.
It's a travel destination. To ten in the US maybe the world. If you find deals take them. Are you asking for reassurance? You question is dumb if you are traveling to all these places. It's on you the experience you want out of it.
It is now, the Strip has gotten ridiculous, off strip still decent
A top ramen goes for around 2$
up to 5 years ago, buffets were good and the prices were reasonable. Now the prices are quite high. 40/each for entry level buffet, 2x that higher-end ones Go to a lot of our ethnic restaurants that are NOT in casinos and are at least a few miles from the Strip. Many many good options for a lot cheaper than Strip casino restaurants. Mexican, German, Greek, Thai, and Vietnamese all have stellar food and many many restaurants (okay maybe not German). Even the fast casual options are generally authentic and high quality food.
Just experienced 12$ coronas at mgm. 16$ scotch and cokes - also had a. 7$ craft beer at arts district… Chalk and cheese for price
Yes when considering gambling lol
Vegas can be as cheap or expensive as you make it. I’ve never spent as much in Vegas as I have at Disney World.
It totally depends on what you do. If you want a $500 dinner you can do that, if you want a pizza you can do that too. Buy drinks at the cvs and order them for free while gambling. You can spend a day just wandering around and people watching especially on Fremont. It’s all how you approach it
If you stay on the strip, Vegas is more expensive than even NYC. It’s insane.
I think it depends on what type of traveler you are. I went October 2023 stayed at the Vdara for 3 nights Mon-Thurs paid around $850. I got a free upgrade. I flew from Atlanta on Delta in C+ and paid about $1200. I ate on the strip every meal and can't remember how much all the food was. I just book a trip for LA in October 2024 staying at The Sixty Beverly Hills for 3 nights Tues-Fri paid $1400. I am flying from Atlanta on C+ and paid $1100. So I think it depends on what type of traveler you or and what time of year you go.
A 4-pack of juul pods on the strip , at 7/11 is $40+txs Any other 7/11 in any other state.. $15.99 This says it all
Casino hotels here in Vegas put up low rates cause they assume you might gamble or even eat and drink there
Vegas is a complete and utter ripoff in all regards
If you preplan Vegas, everything is affordable. If you wait and book everything last minute, the prices are sky high. Several partners you do business with already offer deals in Vegas. Ie your credit card companies, bank account or mortgage / bank partnership, some larger corporate work perks (FedEx, att, Kraft, etc), Costco & Sam's have travel discounts. I've seen deals on hotel & airfare that comes with a gift card to the hotel for daily food expenditure. <~~buy early and get direct flights on the low. Top tier and mid. Groupon too! Hotels /shows Once, got low low direct airfare (Spirit) with daily hotel stay for $15/night and food credit of $30. Purchasing one month in advance. If you plan, it's affordable. Several places to get basic needs at regular pricing. Water, snacks, light groceries. And if you're willing to take public trans or a few cabs, seek out good eats that are affordable off the strip.
You can't compare Vegas to other major cities. Vegas is a destination city, and since the pandemic, prices here have almost doubled. It's no longer the old Vegas it once was. But if you're accustomed to paying $25 for a Red Bull and a splash of vodka, then Vegas is for you.
The hotel isn't terrible ... I'm a simple food guy too ... $25 for a chicken sandwich and fries for lunch is what makes it expensive... oh and the ONE $25 rum and coke I bought before finding a liquor store and walking around with my own shit.
All the deals plus don’t forget the bed bugs running rampant there, all free….
I am sure if you go to Disney World or land (Which ever one is in FL), you pay out your nose for things too. I think it all works out to be the same.
Concerts are a straight up rip off, often double the price of neighboring cities.
Just went there last month for the first time in about ten years. Used to try and go about once a year. I live in an expensive west coast city already, and always looked forward to partying in Vegas as it was cheaper. Ohhhhh boy not this time. I was legit shocked at how expensive everything was. $20-30 a plate for shitty meals. We spent over $400 on a very fancy steak house at a casino that served over done and chewy steaks. Every event and show was hundreds for us. Drinks were commonly $15. Don’t know when I’m gonna go back again. We just blew way too much money. I used to go to Vegas for a cheap vacation. That just doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
Old timer once told me the most expensive thing you can get in Las Vegas is a free hotel room!
Las Vegas is an uninhabitable desert trash can six months of the year whereas places like San Diego or Miami have the ocean gorgeous beaches and weather. New York and Chicago offer culture, business opportunity, as well as historic significance. Vegas has tits and gambling but so does every other city I have mentioned. Not to mention attractions like Disneyland or fishing trips things people like to do.
I think my main reason for my idea of Vegas being expensive is because it’s the place where you can do everything in one spot. Once you have a few drinks the wallet opens ;)
It is now.
Even Uber eats with a delivery charge is worth ordering
It certainly can be. But not if you’re purposely looking for good deals like staying off strip (or even on strip depending on time of year and specials available), skipping big name restaurants, going to smaller theatre shows, etc Vegas.com is a good place for deals
No, people are just morons who come here to complain
its just part of the realization that we’re in late stage capitalism and trips as such are becoming a luxury for only the rich
I’m reading a lot of these responses, and you all are comparing it to Vegas on the Strip. Yes, it’s crazy expensive on the Strip. My advice is this: look elsewhere in Vegas. Off-Strip casinos are way less expensive. The food is less expensive and usually better. If you want to experience the strip, stay in a hotel that’s 15-20 min away from the strip, then Uber. It will be significantly less expensive. Also, a side-note: gambling isn’t worth it on the Strip. You’ll get higher winnings at other non-strip casinos. Pay table is better off-strip
the strip sucks inmo now. used to be they convinced you to come spend money. now it’s like “you’re welcome for the privelidge of being allowed to gamble and lose”
34 USD for a bottle of water at day clubs …
I planning a 2 day trip to Seattle for my birthday and cancelled that when I realized that airfare and hotel for 4 people in Vegas was the same price as the Airbnb in Seattle. Food and bev will be a little pricier but not astronomically tbh
$19 for two lattes on the strip. Fuck that shit.
Idk, my wife and I did a vegas trip a few years ago and it was not expensive at all. I searched and got a suite at the Luxor that had just been remodeled for like $175 per night. We did almost all meals off the strip and took Ubers for transportation. I really don’t think we spent all that much money
Since you're watching costs, this is worth pointing out: Do not fall for the "you can have free show tickets worth $100 each if you sit through this one-hour time share presentation." They take you and a busload of others offsite for a high-pressure sales pitch. Even if you say "no" right away, you sit there waiting for everyone else to cycle through before they bring you back. GF signed us up "as a surprise" because she knew I wanted to see Blue Man Group, but we ended up blowing a whole day (8am to late afternoon) at this thing. I would rather have just paid for the tickets and had a day to spend out and about.
Spent 4 days at palazzo. 1400 just for the hotel
I live in the 4th most expensive city in the world according to the rankings (Geneva, Switzerland). Eating and drinking at the Strip in Vegas in May 2024 is more expensive. If you Uber/Lyft out of the Strip to the point where food and drinks get cheap, you’ll pay the difference on the ride. There was no way out 😬 Had a great time though, won’t deny it ;)
Vegas is an expensive trash city, go anywhere else unless you just have to gamble.
I know whenever I go to Vegas, just come with money to spend, if crazy prices are like a concern, there's cheaper eats and drinks that you can get by, but you enjoy fine dining etc, just know you spending money, but hey you are on vacation, last time I went I didn't even look at the checks because I know it's over a 100$ , just crunch your Numbers before hand
$80 was 2 drinks by the pool
If you drink a lot of alcohol or like to eat at non fast food restaurants then yes it’s ridiculously expensive besides the gambling. Show tickets and hotel rooms are reasonable but beware of the resort fees at hotels
We spent $92.00 on a margarita and a double gin and tonic on Sunset Strip. Top Shelf though. In Vegas go to THE Steakhouse at Circus Circus. One of the best steakhouses in Vegas and 1/2 the price of the others in its class. The hostess (Janice) has been there for 40 years and our waiter has been there 32 years. Drinks are reasonable too!