The allure of Vegas with all its opulence, exuberance and fun is one crazy adventure to add to the destination list! 

Besides being a gambler paradise (I am not a gambler in the slightest) there is something quite intriguing about this place. I was somewhat concerned that Vegas may not appeal as people comment on it as being seedy, depraved with too many drunken tourists. Well, I guess there is an element of that, but I think you need to look at a place for all it has to offer. I can honestly say it was exhilarating and divine. My only wish was to have stayed longer. This blog aims to share all of the things you will LOVE!

What happens in Las Vegas doesn’t need to stay in Vegas

It is pretty casual in Vegas, one of the few places I know where you can stroll down the boulevard sipping a cocktail or drinking a beer while taking it all in. You can truly let your hair down, go a little crazy and no-one will blink an eye.

It is a draw card for many reasons – the magnificent nightlife, the luxury accommodation, the superb entertainment, the glamour of the Vegas Strip and amazing themed casinos lining the boulevard.

Of course, it is also such close proximity to Hoover Dam and one of the greatest wonders in the world, the Grand Canyon, which is nothing short of breathtaking.  

Vegas is bright, bold and loud but also energetic and entertaining. It’s skyline littered with Neon paraphernalia just makes it larger than life.

We only had 4 nights in Vegas. Not enough time upon reflection. A quick internal flight from San Francisco cost $80 per person.

When visiting - plan ahead, there are some things you can do to get creative on making the most of your holiday – What happens in Vegas doesn’t need to Stay in Vegas! Let me share some of my tips for your visit to the heart of Vegas.

MY VEGAS APP - saves $

This is a fantastic app to get rewards  (and save money) for use in Las Vegas. Check it out – the rewards are absolutely real.  I have seen them used for free buffets and tickets to shows like Cirque De Solei.

There is fine print and criteria so check out the full Terms and Conditions. Once you have enough rewards, you need to select what you want BEFORE you travel  (that is key) and be guided by the instructions on the screen. When we got to Vegas, we headed to the MLife desk at Bellagio (M Life desks are at any MGM owned casino) to have the MLife card loaded with the reward. It doesn’t take a lot of time to rack up the rewards. Review Trip advisor for people’s comments and head to the FB page for tips. Use auto-spin to keep racking up your points faster.   Nice and easy.   

GET CREATIVE WITH ACCOMMODATION:

We only had 4 nights stay in Vegas, so we booked a couple of nights at  Bellagio and a couple more at Aria. Both hotels were completely different but equally grand and opulent. 

When searching out the best deal, saw that both hotels offered a $250 credit to be spent at the hotel any which way we pleased. Could be on things like breakfast or dinner buffets as long as spent inside the hotel. The $250 credit applied for anywhere between a 2 – 10 night stay.  So that’s why we decided to get the best of both worlds and stay in not one, but two luxuriously appointed hotels. We had the added benefit then to stretch our dollar and get  $500 of credit over the 4 nights! It was exciting to get an opportunity to try more than one hotel.

FREE DRINKS? – How is that possible!

To the Vegas Rookie you may not be aware of this. If you headed to the bar, then you will pay normal price for drinks. However, head instead to the tables or slot machines to play and your waitress will bring you drinks all night long – for free!  I was not gambling and simply sat watching the guys dabble and the drinks flowed. Here is a tip! Tip your waitress and she will dutifully check in with regularity and deliver whatever you want – including spirits! I am not sure that this is across every hotel in Vegas as I have met people who have not had a similar experience, however we were exceptionally well looked after at both the Bellagio and Aria.  The service was impeccable.

GAMBLING YOUR GO?

Gav is the gambler in our family. I have often joked that he would bet on a cockroach race! The appeal of gaming is obviously the bread and butter for Vegas and the lure of high rollers continues to fuel its existence. We are certainly not high rollers!

Our experience was different than here at home (Australia). Chitchat amongst patrons about gambling at the tables is strictly a no-no in Oz, but seemed to be the norm in Vegas.  A number of times, the locals coached Gav; imparting knowledge and tips about the game.  In our heads we settled on a figure and when we reached the magic number, we simply collected and moved on. (I am not advocating gambling as a way to stretch your dollar however, just letting you know what our experience was like :)

GRAB A SHOW (OR DINING) FOR LESS!

The range of entertainment in Vegas is incredible. Whether you are looking for a Broadway style show, the wonder of illusion and magic, circus glamour or a sing-along with a boy band like Human Nature, then you will find it in Vegas! I could have stayed longer just to keep going to the shows!

There really is no need to pay full price.  There are few places to buy from both there and on-line.  We bought tix on the day from Tix4Tonight. You can purchase half price tickets in advance on-line or you can buy from one of their 10 outlets in Vegas if happy enough to see what is available on the day. They have 8 outlets on the strip, one at Town Square South and one downtown (at the Four Queens).

Don’t forget to check them out for dining experiences too.

THE FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE AND VIVA LIGHT SHOW

One of the best things to do in Vegas is to head to Fremont Street for the ambience and spectacular light show. The Light Show is free; just head to the bustling pedestrian mall on Fremont Street and look skywards for the nightly shows.  To make it an even more memorable experience, purchase a ticket for the SlotZilla Zip Line. Do this in advance so that you don’t miss out!

Muster your inner superwoman (or superman!) and glide across the mall, which spans over 500 metres and travels up to 56 km an hour. Whilst many of the casinos offer a 25% discount for a daytime ride, the truly exhilarating ride is at night under the Viva Light show with hordes of pedestrians watching you fly through the night sky. 

An exhilarating and unforgettable experience!

CHECK OUT GROUPON -Vegas and The Grand Canyon

I use brands I trust. One of the companies I trust based on experience is the use of Groupon. It works by offering different deals each day for services, events or goods in the city in which it operates. The discounts advertised are fair dinkum (Aussie slang for real/authentic!)  And can range from anywhere from 50 – 90% off. 

I tend to use Groupon more when travelling than using locally to stretch my travel dollar and get more amazing experiences.

Google Groupon and wherever you are heading e.g. New York, New Zealand  - register and then all the deals pop up in your inbox. You are required to pay up front so I guess the only con is that for some reason you don’t use the voucher.

Look for deals on how to get to the Grand Canyon.  Check out to see if Groupon have anything on offer. So many people go to Vegas yet don’t put this truly majestic place into their itinerary.

There are so many deals whether it be a guided bus tour or if short on time, choose a breathtaking heli-experience – Make time to include this once in a lifetime adventure.

Being creative to save money in Vegas meant that we could add on a heli-experience over Hoover Dam, land in the Grand Canyon to enjoy an exquisite champagne picnic surrounded by jaw dropping views. We timed it perfectly late afternoon to return to the Vegas Strip as the sun set across the horizon.

Even with all the deals, the prices are quite reasonable in Vegas. There is an incredible amount of competition, which keeps the prices lowered. Its makes for a great value holiday. 

Now that you have learned some tips on how to stretch your dollar in Vegas, check out my blog – 10 Great Tips to get you flying to your dream destination faster.

Take the leap to visit the heart of Vegas. I am planning to head back again!

If I have inspired you to make the leap to Vegas, please leave a comment……

And remember - what Happens in Las Vegas doesn’t need to stay in Vegas! Share away!

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