Viva Las Vegas!
You don't quite know what broke truly is until you live your college days, surviving off Ramen noodles and campus freebies for 4 years or more.
The good news is you certainly don't have to forgo travel during these crucial learning years, you can always visit the destination of your dreams on a budget! It may seem daunting to plan a budget vacation at first, but with our help, you can make it happen easily.
This will be your guide to visiting Vegas on a college student budget, with our top Tips, Tricks, and Tourist Pits here to guide you.
Be sure to check out our How to Visit NYC as a Broke College Student blog as well!
Vegas Sign Pixabay Public Domain
Tips, Tricks, and Tourist Pits:
- Visit Midweek or Saturday-Monday: Wednesday and Thursday are by far the cheapest days to visit Vegas as far as flight cost and hotel rates go. Even nightclubs, shows, and buffet prices will be cheaper. If you really would like to or have to come on a weekend, though, all hope is not lost, booking Saturday- Monday versus Friday - Sunday will save big bucks too! While Saturday rates will be high, Sunday your hotel rates will drop drastically, and Monday your flight cost will do the same!
- Avoid Convention or Sports Weeks: It may seem like there is always something big happening in Vegas, but if you can avoid visiting during Fight Weekends, Sports Events such as the Super Bowl, or any big Convention Weeks, you will save a lot of hassle!
- Stay on the Strip: While the hotels aren't going to be any cheaper on the Strip than anywhere else, you will have the added convenience of being within walking distance of most things you will want to do. This saves time, money, and headaches!
- Always Check Hotel Promos: Oftentimes people skip over the promo tab when booking a hotel, but if you pay more attention to it you can likely get room discounts, free entertainment tickets, free buffets, and more.
- Take Advantage of Happy Hour and Pre-Show Menus: Happy hour will be your savior, and it doesn't just apply to drinks. Many eateries will have cheap eats during this time as well, and even more eateries will offer a Pre-Show menu at a discounted price.
- Eat at Buffets: This is a no brainer and a Vegas must! It will be harder to avoid buffets than it will be to find them!
- Pick up Hotel Coupon Books: You may see these in the lobby and pass over them, but honestly, they can save you a ton of money overall if you take advantage of them, even if you just use a couple of coupons out of the whole book.
- Use Hotel Trams/Transportation: It is highly likely that the hotel you are staying at will provide guests with some sort of Hotel Tram or other transportation services, and you definitely need to take advantage of this to save some extra bucks!
- Use 10% Discount: If you are Military, Veteran, a Teacher, a Student, an AAA Member, or a 1st Responder you can save 10% at most hotels like Caesars and MGM Properties.
- Get the Vegas Explorer Pass: This may be our favorite suggestion for saving money while in Vegas, as this cheap option allows you to choose 3 to 5 major attractions and pay just one discounted price for them. Choose 3 attractions for only $75! The list of attractions is long and includes things such as the High Roller, Hoover Dam, Madame Tussauds, V Variety Show, Titanic, The Mentalist, LINQ Zip, Mob Museum, and VEGAS! The Show.
- Take Advantage of Cheaper Hotels, Eateries, and Shows:
- Cheap Hotels: Harrah's, Bally's, Flamingo, Excalibur, Choice
- Cheap Eateries: Tom's Urban, White Castle, Shake Shack, Five50 Pizza
- Cheap Shows: Blue Man Group, Cirque de Soleil, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Carrot Top, Rock of Ages
- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE ATTRACTIONS
- Welcome to Vegas Sign
- Aquarium at Silverton
- Bellagio Conservatory
- Circus Circus
- Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
- The Volcano at Mirage
- Streetmosphere
- Ethel M Chocolate Factory
- Fountains of Bellagio
- Freeman Street
- Hershey's Chocolate World
- M&M's World
- Hoover Dam Bridge
