The Broke Millennial’s Guide to Las Vegas

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Young millennial women at a Las Vegas nightclub

Ah, Vegas: a bustling city packed with food, drinks, and unlimited entertainment of all sorts. This vacation destination always has something new and exciting to offer, making it one of the hottest destinations in the world.

A perfect location for bachelor and bachelorette parties, honeymoons and family vacations, Vegas’s popular attractions often come with a huge price tag. But what about us young folk who are barely graduating college and scoring internships, or even just those who can’t afford to spend like millionaires? How can we enjoy Vegas both in-style and on a budget?

Luckily, with the competitive rivalry between businesses and an abundance of event promoters, there are plenty of ways to save on activities and hotels in Vegas. Continue reading for my best tips and tricks below.

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Look for hotels with new renovations

Many of the existing hotels on the strip have been standing for over decades now, and many of them are due for renovations. Because business is always booming in Vegas, hotels will only do renovations in small sections to avoid shutting down entirely during construction. When these renovations are completed, many hotels are eager to showcase their newly remodeled rooms to guests, so specials are given away left and right. Most hotel websites will have information on newly renovated rooms, and if not, a quick call to their hotel will give you that answer.

Sacrifice convenience for lower rates

If you’re not intending to walk to and from your hotel, a cab ride to a hotel away from the strip can save you plenty of money on hotel rooms. There are some great hotels such as South Point, Palms Place, and Cancun Resort that offer luxurious accommodations with a much cheaper price than hotels located directly on the strip. Some of them even have an on-site spa and gorgeous pools to lounge in! If you prefer to enjoy an all-inclusive vacation experience within the comfort of your hotel, then try the hotels away from the strip.

Dine like a local

Sure, places like Bacchanal Buffet may on the top of everyone’s Vegas bucket list, but $30 for a single meal can add up to almost $100 a day for just one person alone. Vegas has many more hidden gems to offer in residential areas with prices much cheaper than the tourist traps scattered on the strip.

RELATED POST – $275 FOR A VIP VEGAS EXPERIENCE: MY LAS VEGAS TRAVEL DIARY

Be sure to check out my favorite Vegas restaurants:

Looking to enjoy to Vegas for cheap? Click through for the ultimate budget guide to the best food, hotels, and nightlife. You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy Vegas just like one! - www.theballeronabudget.com

Go with your girls to waive entrance fees and bypass lines

Ladies’ night is practically every night in Vegas. Promoters love to get girls in for free because the more ladies there are in clubs, the more drinks are bought (courtesy of foolish men, ha!). If your group consists of mostly girls, sometimes promoters may spot you in line and offer to get you to the front, free of charge.

Make friends – they’ll hook you up

You never know who you’ll run into Vegas. Vegas is an international party destination, so it’s never a surprise when you run into a young heir from another country or a successful business owner. Be nice to those you speak to, and you never know what they might offer – an abundance of money and booze will make people extremely generous.

If getting friendly with complete strangers isn’t really up your alley, you can always find promoters for clubs and bars everywhere on the strip. These people will usually approach you on the strip and offer you flyers or even their phone number – be sure to contact them if they have a good deal that you and your friends and interested in.

If you need a promoter for your next visit to Vegas, I highly recommend contacting my friend Carlos Reyes on Instagram so that he can set you up! He always gets me into the best clubs! You can read more about how I’ve gotten into nightclubs like XS Nightswim and Intrigue with Carlos here.

Here are some of my favorite clubs Carlos can get you in:

Focus on the pre-game: Cheap drinks in Las Vegas

Since Las Vegas has a zero-tolerance law for driving under the influence, it should already be a no-brainer that you’ll either be walking or taking a cab to your destination. If that’s the case, make sure to stock up on liquor and start pre-gaming with your friends as you get dressed up for a night out on the strip.

If you want to drink while walking on the Strip, make sure to find a Fat Tuesday and order a “Yard Dog” for $15 – these are frozen daiquiris in a yard-long plastic cup you can drink while walking around. You can also add extra shots into your drink for just an extra $1 – $2, depending on the liquor.

One of my best Fat Tuesday experiences was getting a Yard Dog in their 190 Octane flavor – grain alcohol with OJ and orange punch (this shit is STRONG, beware, it creeps up on you) – and sharing it with 2 other friends. On top of this we added an extra 3 shots of Everclear ($1 each), which was either the best frugal hack or worst decision I’ve ever made – we were pretty much trashed for less than $20 altogether. LOL. We were so drunk we weren’t even able to get our $10 refill. #winning

All-You-Can-Drink Specials

C Bar at the Stratosphere also has an all-you-can-drink 2-hour special for $19.99 from 6-10PM. They also have an endless happy hour where every hour they feature one drink at a special price, often between $3-$6.

If you want a nice view, the High Roller offers a “Happy Half Hour” where you can enjoy one full rotation on the wheel complete with an open bar. So if you want to pump down drinks before hitting up the clubs while enjoying a nice view, go here! Make sure to buy High Roller tickets online since you save more: “anytime” tickets are $47, but if you pick a specific date it’s $35.

Maybe you could care less about dressing nice and just want to down drinks casually while enjoying some bar food: Blondies is your go-to. Located inside the Miracle Mile Shops, this sports bar and grill offers all-you-can-drink domestic drafts and well drinks for $20, Monday – Friday from 3 – 6PM.

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Bigger groups help you save on bottle service and cabanas

When renting out a table at a club, there is always a minimum amount you must spend to cover the reservation. During peak seasons it’s uncommon to see prices go well past $1,000 for just a few hours at a club.

With prices that high, it can be extremely hard to meet that minimum and not waste all that liquor. Make sure to bring a group that is exactly the max limit that your table can accommodate, so you can get your money’s worth. Remember, there are no take-out boxes for liquor!

Side note: Again, be sure to contact Carlos on Instagram (@carlosreyeslv) and ask about tables and cabanas!

Bottle service? Make sure to order food

With excessive bottle service minimums, it’s already hard enough to finish all the booze on your table. An overambitious group might attempt to do just this, but getting too drunk will get you kicked out of the club immediately. And trust me, unless you’re all acting out-of-line, they’ll single drunk people out and kick them out individually, leaving the rest of your group to finish the liquor. It becomes a game of “last man standing” after that.

Ordering a good amount of food will not only help you meet the minimum easily but will also give you a chance to snack on something and getting too drunk to the point of no return.

Looking to enjoy to Vegas for cheap? Click through for the ultimate budget guide to the best food, hotels, and nightlife. You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy Vegas just like one! - www.theballeronabudget.com

Will you be going to Vegas anytime soon? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more travel guides delivered to your email.

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Looking to enjoy to Vegas for cheap? Click through for the ultimate budget guide to the best food, hotels, and nightlife. You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy Vegas just like one! - www.theballeronabudget.com
Looking to enjoy to Vegas for cheap? Click through for the ultimate budget guide to the best food, hotels, and nightlife. You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy Vegas just like one! - www.theballeronabudget.com
 
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22 Comments

  1. Jamie
    / 12:41 pm

    So excited we are going to Vegas in about 2 weeks and will be there about a week! Needing all the advice and tips I can get!

    • The Baller on a Budget
      Author
      / 10:31 pm

      Yes girl! Make sure to contact Carlos Reyes if you want to get on the VIP guest list for any clubs owned by the Wynn!!

  2. Carla
    / 5:14 pm

    This is so helpful! I’m going in September. Arriving Sunday, leaving Tuesday. Do you recommend a club that’s open on Sundays? It’s going to be about 10 of us…how much does bottle service usually run? Also, do you know of any day clubs or pool parties on Mondays?

    • The Baller on a Budget
      Author
      / 7:00 pm

      Hi Carla, I’m so excited for you guys! Vegas night clubs/dayclubs/nightswims are always open all week, weekdays and even Sundays.

      Bottle service varies from club to club, time of year as well as which club you’re going to. I actually wrote a blog about getting free bottle service so you should check it out! https://www.theballeronabudget.com/2017/06/16/275-for-a-vip-vegas-experience/

  3. Denise
    / 11:08 am

    Going to Vegas 8/30/17 to see George Strait!!

  4. Allie
    / 1:12 pm

    Hey there I’m headed to Vegas in September for my 21st! I’ll be there the 28th- October 1st

  5. / 6:33 pm

    I am planning a weekend with a large bachelorette party in December. What’s the best way to contact Carlos?

  6. James
    / 11:34 am

    Going to be in Vegas for Christmas any tips? Places to eat on a budget? And drink 🍹? Plus it’s my first time in vegas

    • The Baller on a Budget
      Author
      / 3:08 pm

      Hey James, have you checked any of these restaurants out? They’re all very affordable!

      – Monta Ramen
      – Hash House A Go Go
      – KoMex Fusion
      – Bachi Burger
      – DW Bistro
      – Ronald’s Donuts
      – Kyara Japanese Tapas

      Fat Tuesdays is also my favorite place to grab drinks because they’re so cheap. You can get a yard-long daiquiri for $15 and fill it with extra shots for $1-$2 each and then split it with some friends.

  7. Sarah
    / 12:19 pm

    Hey! I’m going to Vegas for 3rd time and actually want to see shows, eat good (and cheap!), hit up breakfast joints! Go on roof tops etc!!! Please let me know where to start!!

    • The Baller on a Budget
      Author
      / 12:23 pm

      Hash House a Go-go is a great breakfast joint that has huge portions and cheap prices! They have many locations so avoid the one on the Strip unless you want to wait long.

      I’ve heard the C Bar at the Stratosphere has an all-you-can-drink 2-hour special for $19.99. I would def try it out if you want a roof top sort of view!

  8. Meredith
    / 9:42 pm

    Loved this blog! I will be going to Vegas in September for a Bachelorette and would love any more advice you have for a group of girls in regards to hotel/clubs/pools/cabanas/shows/etc. I’m going to contact Carlos as well!

    • The Baller on a Budget
      Author
      / 10:30 pm

      Hey Meredith, Carlos should be able to get you on the guest list for certain clubs, but tables and cabanas vary depending on the time of year, weekday/weekend etc. your best bet is to ask Carlos and check rates.

      If all else fails with booking your own table, just remember, it’s much easier to make friends with people who do have tables 🙂

      Also please check this post out for more Vegas tips! https://www.theballeronabudget.com/2017/06/16/275-for-a-vip-vegas-experience/

  9. Michelle Montilluer-Housel
    / 12:46 pm

    We are planning my friends 30th birthday in Vegas this June and none of the girls have ever been except myself. Are there any clubs you would recommend that are a must and advise on how to secure entrance? Last time I went to Vegas The Bank was the hot spot to get into.

    Thanks!

    • The Baller on a Budget
      Author
      / 10:15 pm

      Hey Michelle! These are my favorite clubs:

      – Intrigue
      – XS
      – XS Night Swim
      – Encore Beach Club (day swim)
      – Encore Beach Club at Night

      Make sure to message my promoter Carlos on Instagram (@carlosreyeslv) and request to get your girls on his guestlist! You will definitely get in through him at any of the clubs I mentioned.

      Highly recommend night swims because it’s much more fun by the pool and you can take off your shoes 🙂

      Have fun 😉

  10. Nicole
    / 8:14 am

    Hey!
    Thanks for all this great information! I’m going to Vegas on May 4th for my bachelorette. We’re flying down from Canada and it ended up costing way more than expected so needing to save when we get there. My girls are on a tight budget. Any suggestions on affordable good shows? Are there any you can get into for cheap if they don’t fill up? Any other tips for a strict budget are greatly appreciated 🙂

  11. Jazmin Brown
    / 3:24 pm

    My bachelorette weekend sin Vegas starts the last weekend in feburary. I’m so excited but am also so lost to the activities we should do while we’re there. I’m the only one that has been to Vegas but the rest of my bridal party hasn’t. We’ll be flying in from Dallas, Texas.

  12. / 6:10 am

    Awsome thank you for tips, 6 of us leave on Friday so
    EXCITED!!

    • The Baller on a Budget
      Author
      / 11:40 am

      Have fun! Make sure to contacts Carlos if you haven’t already so he can get you guys on the VIP list!

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