Time was, people wouldn’t blink at spending tons of cash in Las Vegas. Thinking about cheap things to do in Vegas seemed almost laughable. Developers built more and bigger casinos, housing was booming, and tourists spent their vacation dollars at poker tables and extravagant live entertainment. We’re not even talking that long ago – that time was just last year. Well. Since then, development and new housing have seriously stalled, the economy made most of us nervously hold onto our wallets, and Las Vegas has to regroup.
Not that it’s a complete bust in Vegas, of course; conventions and business travel are still going strong, and Cirque du Soleil isn’t exactly packing up and going home. Nevertheless, many of us are more carefully watching where we spend our travel budget this year. It’s good to know that there are some cheap activities in Las Vegas – we can round out a trip there with some nontraditional, cheap things to do.
Cheap Activities in Las Vegas, Nevada:
The largest open-air market in Nevada is right in North Las Vegas, at 2930 N. Las Vegas Blvd. The Broadacres Swap Meet has around 1,150 vendors and is open every day except Saturday. Sure, there’s some junk, but look carefully – there are also plenty of vintage items like old casino signs and products, antique toys, and more. It only costs fifty cents Monday through Friday, or a dollar on Sunday to get in.
Six members of Bette Midler’s Band (there are 14 musicians total) perform as Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns every Monday at 10:30 PM at the Palms Casino at 4321 W. Flamingo Road. The show is free – that’s right, free – and really professional in that loose, jazzy way. It’s a cheap version of her big “real” show, “The Showgirl Must Go On,” at Caesars Palace.
A great view of the Las Vegas Strip is a cheap thing to see; all you have to do is head up to the 64th floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. THEhotel at Mandalay Bay’s MIX Lounge is here, and the sights of the Strip in all its glittering, vivid glory are really a can’t-miss. The lounge is free until 10PM, and $20 Monday-Friday, $25 on weekends after 10PM. Of course, tourists are welcome to do more than just stare out the huge wall of windows – there’s a DJ, comfy couches, and drinks that, while somewhat free-flowing, do end costing a pretty penny.
Also at the Mandalay Bay, the weekly blues concerts showcase live music with the House of Blues. The current show, “Nothing But The Blues,” is a totally free thing to do, and really great. Shows typically run from 9PM to midnight.
Cheap things to buy at the shopping malls – plan ahead, and print out great-value coupons from Visit Las Vegas. (This link is a pdf.) Simply showing the printout will be good for redeemable gifts or discounts at the participating stores. The Shop Vegas Passport is a pretty good incentive to spend money while you feel like you’re saving some. It’s worth checking out, while the program’s still in effect.
The Pinball Hall of Fame sounds unusual, but it’s quirky and surprisingly interesting, too. Around a 15-minute drive from the Strip, the Pinball Museum is on 3330 E. Tropicana in Las Vegas, and the museum houses the world’s largest pinball collection. Yes, you can play them! Wouldn’t be much of a fun cheap thing to do otherwise, right? The collection spans from the 1950’s to the 1990’s, and the games still cost just a quarter or fifty cents to play.
As long as we’re on quirky museums, spending time at the Liberace Museum is a cheap activity during a Las Vegas vacation. Yes, there’s tons of glitter and sequins here, as well as that rhinestone-crusted piano. But the Liberace Museum, at 1775 E. Tropicana Ave, is a mere $15 to get in, or $10 for seniors and students. A lot of Liberace’s famous, showy (some would say garish) costumes are on display here, and some of his oversize jewelry as well. It’s certainly memorable!
There is a cheap attraction at the Rio Hotel & Casino, at 3700 W. Flamingo Rd. The Show in the Sky includes 
a ride/tour. Billed as the “best free show in Las Vegas,” it’s actually $12.95, still very cheap for what tourists get. Masquerade Village’s Show in the Sky has three different shows, performed every hour from 7PM to midnight Thursday through Sunday. 25 guests can ride the floats with the dancers and musicians, parading on elevated tracks about the Rio’s casino floor.
We don’t have to go broke during a vacation in Las Vegas, though it’s easy to get caught up in the action at the blackjack tables (it’s not just me, right?) and spend more than we intend. With cheap eats and cheap or free things to do in Las Vegas, a vacation there can be both fun and budget-friendly.
{ 8 trackbacks }
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
One of these days it seems likely major league baseball will end up in Vegas. Like Vegas, you have to hunt for deals to attend a game, but it too can still be done.
One of my favorite cheap thrills in Vegas was to bypass the Cab line and go to the limos, where for virtually the same price you could get a ride into the strip and not wait in line. The drivers had all the stories about “all the real stuff that goes on in Vegas.” Great stuff. One year I paid #35 bucks to have him come back and give me an hour long tour of the Strip, stopping at In-N-Out Burgers. Great deal if you ask me.
I wonder if that’s still as affordable as it once was.
Well, I just HAVE to bookmark this.
Great resource.
Cheers!
George
The opening paragraph got me to thinking about another problem Vegas might need to contend with: it’s an unabashedly old-school vacation destination. That spells trouble if you’re trying to lure people in a country who are increasingly embracing change.
We’re in a time when excess has gone out of fashion. Corp. execs are criticized for their large bonuses, people are more concerned about the environment and conserving energy. Spending money gambling just looks bad when so many people are suffering financially or losing their jobs.
If Vegas doesn’t do something to re-work its image it just might become the General Motors of vacation destinations. Now that would be a bailout.
None of these suggestions sound particularly kid-friendly. I’d like to know if you have taken young(er) children to Las Vegas and had a good time. I’ve been there in my 20s with my brother, and it was great fun but I can’t imagine taking kids to Las Vegas. Hope you will post about that soon.
Jennifer, this particular article isn’t about family travel – more like, fun adult trips/girlfriend getaways. While some people do vacation in Vegas with their kids, it’s not something I’ve done. Steven Roll, who left the comment right above yours, suggests that Las Vegas will need to change with the times. If this happens, it may become more family-friendly in the future.
The Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame is a MUST SEE. They’re moving soon (a bit closer to the strip). I interviewed the owner Tim Arnold as one of my Pinball Heroes on my blog
)
With or with out kids, the World of Coca-Cola is fun
Vegas tried the family thing a few years back. It did not work. That is when the city came up with that great marketing campaign “what happens in Vegas.” The casino’s realized that attracting to the wild side of adults is where the character of Las Vegas really is. There is not nearly the money in cheap family attractions with $1 skee-ball as there is in the $100 million dollar nightclubs with $10 beers.
-Rick (Long time Vegas Resident)
Good list! I also found a website that list cheap places to eat for $10 or less in las vegas. http://www.ueatcheap.com
Stephen NOT really on a roll, are you? Vegas already made the mistake of the “kid-friendly” it was a bust. What people want is the jaded and “SEXY” Vegas. It’s all marketing. Vegas is smoke and mirrors, but it’s anything but dried up. It re-invents itself every so many years and is in NO jeopary of becoming a GM. I have lived here 28 years (that is at least 25 too many by my standards) BUT it is in constant change.
“Stephen NOT really on a roll, are you?”
GROAN!
Vegas Vet: I agree with you that if anyone can change their image it’s Vegas.
It’s already undergone some radical changes. It really did have everyone believing it was kid friendly for a time. Long before that, it went from being seen as a mob-controlled enterprise to one that is operated by “squeeky clean” corporations.
And just like Vegas, I’m pretty resilient, too, and can take it when people make puns with my name.
I’m glad you’re not too thin skinned about your punnable last name, Steven. My last name is Miner – I’ve heard it all.
Anyway, I’d like to add in that while it does look like there’s going to be some reinvention for Las Vegas to survive and thrive with the times, it’s true that going the family-friendly route isn’t the way to go. People usually go to Vegas to take a break from the normal rules of society (from what I’ve seen) and that sort of debauchery doesn’t mix well with little kids. There are plenty of destinations that are both budget friendly and child-friendly; Vegas isn’t one of ‘em.
I don’t have much choice about taking my 6-yr-old to Vegas–we’ve never spent a night apart and I have a 5-day conference coming up there late March. I’ve just sent an ad to UNLV’s education dept looking for a babysitter, and will screen all applicants as well as I possible can from far away. (They can post it on their board, but after that it’s up to me.) That said, I’m looking for good stuff for him to do with said sitter (and with me when I can get away), and yummy inexpensive places to eat. What do you all suggest?
Well, Jen, off the top of my head I can suggest that the babysitter (or you) take your son to the Luxor for their arcades. The MGM Grand has a couple of real lions he can gawk at too, and if you can budget it, Cirque du Soleil puts on several excellent shows (do your research here, though, they’re not quite what I’d call “affordable Las Vegas,” and one of them is sexy). New Yorj New York has a roller coaster – I’ve never been on it, but it looks like something a kid would enjoy.
If you have time to venture off the Strip, check out the Fremont Street Experience. Some say its tacky, some say its gaudy, I say…well, I say that’s just part of the fun. Also Red Rock Canyon for hiking. There are probably other child-friendly activities in Vegas, and the buffets are always cheap.
Can you name some inexpensive places 2 stay??
I always think of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” complete with Lizard people and unfortunate things to do to the tune of “White Rabbit.”
But I’ll have to go one day, just to tick it off the list.
yes vegas has chanched there ways along the line of being more kid friendly but it is after all sin city dont bring your kids if you think there might be a problem these places are after your dollar after all and that is mostly in the casinos it is thae same about sturgis it used to be a great place for adult fun then everybody started bringing the kids some things are ment to be adult places to get away from the kids lets keep it that way
Even though Vegas has pretty much done away with trying to make the town a “family-friendly” destination, there are still plenty of things that are suitable for those with kids and teens.
Things to see & do: Bellagio has the free fountains outdoors and the free botanical garden displays inside; Mirage has the free volcano outdoors and the Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat and the aquarium indoors; MGM Grand has the lion display and a Gameworks arcade next door; Excalibur has a midway carnival arcade and a SpongeBob Squarepants 4D simulator ride; Luxor has the Bodies and Titanic exhibitions; Mandalay Bay has the Shark Reef aquarium, which also has a reptile area; New York-New York has a roller coaster; The Venetian has a replica of St. Marks Square inside plus gondola rides and Madame Tussauds wax museum; the Fremont Street Experience downtown; Adventuredome theme park at Circus Circus; Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain (both free) at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace; Ethel M’s chocolate factory tour and cactus garden (off-Strip but free); the aquarium at the Silverton hotel; Lied Discovery Children’s Museum (off-Strip but worth the trip as it’s one of the largest kid’s museums in the country); Springs Preserve (a new historical and nature conservation attraction just off-Strip with hiking trails and museums about the history of the area); hiking in Red Rocks just outside the city.
Shows: Mac King at Harrah’s; Terry Fator at the Mirage; Cirque du Soleil’s Love (the Beatles-themed show) at the Mirage; Cirque du Soliel’s Ka at MGM Grand (perfect for kids who like Manga and Anime stuff); Blue Man Group (more suitable for teens); Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood; Mandalay Bay has Disney’s The Lion King opening in May 2009.
Restaurants: there are plenty of fast food chains and sandwich shops along the Strip but if mom/dad want to do some upscale dining with the kids, try Stack at the Mirage (serves adult versions of dishes like pigs in a blanket and kobe chili cheese fries with desserts of jelly donuts as well as steaks and seafood); Simon @ Palm Place (new at the Palms hotel; save room for desserts like the PB&J sundae or the “junk food platter” featuring cotton candy, homemade chocolate caramel popcorn and more); BLT Burger at the Mirage; Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay; Tournament of Kings dinner show at Excalibur; Rainforest Cafe at MGM Grand; ESPN Zone at New York-New York; Earl of Sandwich at Planet Hollywood; La Salsa Cantina at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood (great cheap grab & go breakfast deals); Pink Taco at the Hard Rock Hotel. Buffets are also great for kids and some of my faves include the ones at the Wynn (a splurge but totally worth it); Paris Las Vegas (esp for breakfast); Planet Hollywood (often rated the top buffet in Vegas); The Palms dinner buffet; Gardunos at The Palms for Sunday brunch.
Hotels: Those traveling with kids and teens may enjoy Excalibur, Luxor and New York-New York on the south end of the Strip. Mid-Strip, try Imperial Palace, Mirage or Planet Hollywood. All of these often run specials online with rates as low as $50 some nights. If you want to splurge, Caesars Palace, The Venetian and The Bellagio are best bets. You may see deals at North Strip hotels like Circus Circus and Stratosphere, but these hotels are very run-down and not worth the savings. Same with downtown hotels, which while cheap, are not recommended for families simply because the neighboring areas to the Fremont St hotels like Golden Nugget are still rather seedy and run-down. Some off-Strip properties are also ok for families, like The Orleans and Green Valley Ranch, but you will need a vehicle to get around if you stay off-Strip.
If you have any further questions or need more recommendations, feel free to contact me via Why Go Las Vegas (click my name for the link).
Hope this helps!
Hi All,
Thanks Michelle for the great info. We are actually heading to Vegas for a family vacation over Easter Break (DH is teaching a class, so I’ll make sure to blog about our exploits and incorporate some of your suggestions.
Just heard that Vegas has done away with the free drinks while playing. Is this true? Thanks
I hate to be a curmudgeon, but I just got back from Vegas on a business trip. I left thinking unequivocally it’s about the last place I would bring my family on a vacation. Almost any other place would come first — Grand Canyon, Disney World, Dollywood — anything. Coney Island…
There’s just something about the people on the street handing out business cards for prostitutes, driving billboards offering ‘Girls Direct to You’ and people pouring money into slot machines in their jammies at 6:30am that just sort of resonated the wrong way with me.
Anyway, I wrote it up on our family travel blog, http://www.familyroadtrippers.com
BUT, the pinball museum does sound like a good time. I think my eight-year old son would enjoy it quite well.
Dan
For those of you who want things to do withyounger kids here are a few ideas. I just spent a week with my two kids(4yrs & 18 mon.) in Vegas. The top two things we did were the Shark Reef exhibit at Mandalay Bay and the Leid’s Children Museum. Other things that we had some fun at are the Dolphin/Tiger exhibit at the Mirage, Belagio fountians, M&M world, MGM lion exhibit, and the Tournament of Kings. The Tournament of Kings at Excalibar is kind of pricee especially when a seat cost the same as yours once they are three. If they are younger then three they are free if you hold them on your lap which I think would be pretty difficult and uncomfortable once they are over two very much. The food is pretty bland and simple but the kids love that you eat with your fingers and spend more time watching the show then eating. The acting is pretty amature compared to other strip shows and would not have enjoyed it much if my kids hadn’t been loving the show so much. We went to the Zoological & Botanical Park and I would have only been there for maybe 1/2 hour if we had not ran in to another mom and her daughter. The cost is the same as our local zoo and the variety of animals was small and pitifully lacking.
Love the suggestions, especially the music. Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns is a great tip. We have some great Vegas suggestions as well. Check em out http://blog.nileguide.com/2009/02/18/travel-deals-roundup-viva-las-vegas/.
Thanks for sharing all this helpful information. Possibly planning a “girlfriend getaway” at the end of the year. Usually, Neenz and I take the kids with us when we go to Vegas, so I’m looking forward to a much needed “mommies only” trip (just mommies, not the children) with as much adult activities as possible. I would love for Neenz to join my girlfriends and I, but I’ll need trustworthy adult supervision while I’m whooping it up in Sin City!
I heart Traveling Mamas. You all Rock!
I definitely think Las Vegas is more for all girls / mommies type trips, rather than bring the kids along. I’m just not sure how kid friendly the whole atmosphere is. I’ll probably go there with friends first, and maybe bring our 2.5 yr old next time around.
just came back from spending 5 days at ceasars. no not true about free drinks being gone we had good service almost everywhere we went ( all harrahs properties) with the exception of ballys. what up with them are they going out of business? the buffet was gone as well as total rewards desk. anyone know anything about this.
Kids in Vegas?
1) Mountains….go to Red Rock. Think it’s $5 to get in. 13 mile “loop” all around beautiful mountains. Bring a picnic. Get out and hike.
2) Before Red Rock mountains is Calico Basin. It’s FREE. Kids can hike to top of mountain! Bring picnic lunch!
3) Mt. Charleston is HUGE. Big cedar trees. Camping, hiking…snow boarding and snow skiing in winter…sled riding in winter. Beautiful. HUGE. There is a lower lodge and upper lodge where you can eat..expensive so best to bring your own picnic. Can grill out. There are many campgrounds there so can camp over night too. Great place…beautiful mountains!
4) Lake Mead….can rent a boat. Can just swim off shore and float if you want. Picnic again. Outdoor water sports. Wear water shoes….rocky on the beach. But it’s beautiful!
5) There are so many parks here….dog parks, regular parks, baseball parks.
6) Go to a 51’s game. They’re pretty cheap and fun. Not “major” league….”minor” league but it’s safe there and kids love it.
There are a lot of movie theatres. Go drive to a neighborhood and just get out and walk. Walk in Desert Shores around the lakes. Or walk in The Lakes around the lakes.
Mostly get into nature here or shop.
Or stay on the boring strip and wonder why this is “sin city”. It’s not. There are a million things to do for and with kids. You just need to get off the strip and find them!
Great suggestions. I’ve been going to Vegas for years and I haven’t done some of the things you mentioned in the article. I’ll have something to put on my list for next time.
Just a note to the people who are wondering about kids in Vegas. I take my kids to Vegas once a year and we have blast.You can read about tips and ideas for Vegas family vacation on my site http://www.freeguideforbusymoms.com
Actually, we take our kids to Vegas every year as well. We have 5 girls (ages 16, 14, 12, 11 and 3) There is always plenty of free things to do and see in Vegas. I have always been pleased at how family friendly “sin city” actually is.
I travel to Las Vegas at least once a year and there are tons of fun things to do in Las Vegas besides gambling! I love to hike at Red Rock and have also taken a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. I am going back to Las Vegas in July and was looking for “new” things to do. I am going to book mark this page for sure! Thanks.
Just an FYI for parents traveling to Las Vegas with their children, call a babysitter at least one night while visiting. I always take one night and enjoy Vegas as an adult. I have used Artsy Nannies three different times and my sister has also used them. The nannys they sent my family were wonderful, we had the same person twice. My daughter loved the nannies and the art projects!!
Whats your email.Can you please teel me
I love the list, just came back from Vegas and realized that it cost way to much money to vacation there. It so happens we went on a bachelor party so things really got out of hand *wink* *wink*… (what happens in vegas I sure hope stays there!)… wish I found your list before going!
Actually on my last trip me and my husband had LV for free as we won a bit on the slot machines
. Cant really say though the place is too expensive compared with some of the other premier sites in the USA.
The Orleans hotel is a great place to stay..not to mention cheap! Oh, and their buffet..MMMM. $21 all day long. Grand deal. Not a big buffet fan but you can’t loose here with their variety of foods. They even have Mongolian. Food from all over the globe. Lot’s of fun for the little one’s. There’s an arcade. My girls love it there. We’re actually going in a few weeks again!
I am getting married in Vegas this Sat and bringing my 6 year old daughter with me. This is my first marriage and my fiance is not my daughters dad. I would be so upset if my daughter wasnt in my wedding so she is coming with. We are actually driving from AZ and she will be there for 3 days and then my sister will be taking her back with her. So thank you for all the info on all the kid things to do.
Great info on Sin City!
Feel free to check out my top FREE Las Vegas thing to do.
Keep up the good work!
Wow! Las Vegas.. The city that never sleeps!
I would love to go and experience that place as well. Are there any affordable hotel accomodations there which I can avail?
Does anyone know of where I can get free coupons for different things in vegas like 2 for 1 admission to observation decks, meal, entertainment etc.
We are going in 2 weeks!!!