Las Vegas for less than 25 bucks

October 23, 2008  Las Vegas was once synonymous with bargains, home to the fifty-cent Margarita, three dollar buffets, lounge acts and dirt-cheap hotel rooms. Over recent years, these gems have been giving way to prestigious accolades like the AAA and Michelin hotel awards, multi-million dollar entertainment spectaculars and high-brow restaurants. But all is not lost, as the dollar dips and dives and petrol prices remain uncertain there are affordable ways to see Las Vegas. The
suggestions below all come in under $25, showing that Vegas is still the land of the cheap and home of the free, if you know where to look.Free stuff at the shopping mallsThe Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has created a Shop Vegas Passport with coupons that can be redeemed at one of seven malls. Visitors can print out the coupon from this link.

Nevada’s oldest and largest open-air market

Vintage shoppers or those looking for quirky items will find casino memorabilia, antiques, toys and even coconuts at to the Broadacres Swap Meet in North Las Vegas. The open-air market has around 1,150 vendors and runs Friday through Sunday. At just fifty cents to get in on Friday and one dollar entrance on the weekend it’s a steal. Location: Approximately thirty minutes drive from the Strip at 2930 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

Stunning view of the strip

They say views don’t come cheap but for one of the best views of the Las Vegas Strip in town head to MIX Lounge atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. On the 64th floor, the bar has floor-to-ceiling windows, a DJ spinning tunes and leather couches making this the ultimate place to see the Strip in all its neon glory. Entry is free from 5 – 10pm. From 10pm – US$25 on weekends and US$20 on weekdays.

Pinball Hall of Fame

This hidden treasure is home to the world’s largest pinball collection where you can play 200 or so vintage pinball machines. Run by Tim Arnold as a non-profit museum the collection spans from the 1950’s to 1990’s. Inflation hasn’t hit these machines with games costing 25 to 50 cents.

Location: Approximately 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip at 3330 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas
www.pinballmuseum.org

Bette Midler’s Band

Instead of spending big bucks to see Bette’s ‘The Showgirl Must Go On’ performance at the Coloseum at Caesars Palace you can hear six members of her 14-piece band performing as Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, a weekly act at the Lounge at the Palms. The band performs every Monday at 10:30 pm and entry is free.

Weekly Blues Concerts

Chill out to the smooth sounds of jazz every Wednesday night at Mandalay Bay in the House of Blues. ‘Nothing but the Blues’ concerts run from 9pm until midnight and entry is free.

To find out more, go to www.myspace.com/nothingbuttheblues2007

Masquerade Show in the Sky

Twenty-five members of the public can ride the floats during an hourly show of dancers and musicians who parade on elevated tracks over the casino floor at the Rio All-Suite Hotel-Casino.

The shows run hourly from 7pm till midnight Thursdays through Sundays. US$12.95 per person.

Ride Mt. Charleston When the summer temperature peaks in Las Vegas, savvy locals head to Mount Charleston where the temperature remains more moderate. Las Vegas Carriage offers 20-minute rides around the mountain in a horse-drawn carriage in summer or a horse-drawn wooden sleigh during winter.

Location: The rides start from Mt Charleston Lodge, around 40 minutes drive from Las Vegas. Call (702) 596-6715 for reservations. Costs US$20 per adult and US$10 per child.

For more information or to order a Las Vegas Visitors Guide call (02) 9356 2266 or email
lasvegas@marketingspirit.com.au  Free call number for New Zealand callers: 0800 403 844

http://www.jetsettersblog.com/vegas/vegas.html

http://www.vegasviphottiehosting.com/

3 comments