Frugal Ideas and Suggestions for 11 Person Group.

My wife and I am taking a group of college kids (our 3 kids plus 6 friends) t o Vegas to celebrate birthdays. 2 of the kids are underage and we are staying at Mandalay. Please come up with frugal meals and entertainment ideas. Thanks for your help.

 

Have everyone of age sign up for Earl of Sandwich's eClub about a week before you go. You get a coupon for a free sandwich upon sign up. Each person would have to check out separately though.

Are the "kids" male or female or both?

 

The college aged ones that are over 21 most likely wont want to be hanging around too much as it is so I wouldnt even bother with planning on seeing them. i know I didnt when i was that age. Food courts are always a safe bet otherwise.

 

The two under aged are girls.

 

Frugal things to do with girls.

The Bellagio Conservatory Gardens & Fountains
Window shop at Crystals in City Center, the floral/plant arrangements are interesting
Check out the Flamingos at the Flamingo
I am sure they will enjoy the pool at Mandalay Bay too
If you will be there after July 7th, check out Recycled Percussion at Planet Hollywood
Also be sure to check out Groupon and similar sites for discount activity and food options.
A trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, check out the Half Off Ticket booths for discounts.

 

I know there were one or two shows offering a coupon for free tickets. I'll see if I can find a link to one of them.

Mac King at Harrahs is pretty cheap. With a coupon (available at the box office I think) tickets are $10 and include a drink.

Check out Big Elvis at the dueling piano bar at Harrahs. Usually plays in the afternoon. Check his website for show times. They make you buy a drink or two if you sit inside, but you can just stand outside and watch/listen for free.

Ellis Island has a cheap steak special and cheap food in general.

$1 Michelobs at Casino Royale. They also have .75 coors light drafts and foot long dogs for around $2.50

 

Take them to the Pinball Hall of Fame. It's 10,000 sq ft of vintage, classic and modern pinball machines that are well maintained. Most are set at 25¢ per play. Acouple years ago we took a couple of 17 year olds there and everyone had a great time.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pinball-hall-of-fame-las-vegas

 

Great suggestions!

 

I am finding it harder to be "frugal" in Vegas. The great groupons are gone - used to be they had plenty of 2 for 1 at places like Paris buffet and PH etc. Myvegas is deteriorating more all the time - but it was a good ride while it lasted.

For me the best supplement to my cheap inner self is the American Casino Guide - and this forum for the coupon swap. The 2 for 1s for Original Chicken Tenders and Nathan's are my favorites - both are at the Luxor which is connected to Mandalay Bay. Original Chicken Tenders is yummy - they bread them fresh in front of you. I love Nathan's Philly Cheese steak sandwich. ACG also has coupons for 2/1 at Johnny Rockets - one in Mandalay Bay and also Bonnano's - also at Luxor food court.

Cost of ACG is around $14 on Amazon or their website.

-- Val

 

Take them downtown to the Fremont Street Experience - a laser light show held on the hour in the evenings. Lots of "interesting" characters down there to have your picture taken with for a donation. I've heard the Container Park is an interesting shopping venue. I'll have to check it out the next time we are there. There is also live entertainment down by The Plaza and sometimes by The D Hotel.

 

Eat Downtown...lots of cheap specials...can easily eat for $30 a day and not be hungry,.....Mikki Finnz downtown has reasonable priced drinks...live music...good food.

 

For inexpensive snacks or meals downtown & 2 suggestions for birthday meal

WHERE TO HAVE FUN: 
Wandering around downtown without an agenda suits some just fine. But if you need to plan fun, here's where to find some outside the casinos. 
· Zipline 
· Insert Coin(s) 
· Emergency Arts Building: The Beat, Burlesque Hall of Fame, First Friday, Vegas StrEATS
WHAT NOT TO MISS: 
Don't kick yourself for missing these downtown gems, both small and large. 
· Smith Center for Performing Arts 
· Mob Museum 
· Berlin Wall

For inexpensive snacks or meals downtown & 2 suggestions for birthday meal

Golden Gates’s $2.99 shrimp cocktail at Golden Gate.. pancakes 24/7, Egg and NY steak, $4.95 midnight-2 am

$5 burger & beer at El Cortez
1/2 price appetizers at Chicago Brewing in 4 Queens weekdays 3 -6
$5 breakfast sandwich at Lanai Express in Fremont (also Dunkin Donuts)
$10 happy hour personal pizza at Pizza Rock

Binion’s Cafe ...chop steak dinner w/card $4.95 Best hamburger $4.95 w/potato salad... Chili dog, fries, $3.75. Bennie’s Bullpen M-F 5pm-1:00 am Sat-Sun 9am-1:00am Hot dog $3.50, combo chips-beer... $4.95.

Nearby is Mermaids... 99¢ Nathan's hot dog. $5.49 White Castle or chicken sliders, drink, fry, 99¢ fried twinkies or oreos.

Dupar’s $2.99 shrimp cocktail.
Take out at Luna Rossa’s by zip line... pepperoni pizza, crostini dellas tradizione toasted crispy bread, mozzarella, prosciutto, butter, sage.

Fremont Hotel-Casino... Paradise buffet seafood night, $15.99: Tue. or Fri. Fremont $2.00 beers Lanai hot dog-coke, $2.95

California Club Hotel-Casino... Redwood Grill.. $24.00 ...porterhouse steak, 18 oz., soup or salad, starch, apple dumpling, ice cream, rum sauce. Reservations. King crab legs $40. Don’t order 16 oz. sirloin in error. Boyd card. Closed Wed. Thurs. Market St. Cafe 4-10pm $9.95 Prime rib 8 oz. cut, veggie, soup or salad, starch, cherries jubilee.

Golden Nugget... Chart House Seafood....11:30 am - 11 pm 75M gal. aquarium. $8 - 3 sample chowder, lobster bisque, gazpacho $15... grand marnier souffle for 3 $16... crab avocado & mango stack $21 ... iced seafood tower lobster, king crab, shrimp, oysters. Grotto Happy hour $3 peach bellini 2-6 M-F

Four Queens... Chicago Brewing Company... Mon-Fri 11:30-1:30 am Sat-Sun 10:00 am - 1:30 am Happy hour 5-7 daily. Homemade root beer, good sandwiches, beer sampler. nuts. Magnolia’s Veranda... Prime rib dinner $9.95 4-12 pm. Eggs ’n ham steak, hash browns $6.50. Philly steak sandwich. Noon - 11 p.m., All need card for discounts. 2/1 for birthdays.

Main Street Casino... Garden Court Buffet Regular Buffets... Breakfast Buffet $6.99 7-10:30 M-F Luncheon Buffet $7.99... Dinner Buffet Sun., Mon., Wed. 4-9 pm $10.99* Special Buffets... M-F Champagne Brunch $10.99 Sat Sun 7-3 Tue. 4-9 pm $13.99 T-Bone Steak... Thu. 4-9 pm $13.99* Steak-Scampi... Fri. 4-10 pm $21.99* Seafood Buffet ... Sat. 4-10 pm $13.88 Prime Rib.

2 suggestions for birthday meal...
The “D” Casino and Hotel
Andiamo Steak House ... 5-11 pm. Comp basket olive bread, breadsticks, spread of olives and eggplant... $65. Signature Tomahawk 32 oz. steak...Crab-Lobster Louis, $17, lobster risotto, bisque. tableside caesar salad, sea scallops, lobster w/truffles baked ziti, voted #1 downtown Vegas.

Hugo’s menu is online... with prices all inclusive including dessert... Sunday thru Sat. 5:30 -10:30 discount at club booth, use points to pay. A rose for ladies... Can order salad and have all but entree.

 

Already said it.

 

You are talking about tenns--not 8 years olds. I am pretty sure that none of them want to be herded around by adults to "sightsee".
You don't say when you will be in LV, but I would guess that the pool can take up long stretches of time for teens

 

Wow....thanks for all of the ideas!

 

Yup, and if you want, almost every off-strip casino has a bowling alley and/or movie theatre.
Truthfully, theres almost nothing for an 13-17 year old to do on the strip (other than hang out at the pool).
If they were 18-20, I'd say let them roam the strip...they're legal adults, only thing they can't do is drink or gamble...they can still walk through all the casino spaces and stop at the various food courts to get a snack.