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Tips and Tricks for saving money.

Discussion in 'Las Vegas for the Frugal (not Cheap)' started by Backagain1, Dec 6, 2015.

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  1. Backagain1

    Backagain1 High-Roller

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    Sat with a friend today who is ready to do a first trip on a budget. Yes I do not like to share my favorite VMB site. He asked for tips to save money yet enjoy themselves.

    With that said, what tips would you share with your friends?

    I know some but the ones that came to mind were CVS/Walmart and Hash Hash a Go Go - I could not remember where I found the coupon.
     
  2. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    First you have to determine what the biggest expenses are and then address how you can trim those.

    Food is one that most people dont factor in. Of course its fun to eat at a fancy rest and you expect to pay for it but you have to eat multiple times per day every day and few can afford to eat at fancy places 3 meals a day.

    So a little planning in this area can work in your favor.

    Also dont feel bad about using coupons. vegas is a haven for coupon users and they workers have seen every one imaginaeable so dont hesitate to break one out.

    Drinking can kill the budget too if you drink like I do. Sure you can get them free but i prefer to never have to wait for another and pretty much drink a beer about every 15 minutes or so. This can get pricey so i have to pregame in my room before going out,.

    Also once you get a cw in cycle with your drinking consider it a huge win and milk it for all its worth,. of course generous tipping will keep her on your side. i tip $5 the firt trip or two so she knows I am serious. doesnt always work but most times it does.

    Also watch their traffic patterns. the best place to position yourself is if they have to go into a back room to get their drinks that is the perfect choke point to play at. this way you get all of them coming and going so its almost a lock to get great service. Ride that train until it pulls into the station baby!!
     
  3. bdautch

    bdautch VIP Whale

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    See, drinking can kill the budget, as C0usinEddie duly notes, but that might be the most variable aspect of a Vegas trip. In other words, does drinking mean $9 pitchers of Busch Light at Circus Circus? Does drinking mean $800 bottle service at Cromwell or wherever? As a value-minded alcoholic, I'm looking to get as drunk as possible as cheaply as possible, but not everyone feels the same way.
     
  4. TheNewUnion

    TheNewUnion Tourist

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    There's a Mexican supermarket down Sahara, so cheap for liquor it should be a crime. Bag up there and get boozy before you head out. If you're out and about hit up Stage Door. Great atmosphere and cheap booze, great place to start the night.
     
  5. Backagain1

    Backagain1 High-Roller

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    Wonderful all! Thanks.
     
  6. FullPay

    FullPay When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

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    Always pack sixteen ounce solo cups! You want large bottles of water in your room, and if you stock booze and mixer in your room you can always hit the floor with a very large drink in hand.
     
  7. ajp

    ajp High-Roller

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    The biggest tip to save cash is to stay downtown and gamble downtown. Limits will be lower, odds will be better. Sure the rooms wont be as posh as the strip, but if you are on a budget you have to save cash where you can. Also food is something you can really blow your budget on, look for quality inexpensive dining options, and deals like at Plant Hollywood right now, 50 tier credits = a free buffet.
     
  8. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    COusineddie made some great points about food and drink. I know when I'm in Vegas I'm always checking the hotel's cafe's and coffee shops. They have specials for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that changes depending on the day of the week.

    Another thing we do is wait for the graveyard specials and do those for late dinner/early breakfast. Only downside is that you'll be starving but you'll save some money that way.

    Buying booze at the ABC/Walgreen's and mixing them in your room is another way to enjoy great stiff drinks and save money on tips for the tiny "free" watered down cocktails that the casinos provide.
     
  9. garlock

    garlock Tourist

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    I always stay downtown, rooms are cheaper & very adequate, clean towels soap, & a bed, I don't spend more then 5 hrs. in the room! My day starts with breakfast at the Fremont, the buffet is 8 bucks for breakfast, 7 if u have a players card! I'm trying to loose some belly so I watch what & how much I eat, I stay at the plaza so for lunch I have a side salad at Mac& Dons for about 1.10, I usually only have one big dinner there & have that a Tony Romas, they have great ribs, & my favorite, Rib eye! They also have an awesome onion which is over the top, but u better have some Tums for later...lol.. a couple nites I eat at the Subway at the Plaza I think a 6 in is like six bucks, more then enough for me! Gotta save room for more drinks
    another place I stop from time to time is the deli at Binions in the back to the west, they also have great Burgers at Binions at the center restaurant! That's about 15 bucks a day I m sure there are more good deals like if one looks around, the Fremont BB is the tops!
     
  10. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    In my not so humble opinion, HHAGG is NOT a money-saving option. A basic breakfast is more expensive there than at a casino coffee shop (if you can still find them) or something like Blueberry Hill.
     
  11. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    I agree about coupons. You don't necessarily have to commit yourself by buying them or other deals, but keep your eyes open for things once you hit the ground. There are happy hours specials and still some off menu deals that help a budget along. You can have a lot of great experiences in dining on a budget even if you don't hit fast food places or buffets all the time but it will mean skipping out on celeb chef experiences and spending a bit of time downtown or offstrip.

    There are ways to see a good number of shows on a discount, too. That's not something that has to be skipped and there are some pretty nice free attractions too.

    I think the other area is planning transportation now. If you do buses or the monorail, see if a pass will help and get it early so you get full advantage. Decide on cab or shuttle for airport transportation upfront. Those costs can be locked in and banked on easily before leaving home.
     
  12. yooperguy

    yooperguy Low-Roller

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    Of course, the Las Vegas Advisor coupon book is a must, and there are still a few good coupons in the American Casino Guide book. You can't beat a 2-4-1 buffet coupon, unless you're solo. Late night snacks at Mermaids are cheap. My favorite way to save is by always using my Trip Rewards Visa Card, 1% back in rewards credits good at any CET property. I've got $200 in credits to cover most of my dining expenses while on the strip. Also, never underestimate the regenerative properties of a good old PBJ made in your room.
     
  13. npom

    npom VIP Whale

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    Sign up for social rewards for CET properties. Great program and totally free. My Vegas on facebook isn't as good as it once was but still lots of good stuff there. LVA coupon book is a must also.
     
  14. BreakEven

    BreakEven High-Roller

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  15. Franken Dean

    Franken Dean Newbie

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    Yes,


    Yes, Downtown has a lot of free entertainment at night. You also have gift stores that have packaged beer and liquor. If you are there to gamble a lot, then DT is the place to save your money.

    You can also save a lot on the strip as well on booze.

    When I stay on the strip, I do not power gamble as much. I usually check the nearby casino attractions and gamble in one hour hit and run stints.

    I usually bring a medium size soft side cooler in my luggage. My first stop is for a case(s) of beer, and bottle of choice from a local grocery store. I also get some snacks for the room.

    The biggest drain besides the gambling, is the drinks, tips, and food. When we leave the room we have our first beer(s) in hand while going to the casino floor. We now can go right to a table and start gambling or site seeing. By having a cooler it goes in the rental car, We are always walking into a casino with our first beer or drink. This eliminates several $20+ rounds and tips. As we finish our first drink, we are usually now sitting and getting free drinks while playing. It is foolish to walk into the Bellagio and buy that first drink, when you can easily just carry one in.

    We usually limit our fine dining to one place a day. We eat a big breakfast or a bargain buffet, then go most of the day on a snack or two. We then pick a nicer place to eat in the evening.

    If you are a volume drinker but do not gamble 24/7, get yourself some room booze from Grocery/liquor store. It is not uncommon to have a someone who is losing to do a beer run to the room while inbetween games or getting refocused.

    Note, Do not buy too many bottles of booze as we often give the excess away in the end. Cannot take on flight

    You hit 6-10 places in 3 days that is saving a few hundred in liquor, and tips alone.
     
  16. Backagain1

    Backagain1 High-Roller

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    Thanks everyone!
     
  17. mike mc

    mike mc High-Roller

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    Casino Royal. $1 beers, Stage Door $1 beers, $2 shots, ,Blondies in Miricle Mile has a $3 Breakfast, Todd English. 7 sec free beer challange and half app specials happy hours, there are many places to budget your trip, sign up for Von's , free delivery to your hotel for first time buyer,s reasonable prices on liquor, beer and. Munchies. Walgreens on strip is like double the price
     
  18. hawki39

    hawki39 Low-Roller

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    We did the bus shuttle from the airport yo Four Queens (2 people $34/round trip). We arrived in LAS around 9:30pm...we were the only ones on the shuttle so it was like a taxi ride to the hotel. Note schedule your pick up time for the return to the airport so you will get there early enough...figuring that there will be numerous pick ups BEFORE you arrive at the airport...IMO add 1 hour to your pick up time.
     
  19. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    For a quick bite to eat at lunch time check out the sports book. Most have hot dog carts for $1 or two. Or check the deli (usually) nearby the sports books for a sandwich, bagel, etc.

    TomTWI
     
  20. Franken Dean

    Franken Dean Newbie

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    A few years ago, we invented a game to exchange our money amounst us.

    Me and my buddies had a shit load of fun.


    Kind of off topic!

    We basically find a table full of black jack players, we then stand behind the players. Each hand, we choose a player. If your player gets a black jack then you win the pot. If there are 2 BJ in one hand(a tie), pot stays and we re-ante. In the end the money is switching among us friends, and not the house. They do not like this on the casino floor very much, so keep it on the low down.

    We will play this for fun if waiting for 2-3 spots to open on a tables.
     
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