Tips to save some of your Vegas $$$ before you go.

I didn't see a thread for this, but I thought that it would be nice for us to share some tips that we do before going to Las Vegas.

Here's mine.
In the months before we go, we'll buy several pre-paid food cards. i.e., TGIFridays, Subway, McD's Burger King, ect.
That way if we want to eat somewhere like that fast, we have them and not take it out of our Vegas budget.

Another thing is I bring my own soap from home. I can't stand the cheap shit that they give you in the hotel.

Any one else?

 

Not really. The day before we head to Vegas one of us hits the ATM and takes $$$ from our fun account for gambling and incidentals, and everything else goes on a CC. Whether it comes out three months in advance or three hours, it's not really being "saved" for Vegas. It's just there.

But I'm not faulting the strategy if it somehow helps with the budgeting.

 

I go to church... apologize for every sin I've ever committed and make promises I can't keep.

 

1. Groupon has saved me money.
2. I eat twice a day in Vegas. Usually Brunch and supper. Sometimes, brunch is McDs or White Castle, but I like a nice fancy supper. Buffets count as long as they are good ones.
3. Otherwise, I'm on vacation to have fun! Vegas is no more expensive than Disneyworld, and in Vegas I have a chance to make money! At Disney, there's no chance.

 

The potential problem with that is that some Las Vegas business will not accept them.
I have been denied using gift cards at Starbucks and Outback.

 

I will occasionally buy discounted Uber gift cards if I see them discounted by 10% or more. We pretty much only use Uber to visit Disneyland (10 minutes away, but parking costs enough that taking Uber is pretty much break even) or when we are in Las Vegas. Even though we drive there, we will Uber between downtown and Bally's if we think we'll be drinking.

Other than that...I always check MyVegas to see if there are any rewards we can use. Same goes for LVA / ACG coupons and the other slot apps. We generally won't go out of our way to use a coupon or reward, but I'll try to redeem whatever is convenient.

 

Wow, that sucks. So far I haven't had a problem using my cards.

 

1. I always get the American Casino Guide and the Las Vegas Advisor.
2. If it's not too much, I will rent a car at the airport for 24 hours and return it to a local hotel location. This saves the transportation to the hotel and allows me to go to Target to stock up on supplies for the trip. I also use it as an opportunity to do a free play/ free bet run for the coupons in the books above.
3. I always fly on points that I've accumulated through credit card applications. No airfare = more Vegas $

 

We use gift cards at home all the time when we can buy them for 10-20% off at Sams or Costco. Vegas - nope.

As to the original post - we keep an eye out for good Happy Hours including the thread(s) posted here.

Stopped renting cars - saves money, hassle and potential big spending (auto damage).

Pick up some snacks and booze at CVS for room. Relaxing in room vs gambling always saves money.

Take coffee pods with us in case the room has a coffee maker. We used to take a small one with us, but since we went to 100% carryon, we dropped that.

 

Back before 9/11, we used to bring a bunch of those little airline bottles of whiskey and such in a carry on to drink on the plane. Of course you had to buy 1 from the stewardess to establish that you are a drinker.

 

We Do the same thing. I buy $100 Restaurant worth of gift cards for $70 - $85 at Sam's and Costco , mainly for the week we stay at the timeshare. I usually buy $600 - 700 worth, making sure I can use the left overs within 40 miles of home. (puts me in Milwaukee to the north and very near Chicago to the south) We stay two weeks in Vegas.

Costco is usually cheaper, but if you watch, you can get Sam's on special.

PF Chang's, Texas de Brazil, Fleming's, Muer Seafood ( ALL of the Landry's) , Bonefish Grill, Bucca di Beppo, etc.

ADD IN a 10% Senior Citizen at some places!

I also buy and print out Restaurant.coms when they are on sale for $3 for $25 worth of food - There are some good ones in China Town and some good bars here and there. These are Vegas Specific.

 

When the kids ask what I want for Christmas, birthday or anniversary, I tell them gift cards to specific Vegas restaurants. Christmas present was $150.00 for Andimo's at the D.

 

I usually have a travel budget and a gambling budget(separate bank account). Usually don't visit the local casinos a month prior to a Vegas trip as I like "saving my fire" for Vegas. (one trip years ago I went to the local a week out prior to Vegas...lost 3K...kinda bummed me out for the Vegas trip...)
Room and 90% of food is comped so just bring a separate cash stash for tips and CVS/Walgreens purchases. Then the gambling money. If we come home with at least a portion of what we brought and haven't hit up the ATMs, that trip is a win!!

 

One thing I recommend for people traveling to Vegas for more than 4-5 days, get Vons grocery delivery to your hotel. 90% chance the bell staff will NOT help you bring up (definitely not receive in advance unless you heavily tip) but if you bring down your spouse or partner and empty suitcases you can bring up water, snacks, soda, beer, liquor, fruit, etc at regular grocery store prices. We got Vons delivered to the Mirage last May and got a buncha snacks, pop, beer, and some vodka delivered for like $50. First time users usually get free delivery and $10~ off too..

This way you can save some money, don't have to carry heavy bags from CVS or Walgreens, or pay inflated prices at the hotel sundry shops.

 

Here is a link to my review of Vons that we did last May:

http://vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/vons-grocery-delivery-to-the-strip-review.162648/

 

I use my Caesars Reward Visa card throughout the year for just about anything I would use my debit card for. Then I pay it off every two weeks. This accumulates reward credits I can use in Vegas. Basically free money! Last year we had over $600 worth of credits to use for our vacation.

 

Yes. I use my Southwest Visa card the same way. I get free drink coupons and have taken 3 free trips so far, with my Aug. trip coming up to be my 4th.

 

Seriously, I think the best tip here is get a good reward CC, use it for everything, pay it off monthly.

 

Nah, I mostly travel hack my way to Vegas, and supplement play with coupons and nowhere where deals I like are. And that leaves plenty for gambling and the occasional splurge, especially when I have two trips close enough together than I can essentially roll over unspent gambling budget

 

My Vegas (OK not what it used to be but I still save $300+ per trip - 2 buffets, 50 bucks at duelling pianos time square, bogo on monorail plus various drinks offers times two with my wife's account), Wynn Slots - free rooms an buffet, Binions - free stuff to be decided. Get my rooms plus some freeplay and f&b. Can't do too much on flights from the UK but generally once we get there we don't pay for food or drink, so expenses are Golden Knights game and any shopping that feels appropriate!