Cheap Flight To Las Vegas

Las Vegas On A Budget

Las Vegas - the lights, the sights, the sounds, the glamour - ignites the soul and stimulates the senses. For some, Las Vegas can be overwhelming finanicially, especially in these hard, financial times. Here are some tips to get you out on that vacation without losing your shirt.

The first obstacle is getting there. This will depend greatly on where you live, but most of you will fly. Cheap flights to Las Vegas can be found on several internet sites. Shop around with comparative sites like Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and Hotwire. Also consider that some of the no frills airlines offer great deals, if you are willing to pack a lunch (check with your airport for security restrictions on food and drink allowed past security). If your dates and times are a little flexible take the best price you find at the other sites and ask for something cheaper on Priceline.

Where you will stay is your next step. Vegas.com offers really great deals for staying in hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. Be careful, though, because several of these hotels have hidden fees that you pay upon check in. Check the reviews of the hotels before you book them. Another way to save with accomodations is to book the flight and hotel together. Most travel sites including Vegas.com allow you to book these two together. If you feel that even these options are a little out of your price range, consider staying off the Strip. Las Vegas, being a huge tourist town, has several cheaper, chain hotels like Budget Inn and Travelodge. Planning your trip for the middle of the work week will save you a few dollars a night as well. Also, you can often find coupon books around the area that are free and offer great rates on these cheaper hotels. Understand that if you opt to wait until you get these coupon books that you may have to hunt for a room and settle for whatever is available on the dates you go.

Getting around Las Vegas can be a challenge to anyone who has never been out west. There is a lot of space to cover to get anywhere. The Strip alone is about 10 miles long from The Stratosphere Hotel to South Point Hotel. Determine before you leave where you want to go while you are in Las Vegas, so you know whether you will need a rental car or if you can rely on public transportation. There are many ways to get around, so check out Vegas.com's transportation page for forms of transport, where they go, and price guides. This will help you determine which method is right for you. Keep in mind that a lot of the places around Las Vegas require you to pay for parking, so include that in your budget for expenses if you rent a car.

Now that you have your flight and accomodations ready, what will you do once you get there? Las Vegas has a lot of things to do, many of which cost money, but you can still enjoy yourself without spending a lot. There are shows, amusement rides, sight seeing, and of course, gambling.

The shows are easy. There are several free show to see including the water show at the Belagio Hotel and the pirate show at Treasure Island among others. Many of the hotels offer shows a couple times a day in an effort to get you to come to their establishment. There is also the Freemont Street Experience. This is a covered, walking street that stretches from Main Street to 4th Street on Freemont Street. There is a light show on the cover that you can watch for free. Beware of pickpockets if you go to see any of the shows. These are prime target areas since people are not paying attention to anything but the show.

Some of the hotels offer amusement rides, but unless you can find a great deal, I wouldn't recommend doing the rides. They can be very expensive. Some hotels offer coupon books that give discounts to these rides, and sometimes you can get deals on Vegas.com when you book a flight and room together. The key is plan ahead. Understand that if you really want to do this, you may be missing out on something else to get you on the ride.

Sight seeing is a very big thing in the Las Vegas area. There is Hoover Dam, Death Valley, and the Las Vegas Strip in the immediate area to name a few. Also, if you are going to be in the area between November 14-15, 2009, the Air Force Thunderbirds will be flying over Nellis Air Force Base, which is also near Las Vegas. Several of these attractions also cost money, but you can usually get a good deal if you get your tickets in advance or book a package deal with your hotel and/or flight.

Finally there is gambling - the reason so many people visit Las Vegas every year. The trick to gambling is that you should set aside a certain amount of money that you can lose and expect to lose it. Most people do not win when they gamble. If you are compulsive, leave your credit cards in your hotel safe or at home. Do not spend more than you set aside for this purpose. Also, if you suspect that you or someone with you has a gambling problem, avoid the casinos altogether.

Ultimately, the key to your budget vacation is to plan ahead and know what you will be spending. If you don't have the money for the trip now, start saving a little at a time and soon you will have the funds for this vacation. So enjoy your trip to Las Vegas with a slightly tighter grip on your wallet.

Vegas.com Team, Vegas.com

United States Air Force, Air Force Thunderbirds