Las Vegas for penny-pinchers
You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy some of Sin City’s best attractions
Not everyone who goes to Las Vegas has to act like a high roller.
And despite a low Canadian dollar, you can still hit the Strip for a few days and potentially come back home with money in your pocket.
No, you don’t have to win a slot jackpot. There are several different ways to stretch hard-earned dollars, whether you’re spending them on food, fun, accommodation or the hundreds of attractions. (Note: All prices are in U.S. dollars).
BROOKLYN BOWL
Located right in the heart of The Strip at The Linq Hotel, this unique alley is the ultimate experience for those who love 10-pin bowling and live music. Even if most of the balls are gutter-bound, at least players can enjoy hearing everything from the Preservation Jazz Hall Band to the folk-rock Avett Brothers on the giant stage.
Price: $20-25 per half-hour, per alley. For a group of eight, it works out to about $5/hour per person. On nights where there is a live performance, prices vary depending on the artist playing.
TOPGOLF
A hot new attraction overlooking the Strip is Topgolf at MGM Grand, a twist on your garden variety driving range. This giant multi-level entertainment complex comes with an extensive food and drink menu, swimming pools, lounge areas, a concert venue, and giant televisions everywhere. Oh, did I mention there was golf as well? You and your pals can compete to see who has the best golf game, as each ball is micro-chipped for accuracy as you attempt to hit various targets at different distances.
Price: Off peak times, $30/hour, and each pad can have up to six players.
SLOTZILLA
Want a ride of a lifetime without having money fall out of your pockets? Try SlotZilla, a 12-storey slot machine-inspired zip line that takes thrill-seekers right across the Fremont Street Experience and over the crowds below. If that isn’t adventurous enough, try zoom-lining. Done in a prone superhero-style position, zoom-liners reach speeds up to 65 km/h.
Price: $25 for zip line, $45 for zoom-line, with a $5 discount before 6 p.m.
MYSTERE AT TREASURE ISLAND
How’s this for a deal? Take in one of the free rehearsals of Cirque du Soleil’s long-running Mystere on a Saturday or Sunday, and you’ll get a huge discount on tickets to the actual show. Price: $99 for two after free rehearsal.
EGGSLUT
If the name doesn’t grab your attention, their breakfast sandwich will. Located in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Eggslut is one of the hottest new fast food eateries on the Strip, and a great place to cure that morning hunger and/or hangover. Lineups are long but move quickly, and the menu will have egg lovers coming back for more. The mouth-watering Bacon, Egg & Cheese sandwich blends Applewood smoked bacon, cage-free egg, cheddar cheese and chipotle ketchup in a warm brioche bun.
Price: $7-10 for most sandwiches, $8 for the Bacon, Egg & Cheese sandwich.
STREET ART
The streets of downtown Vegas have had a visual transformation of late, starting with the popular Life Is Beautiful festival in 2013. The alleyways and old motels near Fremont Street have turned into a unique canvas of vibrant colourful works by artists such as ROA, Maser, Alexis Diaz, Zio Ziegler and Misaki Kawai. Price: Free.
EL CORTEZ HOTEL & CASINO
Located a hop, skip and a jump away from the Fremont Street Experience, the family-run hotel, built in 1941, proudly displays its long history with photos from long ago and retro-style decor.
Price: From $27 daily and up, elcortezhotelcasino.com. HIGH ROLLER EXPERIENCE
Want a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful Las Vegas strip? Try the High Roller Experience (across from Caesars Palace on Las Vegas Boulevard). At 168-metres-tall and 150-metres in diameter, it’s the world’s tallest ferris wheel.
Price: $30, children under 12 are free.
BELLAGIO FOUNTAINS
This is a given for anyone that travels to Las Vegas. And because the fountain routine changes up all the time, it never gets old. Price: Free.