Backpacking Las Vegas…Cheaply
By Ubertramp • Nov 22nd, 2007 • Category: Cheapskate Friday
Before, when I thought of Las Vegas, I thought of glitz, glamour, excess, and a heady collection of high rollers and big hitters (read: a crazy place, but not one for backpackers) but how wrong I was.
Last year, after friends duped me into booking a flight to Vegas whilst magnificently drunk, this much became clear. Previously I couldn’t imagine lasting out even one weekend in Las Vegas on my measly budget, but after looking into the possibilities of a cheaper Las Vegas I found that it could be done – or at least in theory it could, anyway.
Curiously, it seems that Las Vegas’ obscene display of wealth and excess, or, more acurately, the way in which it’s created, actually helps backpackers to exist here. Everywhere you look in Vegas there are systems in place to entice folks into the casinos, and to keep them in there and spending money - free booze, free food, free shows etc - but if you can keep your head it’s nothing but a big, fat green light for freeloaders the world over. But only if you don’t allow the casinos to do what they do best will you have busy, fun, AND satisfyingly cheap week in Las Vegas.
Anyway, here are a few choice links to help backpackers planning on weaving a cheap Las Vegas into their itinerary. Nb. There are many more websites, but most of these links will lead you into the wonderful world of cheaper Las Vegas anyway. Enjoy!
LINKS TO A CHEAPER LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Coupons and Forums
Vegas4locals helpfully split their coupon offers into sections.
Another appealing Las Vegas coupon website is the aptly named vegascoupons. The good thing here is that they also host a cheaper Las Vegas forum – it’s great for the latest deals and also shares heaps of tips and tricks to help make for a cheaper stay.
Another good cheap Las Vegas forum is Las Vegas Direct, which also has a pretty comprehensive tips section.
Lasvegas-nv also offer discounts and coupons, but mainly for tours and shows.
Map of the Las Vegas Strip
Map of Downtown Las Vegas
Map of Greater Las Vegas
Cheap Las Vegas Websites
The above maps come from Big Empire which also comprehensively covers other aspects of a cheaper (and some times even free!) Las Vegas - tings such as their Free Las Vegas Crap, Free Las Vegas Eats, and Free Las Vegas Sights sections. And although not quite as good as their free-flavoured stuff, they have cheap sections too!
Another sight in a very similar vein is the Cheapo Vegas website. Again, they have the free and cheap sections, but also have a really handy set of comparison charts to give quick overviews on the following:-
Both Big Empire and Cheapo Vegas give hotel reviews, but in my opinion they’re a little off the mark as they tend to slate some of the Las Vegas accommodation options which, in my opinion, really aren’t that bad. I’ve stayed at a few of the ‘stinking places’ as they put it, and thought they were just fine – but then again I have no standards…
In addition, of the sites that deal with cheap accommodation, many fail to mention the Las Vegas Backpacker Hostels. At the time of writing there are 2 backpacker hostels that I know of (and have stayed in) – the Sin City Hostel and the USA Backpacking Hostel - both are around 22 bucks a night PP (remember though, if you are in a larger group, turning 1 hotel room into shanty town may be a better option value-wise).
The USA Hostel offers a little more for backpackers in the way of stuff like free Wi-Fi etc. but is way off the strip and a fair walk through a pretty shitty area to get among the action. The Sin City Hostel on the other hand is right on the main boulevard between Freemont, Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip proper - just walk out and jump on the bus to either area. Perfect. incidentally, the Las Vegas 24hr bus pass is the way to go on this one if you want a full day checking out the numerous casinos as the distance between them can be quite deceptive!
As well as price, other added bonus of these 2 hostels is that they both come with a free breakfast and fully equipped kitchens – so if it’s been a while since breakfast and you’re sick of the free coffee and doughnuts in the casinos, you can retire to the hostel and eat 10 cent noodles to your hearts content. Oh, and watch Elvis marry a few suckers off whilst you do so - it may shake you up, but please don’t cry in the chapel.
Well, there you have it - a cheaper Las Vegas for backpackers. “U-huh-huh, thang-ya-verr-much.”
Ubertramp is the brainchild of freelance travel writer and inveterate cheapskate Nath Richards.
On occasion, he's been known to write for cash, food or friends - but never to flash for coins or publicity. If you enjoy his articles and want one for your own publication then drop him a line. Unless hungry, he's quite approachable.
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Nathan, did you go yet? If not, try out ReJavanate, it’s a great coffee shop with a couple of locations in L.V.
Hi Jack,
I was out there last year - but I wish I’d known about this place while I was there! Maybe next time…
Haha, Sneaky, sneaky,
Good Tip, Nath!
I have always been scared away from Vegas myself (even though I am told that it is in my own country) but Mira was just talking about going there a couple of nights ago.
Hmm, I suppose Vegas has to offer some kind of consolation prize to all of those weirdos who loose all their money. . .
but if you don’t have any money before you start hmm . . . clever, clever.
Later gator!
Hey, great story! Last time I was in Vegas I didn’t leave the airport. The time before that, I drove straight through ’cause I was dead out of cash and driving a 1972 Toyota Corolla with a hole in the floor (this blog post would’ve come in handy back then….) Great post! Will post a link to it on my blog…
Nice place there Jack.
Heh Nath, isnt the whole idea of going to Las Vegas is to be lucky, and win a President Suite with the missus ?
[…] freebies that can be had from some friends who went recently, I was glad to see this post - Backpacking Las Vegas…Cheaply - by Ubertramp - a veritable catalogue of how to do Vegas a little bit differently: WITHOUT blowing […]
PK - you’d have to be VERY lucky to win a presidential suite with my missus as she’s not even in the USA at the moment
Seriously, a bit of luck helps in Vegas I guess. One thing i didn’t mention in the post was that I decided to put $10 aside as my casino budget and walk out when I’d lost it - after all, you have to have a bit of a flutter in Vegas - right?
Well bugger me rigid if I didn’t win $300!! serious. I ended up spending half the afternoon, the whole of an evening and then a bit of the wee early hours in their on that. I was chuffed to bits! Feeling a bit of a ‘high roller’ I even tipped the free beer waitresses (as you are meant to) - which was even better as it was 1. with the casino’s money, and 2. it meant getting plied with big cups of tacate even more frequently. Fantastic!
Anyhow, in true vegas style I blew nearly all of it, (i didn’t mind as i’d written the 10 buck off as fun for the day) but peeled myself away from the pokies when i got down to 50 bucks - which paid for my greyhound across to Flagstaff the next day.
good day really, hours of fun in the Vegas casinos, loads of beer, and a free bus ticket to my next stop. I love Vegas…!
Wade - you know me, man, ’sneaky to the bone…!
So, can we expect to see a few dispatches from Las Vegas in the near future? I reckon that would make for more pretty interesting reading.
I’m liking the look of vagabond journey a lot - I’ve had a root through it but still only feel that I’ve scratched the surface! lol I’ll just have to go back for more!
Safe travels and hope you both make it to the Uk at some point,
Nath
Lauren - a ‘72 battered Corolla in Vegas - it sounds like something from Hunter S Thompson! lol! Sounds like you know how to travel in style - sweet!
Thanks Lauren, Nath.