Affordable Vegas!

Vacations are usually a huge money dump. Between the transportation, lodging, and food, there's hardly enough cashola left to actually DO anything! Well, that's the genius of Las Vegas. You don't have to break the bank to visit, AND - if you have a lucky streak - your vacation might actually pay for itself!

I visited Vegas recently, as a part of an annnual Girls Weekend (GWLV). My bestie, Amber, has got this whole trip-planning thing down to a science! Sure, it's a huge part of her actual job, but I think she enjoys planning GWLV. The main key here is that she plans everything loosely - attendees are free to participate or not - and no guilt if you decide to hit the pool instead of attending the afternoon visit to the Liberace Museum. (Disclaimer - We have never actually visited the above-mentioned location!) By going in a group, we share expenses, which brings the cost waaaaaay down.

Expense #1: Transportation. If you're in Cali, Arizona, or even Utah, a roadtrip is the way to go. Pack a lunch, or stop in at a roadside fast food place, and you can get there fairly inexpensively. Anywhere else, you're gonna have to fly. (Sorry, no stop at the World's Tallest Thermometer for you!) You'll be surprised at how cheap flights to Vegas can be! Seriously, check it out here. I've heard of people flying from the East Coast for about $100!

As for me, I tagged along with Amber & Oly, who chose to drive a very economical vehicle to Vegas, which required ZERO stops for gas! We stopped once for dinner - Oly was a sweetheart & bought us some fancy chicken strips at Jack in the Box.

Expense #2: Lodging. We take this super-seriously, after all, we're gonna be poorly-rested as it is, due to nightly adventures, but we don't want to sleep in rock-hard beds, too! Can you imagine the level of cranky that our group of ladies would achieve?! Nope, gotta stay somewhere nice. Our choice for lodging is the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. The location is pretty close to perfect for us. It's on the south part of the strip, right next to a CVS (great for forgotten supplies like shampoo or sunblock), and there's a free monorail that will take you down to the City Center and Bellagio.


One really great thing about the Monte Carlo is it's ventilation system... Smoking is allowed pretty much everywhere in Vegas. (I still haven't checked the churches, police station, or hospital, but then again, we haven't done the The Hangoverversion of GWLV yet!) Still, it's actually not overly smoky in the Monte Carlo casino. If you have a sensitivity to smoke, you really should consider this hotel, or the New York New York Hotel and Casino.

Also, the Monte Carlo has a pretty decent pool area. It's no "Rehab" like at the Hard Rock Hotel, so if you're looking for a huge party scene, this isn't the place. It's pretty mellow, but don't worry, there's plenty of eye candy, if that's what you're looking for. The lazy river is a wonderful place to cool off... Just grab a floatie and meander around the river for as long as you like!

Anyhow, bottom line: Always have a roomie so you can split the lodging expense. If it's $40 a night (that's what I paid at the Luxor this past summer) and you've got a friend with you, well, now you're only out $20!


Expense #3: Food. You could pretty easily go broke just eating in Vegas. Keep your eye out for deals, though, and you'll be sittin' pretty! Prior to leaving, check Restaurant.com for deals. They offer $25 gift certificates to thousands of restaurants for only $10!
Also, consider getting an Entertainment Book for Las Vegas. It has hundreds of "Buy One, Get One Free" coupons, and 50% off deals at restaurants all over Vegas.

If you're smart, you'll keep a snack or two in your room. Think crackers, fruit, granola bars... And maybe a beverage. Or even some adult beverages! Our rooms had refrigerators in 'em, and of course, there's always ice available, so we had drinks available whenever we got thirsty.

The Monte Carlo has a food court that offers affordable fast food, such as McDonald's, Subway, and Sbarro. They also have an all-you-can-eat buffet... And on Saturday morning, when we went, that included champagne! (I covered my $19.99 worth in champagne alone.) I haven't done it yet, but I've heard you can get an all-day buffet pass for about $35, and it's valid at several different casino buffets. If you plan on being hungry, well, this is an AMAZING deal!

There are loads of reputable, exquisite restaurants in Vegas, and by all means, you might want to slurge on one or two. We dined at the Grand Lux Cafe at The Palazzo. I had a pasta and chicken dish and a beer for around $20. However, if you have a more refined palate, they have an extensive wine menu and lots of delightful entrees to choose from. The portions are HUGE - I think every one of us took a "to go" box back to our hotel!

Expense #4: Entertainment. Vegas has a vast array of entertainment choices! It's possible to do all kinds of stuff around Vegas for fairly cheap, if you plan ahead! Remember that Entertainment Book? It's loaded with entertainment deals in addition to food discounts.

I just discovered this one today: The Ultimate Vegas Power Pass. For a mere $89 ($59 for kids), for 2 days you have access to dozens of Vegas attractions. Here's just a few: All-Day Ride Pass at the Adventuredome, Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas, Hoover Dam Motor Coach Tour, Las Vegas Zoo, Liberace Museum, Madame Tussauds, $10 Credit at Planet Hollywood, Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat, Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck, The Legacy Tour at Grand Canyon West, and the Roller Coaster @ NYNY. The pass has a value of over $500! For comparison purposes: The NYNY roller coaster is $14, the Eiffel Tower is $10-$15 (depending what time you go), the Stratosphere is $15.95, and Adventuredome is $24.95. Honestly, the The Ultimate Vegas Power Pass is one of the best deals I've come across in a long time!

Expense #4: Gambling. Naturally, you can spend as little or as much as you want on gambling. If you choose to do so, make sure you sign up for a players club card. Simply hand it to the dealer or insert it in the machine you're playing, and you'll rack up points toward free buffets, comped rooms, and other perks! One year, one of our GWLV attendees gambled enough to get a poolside cabana comped for us! (Thanks, Christina and Monte Carlo!) The Monte Carlo card works at several casinos, including the MGM Grand and Excalibur.

I managed to win just a bit more than I spent on this trip - I did pretty well at the NY-NY casino, as did my friend Amy. We had the best time there, and didn't realize how late it was until we walked out and saw the sun rising! I hit a $50 jackpot on the Wheel of Fortune penny slots at the Monte Carlo, too. Yaaaay!

Don't forget, when you're actively gambling, cocktail servers will bring you drink after drink after drink! Whether that's water, beer, or bloody marys, they're free! Don't be cheap though, give the server a tip. I give a dollar per drink. If you "forget" to tip, they oftentimes "forget" to come back for another beverage order.

Expense #5: Nightlife. This city never sleeps, so you can literally stay out all night long, if you so choose! (Remember my gambling all-nighter?!) Last July, when I checked into the Luxor, they handed me a little coupon book that included free passes to their nightclub. This is really common, and you should ask for a coupon book no matter where you stay when you check in.

Also, oftentimes, when you enter a casino, there's an attractive guy or gal handing out nightclub passes, or coupons for freebies. I can't tell you how many free jello shot coupons I've encountered for Dick's Last Resort! Lots of places are free before 9 or 10 pm. I went to my very favorite place, Nine Fine Irishmen, around 10 pm and got in free. We listened to an energetic Irish band, watched a spirited irish dancer, all free of charge! My cider was kinda pricey, $8.25/pint, but when you reconcile the overall cost, it's not so bad. (Beware the Irish Car Bomb though - my friend bought a round and was SHOCKED to find they were $11 EACH!) Last year we dined at The Palms, so we got into the Playboy Club and Ghostbar free-of-charge.


Lastly, to save some cashola but still vacation like royalty, join BuyWithMe.com and Groupon.com. Both sites offer AMAZING deals in cities across the country. Check what's available in Vegas before you visit. You could get spa services for half off, entertainment deals for 75% off, or even dining deals for up to 90% off!

Total Expense: Believe it or not, my total expense for GWLV is ALWAYS under $200, usually closer to $150! See, Vegas doesn't HAVE to be a savings-draining vacation. Just plan ahead - and maybe pray to the gambling gods for good luck.

(Do you have a good Vegas tip? Let me know in the comment are below!)

Roadtrippin' on the Cheap

Last week, I needed to get away. I mean, I REAAAAAAAALLY needed to take a break from my everyday life. Long story short - this unemployment thing was really getting to me. Solution? Hit the road.

Now, an unplanned roadtrip can be crazy expensive because there are so many unexpected, unpredictable, well, "un"s that pop up. Endless roadside diner visits, middle-of-nowhere-so-they-got-you-by-the-wallet hotels, and "I can't live without this!" souvenirs all equal big bucks. I was able to keep this trip manageable, however!

First things first: I was unexpectedly invited to join in on a family weekend in Las Vegas. My dad had paid for a hotel room for 2 nights, so already, I was sittin' pretty. (Thanks, Dad!) I filled up my gas tank and hit the road. I stopped along the way for breakfast - I happened to have won a free breakfast at Burger King from their Twilightpromotion earlier in the week. So far, so good!

Las Vegaswas, as expected, REALLY HOT! My sister had arrived earlier than me, so she had already checked us in at the hotel. We put on our swimsuits and made a beeline for the pool. Aaaaaaah, refreshing! The pool is about the best free thing you can do in Vegas. Just make sure you use lots of sunscreen! (If you're a planner-aheader, go herefor sunscreen [and grocery] coupons so you don't have to pay gift shop prices.)

I'm not a big gambler, but I do like the super cheapie penny poker. I put a couple of bucks in the machine and played to my heart's content. The cocktail waitress kept me hydrated, and I tipped her a buck per drink. I gambled away about $3, HOWEVER, I recieved about 4 beers for a grand total of $7 ($3 lost and $4 in tips). Not bad for Vegas, when you consider that clubs charge $6 and up per drink!

After a couple of days in Vegas, I decided to hit the road alone. (I know, so brave!) I headed north on the I-15 toward Zion National Park. I paid $12 to get in (a bargain when you compare that to Disneyland's $72 admission) and $16 to camp overnight. I settled in and immediately went to explore the park. During the summer months, you have to take their free shuttle bus to get to most points in the park. I realize that hiking alone is a bad idea, so I chose trails that were easy, short, & heavily travelled. One exception: I really wanted to go to hike the Narrows. You hike a paved trail past hanging gardens, up to a point where you literally have to walk in the river a ways to see where the canyon narrows. I tagged along with a couple of families, who were kind enough to take a picture for me. :)

As for food, I bought peanut butter, jelly, and bread at Target along the way (again, using coupons!) plus a few other things like granola bars and Wheat Thins. Oh, and for down-time entertainment, I bought Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesiato read, and let me tell you what, this book is EVERY bit as good as you've heard it is! Food & entertainment = CHEAP!

I got a phone call from my daughter who was in Albuquerque, visiting her dad's family. "Mommy, pleeease come get me?" was a request that I couldn't deny. I hit the road, yet again.

Gas prices: Gas costs far cheaper, of course, in the bigger towns, where there's more competition. Well duh, right? However, this isn't ALWAYS true. The first station in town is usually a rip off, sometimes more expensive than boondock stations. Also, the last station before you get to the next state is usually a bit elevated in pricing, so the town BEFORE you hit the border tends to have better-priced gas. Finally, big truck stops actually have the best prices a lot of the time, even out in the middle of nowhere. One good place in particular is Pilot Travel Centers. I assume they can stay reasonable due to volume.

As an example of all of the above: I pulled into Winslow, AZ, as in "I was standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona..." from the Eagles' song Take It Easy.The first gas station was charging over $3 a gallon. Yeah, NO. I went to the very next exit and it was around $2.75/gal. I filled up there and got back on the I-40. About 2 or 3 miles out of town, I passed a Pilot where the gas was about $2.73/gal!

Anyhoo, I couldn't resist stopping at Petrified Forest National Park. It's a total bargain at only $10 per car (it's a it more for RVs). Now is the time when I will admit the reason I had to stop here: Beavis and Butt-head Do America.I loved Beavis & Butthead back when I was in the Army, and I loved this movie, as awful and silly as it is. I had been all of the stops in this movie, except the Petrified Forest. So, I handed over my $10 and completed my B&B world tour! ;)

Lodging in Albuquerque was free (with my former in laws, who are awesome!). My daughter caught wind of my Vegas visit so she wanted to stop there on the way home. I got online and searched for hotels using TripAdvisor,one of my favorite travel sites since forever! (I've even posted reviews and photos of hotels I've stayed at around the world, so others can see what they're getting into before they book.) I found GREAT hotel deals, such as the Luxor for only $40/night! Also, I bought a certificate for House of Blues at Mandalay Bay from Restaurant.com.($10 for a $25 gift certificate!)

The kiddo & I hit the road together. Several hours and one Hoover Dampass-by later (also in the B&B movie!), we were in Vegas. We hit the Luxor pool and later had our HOB dinner. My 12 year old was ESPECIALLY thrilled about the House of Blues because they have live entertainment, and that was totally new to her. (Don't worry, we went around 8, before it got night-clubby!)

We kept things inexpensive for the next 2 days by refilling our water bottles, eating pb&j sandwiches instead of eating at restaurants all the time, and looking for deals when we did go out to eat. (There's a $6.99 All-You-Can-Eat spaghetti dinner at Sherwood Cafe at the Excalibur, although I could only eat one serving.) She had never been in the Paris, Las Vegas Eiffel Tower, so we walked over there one night. I had found a 'buy one admission, get one free' in one of thouse tourist coupon books, so for the both of us I paid about $15. Bonus: The Bellagio fountains did their dance TWICE while we were up there, including Elvis' Viva Las Vegasand then their last-of-the-evening midnight show featuring The Star Spangled Banner. Had I planned ahead, I would have bought the Las Vegas Entertainment Bookfor more discounted dining and half-priced entertainment!

In any case, between the hotel discounts, cheap National Park visits, pb&j sandwiches, and restaurant certificate, the biggest expense on this roadtrip was easily the cost of gas. So, for maximum savings, think about hitting the road in something a little more economic than a Nissan Xterra (which I love dearly but I'm not sure the MPG could be any worse!).

After an adventurous, unplanned week on the road, it was time to go home. Home sweet home. :)