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Las Vegas, United States

Las Vegas

United StatesNorth America

Las Vegas is unlike anywhere else on earth. Rising out of the Nevada desert in a blaze of neon, the Strip is a surreal, dazzling parade of mega-resorts, where you can stroll from the canals of Venice to the Eiffel Tower to a glass pyramid in the space of an afternoon. There are dancing fountains, erupting volcanoes, world-class shows, all-night casinos, and buffets the size of warehouses. It's loud, excessive, and gloriously over the top, a city built entirely for entertainment, and whether you gamble a cent or not, the spectacle alone is worth the trip.

Here's the honest budget picture, and it has a twist. Vegas can look astonishingly cheap, with Strip rooms sometimes going for the price of a hostel, because the hotels make their money once you're inside, at the tables, restaurants and shows. The catch is the fees: a mandatory daily resort fee, paid parking, and steep food and drink prices on the Strip can quietly double a budget. But the brand promise holds here in a big way, because Las Vegas has one of the best rosters of free attractions of any city. The fountains, the light shows, the themed resorts, all free to enjoy. Play it smart, treat the room rate and the resort fee as one number, and Vegas is far more affordable than it first appears. We'll show you how.

Best time to visit

The most pleasant weather comes in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), with warm, comfortable days, which also makes them popular. For the lowest room rates, come in the brutal heat of summer (July and August), when desert temperatures hit 40C and above and hotels slash prices, or in the quieter stretches of December and January (outside the holidays and New Year). The single most powerful money-saver, though, isn't the season but the day of the week: midweek (Tuesday to Thursday) room rates are dramatically cheaper than weekends, often by £45 to £140 a night. Avoid major convention and event weekends, when prices spike sharply.

What it costs

Per person, per day, not counting flights.

Backpacker

around £60 to £105 a day. That covers a budget off-Strip or older-Strip room or a dorm bed (shared between two), fast-casual and buffet meals, the cheap Deuce bus, and free attractions.

Mid-range

around £145 to £235 a day. This allows a Strip or near-Strip hotel (shared), sit-down meals, strategic rideshares, and a show every couple of days.

Luxury

£370 a day and up, and the premium Strip resorts, celebrity-chef restaurants and headline shows set no real ceiling.

A place to visit in Las Vegas

Hand-picked experiences we'd actually recommend. Tap any one to read more and book.

activity

Walk the Strip and its free spectacles

The Strip is the heart of Las Vegas, and simply walking it, especially after dark when the neon comes alive, is the city's defining free experience. Watch the famous Bellagio fountains dance to music every evening, wander through the themed worlds of the resorts (the canals of the Venetian, the Roman halls of Caesars Palace), and take it all in. You can spend a whole day and night here without paying for a single attraction. We'll map out a walking route taking in the best free shows and resort interiors, and the timings for the fountain displays.

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Experience Fremont Street and old Vegas

For a taste of classic, vintage Las Vegas, head downtown to Fremont Street, the original heart of the city. The pedestrian strip is covered by a vast canopy screen that erupts into a free light-and-sound show every evening, with zip-liners flying overhead, buskers, and the old-school casinos that started it all. It's livelier, cheaper and more characterful than the Strip, with better-value food and drink. It's a free, only-in-Vegas spectacle. We'll explain how to get downtown cheaply and what to see along Fremont Street.

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tour

Take a day trip to the Grand Canyon

Las Vegas is the gateway to some of America's most spectacular scenery, and the Grand Canyon is the headline trip. Day tours run from the city to both the closer West Rim (home of the glass Skywalk) and the more dramatic South Rim, by coach, or for a splurge, by helicopter for unforgettable aerial views. Closer still, the stunning red rocks of Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam make excellent half-day trips. It's the natural counterpoint to the neon. We'll explain the rim options, the tour types, and how to choose the right Grand Canyon trip for your time and budget.

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tour

Catch a world-class show

Las Vegas is the live-entertainment capital of the world, and a show is a quintessential part of the experience. The options are staggering: the acrobatic spectacle of Cirque du Soleil, headline musicians in residency, magicians, comedians, and long-running stage productions. Ticket prices vary hugely, so look for same-day discount booths, midweek performances, and deals to bring the cost down. Even on a budget, one great show is worth building in. We'll explain the types of show on offer, how to find discounted tickets, and which suit different budgets.

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food

Eat from cheap classics to legendary buffets

Vegas dining runs from pocket-change to extravagant. At the budget end, the city has genuinely good cheap eats: the In-N-Out at the LINQ, the famous downtown shrimp cocktails, and food courts away from the premium restaurants. At the other end sits the legendary Vegas buffet, an all-you-can-eat institution where the better ones pile on crab legs, wagyu and endless choice, a fun splurge if you pick wisely. The trick is mixing cheap meals with one memorable blowout. We'll point you to the best-value eats and which buffets are worth the money.

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Frequently asked questions

Vegas is a city of extremes. Backpackers manage on £60-105 a day and a mid-range trip runs £145-235. The catch is the mandatory daily resort fee (£30-50 per room per night) and pricey Strip food and drink, which quietly double the headline room rate. Book midweek, treat the resort fee as part of your room cost, and lean on the huge roster of free attractions.

The single biggest saving isn't the season, it's the day of the week. Tuesday to Thursday room rates are dramatically cheaper than weekends, often by £45-140 a night. For seasonal savings, come in the brutal summer heat of July and August or the quieter stretches of December and January (outside the holidays), and avoid big convention and event weekends.

Loads. The Bellagio fountains dance every evening, the themed resort interiors (the Venetian canals, Caesars Palace, the Luxor pyramid) are free to wander, and downtown's Fremont Street canopy runs a free light-and-sound show nightly with zip-liners overhead. Watching the Strip come alive after dark is the defining Vegas experience, and it doesn't cost a cent.

The Deuce bus runs the length of the Strip 24/7 and the monorail links most of the big resorts on the east side, both far cheaper than rideshares stuck in Strip traffic. Rideshares work well downtown and for the airport. Walking the Strip looks short on a map but the distances between resorts are deceptively long, so factor in the heat.

Yes, and it's one of the best day trips in the western US. Coach tours run to the closer West Rim (home of the glass Skywalk) and the more dramatic South Rim, and helicopter flights are a splurge with unforgettable views. Closer still, Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam make excellent half-day trips. Book ahead in peak season.

Not at all. Vegas has one of the best rosters of free entertainment of any city on earth, from the fountains and light shows to the themed resorts, and the food, live shows and pool scenes are worth the trip on their own. If you do play, set a firm limit and treat it as entertainment, not income. Casino ATMs charge punishing fees, so withdraw elsewhere.