Oct. 2, 2022: Today I found this article.
Jan. 2, 2022 "How Much Does it Cost to go to Las Vegas?": This is by Barry Choi:
**This post may contain affiliate links. I may be compensated if you use them.
Known for casinos, swanky hotels, big shows, and bachelor/bachelorette parties, Las Vegas is a city that is on many people’s must-see list. Whether you come for the gambling, the parties, or even the nearby natural attractions, Las Vegas is a pretty cool place to visit. But, just how much does it cost to go to Las Vegas? Read on to find out.
For the purpose of this article, I’m going to suggest spending 3 nights in Las Vegas. Enough for a fun, long weekend away but not enough time to get bored. Here’s what the budget for a trip to Las Vegas looks like.
Las Vegas Trip Cost
| Expenses | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Airfare | $375 |
| Accommodations | $825 |
| Local transportation | $35 |
| Attractions | $500 |
| Food and drink | $250 |
| Random Spending | $200 |
| Total | $2,185 |
The above estimate is in American dollars, so please use xe.com to find out the average costs in your home currency.
If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a signup bonus of up to 115,000 American Express Membership Rewards points which have a minimum value of $1,150 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees and it comes with airport lounge access.
Airfare
If you are flying to Las Vegas from North America, especially the west coast, you’ll find some pretty cheap flights. On average, you can expect to pay about $340 per person roundtrip from within North America. Flights from American cities will be much cheaper than from Canadian cities. I’ve seen prices from within the U.S. for under $250, often less if you’re flying with a budget airline.
For those flying from Canada, you can find some pretty great deals as Las Vegas is a common seat sale destination. It’s also worth mentioning that many airlines offer vacation packages to Las Vegas where your hotel and flight are priced together. This can often give you a big discount.
Accommodations
Las Vegas has no shortage of hotels but chances are, if you want the true Las Vegas experience, you want to stay on or near the Strip. This will mean higher costs, but there are still deals to be found, especially if you book early.
If you stay off strip, on the northern part of the strip, or downtown, the price of accommodations can drop quite a bit. It really just depends on what you’re looking for as some of the big hotels are quite extravagant and have different themes.
I recommend budgeting $200 per night for hotels, but that’s an average price. There are often discounts and sales so your average nightly can go down. Of course, if you’re trying to look like a superstar and want to get a room with a view or a suite, prices can go up significantly.
Looking for some recommendations? Take a look at:
Midrange hotels
Luxury Hotels
Airbnb / vacation homes
From mansions to condos, there are a lot of Airbnb and vacation homes available for rent. The prices are similar to hotels, so you wouldn’t be saving a huge amount. That said, you do get access to a kitchen and if you’re travelling in a big group, renting a house could be a better value.
If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $300 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.
Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express which gives you up to 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels which could easily have a value of over $500.
Local Transportation
If your Las Vegas plans are centred primarily on staying on or by The Strip, then you can easily get by with the local transit. Either the monorail or the bus which is known as The Deuce. The Deuce is the most budget-friendly option and 3-day tickets are $20. Unfortunately, it does not stop at the airport, however, there are airport shuttles that leave from the airport to hotels on The Strip and cost just under $10 each way.
The monorail may sound appealing, but when you look at a map, you’ll quickly realize that it’s not that convenient at all.
Alternatively, you can use taxis and ride-share type programs. However, these are much more expensive and if you plan to be out really late, may cancel on you.
Some people will walk up and down the strip, but Las Vegas is HOT! Plus, the distance between some hotels is a lot longer than it may first appear.
If you plan on doing a lot of things outside of the city, you’ll either want to rely on day trips with pick-up/drop-off services or rent a car.
Attractions
Budgeting for attractions in Las Vegas can be a bit tricky. You could easily spend a couple thousand on shows, clubs, bars, gambling, and day trips.
It depends on your plans for your Las Vegas weekend. I would say if, if you don’t plan on going crazy, you can get away with $500 for attractions in Las Vegas and still have a great time.
Some things to consider doing (other than gambling and partying):
- Las Vegas Helicopter Ride
- Antelope Canyon Day Tour
- Luxury car racetrack driving experience
- Grand Canyon Bus Tour
- Hoover Dam
- Grand Canyon
- Lake Mead
- Las Vegas Ferris wheel
If you want to catch one of the famous shows you need to book directly with them. Keep in mind that many of these performances sell out months in advance, so you should plan ahead if you have something specific in mind.
Don’t forget, gambling is considered an attraction too. How much you spend there is up to you, but you could come out ahead or you could lose everything.
It’s also possible to see Las Vegas without spending any money on attractions. Some free things to do include:
The Freemont Street Experience,
Bellagio gardens,
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat,
Streetmosphere at the Venetian,
Mirage Volcano,
and various hotel themes.
Food and drink
Las Vegas has every food for every budget. You can eat really cheap, really expensive, or somewhere in-between. To give you an idea, an all-you-can-eat buffet at the nicer hotels will cost about $30-40 per person while a nice meal out will be about $50 per person. Of course, there are also all the typical American fast food spots as well where you can grab a slice of pizza or a sub for about $5.
Chances are you will do a bit of mix of this, so I’d say $250 for food and drink is a pretty generous budget for 3 days in Las Vegas. That said, Las Vegas has a lot of celebrity and international restaurants. If you like to eat, you could easily spend a lot more. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth it to cheap out on food. Eating is part of the travel experience.
Random spending
Random spending is usually a category I suggest adding a bit of money to in case you want souvenirs or a couple of extra drinks. However, when it comes to Las Vegas, you may want to be a little more generous with your random spending money. Especially since everyone in Las Vegas expects a tip.
There are plenty of luxury stores in Las Vegas and there’s outlet shopping available too. You may even want to catch a show at the last minute that you had not originally planned for. I’d say bring a minimum $200 extra just to be safe.
Final thoughts
So, how much does it cost to go to Las Vegas? Based on my estimate you can expect to spend about $1,925 for 3 nights. Las Vegas is not cheap, but if you use some of the tips above you can find places to save some money. Or, if you prefer to treat yourself, you can do that too. Las Vegas is definitely a good place to splurge.
Need some more travel inspiration? Check out my guides to Disneyland, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Croatia, Bali, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
How Much Does it Cost to go to Las Vegas? - Money We Have
Jan. 31, 2023 "Looking to travel this spring? Here are some cost-saving tips": Today I found this article by Alessia Passafiume on BNN Bloomberg:
Instead of hopping on a plane to travel, Michael Downie opts for the train.
“You have your bedroom, you get three meals a day, and you just look out the window and watch the country go by. You get to experience all of it,” said Downie.
For the YouTube travel blogger, the journey is the trip itself.
With the spring break travel season approaching, those looking to flee the cold, wet Canadian snow for sunnier skies will likely be met with a hefty price tag for their getaway, with inflation and increased demand pushing costs up.
But Downie said there are cheaper ways to travel if you know where to look and if you’re not afraid of the unconventional.
The Vancouver resident has travelled by train to most parts of Canada and the United States by Via Rail, Amtrak and the Rocky Mountaineer.
Most recently, Downie went from Jasper to Vancouver by train, as part of Via Rail’s route called The Canadian which departs from Toronto and arrives in Vancouver four days later. The 24-hour stretch from Jasper to Vancouver costs as little as $190 for an economy fare or as much as $4,250 for the more luxurious option.
While on the tracks, Downie said he enjoys weaving in and out of the Rocky Mountains, stopping in Kamloops and participating in wine tastings on board the train.
“When people go somewhere warm for their vacation, and they come home and they lost their luggage, it’s stressful,” said Downie. On the train, “you just get to sit down, rest and relax as the train rocks back and forth. And you miss (the scenery) when you fly.”
If you do choose to fly this spring, Barry Choi said those looking for a deal should avoid the week of March break if possible.
The personal finance and travel expert suggests travelling outside peak times instead, say, a week before or after. If that’s not an option, Choi said travellers should consider destinations that aren’t as expensive, like Portugal rather than Spain, or countries in the Middle East instead of those in Europe.
And once you’re in the country, you can reduce costs by thinking more about your accommodations, noting those in the downtown core of cities cost much more than staying 15 or 20 minutes out.
“You always have to think outside the box,” Choi said. Even simple things like looking for museums and attractions with free entry or loading up on groceries so you’re not eating out for every meal can save you cash on your journeys abroad.
Really, it’s about managing your costs as flights and hotels have become more expensive, and as travel dynamics have changed post-pandemic, Choi said.
“If you’re trying to snag that last-minute deal to some far-off destination, it’s just not going to happen,” he said. “Most of the time if you’re looking for a last-minute flight, airlines will charge even more because they know you need it.”
It’s important to pay attention to sales and vacation packages instead, said Choi.
Choi also recommends setting yourself up with a credit card that will earn you points toward travel.
“If you want to fly to Italy, you should start collecting Aeroplan points now,” he said. Say you’re not sure where you want to go, then choose any program, like American Express Membership Rewards or Scene Plus. Some credit cards also come with a “generous welcome bonus” if you can meet the minimum spending requirements.
To budget for your trip, prepare a rough estimate for what you’ll spend on
flights,
hotels,
food
and entertainment,
then work backwards, he said.
If you’re planning a trip that will cost about $3,000 and want to go in 12 months, you need to save $250 per month, for example.
Saving for travel rather than impulsively booking a trip is important, but what’s more important is ensuring your debts are paid off beforehand, said financial educator Jessica Moorhouse.
“If you have really expensive credit card debt, that should be your priority because it can be a huge drain on your finances,” said Moorhouse.
Once that’s paid off, you should also consider saving for an emergency fund which typically covers your cost of living for six months should an event occur where you can no longer work, like being laid off from a job.
Building upon Choi’s recommendation to save little by little each month, Moorhouse suggests opening a separate banking account with higher interest rates for savings.
Besides growing your money, keeping your savings in a separate account prevents you from spending it impulsively, she said.
While social media feeds are bound to be filled with travellers showing off their getaways this upcoming travel season, the fear of missing out shouldn't be a reason you're willing to risk your financial stability, said Moorhouse.
If you have that chance to go on a trip and you can’t afford it right now, chances are there will be more opportunities to go in the future, she said.
“It sucks to go on vacation, come back home and continue paying for something that already happened. But if you find yourself in that situation, make a plan to pay it off by the end of the year at the latest.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2023.
Looking to travel this spring? Here are some cost-saving tips - BNN Bloomberg
Jun. 11, 2023 My opinion: I don't know about traveling by train. It depends on where the train is going and the scenery.
This week's theme is about travel and finance:
"Flight issues? Here's what you need to know about getting compensation"/ "What to know about insurance in 'summer of travel hell'"
http://badcb.blogspot.com/2023/06/flight-issues-heres-what-you-need-to.html
"Importance of understanding your travel insurance in post-COVID-19 era"/ "Forget air passenger rights, get travel insurance"
http://badcb.blogspot.com/2023/06/importance-of-understanding-your-travel.html
Fri. Jun. 9, 2023 Henry's party: We were to celebrate Kevin Z's birthday. I took the bus there. Kevin Z drove me home.
"How an affair can break- or remake- a marriage"/ "Woman Thanks Restaurant Critic for Exposing Husband's Affair"/ relationships during the pandemic
In 2019, I hired a life/ career coach J. It's good to get a 3rd- party objective to see your blind spots.
By attending speed dating events, you're meeting a bunch of people and you're trying to find something you have in common with them.
By attending Meetups, you're meeting a bunch of people who you already have something in common with.
Jun. 11, 2023 Leo opinion: Byron H. from North Bay, On:
Can you honestly admit when you are wrong in front of others?
Yes: 65% (2984)
It depends: 31% (1418)
No: 3% (146)
My opinion: Yes. When you show me evidence that proves me wrong or at least the other side of it. I do write that I'm wrong on this blog.
Job scam:
This Jul. 2017 blog post shows how I almost got scammed out of $4000:
Scream 4/ Southgate Construction scam
https://badcb.blogspot.com/2017/07/scream-4-southgate-construction-scam.html
World hunger: This was back when I was in high school. I was talking with my friend Cham.
Tracy: When I was in gr. 8 Social Studies class, I was studying Brazil. They have all these kids and they're poor. Why do you have so many kids when you can't afford them?
The teacher Mr. Molstad said: "So that you know at least some of them will survive."
Cham: Yeah, but you only have some money. What are you going to spend it on? Bread or a condom?
WestJet is shutting down its budget airline, Swoop.
The company made the announcement in a news release Friday, noting that the ratification of its recent deal with its pilots allows it to integrate all of its staff at various airlines into a single banner.
"As negotiated in the collective agreement, the WestJet Group will now begin integration efforts of its ultra-low-cost airline, Swoop," the airline said.
"Through an expedited process, the airline anticipates a full integration into its mainline operations by the end of October. To avoid traveller impact, Swoop will operate its existing network through to the end of its published schedule on October 28. Swoop employees will move to WestJet."
Treat Williams, the star of Everwood and Hair, has died after being involved in a motorcycle accident. He was 71.
The actor's death was confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday evening by his agent of 15 years, Barry McPherson.
"He was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off," McPherson says. "I'm just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented."
Jacob Gribble, the fire chief for Dorset, Vermont, tells PEOPLE the crash happened on Monday around 5 p.m. on Route 30 by Long Trail Auto near Dorset, Vermont.
Per Gribble, the incident involved a single car and Williams' motorcycle. Investigators believe the driver of the car was turning and didn’t see the motorcycle. Gribble says the motorcyclist was the only person hurt and a LifeNet helicopter was summoned to airlift him to a hospital in New York.
The company that makes kitchen staples like CorningWare, Pyrex and the Instant Pot has entered bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. and Canada.
Illinois-based Instant Brands said Monday that it has "initiated a voluntary court-supervised Chapter 11 process," due to an unmanageable debt load.
"Tightening of credit terms and higher interest rates impacted our liquidity levels and made our capital structure unsustainable," CEO Ben Gadbois said in a news release.
Rise and fall
The company's current tough times are a marked reversal from the explosive growth the company was seeing a few years ago. Most of that came from the Instant Pot, which was invented by former Nortel engineer Robert Wang in Ottawa in 2009.
In 2019, his company merged with Illinois-based Corelle Brands, the owner of Pyrex, CorningWare, SnapWare and Corelle. The company, which also includes brands like Chicago Cutlery and Visions, claims that 90 per cent of households in the U.S. have at least one of their products in them.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/instant-brands-bankruptcy-1.6874487
"Canadians retreat at the grocery store, flock to discount retailers in search of deals": Today I found this article by Bianca Bharti on the Financial Post:
I'm a senior who lives on a fixed income and I now buy things like bread, condiments, pasta and canned soup at a nearby dollar store. Prior to the pandemic I never did this.
https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/canadians-flocking-discount-retailers-deal-search
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