Las Vegas on a Budget? Shoe String Dining to Balance Things Out!

Las Vegas, to much of the world, signifies glitz and glamour.  Hopes of big winnings, fun shows, and lots of things to see and do, more than you can possibly fit into the time alloted, fill your mind, but the bankroll doesn't support your visions of grandeur.  How do you trim costs and make it all happen?

The more than million folks who live in Vegas most certainly are appreciative of your visit, as it is their source of sustenance.  Growing up in Vegas, but no longer living there, even a quick trip in to visit family can be pricey.  Hence, from a former insider's perspective, there are some things that can be done, in terms of dining, to cut costs and make the money stretch as far as possible.

For a perspective, the major hot points for visitors to Las Vegas include the Strip, and Fremont Street, for gaming and casino related recreation. On the far outskirts of the valley, far beyond, in fact, are some favorite tourist spots, including Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam. As the map above shows, there's a whole lot more community there. When I was younger, and went on school trips to places such as California, there was an infamous question our groups would be asked: "People actually live in Vegas?"

Yes, they really do, and no, most don't live in motels. The good news for the tourist who's doing Vegas on a tight budget, the same budget dining you can do at home, you can do in Vegas! While a vacation or business trip is often about doing things that are special and different, for many who must travel on tight finances, that includes finding things that will keep costs down.

Many Hotels and Casinos offer luxurious buffets for every meal of the day. My first suggestion is that you balance budget and luxury. If you want to stretch dollars, aim for a mid-afternoon buffet to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. For a good tool to find buffets that suit your needs, try the Dining page of the Las Vegas Review Journal. In hotter days, this is the best time to be out of the sun, anyways!

Once upon a time, 99 cent breakfasts were also very common, but not in the fancier resorts. You may find such in the Fremont Street area, and perhaps even in some of the casinos geared more toward the locals: try the Station Casinos, and others, for some less expensive buffets and breakfast menus.

Get off the beaten track.  The big tourist traffic areas will, of course, be more pricey.  If you want to trim eating costs, the valley stretches far.  Drive a ways, and you will find something.  Use that dining tool mentioned above, and you can find more budget friendly potential.  You may also find some surprises in the main tourist areas.  There are so many places to choose from, that it is impossible to list them all in this hub.  Some family favorites worth mentioning include Sammy's and Lindo Michoacan.

Value menu...the abundance of fast food restaurants is wide, and value menus are available.  It's possible you will encounter higher prices on the Strip, but if you have means of traveling away from that area, you will find plenty of recognizable sources for value burgers and sandwiches.  This may not be your vision of Vegas luxury, but the point is to save on some meals in order to splurge on others.  Hence, it is possible to have a few cheap meals in order to save toward that extra expensive dinner show.

Budget travel, especially if it includes kids, involves lots of cost cutting strategies, some of which I've detailed in a separate Hub some tips for cutting costs on food while traveling, and which help our household to keep travel expenses down, no matter the destination. Las Vegas is a big town, and grocery stores are available in abundance. Take a picnic lunch to Red Rock, with simple supplies purchased at the grocer. Make sure you have plenty of water, particularly in the spring and summer.