Luxury Vegas on a Budget
Everyone says Vegas is so expensive!
Your besties have said you’ll break the bank when you visit Sin City.
Vegas is a place where you can “ball so hard “ if you choose, but it’s also a place where you can experience it’s luxe offerings without going broke.
I recently went to Vegas for my birthday trip with three of my friends and while planning the trip, I already knew how I was going to stretch my dollar and enjoy some of Vegas’ one of a kind experiences that were on my bucket list.
You can always find a deal for a hotel, meal or fun attraction on Groupon or Livingsocial. You can also follow travel sites and social media accounts for alerts on cheap flights to Sin City, but what if you can’t always find an online hack for a luxury experience. Here are some ways to get around the coupon and keep your purse in tact: Where to Stay 
You can always find a discount on hotel accommodations online. My favorite website to use is Gilt City and Jetsetter to find luxury properties that I can stay at for a discounted price. While planning my trip, I noticed a great package deal for SLS Las Vegas on their website. The #MyVegasStory package was great for a birthday weekend with my girls, which ranges from $199 – $349. This package is a Millennial dream and is only available for guests who are 21 and over because it includes a complimentary fully-stocked mini bar featuring over $200 worth of goodies, which are perfect for the pre-gaming and late night munchies. We saved several trips to the drug store with this package. The rooms are in the Story Tower which include mirrored ceilings and vibrant yellow walls which gave us the perfect Instagram backdrops. #MyVegasStory goes further than a package name, and the hotel encourages its guests to share their Vegas experience using the hashtag on social media. Each day the social media team selects their favorite posts to be displayed throughout the lobby of the hotel as well as select guests for opportunities to win free drinks, discounted services and food throughout their stay. How to Get Around The boutique hotel is at the northern end of the strip, which was a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the Strip’s center. Since we were far from most of The Strips’s attractions we saved on Uber trips by splitting the fare and using the monorail which has a stop at the hotel. How to Save on A-List Dining Most of Vegas’ exclusive dining experiences have a la carte menus. The best way to cut on cost is by sharing plates family style or tapa style. Here are some great places to enjoy a fabulous meal by sampling the menu and cutting your costs: Rose. Rabbit. Lie 
No one will eat like a rabbit in this fun Cosmopolitan restaurant. The restaurant’s experience is a modern day supper club with tap dancers, a live band and eccentric singers. Their menu ranges from small plates to feasts that are all perfect for sharing. You can choose a seasonal tasting menu which is perfect for one person and includes appetizers, a main course and dessert for $50 per person. The enlighten traditions are solo meat options big enough to share – try splitting the 20 oz Bone-In Ribeye or Kurobuta Pork Chops along with small plates which range from $10 – $29. The dinner party enhances the experience as performers weave in and out of the dining area singing some of your favorite songs and crowd participation is encouraged especially if it’s your birthday.
Enjoy an Italian brunch curated by Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis at her Vegas restaurant. Ask for a table by the window for al fresco dining and prime views of the Fountains of Bellagio show. This menu is also a la carte where you can dine on an assortment of pastries, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and egg dishes. Giada’s polenta waffles are great for sharing and pairing with a main course, you can’t go wrong with a savory or sweet one. 
Turn up the brunch with limitless mimosa for an additional $30. Don’t leave without taking a photo with your crew in the waiting area’s photo booth and a bag of Giada’s famous Lemon Ricotta Cookies from the bakery.
Located in the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace, The Palms is one of the best steakhouses on The Strip. My girls and I had a feast for queens with the Signature Palm Surf ‘n’ Turf. Select any of the steaks or chops from their menu and add a half of Nova Scotia lobster for half of the price of a whole lobster. Add sides like the creamed brulee corn, garlic whipped potatoes and asparagus to your main dishes for the ultimate feast for a group of 4 to 5 people. This way everyone gets to try a little bit of everything for the price of one, your group can spend as little as $35 per person with this special depending on how big your party is and how many sides you order.
Mr. Chow’s 
The Mr.Chow experience is like no other with A-list patrons and A-list service. The service wows you upon entry but the suspending sculpture that transforms in shape throughout dinner is a sight to experience as well as the noodle demonstration. The staff is accommodating, knowledgeable and intentive to every need. Splurge with a drink from the infamous champagne trolley featuring premium selections of bubbly. 
The a la carte menu is perfect for sharing. Appetizers range from $7.25 – $26. I would suggest sharing the Squab with Lettuce, Glazed Prawns with Walnuts and Spareribs. Mr. Chow also has semi-prix fixe menus featuring multi-course arrangement of dishes to share, or split the bill by sampling an item From the Sea, From the Sky or From the Land with a side of rice or string beans. Believe me the plates are big enough to share with 4 people. Leave room for dessert. NOVE Italiano This restaurant sits on top of the Palms Fantasy Tower. Head here for a happy hour of tapas and bar bites for $9. Fill up on this tasty italian affair before turning up at the club. Happy hour lasts all night at the bar and lounge. Budget Tip for Drinks – Save money on your dinner bill by passing up on the drinks and sharing dessert with friends instead. If you stay at the SLS, you can enjoy the pre-made shots, Fireball whiskey and vodka provided in your complimentary mini bar in your Story Tower room, find happy hours offered at hotels, and grab free drinks while you play in the casino. As long as you are playing most casinos offer free drinks, so grab a penny slot machine and order up! Attractions Maverick Helicopter Ride Get a bird’s eye view of the Las Vegas Strip from a helicopter. Maverick Helicopter tours offers daytime and nighttime trips that circle around the infamous Strip. The company will pick you up from a hotel location and drive you to their terminal. Enjoy views while the pilot offers fun facts about things you may not have known about The Strip. Also, enjoy complimentary champagne before your flight.
Enjoy the views of The Strip from the world’s tallest observation wheel. What’s cool about the High Roller is that you can do just about anything in one of the glass-enclosed cabin. Continue your exercise routine with a yoga class on the High Roller. You can get married in on the High Roller or even enjoy a scenic happy hour in one of the cabins which holds up to 40 people. Order your ticket online and get a discount.
The T-Mobile Arena is the newest entertainment arena on The Strip, which hosts some of the hottest award shows, sports games, music tours and more. The HYDE Lounge in the arena is the luxe way to view your favorite game or concert and have all in one entertainment in one shot. The 18,000 square-foot lounge space includes four bars and full service catering. Next time you are in town see what event is coming to the arena and upgrade your ticket for the HYDE Lounge for as low as $100 per person. Enjoy dinner, drinks, tableside bottle service while sitting in the best seats of the arena. Then jam to a high-energy DJ sets during the intermissions and after the event. You don’t have to go anywhere else for the rest of the night.
Nightlife
The Cromwell’s lobby bar is one of the most sophisticated bars we visited on the Strip. The mixologists are well versed in the offerings at the bar, and if you don’t see anything on the menu you like, they know how to put a classy twist to a basic drink. Every night the bar has live music, but the R&B lovers should visit the bar on Fridays and Sundays to hear Soultry City Duo perform your favorite 90s R&B classics. All drinks are $16
There’s no party like a Drai’s party especially if you are a hip-hop enthusiast. Enjoy dancing and a mini concert all in one. This beach club and nightclub hosts some of the hottest hip-hop stars who perform on the club’s stage like Big Sean. The nightclub overlooks the strip and boast a view of its pool. 
Entry into the nightclub depends on the performer of the night but it’s recommended that you get in line by 10 p.m. and purchase a ticket online from their event calendar. The party doesn’t end on the rooftop, head down to the basement for Drai’s After Hours.
Ghostbar Ghostbar will have you feeling like you are at Power’s Truth. The nightclub which is on the 55th floor of the Palms Casino has one of the most scenic views of the city. You can pre-order your ticket for entry into the club which is $20 for ladies or come early and grab a drink for happy hour. It’s a great place to pregame because the club offers 50% off cocktails from 8 – 10 PM.
Budget Tip for Vegas Nightlife
My budget tip for the Vegas club scene is to befriend the club promoters that you pass on The Strip throughout the day. Their job is to get the ladies in the club and many of them will expedite your entry with a free pass, free drinks and VIP treatment. Some will even offer discounted tables if the night is not sold out. Never be too shy to ask the staff for complimentary drink passes, many of them pass them out if you ask. If you play your cards right you won’t have to pay to get into any club or buy any drinks. Also, if you are staying at the hotel where a club is located make sure to show your keys to unlock some special perks like an expedited wait time or drink passes.