Cost of enjoying yourself in Vegas

[TheGrahams]

We went for the first time in October and I was worried but bought lots of deals of groupon and travelzoo and we ate very well, some came with bottle of wine, breakfast was ihop or Starbucks as very close

[alexisemma31]

We've just stayed in Vegas for 5 nights and we found it very expensive. We tended to eat at cheaper places such as Panda Express, but the price of drinks were ridiculous. At NYNY it was $11 for a small bottle of Coors light, and at Bellagio we were charged $12 for Coors light and $6 for a coke, so with tip it was $22. Ridiculous, when you could buy 2 large cans of Coors for $4 at the ABC stores.

I'm not a gambler, but one night DH went down for a flutter from 10pm-2amish, and he was only asked once if he wanted a drink.

I'm not a tight person and don't mind paying a fair price, but I felt we were ripped off at any opportunity.

We're glad we have visited Vegas but it isn't a place we will be revisiting.

[daytonababe]

Drinks are expensive on the strip , captive audience etc which is why locals rarely drink thee . It's far cheaper to go to Fremont for drinks . Or go just a block back from the strip places like Ellis Island are far cheaper .

Many of the Vegas forums have had people reporting they are cutting back on the free drinks for gamblers ..
But that's Vegas .. years ago the strip buffets were dirt cheap to lure people in but they aren't now .

[JoS]

Originally Posted by alexisemma31

We've just stayed in Vegas for 5 nights and we found it very expensive. We tended to eat at cheaper places such as Panda Express, but the price of drinks were ridiculous. At NYNY it was $11 for a small bottle of Coors light, and at Bellagio we were charged $12 for Coors light and $6 for a coke, so with tip it was $22. Ridiculous, when you could buy 2 large cans of Coors for $4 at the ABC stores.

I'm not a gambler, but one night DH went down for a flutter from 10pm-2amish, and he was only asked once if he wanted a drink.

I'm not a tight person and don't mind paying a fair price, but I felt we were ripped off at any opportunity.

We're glad we have visited Vegas but it isn't a place we will be revisiting.

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I agree drinks on the strip can be very expensive especially at places like Bellagio. We tend to go for 3 cocktails for $10 at Ocean Bar and grill or $1 beers at Casino Royale! Bit surprised at NYNY. We had beer at Nine Fine and another place in NYNY and they were very reasonable, or I would not have paid. At least half, if not less, than what you quoted so guess it was not either of those places you were at.
As for drinking in Casinos. Sometimes they come around every few minutes especially if you tip decently first time, and some times not at all. Depends on the casino as well, and the time of day apparently. We dont stay long enough usually,

Thats a shame that you felt ripped off

[stardoman]

We first went to Vegas in 1997 and it was very cheap. We stayed at the Luxor and it was the cheapest hotel of our holiday yet the nicest by far. I remember going to buffets and it costing next to nothing. There were also lots of free things going on.

Very different this time. We wanted to do a buffet our first night but it was going to be around $120 for the 4 of us. Ended up at the Rainforest Cafe instead. Although it was only slightly less, the atmosphere was great and my youngest loved it.

Although some of the free things were still there (such as the volcano), many have gone. Found it much more expensive in general and ended up preferring Fremont Street this trip rather than the strip.

I'd still go back though, but I think the next American holiday will be to Orlando.

[Lell]

Originally Posted by JoS

I agree drinks on the strip can be very expensive especially at places like Bellagio. We tend to go for 3 cocktails for $10 at Ocean Bar and grill or $1 beers at Casino Royale! Bit surprised at NYNY. We had beer at Nine Fine and another place in NYNY and they were very reasonable, or I would not have paid. At least half, if not less, than what you quoted so guess it was not either of those places you were at.
As for drinking in Casinos. Sometimes they come around every few minutes especially if you tip decently first time, and some times not at all. Depends on the casino as well, and the time of day apparently. We dont stay long enough usually,

Thats a shame that you felt ripped off

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I mentioned earlier that we paid nine dollars for beer and one of the places was Nine Fine Irishmen. That was for bottles of Corona. We even paid nine dollars in Circus Circus, stopped off for a drink naively thinking it might be cheaper since it's a bit of a pit😂

[JoS]

Originally Posted by Lell

I mentioned earlier that we paid nine dollars for beer and one of the places was Nine Fine Irishmen. That was for bottles of Corona. We even paid nine dollars in Circus Circus, stopped off for a drink naively thinking it might be cheaper since it's a bit of a pit😂

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We didn't get a bottle ours was some "draught". Was nice though😌

[daytonababe]

Originally Posted by stardoman

We first went to Vegas in 1997 and it was very cheap. We stayed at the Luxor and it was the cheapest hotel of our holiday yet the nicest by far. I remember going to buffets and it costing next to nothing. There were also lots of free things going on.

Very different this time. We wanted to do a buffet our first night but it was going to be around $120 for the 4 of us. Ended up at the Rainforest Cafe instead. Although it was only slightly less, the atmosphere was great and my youngest loved it.

Although some of the free things were still there (such as the volcano), many have gone. Found it much more expensive in general and ended up preferring Fremont Street this trip rather than the strip.

I'd still go back though, but I think the next American holiday will be to Orlando.

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That is why I dont' have strip buffet's now, I'm not paying $120-140 when I can go to South Point, Red Rock, Green Valley and pay half that and the quality be just as good. In fact I have very few meals on the strip at all.. Having a car more than pays for itself in Vegas because in 10 days we save a fortune going off strip to eat .

We've been going almost 14 yrs and buffets used to be so much cheaper.

Disagree about free stuff though, I rarely pay for anything in Vegas. Shark reef /Mandalay Bay we get through MyVegas but there are plenty of other free things to do and there are coupons/Groupons for many things.
Only free things I can think if that's gone is the Sirens show at TI and the Lion Habitat at MGM.

[landandword17]

My own take, from talking to friends and coworkers who've been, is that right now Vegas has a few faces. I know people who go on stags and hens for a cheap ≈≈≈≈ up. I know families who go and shop, visit the dam, tour the hotels and then in the last few years I'm noticing a huge increase in the number of well heeled people going to Vegas. These are people who wouldn't have been caught dead in Vegas 20 years ago. Nearly every member of upper management in my company has been recently and they're going for things not traditionally associated with Vegas to most people like great food, golf, spas. It's like a cruise on land for them. They all stay in the new non gaming hotels too. I'm sure the prices are increasing if they're attracting people in that demographic these days.

So I suppose Vegas is what you make it. We're mostly going for the experience and we're open minded and prepared to either fall in love or to just say it's crossed off the list. My parents went in 1969 and it was garish, gaudy, dirt cheap, awful food and over the hill singers and comics. It's a city with 9 lives.

[JoS]

Originally Posted by landandword17

My own take, from talking to friends and coworkers who've been, is that right now Vegas has a few faces. I know people who go on stags and hens for a cheap ≈≈≈≈ up. I know families who go and shop, visit the dam, tour the hotels and then in the last few years I'm noticing a huge increase in the number of well heeled people going to Vegas. These are people who wouldn't have been caught dead in Vegas 20 years ago. Nearly every member of upper management in my company has been recently and they're going for things not traditionally associated with Vegas to most people like great food, golf, spas. It's like a cruise on land for them. They all stay in the new non gaming hotels too. I'm sure the prices are increasing if they're attracting people in that demographic these days.

So I suppose Vegas is what you make it. We're mostly going for the experience and we're open minded and prepared to either fall in love or to just say it's crossed off the list. My parents went in 1969 and it was garish, gaudy, dirt cheap, awful food and over the hill singers and comics. It's a city with 9 lives.

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A lot of what you say makes perfect sense to me. We went a good few years ago and Vegas was exactly what I imagined it to be. I had no desire to go back. Fast forward and we returned as my daughter wanted to go and we wanted to go to GC. Far different today. Very good hotels, food, and a great place to use as a base to see other places like Valley of Fire, Mt Charlston, Red Rock etc. We love it and no it's not for everyone.