A Guide to Las Vegas – How much money do I need?

So, it’s less than 6 months away to the wedding, and it seems most of our invitees have either booked their trips, or for those that can not make it, have let us know. The real burning issue right now, for those of you that have never been to Vegas, is wondering how much money you will need to bring with you. I know Diane and myself consider this question everytime we go. There are so many options in Las Vegas of things to do – some costly, some not – that it is a good idea to at least have an idea of what you would for sure like to do while visiting. Although Vegas is primarily a huge party town, there are plenty of options available for you to also consider: Sightseeing, Live Shows (free and premium), Gambling (from penny slots to high stakes poker tables), Shopping, Eating (cheap buffets to world class restaurant experiences), Guided Tours, and much more.

First off, you really need to decide how much you like to gamble, or, how much gambling do you want to do? It is very difficult to wander more than a few paces without stumbling into a casino. There are slot machines available to play as soon as you step off the plane at McCarran Airport! I can’t tell you how to spend your money, but I can tell you that if you want save some hard earned cash for your entire trip, self control is essential. I suggest a daily budget in which you allot a certain amount for just your ‘play money’. This will give you a good benchmark as to how much you need to bring with you for other activities.

There will be many of us on this trip, each with different Las Vegas experiences and advice. Ask around to find out what some others recommend, or what you may want to avoid. Remember, there is always alternatives to almost every option. Do you really need to take a cab, or can you walk? Do you need a Wolfgang Puck meal, or will McDonald’s suffice? Should you buy a souvenir on the strip, or wait until you get to an ‘off strip’ discount shop? Pay for a drink, or just wait until you sit a casino table and load up on free alcohol?

As far as personal experience goes, I can advise you of a reasonable Vegas budget for a 4 night/4 day trip. Keeping in mind that money is not plentiful for most of us, but having a good time is the whole reason for going:

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  Food: $30 /day – covers meals, coffees, snacks, etc.
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  Gambling: $100-$200 /day – if you win, consider it a bonus!
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  Entertainment: $200 /trip –assumes 2-3 modestly priced shows (research before hand)
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  Transportation: $20 /day – covers taxis, monorail tickets, etc.
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  Miscellaneous: $200 /trip – this is a suggested ‘reserve’ fund (just in case)

Total for trip = $1000-$1400 Remember, you can easily spend more/less!