Name: American Express® Gold Card
Brand: American Express

Quick summary

Las Vegas offers both luxury experiences and budget-friendly options, with affordable meals, entertainment and activities still available for savvy travelers.
Renting a car for a day can provide flexibility and savings, especially when exploring off-Strip attractions or seeking cheaper dining options.
Discounted show tickets, free slot machine pulls and casino loyalty programs can help visitors save on entertainment and accommodations.
Convenience stores and fitness centers offer alternatives for inexpensive drinks and water, helping to offset high resort and bar prices.

What to consider

Transportation costs can add up, but free parking is available at some resorts for those with certain loyalty statuses.
Discounted show tickets are generally limited to longstanding or lesser-known acts and must be purchased in person the same day.
ATM fees on the Strip can be steep, so planning ahead for cash withdrawals is advisable.

What you'll miss from the article

Detailed strategies for finding local dining deals, maximizing loyalty programs and navigating Las Vegas on a budget.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

Fortunes are won and lost every day in Las Vegas. And I’m not just talking about at the casinos.

Some of the country’s best restaurants have outposts in the city, and sky-high prices to match. Luxury boutiques line the resort shopping malls. And good tickets to a hit show or superstar concert are likely to set you back more than the cost of your hotel room.

But that doesn’t mean that Vegas is only for high rollers.

Las Vegas was once known for its cheap steak dinners; buy one, get one free show tickets and a steady stream of complimentary booze. The theory was: Lure visitors into the casino and they will gamble away more than enough cash to subsidize those cheap meals.

Those deals still exist, but you're going to work just a little bit harder to score a 99-cent shrimp cocktail.

In 1999, when I turned 21, my college friend and I did a crazy cheap trip to Las Vegas. I flew a TWA red-eye and stayed at the cheapest room at Circus Circus, known still today as “The Manor House.” It’s really a motel next to the RV park, and the room rate included two free passes to the buffet.

On another trip, I booked an America West vacation package and stayed at Harrah’s. The location was better but the room was far from glamorous.

Enough has been written about the free shows in Vegas: the Bellagio fountains, the Mirage volcano, the circus act at, well, Circus Circus. The same for hiking in Red Rock Canyon or driving to the Valley of Fire. Those are all great activities for your first or second trip to Vegas.

But I set out to see how, on my 19th trip to Sin City, I could find some new experiences without breaking the bank.

Rent a car

Taxis, Ubers and Lyfts in Las Vegas can be very expensive. (Plus, they are sometimes hard to find.) And while walking is my normal way of seeing a city, temperatures in Las Vegas can easily top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The massive casinos on the Strip might look close to each other, but they're actually pretty spread out.

Yes, there are free trams between a handful of resorts. And there are buses that run throughout the city. So, if you're on an extremely tight budget, that is the way to go.

For me, I’ve found that renting a car one-way to or from the airport makes a lot of sense. I’ll either pick it up at a casino on my final full day, use it to explore and then return it to the airport the next morning, saving $30 on a taxi. Or, I do the opposite.

Many folks will think I’m crazy given the long shuttle ride to the airport rental center and because I'll need to fill up the car with gas. But for me, a one-day rental on a 72-hour Las Vegas trip is a nice trick.

(Photo by Scott Mayerowitz/The Points Guy)

If you have elite status with a casino chain, you can also park for free.

I’ve leveraged my Hyatt Globalist status to earn M Life Gold, allowing me to park for free at any of the MGM resorts.

A car gives you the flexibility to play $5 blackjack tables at casinos off the Strip or explore local restaurants. You can visit Fremont Street and favorite spots such as the Neon Museum. It’s not right for everyone, but it's something I’ve started to do more often — especially on crowded weekends when there is often a long wait for a taxi.

Check out the pinball museum

There are plenty of flashing lights in this city. But only at the Pinball Hall of Fame can you actually take control of some of those bulbs yourself.

You'll find the massive museum (it fits into an aircraft hangar) just south of Mandalay Bay. It’s got about 200 games, ranging from vintage to modern, and others that brought me back to my childhood in the 1980s.

And the best part? You can play some for just a quarter. A $5 bill kept me and my colleague occupied for nearly an hour. Consider the free parking, and it’s a great experience for travelers on a budget.

Cheap meals in Las Vegas

When it comes time to eat, you generally have two choices: a fancy, over-the-top meal or the same fast food you get back home.

Las Vegas buffets used to be a steal, but prices have crept up along with the offerings. (Pro tip: If you arrive just as breakfast is ending, you pay the breakfast price and can stay as the restaurant transitions to lunch.)

But for good food at an even better price, eat like a local.

My favorite old-time Las Vegas haunt is The Original Omelette House.

It’s the sort of spot that, when you see it from the outside, you think about getting back into your car and driving away. But trust me: stay. Ignore the strip mall filled with a liquor store, chiropractor’s office and a vape shop.

You can get a salad or a sandwich here but really, that’s like ordering a steak at Long John Silvers. You just don’t do it.

Instead, there are dozens of omelets you'll want to choose from. Just be warned, these are big omelets. The standard ones are made with six eggs. That’s right, half a dozen eggs. Not a typo.

There was plenty after my meal for leftovers.

For a dollar less, you can get the so-called baby omelet made with just three eggs. (See, the price of that rental car is easily being paid off.)

If you're not willing to venture far off the Strip, there is the long-time steak special at Ellis Island. Yes, you have to join the loyalty program and do some gambling. But then you can get the steak for only $7.99. The casino describes it as a “10-ounce top sirloin steak served with ... potato or rice, garlic green beans and homemade soup or salad.”

Also note that Ellis Island has $5 blackjack, something that fewer and fewer casinos offer anymore.

Cheap drinks in Las Vegas

Yes, everyone knows the trick to getting free booze while gambling. But you don’t always want to sit at a slot machine or table to get an inexpensive drink.

Here’s where you can take a little field trip on the Strip.

There’s a CVS, Walgreens, Target and a convenience shop called ABC Stores all right between City Center and the MGM Grand caddy-corner to it.

Need a case of water in the desert? Cheap beer? Wine or liquor? You're all set.

These convenience stores are much more affordable than any bar in the casinos. And, as long as you're not carrying glass, you can drink whatever you want on the street.

The final tip here: Visit your resort’s fitness center. Hang on, I’m not saying you need to work out (but after that six-egg omelet, it may not be a bad idea.) This is another place where you can often pick up bottles of water for free. You are already paying exorbitant resort fees, so you might as well get back every last penny.

Casino loyalty programs and coupon books

Airlines, hotels and car rental agencies aren’t the only companies to reward travelers for their loyalty.

Casinos offer their members discounted or free rooms, shows, meals and more. OK, don’t expect a free room unless you gamble a fair amount. But discounts are pretty easy to come by.

Typically, you need to sign up in person — something that won’t help you on your first trip to Las Vegas. However, if you have a local outpost of one of the big casino chains, sign up there and then try your luck at a discounted room.

For those who really want to dive into these programs, here’s our complete guide.

Sometimes, there are promotions to sign up, especially at the smaller casinos. This could mean a free game or a match play, where the casino essentially doubles your bet. (It only helps if you win the hand, but can be a great boost.)

I recently earned a promotion through an online game, myVEGAS Slots, which is run by Playstudios and partners with several travel and entertainment companies for rewards, including MGM. It’s a free online casino that I've wasted way, way too many hours at over the years. There are also plenty of free night offers for people who play the online game, but it’s not an easy path to a cheap vacation.

Other ways to save in Vegas

Discounted show tickets

You are not going to score a discounted ticket to the latest show in town.

But, if you want to see one of the lesser-known acts or a show that's been open for years, check out Tix4Tonight.

It is the Las Vegas answer to Broadway’s TKTS: discounted show tickets that need to be purchased that day, in person, at one of the company’s outlets.

Magic. Comedy. Vegas showgirls. You name it, and it might be on sale tonight. Or not. Like everything else in Vegas, it’s a gamble, but one that usually pays out for deal seekers.

Free slot machines

Some casinos still have a “free pull” at a slot machine. These machines have horrible odds but are usually flashy machines on the street to get you in. There are fewer and fewer of them today, but it’s worth the wait in line and, hey, you never know.

Save on ATM fees

Finally, think about how much cash you might need during your trip to Las Vegas. If you do rent a car, go to a local branch of your bank and get cash there.

If not, consider carrying enough cash from home. During a recent trip to Sin City, I saw a $9.99 fee at the ATMs in the new Resorts World casino.

The house might always win at the slot machines, but you don’t have to give away your money at the ATM too.

Feature photo by Davin G Photography / Getty Images.

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

TPG editor's rating

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.