These tips have been gathered from the internet and from the Las Vegas forum. This list includes cheap or free things, as well as suggested places that people might want to check out. This list will make it easier so you do not end up looking for a volcano at the Bellagio!
As a general matter, get as many slot club/players card memberships as you can, and get them early on. Note that Harrah's and MGM both own a number of properties and getting a comp card at Caesar's or The Mirage, for example, may cover any of their other properties so that you do not get extras for separate comp cards - so decide which Harrah's or MGM property will give you the best freebees for signing up; each registration will offer you freebees and 2-for-1 coupons or $$ off coupons for buffets/shows. Staying at a property seems to earn you the most comps - by far. This is especially a good thing when, as mentioned before, one Casino Group owns so many properties so your stay may earn you a free stay at any of their other properties. Many of the casinos are now offering nonsmoking slot areas. Just ask.
Do not miss out on half-price show tickets. Two Companies, one with 4 locations.
- -One Company is in the Coke Bottle near the MGM Grand
- -Other Company (Tix4Tonight) has 4 locations: in front of Fashion Show Mall, by the Riviera, by Outdoor Hawaiian Market (all on Strip), and inside the Four Queens Casino (Fremont Street), opening at 11 a.m., with shows available posted at 10:30 a.m.
- -If you go as a couple and are willing to sit through a Time Share sales pitch, there are a number of companies that will give you show or tour tickets for listening to their presentation. Be prepared to be insulted if you turn down their sales pitch. These guys are really aggressive - do not make eye contact!
- -Check the hotel web sites for special show/accomodation or show/dinner packages. Some of the hotels will discount the show tickets if bought in conjunction with a dinner reservation at selected restaurants on their property.
- -If going during peak times, consider buying tickets before you go. Tickets for some of the more popular shows sell out quickly and may not be available upon your arrival.
- Sign up for casino/hotel email notices and receive advance notifications of special offers in your email.
Ballys
- ~Connected to Paris (indoor walkway)
- ~Shuttle to Rio: By limo entrance leaves every 15 minutes…M-W 10am-1am, TH-S 10am-4am
- ~Free Slot machine by snack bar to win prizes
- ~Connecting point for Monorail
Bellagio
- ~Fountain shows during the day are every 30 minutes, noon to 7 on weekends, and 3 to 7 on weekdays, and then every 15 minutes after 7 p.m. (Free) (lights at night) (Best vantage point is on pedestrian bridge that crosses the Strip at Bally's) Out front is fine too after about the 2nd show or so. Pickpockets love this place, hang on to your bags!
- ~Botanical Conservatory in Lobby (Free)
- ~Glass Art in Lobby
- ~ Jean Philippe Patisserie: Has chocolate fountain wall (Past conservatory) Yummy treats!
California Station
- -Shuttle to Sam's Town
- ~ $50 free slot play for joining players club and $$ off coupon book (only on specified machines & you can't cash out)
- ~ hot penny video poker machines
Caesars
- ~ Shuttle Caesars to Rio (at Augustus Tower valet entr.) every 15 minutes…mon-wed 10am-1am, thurs-sun 10am-4am
- ~ Free fountain show in forum shops; "live statues" in forum shops area near fountains.
- ~ 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium in forum shops. (Fed by diver at 1:15 and 5:15 p.m.), Cheesecake factory
- ~ here and Planet Hollywood have the best comp drinks, just about anything you want
- ~ good video poker machines by the swimming pool entrance - you can actually see daylight while gambling and get great drinks too - it does not get any better in Vegas!!
Circus Circus
- ~Live, free trapeze and high wire acts every day each half-hour from 11am to midnight.
- -game arcade on second level - ideal area for kids
- ~(Cheap Eat) $2.50: Giant shrimp cocktail at Casino Cafe
Downtown (Fremont Street Experience)
- ~(Suggested) Fried Twinkies at Mermaids
- ~(Suggested) Slushies at La Bayou
- - 2/$1 bottled water and canned soft drinks at T-Shirt Blowout (in same block as Mermaids, on same side of street)
- -Free Laser Light Show beginning at 8 p.m., hourly - amazing show overhead on enormous canopy
- you will find a number of old Vegas signs relocate here
- -Free live entertainment in each of 3-4 blocks every night, beginning at 8 p.m.
- -One block east of Strip in Fremont Street area
- -One of the oldest casinos, but renovated in 2007
- -Rock-bottom room rates, with actually quite nice, spacious and clean rooms
- -Some rooms on top of parking garage with outdoor corridors, but still very nice rooms
- -Very loose slots
- Warning: El Cortez will NOT accept U.S. Passport or Military ID as proof of identification for check-in
Fiesta
- $1.50: Corona
- $4.99: Steak, two eggs, hash browns and toast, served 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. at Baja Beach Cafe.
Fitzgeralds (Downtown)
-
tallest building Downtown so rooms have great views of Vegas and mountains
-
second floor has good payout machines and a bar with outside balcony to watch light show
Flamingo
- ~Free Wildlife Habitat (Flamingos)
- -Great shops area
- great sandwiches, casual island atmosphere, interesting decor
- -Connecting point for Monorail
- Fantastic pool(s) with waterfalls, cabanas, blackjack tables - Bill's Casino patrons can also use
Four Queens
- on Fremont Street
- Tix4Tonight booth just inside front entrance.
- Recently renovated
- Nice sized rooms at great rate
Fremont Hotel Casino
- ~Shuttle to Sam’s Town 815...930...1045. ..12...115...230...345...5...615. .730..845..10..1115
- ~ Aquarium (Free)
- ~ free gaming classes
- ~ great buffet
- ~ Fabulous pool with huge shark tank
- ~ Large, very nice Starbucks with outside seating
- ~ Great indoor waterfall in swimming pool area of hotel
Golden Gate
- ~ (Cheap Eats) 99 cents: The original, classic shrimp cocktail at San Francisco Shrimp Bar & Deli
- ~ $2.99: The "Big Shrimp" cocktail
Harrah’s
- ~ Shuttle to Rio (in garage off valet entr. Near hotel lobby area) every 15 minutes 10am to 1am (thurs-sun-till 4am)
- ~ Shuttle to Sam’s Town (same location) 9:30.. 11.. 12:30.. 2.. 3:30.. 5..6:30.. 8..9:30
- ~ Toby Keith's Bar and Grill (great food, reasonably priced; free nightly entertainment in bar)
- ~ Carnival Court area has vendors, outdoor bar with live musical entertainment nightly, and juggling bartenders
- ~ Connecting point to Monorail
Imperial Place
- -Connecting point for Monorail
- ~ 175 "name-brand" shops with deep discounts, south of McCarron Airport
- ~ take Deuce bus going to South Terminal for access (Trolley service too irratic and expensive with new hour restrictions on passes); catch return Deuce bus at same stop where you got off (you don't pay then), go to South Terminal, get off bus, cross to bus dock indicated by the driver to connect with return Deuce bus to Strip (you pay then). Your $7 all-day (pass is good for 24 hrs from the time of 1st use) Deuce pass is good for all public transit buses as well.
- ~ See this if you can because it will soon be gone; they are in the process of eliminating the Egyptian theme (no sign of that, March 2008)
- ~ Great eye candy; lots of heiroglyphics, etc. in lobby/casino areas
- ~ Sphynx
- ~ Pyramid
- ~ IMAX show and simulator ride
Main Street Station
- -excellent buffets
- fine collection of antiques and artifacts incorported into decor
- -Fragment on the Berlin Wall in downstairs men's room by casino cage, put to appropriate use :0)
- -Excellent room rates online with players club card
MGM Grand
- ~ Lion Habitat 11am-11pm (Free); photo op with white tigers
- ~ Connecting point to Monorail
Mirage
- ~Free volcano show
- ~Siegfried and Roy white tiger display and Secret Garden $15 each (Baby dolphin!)
- -Free monorail shuttle to Treasure Island next door
New York New York
- -Great food court area with NY style deli and good food; try America's Restaurant for superb Spanish omelette, Great live music
Paris
- ~ Highly recommended buffet
- ~ lunch served outside across from Bellagio fountains
- ~ get 2 for 1 ride on Eiffel Tower with comp card (good at all Harrah's properties)
Plaza
- -Loose slots; cheap eats; lots of nicotine in the air
Rio
- ~Free aerial Masquerade Show (Daily performances at 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm & 9:30pm) (check the schedule if going during slow season from Thanksgiving to just before Christmas. Show is performed daily, but not as often)
- ~ Shuttle to their sister properties… Mon.,Tues.,Wed.: 10am – 1am; Thurs.-Sun.: 10am – 4am ….approx. every 15 minutes
- ~Shuttle (entr near carnival world buffet) to Ballys(limo entrance)
- ~Shuttle to Caesars Palace (Augusta tower /valet entrance)
- ~Shuttle to Harrah’ s (shuttle bus/trolley drop off)
- ~Seafood buffet is excellent, but expensive ($35 as of 8/07); but there are coupon books at properties with $10 off per person up to 4 people on a single coupon
Riviera
- ~(Cheap Eat)Hound Doggies in Penny Town Slots. $1 menu (shrimp cocktail, beer, pizza, margaritas, popcorn, icecream, etc.)
- ~ Shuttle to Sam’s Town 9:50… 11:20… 12:50… 2:20… 3:50… 5:20… 6:50… 8:20… 9:50
Sahara
- -Connection point for Monorail
- -Great breakfast buffet for cheap (near Nascar area)! Go to the bathroom before you enter though, it's by the escalator.
Sam’s Town
- -Shuttles are located on the west side of the casino, under the canopy:
- ~Shuttle to Barbary Coast 1040.. 1220.. 2.. 340.. 520.. 7.. 840..1 020
- ~Shuttle to California/Fremont St. (near valet) 9.. 1015.. 1130.. 1245. . 2.. 315.. 430.. 545.. 7.. 815.. 930.. 1045
- ~Shuttle to Harrah’s 1030.. 12.. 130.. 3.. 430.. 6.. 730.. 9.. 1030
- ~Shuttle to Tropicana 1040… 1220… 2… 340… 520… 7… 840… 1020
- -More shuttles to several other Downtown and Strip casinos
- -Bowling alley; movie theatre; bingo hall
- -Loose slots
- ~ "Sunset Stampede", a FREE laser, light and water show; at 2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily
- ~ Mystic Falls Park (Neat indoor park)
SunCoast
- ~(Cheap Eat) Café Sienna
Texas Station
- ~$2.99: Three egg, hash brown and toast at the Texas Cafe. Available daily, 12 a.m.-11 a.m.
- ~$2.49: Pancake sandwich at the Texas Cafe.
Treasure Island
- ~Siren Show (nightly at 7:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. in Sirens' Cove at the front entrance) (Free). The Sirens show is usually shut down for maintenance from Thanksgiving to just before Christmas. Also be careful with your valuables. The show is very popular and the viewing area gets quite crowded. Pickpockets are known to work the crowds during showtimes.
- ~(Suggested) Dishes lunch $15
- ~ Isla - an amazing bar & Mexican restaurant. When you walk in it's hard to tell there's a restaurant behind the bar, but there is. If you can forget about the bimbo hostess everything is just amazing. Delicious drinks, food & awesome service !
Tropicana
- ~Free slot pull out front to win tickets or car. (machine now at bar instead)
- ~Shuttle to Fashion Show Mall
Venetian
-
~Sign up for players club online and receive $15 in free play.
-
Gondolier March 9:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.
-
2 for 1 ticket to Mme. Tussaud's with comp card
- All suite hotel (Smallest room is 650 Sq ft)
- ~ - Beautiful sights
-
~Give email address when signing up for Players Club and get $10 in free play.
- ~ 100 points on the card earned on same day will get two free buffets.