What Would You Do??? Advice Needed...

[tennisaddict]

I have a trip planned and booked for Dec 7-10 for my B-Day. Staying at the Mirage and booked everything through Orbitz. Due to some unforeseen circumstances in the past week my finances took a huge hit! I would normally cancel my trip and go when money is better but my trip through Orbitz is basically non-refundable. I paid about $500 total. I would get $235 back from my hotel reservation (losing $50 for cancelling) and my airline reservation would be held as a credit (I'd have to pay $125 change fee plus any difference in airfare).

I did some calculations and found that if I choose to go I'd have roughly about $500 to spend on my entire trip which won't get me too far. At this point, I'm 50/50 on weather to take the huge cancellations penalties and try to wait until spring, or just go and try to make the best of it and try to do things on the cheap.

What would you guys do? Any suggestions or tricks for making money stretch in Vegas if I do choose to go.

Thanks everyone!

[artedm]

I would still go
Its your bday!

For future reference most hotels are fully refundable up to 72 hours out *when booked direct* and southwest airlines has no change fees and refundable or full credit toward a new flight.

You can do vegas cheap!
If you had a $100 budget for three days- $30 a day- this is what I would do.
Transportation
Get a three day unlimited ride bus pass $20-will take you from the airport to your hotel, up and down the strip, to fremont st and back to the airport. www.rtcsnv.com
Food
There are some under $10 breakfast buffets and under $20 dinner buffets in vegas. Also there are like 4 mcdonalds on the strip.
Drinks
Walgreens / CVS on the strip- cheap drinks on fremont st.
Nightclubs
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday are industry days
you should be able to get free entry on guest list all three nights thru hosts or freevegasclubpasses
Stripclub
There are some all nude clubs that serve unlimited free soft drinks where you can get free entry.

Best

[ponch62]

Might also recommend learning to play Pai Gow poker. Used to play it all the time when I was young and on a tight budget, you push with the dealer half the time and can play for hours and usually be up or down 30 bucks, and a the drinks only cost you a tip.

[tennisaddict]

Thanks for advice artedm... still trying to decide if I'm better off waiting but you've definitely helped.

[RoxieCris]

you should be okay since its not a weekend trip... just dont gamble and buy a bottle and a flask...the bus is your saviour and play myVEGAS you may get enough points for a free buffet or free monorail pass good luck...I've had a friend go with only $300 grant it she was a girl but she ate dennys and pizza hut alot on the trip!

[Kinar100]

Are you going solo?

[tennisaddict]

Are you going solo?

Yes, I'm rollin solo...

[tennisaddict]

you should be okay since its not a weekend trip... just dont gamble and buy a bottle and a flask...the bus is your saviour and play myVEGAS you may get enough points for a free buffet or free monorail pass good luck...I've had a friend go with only $300 grant it she was a girl but she ate dennys and pizza hut alot on the trip!

Thanks! I just downloaded myVegas yesterday, LOL!

[kp3205]

You can do a ton of damage with $500.

Right off the bat Happy Hour specials are everywhere in Vegas. Dinner/drinks served at half price:

http://www.examiner.com/article/2014...as-vegas-strip

Google Las Vegas Happy Hour for more lists that take you off the strip for opportunities.

Fremont Street can be your friend. Kill a night going there. Grab the bus ticket for 24 hours which will take you down and back.

[artedm]

also you can get a free grand slam on your bday from Denny's
Anyone know of any other bday freebies ?

[TimWhalen]

Hit up double time for myVegas, mobile and facebook. Boom!

[donniejay]

$500 budget is plenty my friend!

Keep in mind that you're going in December from Sunday to Wednesday, it shouldn't be too difficult to get guestlisted or walked in with handshake. Plus you got Sunday+Monday to visit many of the bigger venues (best industry nights to party IMO)

For food...the 24 hour Buffet of Buffets would be your best deal. Essentially, unlimited access to buffets in a 24 hour window period for only $55. Earls/Pinks are cheap eats. You also got the usual food court and fast food restaurants all over the Strip too.

Gambling wise...Casino Royale is right by the Mirage and they have all sorts of $4 roulette and $5 single deck blackjack. They are very generous with free drinks there. You can easily make $40-$50 go a long ways there if you get lucky and hit some numbers right off the bat

[xAmrit]

I'd definitely go. Just be smart with money since you have flight and hotel paid. You can have fun roaming the strip, gambling and hitting bars for cheap

[smlaude]

its def a weird experience going solo during the week in the winter... did it once for work and wont do it ever again... just weird lol