Planning a trip to Sin City? If so, make sure you’re properly prepared.
Las Vegas can be a tricky place for newcomers. Once you get there, it’s easy to throw your money away and fall into tourist traps.
Hotels, food, shows and drinks add up fast, and if you’re gambling, the costs climb even higher.
Good planning can go a long way toward reducing your expenses. Who says you can’t have fun without breaking the bank?
Don’t worry – we got you covered! Here are 10 Las Vegas tips you probably haven’t heard before:
1. Get Into 40+ Attractions With One Pass
First-time visitors want to see everything and enjoy their trip to the fullest. Unfortunately, this can be expensive.
With the Go City Las Vegas Pass, you can visit more than 40 attractions with one pass. The All-Inclusive pass covers two to five days, while the Essentials and Explorer passes cover a set number of attractions, used within 30 days. Each option has a different price.
Basically, you pay one price up front instead of buying each ticket separately. If you plan to see several attractions, it’s a good way to save money.
Before starting your trip, check out the sights included in this offer. Plan your itinerary accordingly.
The High Roller, the observation deck at The STRAT and The Mob Museum are just a few of the many attractions included in the pass. If you’re not sure where to start, search for Las Vegas tips on travel blogs.
Check out our Go City Las Vegas Pass discounts and promo codes.
2. Las Vegas Offers More than Gambling
Most tourists associate Sin City with gambling, fancy hotels, and neon lights. However, this place has much more to offer!
If you’re traveling with your family, don’t miss the exotic Flamingo Habitat. These magnificent gardens are home to koi fish, swans, and tropical birds.
For those who love mystery, Kiel Ranch Historic Park in North Las Vegas is a must-see. Conrad Kiel started a homestead here in 1875, and its small adobe building, which may date back to the Mormon settlers of the 1850s, is one of the oldest structures in the valley. In 1900, two Kiel brothers were found shot on the ranch. Rumors say it’s haunted, so you definitely don’t want to miss it!
To have fun, head over to Cirque du Soleil, Pinball Hall of Fame, or Absinthe.
3. Avoid Peak Times and Save a Fortune
A trip to Las Vegas will cost more or less depending on the time of the year. In general, the most expensive times are:
- New Year’s Eve
- During big fights and sporting events, such as the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
- During big conventions and trade shows
- Over the weekend
The cheapest months are usually July and August, plus January (once the CES trade show is over), February, and the weeks of November and December without a big convention or event. Midweek stays usually cost less than weekends all year. See our guide to the cheapest time to visit Las Vegas.
4. Avoid the Slot Machines
If you care about money, steer clear of slot machines. They may seem cheap, but you’ll end up spending a fortune. A good example was Lion’s Share at MGM Grand, which went two decades without paying its jackpot before it finally hit in 2014.
Instead, pick some low house edge games:
Not all casino games have the same house edge. Penny slots usually have the highest house edge on the floor: on the Strip, they kept about 11% of the money played in 2025, according to Nevada Gaming Control Board figures (in the long run, about $11 of every $100 you bet). On the other hand, a game like blackjack can offer a house edge as low as about 0.5% when playing the correct strategy at a table that pays 3 to 2 for a blackjack. Tables that pay 6 to 5, common on the Strip, add about 1.4% to the house edge.
Among the low house edge games we could recommend Blackjack, Craps (a pass line bet has only a 1.41% house edge), and Baccarat (Banker bet has a 1.06% house edge).
5. Bring Cash
Casino ATMs charge steep fees, so it’s better to bring cash. As of 2026, most ATMs in Strip casinos charge about $7 to $12 per withdrawal, plus whatever your own bank adds.
The more cash you have, the more you’ll spend. Plan your budget and take only as much money as you need.
Read the best Las Vegas tips on how to cut costs. Simple tricks, such as eating a late lunch and buying show tickets online, can save you a fortune.
6. Kids Can Have Fun Too
Surprisingly, Las Vegas is a great place for kids. From thrilling rides and zoos to hiking trips, there are plenty of things to do other than gambling.
Take a trip up The STRAT tower or get a ticket to the Cirque show Mystere. Your toddlers will love the brightly colored Seven Magic Mountains!
Another fun attraction is Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park. Kids can play dodgeball, shoot hoops on SkySlam, climb, ride a zip line and jump into the foam pit.
7. Wear Comfortable Shoes
Most places in Sin City are not as close as they appear on the map.
Walking from one resort to the next often takes longer than you expect, and crossing Las Vegas Boulevard usually means climbing up to a pedestrian bridge. The Strip alone is over four miles long.
Leave your stilettos at home and bring a pair of sneakers. Like it or not, you’ll do a ton of walking.
8. Sign Up for Player’s Club Card
If you’re going to visit the casinos, get a player’s club card. It could bring you special discounts and extra cash.
Most casinos offer these cards to entice players. Clients can redeem the points for cash, food, or souvenirs. It’s free to sign up, so you have nothing to lose.
9. Don’t Snap Photos Everywhere
Always ask before taking photos inside casinos, art galleries or museums. Also, be prepared to pay extra for snapping photos of the costumed characters around the city.
Photos of the Strip hotels taken from the sidewalk are fine: U.S. copyright law does not stop anyone from photographing a building that can be seen from a public place. Hotel names and logos are trademarks, though, so be careful before using such photos in ads.
10. Enjoy Free Entertainment
Unless you want to spend hundreds of dollars on concert tickets, head over to the Fremont Street Experience. This place is home to lots of great shows with free admission.
Visitors can enjoy concerts and live entertainment without paying a dime. The free stages along Fremont Street and the Viva Vision Light Show should be on your list!
Check the Fremont Street Experience calendar to see who is playing during your stay.
Bonus: Get Off the Strip Like a Local
Locals rarely spend their free time on the Strip. Here is where they go instead.
Fremont East. Just east of the Fremont Street Experience canopy, Fremont East is lined with local bars, restaurants and the historic El Cortez. Downtown Container Park (707 Fremont St.) has small shops and places to eat, and its giant metal praying mantis shoots fire at sunset Wednesday through Sunday. Kids are welcome until 9 p.m.; after that, the park is 21 and over.
Mount Charleston. Less than an hour from the Strip, the Spring Mountains have pine forests, hiking trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, and they stay much cooler than the valley in summer. In winter, Lee Canyon runs a ski and snowboard area.
Lake Mead. When the summer heat hits, head east to Lake Mead National Recreation Area for boating, kayaking and picnics. Entry costs $25 per vehicle for up to seven days. Check the park’s alerts page for launch ramp conditions before you go.
Ziplining in Boulder City. Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon runs a tour of about three hours with four ziplines in the Red Mountains above Boulder City, at speeds of up to 60 mph. A moderate hike to the first line is part of the tour, and riders must weigh 75 to 250 pounds.
Seven Magic Mountains. Ugo Rondinone’s seven towers of brightly painted boulders stand in the desert off I-15 near Jean, south of Las Vegas. The installation opened in May 2016 for two years and is still on view, with no reservation needed.
Local restaurants. Skip the resort restaurants for a local favorite: Blueberry Hill, a family-owned restaurant serving Las Vegas since 1987 and known for its from-scratch pancakes, or Honey Salt on Rampart Boulevard in Summerlin, which cooks seasonal American food with local ingredients.
Las Vegas Tips and Tricks for First Timers
As you see, visiting Sin City doesn’t have to be expensive. Search for Las Vegas tips when planning your trip to get a good deal.
For extra savings, travel in the off-season or during the week. The casinos and hotels increase their rates over the weekend.
Take advantage of free attractions, such as the Fountains of Bellagio or the free circus acts at Circus Circus (as of 2026, shows run Friday through Monday only). Don’t limit yourself to The Strip. There are plenty of other places that will blow your mind.
Head over to the Springs Preserve to admire the local flora or go shopping at Town Square.
Another must-see is the Neon Museum and Boneyard, which provides a glimpse into the city’s history. All these attractions are off the Strip!
Have you ever visited Sin City? Do you have any tips for first-timers? We want to hear your story!
Great tips. Also, I’m surprised how many people don’t sign up for players cards. You get the best room rates and discounts if you sign up.