Las Vegas Food and Fun on a Budget

Whether you've been to Las Vegas numerous times or you're about to make your first visit, Las Vegas can be an overwhelming trip. If you are planning on visiting Las Vegas in the near future, you might need a little assistance with what to do once you actually get there. All the neon lights, hotels, cars and people can sometimes be intimidating and that's only the view from the street. Once you're in your hotel, what should you do for fun? Where should you eat? What should you see? This article will help you see and do Las Vegas on a budget, once you've already decided on a place to stay.

Booking a room for your budget is the easy part. There are tons of travel sites to use to compare hotel rates. Use them all. Every site could have a different rate. Some even have a great rate one day and then a high rate the next. Be patient and review all the major travel sites to get your best deal.

So now you've got your room. Now what? Here are the things you can do to get the most out of your visit and have it be affordable.

Food

There are so many food choices in Las Vegas that you could eat at a new place every meal, every day and not try all the restaurants in a year. Dinner choices are abundant, with happy hour meals between 4pm and 7pm easy to find for a great price. The following are some excellent choices for breakfast and lunch at a great price.

Breakfast:

Mr. Mama's

There are a ton of choices at Mr. Mama's for a good, cheap breakfast. One of the best choices are the Cinnamon French Toast Breakfast. You'll get two thick slices of bread (cut into halves), 3 eggs and your choice of bacon, sausage or ham for $7.50. Have this a little later in the morning and it will probably carry you through to midafternoon or even dinner time.

Marilyn's Cafe

For the steak and egg lover, Marilyn's is the place to go. If you can get up early, steak and eggs are only $3.99 between 12am and 5am. But even if you can't make it up before the crack of dawn, from 6am until 11am it's only $6.99. Still well worth the price and will keep your stomach content for a while.

Ports O'Call Buffet

You have to have a breakfast buffet when you are in Las Vegas and if you're on a budget, this is the place. From 7am - 10am, $6.95 will allow you to partake in a full breakfast buffet. You won't get the large selection of a Paris or Bellagio breakfast buffet, but you won't pay the $15 it costs at those places either.

Lunch:

Earl of Sandwich

The sandwiches are big, tasty and affordable, but you will probably have to wait in line for one. Earl of Sandwich is probably the most popular lunch spot in Las Vegas. For $6.99 you'll get your choice of a club sandwich, chicken avocado, Italian, Hawaiian, tuna and more.

Secret Pizza at Cosmopolitan

You won't find any advertising for this lunch spot. You won't even find the Secret Pizza place at all unless you are specifically looking for it. But when you take the escalator to the third-floor restaurant level, you're getting close. Just to the left as you get off the escalator will be a hallway. Walk down the hallway and you will find this secret gem.

Tacos El Gordo

A must try when in Las Vegas. With 9 different types of tacos for $2.00 each and other choices of tostadas, quesadillas and more, this is the spot for a tasty lunch for well under $10.00.

Entertainment

Entertainment comes in two flavors in Las Vegas. Free and paid. When on a budget, free is what you need, so this section will only look at free choices to keep you busy.

The Fountains at Bellagio

A fantastic free show played out every half hour during the day and every 15 minutes at night. With over 1,000 jets that shoot water into the air, this is show that you can watch multiple times and never be bored.

The Wild Habitat at the Flamingo

Chilean flamingos, swans, ducks, fish, turtles and more will keep you busy for a little while. A planned trip here is not really necessary, but if you're in the area or looking for a place to gamble or eat, this is a nice spot to enjoy nature at it's finest.

The Mirage Volcano

This one has limited show times, but is fantastic. Sunday - Thursday at 8pm and 9pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm. How can you beat a spewing 100-foot volcano and music?

Fremont Street

With over 70 million dollars in lights and street artists and vendors, Fremont Street is a must if you have time. At the same time, you'll get to see some of the oldest hotels in Las Vegas, with history dating back to the 1950's.

The Silverton Aquarium

160 types of fish in a 117,000-gallon tank. You can watch the art of swimming fish for hours and not see all of them. This is a beautiful spot for those that enjoy sea life.

Circus Circus

Running for over 25 years, the free circus acts at Circus Circus are a classic show in Las Vegas. Every half hour from 11am - 11pm during the week and 11am - 12am on Fridays and Saturdays, you'll see acrobats flying around above you for fun 10 minute shows.

The Las Vegas Sign

Probably the most well-known attraction in Las Vegas and seen in dozens of movies over the years, the Fabulous Las Vegas sign is a picture takers dream. Anyone who's anyone has a picture in front of this sign, from celebrities to sports stars to probably even a relative of yours or two. You can't beat this picture spot for a new Facebook profile picture.