Find dazzling hotels along the Strip, luxe brunches with skyline views, and splashy pool parties with celebrity musical performances in Las Vegas.
Like any good college students ( we attended the University of Miami ) , my champion and I had long talked about going on a trip to political party together when we turned 21 . Vegas seemed like the perfect option , but COVID had other architectural plan .
Finally , five long time subsequently — after years of virtual school and absconding to different cities post - commencement ceremony — the clock time come to make salutary on our promise of that group trip to Vegas . We ’re still surprised that all four of us made it out of the WhatsApp group chat and into the city . Less surprising ? We did not sting to the budget . Here ’s what a post - collegiate radical girls ’ trip to Las Vegas costs in later 2024 .
About the Traveler
Job : Local journalistAnnual earnings : $ 41,000-$60,000 per yearLocation of residence : Western ColoradoAge : 26
About the Vacation
Where : Las VegasHow long : Three daysPlanned budget : $ 650 per someone
Upfront Costs
Flights: $125
In genuine college - student fashion , the cost was key . I booked through Allegiant Airlines and commit to packing as light as potential . ( Carry - ons were n’t included , which also serve our decision . ) So , I stuffed a few two-piece , the garish dress I own , and several tank crest into abackpack , and hopped into the elevator car for the hour - and - a - half drive from my small town to Grand Junction aerodrome . I landed safely in Vegas just after midnight local time , and for what the flight of stairs cost , that ’s all I could have asked .
Airport parking: $48
The bane of my existence . Every time I vanish , I seek to take public transportation from my modest town to the Grand Junction airport … and then , I recall the regional omnibus only run twice per day — on a good twenty-four hours . farseeing story short , I drove .
Hotel: $196.85 per person for three nights
Our cock-a-hoop precedency were cleanliness , value , and getting the Vegas experience of remain in a full-grown , dramatic refuge . The four of us settle on the Sahara , a desert - themed resort onthe Vegas Stripbut not quite in the middle of it . ( We ’re not strain to go that hard . )
We were all satisfied with the choice . The room were clear , the service was full , and the pools were lovely . Considering we shared one room , the final cost was n’t too expensive after splitting it among us . The good part we did n’t be after for ? Magic Mike Live just happened to be the on - site evening show . It was a nice bonus .
Day 1: Check-in and chill out, poolside
Total Cost: $210.49
Re - energized from collapsing into bed immediately after check - in , we restarted the 24-hour interval at a reasonable meter subsequently that break of the day with the most expensive Starbucks we ’ve ever had ( $ 14.96 for an iced coffee and a sandwich ) . But it did the trick . We go for a quick walkway to research the nearby hotel and then banged out a lifting session in the hotel gymnasium . This was free , of course of instruction , but I definitely paid for those weighted back elongation by and by .
A straightaway supply slip to Walgreens set me back $ 30.87 for multiple grade of sunscreen ( necessary ) . My slash for a bottleful of Malibu and mixers from the nearby liquor entrepot was another $ 8.25 .
With temperature breaking threefold finger daily , we sleep with syndicate parties would be our saving goodwill . On Saturday , we prefer forAyu DayclubatResorts Worldand planned to stop at the food court in the on - site casino . We establish good , well - priced dishes atMichos Tacos , where I rate a single wetback for $ 5.04 .
We did n’t have to ante up for admission at Ayu , and it had an open bar for women until 3 p.m. , so the party did n’t cost us anything more . Walking back to the Sahara saved us money that would ’ve gone to a rideshare app otherwise . I right away blew my $ 22.76 savings on pepperoni focaccia , a cooky , and a cup of gelato from a restaurant in our resort called Prendi .
After a trivial nap , we taxi over to Fremont Street , Vegas ’s original Strip , for $ 5.75 per person . We grabbed dinner at Park On Fremont , which had a $ 25 beer - and - hamburger deal . At some power point , I withdrew $ 20 from a Fremont cassino and paid another $ 6 in ATM fee .
We explored more of the actual Strip after that night , ogling the notorious landmark and rehashing our favorite conniption of Vegas from the shows or film we ’d seen . Around 2 a.m. , I spent $ 27.42 on pizza , garlic rolls , and cannoli at a pizza parlor inside the Palazzo .
At night, the Las Vegas Strip bathes nearby restaurants, hotels, and casinos in a warm glow worth basking in, even if you’re not trying your luck at the slots.|Getty Images
Day 2: Me, my friends, and Magic Mike
Total cost: $193.34
Sunday began with the same overprice Starbucks for a still - terrible $ 14.96 , and interchangeable plans to escape the heat . We also break up a bottle of tequila ( $ 7 per person ) , given the Malibu did n’t last long being split among four the great unwashed . Shocker .
For the second pool party of the weekend , we break a hack over to Wet Republic inside the MGM Grand for $ 12.50 each . I stopped by Bliss Froyo in the food judicature for a quick collation ( $ 12.72 ) along the way . Then , we proceeded to relish the MGM Grand ’s amenity — until I made my worst leverage of the weekend : a $ 21 , nearly undrinkable , Fat Tuesday - theme crapulence inside the MGM .
Admission to the political party was barren , but I did cough up $ 17.26 for a beer . We danced all afternoon , invigorate by Nelly ’s newspaper headline performance , which really have the party go . The overpriced drunkenness was well worth it to hear “ live in Herre ” hold up at a day club in Las Vegas .
At night, the Las Vegas Strip bathes nearby restaurants, hotels, and casinos in a warm glow worth basking in, even if you’re not trying your luck at the slots.|Getty Images
We spent $ 6 each for a monorail back to our hotel , which handily had a station right outside the entrance . After the day ’s exhilaration , we decide to lay low in our room for a few minute . We finally grabbed dinner from The Noodle Den ( $ 26.23 ) on the premises and snagged tickets for an evening showing of Magic Mike ( $ 59.07 ) . My female child and I will attest to this show being deserving every single cent ( not to cite every , obviously phoney , pink dollar bill we were hand at the room access ) .
spent but sated , nobody felt like hitting the nightclubs , so we headed back to Fremont to saunter a bit more and heed to the rock bands play on stages along the street . At the end of the night , I spent $ 16.60 on a clavus dog and a deep-fried Ding Dong a la mode atDirt Dog . It was very deserving it .
Day 3: All-you-can-eat brunch a floral feast for the eyes
Total Cost: $128.32
On our final morning , we skip over the Starbucks , snap up a $ 6 monorail ticket , and go straight to theCosmopolitan , or more specifically , to the famedWicked Spoonall - you - can - consume buffet . The brunch spread included all sorts of breakfast carbs , a sushi place , a salad measure , a meat - carving station , and a sweet rejoinder for a coolheaded $ 67.19 each , about $ 20 more than the common weekday price due to us visit during a holiday .
We take to expend the rest of our final day next door to the Cosmopolitan , at theBellagio . We walked around thebeautiful , gratis conservatoryon - site before spending the last of our time hang by the puddle until check - out .
But the end of the trip-up does n’t mechanically have in mind the final stage of expenses . I spend $ 26.36 on a taxi to the airport , $ 15.49 on a burrito since I ’d miss a meal in the atmosphere , and $ 13.28 on mid - flight snacks from a Hudson News before all was sound out and done .
Photos courtesy of the author
Oh , and if you ’re wonder about that money I pulled in the first place in the workweek , I tried my fate once more and bet on some last - second slots .
I did not acquire .
How it all broke down:
Upfront costs : $ 369.85Costs from the hebdomad : $ 532.15Total price : $ 902Verdict : About $ 250 over budget .
