This is how we do it

Trips to Las Vegas are always a blast no matter what time of the year one goes. From the age of twenty one to now that I'm forty four I have always enjoyed my trips out there. I have traveled alone, with friends and relatives and each trip has taught me something valuable that I know I will carry with me and implement on future trips. We are well aware that when taking the road trip out to sin city, while fun and exciting can also be a bummer of sorts on that long four hour trip back hungover and penniless. Over the years I have picked up a few tips that have saved me a bundle over time.

Pre purchases

Before each trip, my partner and I will go over what we want to do and what we should take. If we are driving, naturally we shop ahead of time for all the beer and snacks. Depending on the type of person you are, you may want to begin this process a few days beforehand. I usually like to go out and pick up the supplies a day or two prior just incase I cant find everything one day, I will switch it up at another store the next day. Lately life got a bit too busy in the days before the trip making it difficult to do any kind of pre purchases, but luckily we found a quick and easy solution. There is a Walmart off the 15 in Victorville and it can be seen on the on the left side of the freeway on the ride to Nevada. We quickly took the exit off the freeway and did our road trip shopping. I guarantee the prices will be much cheaper than waiting to get to Vegas. My partner and I live a low carb/Keto lifestyle normally. We are not as strict with what we eat when out there but we do try to keep the beer on the light or low carb side just to avoid that heavy bloated feeling. However even when we were not low carbing our beer and drank Modelos or Dos X it was still a lot less expensive to buy it before we got there. Remember, if you plan to gamble there is always a cocktail waitress walking around to provide you with any other drink of choice one may have for the cost of a tip. Once snacks and beers are purchased we are ready to hit the road again.

The long ride.

Our ride start in Los Angeles and it is almost always an early morning start. All the bags and supplies are in the truck with the exception of some type of breakfast treat and a couple bottles of water. Depending on who you are traveling with will determine your audio choices. If traveling with someone you are only just getting to know then conversation will be dominating the car ride. If traveling with friends, its been much the same way for me as well. Normally, a trip with friends is so that we could catch up with the ongoings of our lives bring each other up to date will also tend to start during the ride to Las Vegas. Music lovers will tend to have favorite tunes dominating the ride as well. Personally it has changed with whom I tend to go on these road trips most. My travel buddy and I have varying degrees on musical preferences. At the start of our trip we will keep the radio on till we start losing the reception, On other occasions, my partner will make a playlist of some theme we want to listen to, like for example; 90s R&B. Over the past few months we find a true crime podcast and listen to that on the way. It really helps in passing the time and getting lost in it as well. We can be so engrossed in the episodes we are listening to and blink only to find we are already passing the big thermometer in Baker, CA. For this type of listening we either select one story with multiple episodes (any season of Counter Clock) or a podcast with several different episodes although lately we stick to one story with multiple episodes. Everyone has their own choices and preferences but for us this is what we find works successfully.

Stops along the way.

As a general rule we tend not to make any stops unless its absolutely necessary. Most of the time we are just trying to get to Vegas as quickly as we possibly can. However there are those trips when there is no rush and the need to be slow and mellow comes over us for whatever reason and when this happens we will make at least one stop. Hands down my favorite pit spot is Eddie World in Yermo, Ca. Gas station and mega convenience store all in one. The bathrooms are very clean and there's a food court along the perimeter. In the center there is an array of so many different nuts, dry fruits, candy, chocolate in all sorts of various ways. I usually pick up a bag of gummies in chamoy and dried mangos in tajin. Although I have yet to try the food there due to the early hour we get there. We have however, tried the ice cream which I highly recommend, so creamy and delicious. If your in the mood for a different kind of stop spot, the other place I love is the train station in Baker. It is right behind a McDonalds and the inside is much the same as any other rest spot with mini shops selling clothes, shoes, and food. My partner absolutely loves picking up sunglasses there. prices are decent and the restrooms are clean but not as many as Eddie World. It also is a bus stop for tours so timing is everything. Other traditional stops include the big thermometer but we tend to make that a stop on the way back home and make it a point to make stops on the side of the freeway following the destination.

Stateline Stops

I don't always stop at Stateline, but I do think it should be a once in a while pit stop to make. If there is someone in the car or party that has never been then I highly recommend a stop at either or all three of the casinos there. At this time Buffalo Bills has yet to reopen since the pandemic, so it narrows down the options to Primm and Whiskey Pete's. Gambling rates are a whole lot more reasonable and drinks and food is also at a lower cost. You can also do a bit of shopping at the outlet mall there. I never have but I have walked through it. I recommend the dinner buffet at Primm and late night drunk eats at Whiskey Pete's. Just before getting to either, I'm going to advise a stop at least once to the Lotto Store. Its super tiny and you can barely see it off the freeway. It is located just before the Welcome to Nevada sign (you'll still technically be in California) I don't stop there every time. The lines can run long and the people aren't always the friendliest but it definitely something to do at least once. My partner and I have also stayed at two of the Stateline casinos, and I will write about those experiences at a later time. One of the things to note about Stateline is that once you reach it, and depending on the kind of driver you are, the Las Vegas strip will be no more than forty five minutes away from that point.

Saving on the Strip

Something that began making a difference in my ability to go to Vegas with frequency and not break my own budget all began with playing the myVegas app. Racking up points enabled us to earn room comps (during the week of course) and credits for restaurants and drinks and experiences. This was all great and really gave us the bargain bump to party. When the pandemic hit and the casinos began to reopen my partner and I decided to invest our energy in players cards. I never had before, not really seeing the point to them but since earning rewards from the app and needing a card to have a space where the rewards get loaded on to I began to see the benefits of having them. During the pandemic what it took to move up in tier levels dropped significantly. Before we knew it we had each earned free stays for multiple days independent from the myVegas app which motivated us to continue using the players cards religiously each time we played. My partner is more of a gambler than I am so he moved up in tiers quicker than me and once that happened the goal changed to move him up because the comped room deals would be better and once he moved up we switched to my card so that I could move up in tier. When the restrictions surrounding COVID began getting lifted tier system moved back to normal. Lucky for us by that time we had made enough of a dent in our cards. Now that guest have to once again pay for parking thanks to our tier status of gold and pearl parking is included in each stay. That alone is a huge bonus as parking can run up to around thirty plus dollars a day for the length of your stay and that is completely ridiculous. That money can be spent on food or gaming or just about anything else you might need or want. Another bonus in regards to using the Mlife players card and booking through them is the digital checking and getting your room key much much earlier than the standard check in times. My partner and I have been on the road when we get the email notification that our room is ready and the key is conveniently loaded on the Mlife app. The only other experience we have with players cards and the rewards that come from booking rooms through them is the Caesars app and all the hotels affiliated with them. Like the Mlife there are comped rooms on their calendar. So far we have experienced rooms at the Linq. That was a huge surprise because we were able to upgrade to a larger suite style room for less than twenty dollars a night. It was great, we couldn't believe how lucky we got. Overall these had been the things we do to maximize our stay. Now, depending on where one is in their tiers will boost the bonuses one can get. For example in my pearl status I qualify for free play and food credit for certain hotels on MLife. The possibilities are endless.

Fremont (Downtown)

I don't know about anyone else but I love Fremont! There are so many way to entertain yourself out there outside of gambling. Of course we have players cards at most if not all the casinos out there but there are still some hidden gems worth their weight in savings. I recommend staying at the Oasis at Goldspike. It has no casino but it is a cool hip spot to stay at. There is nothing crazy about this place, but it is one of the few pools you can take your own beverages to and not have to spend forty dollars on two tall cans and who knows how much for shots. This is again when the drink cooler has been invaluable as well as a space saver. Its not too big and wont take up space like a regular cooler might and is also much easier to haul around. Plus if your are on a higher floor with no elevator the backpack is the better option. This is really our go to spot when we decide to stay downtown. The Oasis is joined to the Goldspike and that has the coolest spot in it. Restaurant by day and club by night filled with plenty of selfie spots and play games both inside the location and outside of it. I highly recommend the unicorn grilled cheese. It is both pretty and delicious and it also comes with tater tots. The deals on Fremont are better than the strip because its the immediate competition. Bands are back once again and its one of my favorite things. I love music and I love to dance and can quickly lose track of time. Another great and economic stay is the El Cortez, and there I prefer the vintage rooms in the casino as opposed to the newer rooms in the tower. Everything is a matter of preference, for my personal tastes as long as the room is clean and the costumer service is on point that's all that matters to me. During our last stay we had what looked like a suite to me, as the room was huge and so pretty with a fifties and sixties feel to it that I am so enamored with already. When you book directly you receive a coupon book that comes with a lot of goodies including food, drinks and discounts. The gaming tables are very reasonable and the cocktail waitresses circulate often. My partner and I enjoy walking around and exploring as much as we can. Micheladas at the Container Park are a must, just as good at the D for a fraction of the price. For Fremont I use the Explore DTLV app. It contains even more discounts and deals to a few of the major restaurants in the area for food and beverages.

Invest in...

The biggest money saver by far in recent times for us has been the backpack cooler. My partner purchased the FORICH on Amazon and ranges between mid twenty and thirty dollars. I would advise waiting for sales and using coupons if you can apply them to your purchase. It displays its as an Amazon Choice and we have been using it on the most recent of our trips and it is such a great purchase. It holds at least twenty four cans and ice to keep everything cool. We are never without a cold beverage now. Beers and electrolyte filled drinks are what we put in our bag. When at the pool we will also keep our phones there in one of the side pockets for safe keeping and exposure from the sun. Both of us are parents, therefore it is important for us to have phones with us even at the pool, in the event of any type of situation where either of our kids might need to get a hold of us. All in all the cooler has been a very good investment and one I highly recommend for any beverage you like to have on hand while casino hopping.

Off the Strip

We have spent a few weekends off the strip as well. Nothing too far, and mostly within walking distance of everything. Royal Resorts is a good one because its right behind one of my favorite Lounge/Diners The Peppermill. That alone is reason enough for me to stay there. The room we stayed in had a balcony with a gorgeous view of the main street up to the strip. Life is Beautiful is a festival we enjoy going to and one of our stays one year was at the Alexis Park. Another great find because for a low rate we had a condo size room that was at the halfway point between the strip and Fremont St where the festival takes place. But by far my favorite off the Stip hotel to stay is Ellis Island casino. The rooms are clean and so close to the costumer service is on point. We arrived early and I knew we could not get a room but I politely ask if it was possible to begin the process, I was told it would not be possible for a few more hours and we were given several vouchers for drinks at the casino! The food there is also fantastic, I love the bbq spot and the front yard. Another great thing at Ellis is that they brew their own beer. There are several made in house from light to ipa. and the best part is their beer costs $2.50! Machines and tables are also at a lower price from the cost at the strip. The vibe there is great and they're always coming out with something new to keep it fresh and interesting.

The long way back.

Vegas is fun no matter how you choose to spend your time. These are a few things I have done over the year that have bumped my experience from great to epic. At the end of the day, however you choose to spend your time out there is all up to you and as long as you are having a memorable time everything else falls at the waist side. No one looks forward to the drive back home that somehow feels longer than the way there. If you made the trip a weekend trip that Sunday drive can be a bear with traffic. This has happened to me a few times and my absolute favorite thing to to is get a room at Stateline. Not to stay the whole day but I usually sleep off the exhaustion and the hangover, while keeping an eye on the flow of traffic and once it begins to clear up I get back on the road. Sometimes we stop for alien jerky on the way and that will pretty much be the only stop to stretch we make till we get back to L.A. In recent years My trips have mostly taken place during the week, the rates are way better and the traffic back home way lighter. But I guarantee I have done Vegas backwards, forwards and plenty of ways in between. Each way has provided a tip over the years that I still use to this very day. Overall the only thing to remember is to make each trip enjoyable for you. Enjoy.