48 Fun Hours on a Budget in…Las Vegas

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Thisis a new series showing you how easy it is to budget travel anywhere, where Ialso give you a quick overview of a new city each time in a brief 48-houritinerary.
A lot of us fancy a shortgetaway throughout the year and need to balance a good time with smaller travelcosts, because if you spend too much on your getaway, you won’t be going onthat big vacation you’ve been dreaming of all year. We tend to stretch a weekendfor a quick trip – 2-4 days – and then go on our 1-2 week trip in the fall. Ifyou ask me, taking some mini vacations during the year can really keep yousane, but can also drain your bank account if you aren’t careful. Just a bit ofresearch can go a long way to saving you big.

I love Vegas, but I can easilygo overboard with my spending there. If I plan out my time, I spend more timewalking and enjoying what he city has to offer and less time losing all mymoney at the slots. Don’t get me wrong. I’m still going to dump a few quartersin and hope for a big win, but with just two days, I’m going to make the mostof my time.

Day 1Breakfast Buffet! Breakfast isthe most important meal of the day, so load up on protein and carbs to get youthrough your morning activities at an affordable buffet:

• The Fantasy Market Buffet at the Palms ($7.99) 
• Circus Buffet at Circus Circus ($10.49)
• Studio B Buffet at M Resort ($10.99)
• French Market Buffet at Orleans ($6.95)
• Ports O’ Call Buffet at Gold Coast ($6.95)
• Any of the Fremont Street casinos offer supercheap buffet prices, if you are willing to get up early enough to make it overthere.

Wander the streets of Paris (atthe Paris) and New York (New York New York).
Visit the lions at MGM Grand. This is one of my favorite things to do in Vegas, because lions are awesome, and trainers come through every so often talking about the lions and teaching starers about their habits and characteristics.
Explore Siegfriedand Roy’s Secret Garden at The Mirage. ($19.95)
Head over to Caesar’s Palace tograb lunch – maybe at the CypressStreet Market – and then through the shops to witness theFall of Atlantis. You could marvel at the statues and gold paneling in thecasino for quite some time, too.
Play pinball and marvel atgames you used to love or have never seen at Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame Museum. (Freeadmission, though it costs $.25-.50 to play each machine.)
Treat yourself to a trulyunique dining experience at Dick’sLast Resort in the Excalibur Hotel and Casino. Or go to theHard Rock Casino and get a table at Mr. Lucky’s. Ask for the “Gambler’sSpecial”, which is not on the menu, and receive an 8oz flatiron steak, threejumbo shrimp, salad and mashed potatoes for just $7.77. Winner!

Make your way to the Bellagioand wander the Conservatoryand Botanical Gardens. Admission is free and it’s open 24 hours aday. Once you’ve had your fill of beautiful plants and flowers, wander outsideto catch the free Fountains of Bellagio show. Of course if the weather is uncooperative,you can always see them well from the windows across from the shops upstairs.
Go down the street to TreasureIsland and see the free Sirens of TI pirate show. If fire is more your thing,head back to the Mirage instead and watch the new Volcano show, complete withwater show, flames and rockin’ music. Don’t forget to duck into the frontentrance to admire the hard work of four gardeners with the atriums indoorrainforest. Wow!
Try your luck at the casino orcall it a day.
Day2Get off the strip and head overto EllisIsland on the street behind the Paris. You can get a delicious andhearty breakfast for just $6.99.

Put some of your hard-earnedmoney on the tables or in the slots and cross your fingers, then ride the freetram over to the Rio and wander the colorful floor, before making your wayupstairs to browse shops and wait for the Mardi Gras Show in the Sky. The besttime you’ll have outside of Rio de Janiero and New Orleans.
Take your beads and get a doseof Hawaii at the HawaiianMarketplace near Polo Towers. You can find anything youcould possibly want – and a lot that you don’t – at the vendors here as well asbe entertained by live music, shows and dancing. If you’re looking for a cheaplunch, you’ll find it here. Or you could:

Linger over a Parisian lunch atJJ’sBoulangerie at the Paris Hotel and Casino. (Average$10/person) Once rested, take the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower andtake in the strip and Vegas as far as the eye can see. ($10.50, which saves you$5 if you go before 7:30pm)
Ride over to Fremont Street totake in Fremont Street Experience and also engage in some ziplining. Yes!Ziplining in the middle of the city! It’s a bit spendy, but when will you everhave a chance to do something similar again? Only the next time you’re inVegas. ($16-20)
If it’s not dark yet, splurgeon a trip to The Mob Museum at theGolden Nugget. Sure, tickets cost $18, but it promises you “The story of thetruth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” If you’re into learningabout the city’s seedy (and kinda glamorous) past, then you can’t miss thisattraction.

Head into the Golden GateCasino and get a $1.99 shrimp cocktail from the San Francisco Shrimp Bar &Deli, watch more cool stuff out on the streets and then find dinner at the FourQueens Hotel and Casino’s Magnolia’s Veranda and get a prime rib dinner forjust $8.95 or indulge in another buffet (it’s not a trip to Las Vegas unlessyou’ve been to one or two) and treat yourself to the $18.99 dinner buffet atthe Golden Nugget.
At this point I would head backto my room and pack up for my trip back home. Two days crammed full of uniqueand traditional Vegas awesomeness and not too much money left on the tables. Anaverage of $120 would be spent per person if you hit up all attractions andrecommended eateries. Use BookIt tofind a solid bargain on a hotel and airfare package or shop the Expedia and Travelocity summersales to stay on your budget. 
What are some of your must-do things in the City of Sin?