The national financial education non-profit offers tips for money conscious travelers on how to be financially responsible in the Sin City.
Boston, MA – November 14, 2014
When it comes to your money, what happens in Vegas, does not necessarily have to stay in Vegas. You don’t have to go home with an empty wallet and empty bank account. Known for its world famous casinos, top chefs, sparkling shows and dazzling strip, Las Vegas is a premier tourist destination with something to offer everyone. A record 39.7 million people visited Las Vegas in the past year, and according to a recent survey conducted by Expedia.com, the average Las Vegas-bound visitor spends an average of $1,600 for a three day vacation. But despite the expensive and extravagant options, proper planning will make it possible to have the same glitzy experience while sticking to a budget.
“Vegas is filled with financial temptations that will test even the strictest budgeters, but with good planning, visitors can still have fun while not breaking the bank,” said Steve Trumble, President and CEO of financial education nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling.
ACCC shares a few tips with consumers on how to be money-savvy and avoid blowing your budget while fully experiencing Sin City.
Limit Yourself:
Make sure to only bring one credit card. This card should only be used for securing your hotel room, and for emergency uses. You want to avoid racking up unnecessary debt. Just because you have access to it, doesn’t mean you have to use it.
Take What You Need:
When you’re exploring the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” only include necessities in your wallet or purse. Take your medical card, licenses, list of medications, etc. but everything else can be left at home. If anything happens to be lost or stolen, this minimizes hassles and problems.
Budget Daily:
An important part to sticking to your budget is to allot yourself a certain amount of money that you can spend each day. When the money that you have allocated for the day runs out, stop gambling. Las Vegas is the worst place to be with no money, and ATM machines charge you significant fees to use them.
Pick Your Hotel Wisely:
Choose your hotel based on budget and location. Take into account how much time you are realistically going to spend in the room. Keep in mind that you can go to any other hotel’s restaurant, shows, or casinos regardless of whether or not you are a guest at the hotel.. If you can, try to stay on “the Strip,” as most of the hotels are located there. Also, be precautious and use Google Maps to view the hotel location before you book. beware hotels are much further apart than they appear.
Consider Your Shows:
Shows can be very reasonable or very expensive. There are opportunities to buy discount tickets the day of the show, but these are often limited and seating may not be ideal. If it is a show you “must” see, consider buying the tickets from home.
Fiscally Friendly Food:
Restaurants can also be very reasonable or very expensive. Look at the menu. There are plenty of less expensive chain restaurants that are good choices without having to break the bank. Consider your dining experiences wisely.
You Can Get a Free Show:
See the free attractions such as the famous fountain show at the Bellagio, the pirates at Treasure Island, or explore The Rio. Not only are they free, they’re worth the time and are very enjoyable!
Be a Player:
Join the Players Club at your hotel. This is a no-cost way to earn points -and points equal money- for gambling. Don’t gamble simply to earn points though; the points you earn are worth far less than the money you gambled to earn them.
Walk and Shop:
There is plenty of entertainment to enjoy and experience just by walking on the Strip. Take the trolley and use this as an opportunity to window shop, take in the sites, and simply people watch. It saves money, and it’s a lot of fun.
Take a Break from the Glamour:
Not everything about Vegas has to be sequin-filled and bedazzled. Take the time to visit the Hoover Dam or experience the Grand Canyon.
Travel Thrifty:
Only use taxis if you absolutely must, and if you do, try to “double up” with others and split the cost. Consider taking public buses. Also, look into a three day pass for the monorail which travels to most of the hotels on the Strip.
Learn the Game:
Make sure not to go into any game you’re playing blind. Casinos make it difficult enough to win, it’s nearly impossible if you don’t know the game you’re playing. Most hotels give free lessons to learn basic gambling games like blackjack, craps, and roulette.
Don’t Spend More Than You’ve Saved:
Gamble what you can afford, and only that. Gambling should be for entertainment purposes only. Treat it as entertainment and treat losses as the cost that comes with the hope of winning.
American Consumer Credit Counseling, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers achieve financial health through education, counseling, and debt management, offers free financial workshops on topics ranging from budgeting to credit to identity theft.
ACCC’s certified and experienced counselors offer a variety of financial education, counseling and debt management services to help consumers achieve long-term financial health and stability. These financial education programs help consumers to better understand and manage their finances. ACCC’s holiday spending poll is the first in a series of planned monthly polls related to budgeting and spending habits, intended to help consumers recognize their budgeting needs. ACCC plans to post these polls and the results on their website and Facebook page.
ACCC is a 501(c)3 organization, that provides free credit counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and housing counseling to consumers nationwide in need of financial literacy education and money management. For more information, contact ACCC:
- For credit counseling, call 800-769-3571
- For bankruptcy counseling. call 866-826-6924
- For housing counseling, call 866-826-7180
- For more information on financial education workshops in New England, call 800-769-3571 x1980
- Or visit us online at ConsumerCredit.com
About American Consumer Credit Counseling
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve financial health through education, counseling, and debt management. ACCC provides individuals with practical solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers’ financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation’s leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC works with consumers to help them with the best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain financial stability. ACCC is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating. It is also a member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies. For more information or to access free financial education resources log on to ConsumerCredit.com or visit TalkingCentsBlog.com. Follow ACCC on twitter @TalkCentsBlog
