We traveled to Las Vegas in May 2014 from Austin via Southwest Airlines. I’ve listed below where we stayed, where we ate, and places we visited.

Hooters Hotel & Casino: I don’t want to scare anyone but the truth is–Hooters is old and has not been updated. BUT you cannot beat the price! I booked 5 nights for roughly $350.00. You get what you pay for. Our shower was a little leaky but we just laid a bunch of towels down on the floor. Our room was always cleaned daily and on time. The pool is the biggest draw to this Hotel. It has a 24 hour pool that accompanies the 24 hour Hooters Restaurant. There is a good size hot tub and fresh/clean pool towels available. The Casino is small, just a handful of tables, but we had a great time playing. You get a $10 table credit and $20 food credit when you check in, which is a nice perk too! I can’t complain about Hooters. The location is great (right across from the MGM Grand), the casino and pool were great, and the food was terrific. A great hotel for someone on a tight budget. 🙂

Hooters 24/7: The Hooters restaurant inside Hooters Hotel & Casino is open 24 hours. You can dine in or have the wings sent up to your room. Wings at 3:00am what could be better!? The service isn’t great, but the food sure is! The staff is small late at night, so I would recommend dining-in to ensure your food is hot! 😀

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina: This restaurant is inside The Shops at Crystals. It overlooks the mall area and has a great bar. We had pizza and salads. Delicious. Service was a bit slow (and it wasn’t busy), but the food and drinks made up for it! I would recommend this for a quick and easy lunch! 🙂

Wicked Spoon Buffet: (For Brunch) This buffet is located inside Cosmopolitan. I had read amazing reviews about this place and boy were they right! The line is a bit long to get in, but once you are in it is a smorgasbord of all different foods, salads, and desserts! I would recommend this in a heart beat! Get there early! 😀

Chayo: Located in the LINQ shopping center. This is a Mexican-themed bar and restaurant. We stopped in for a quick snack and drink before riding The High Roller. I had carnitas tacos and Kyle had queso fundido. Delicious. Great service, quick and easy to get in and out. They can make your drink to-go, so you can carry them around. Loved it. Would definitely recommend this place for lunch or dinner! 🙂

Binion’s Cafe: Inside Binion’s Casino (downtown). I recommend becoming a Binion’s casino card member (free) before eating in the cafe because you’ll get a discount if you have your players card! We eat here every time we visit Vegas—It is great hangover food. Kyle enjoys the gambler’s special and I love the chili dogs! Food is cheap and service is great! A definite must after a night of drinking! 😀

The Mirage Buffet: Cravings Buffet inside The Mirage. We had this buffet for dinner. I would consider it extremely over-priced–our total bill (for 2 people) was $90.00. It was neat that “all you could drink” was included too—but Bud Light and House White Wine were the only 2 beverages that fell under the “all you can drink” category.    There were many different food options, but none of them really “wowed” me or looked amazing. More of a glorified Golden Corral. Would NOT recommend this buffet. 😦

UFC Fight: This fight was inside the Grand Garden Arena inside MGM Grand. Always a great fight venue and there’s really not a bad seat in the house. 🙂

Absinthe: I don’t want to give away too much, but Absinthe at Caesars Palace is A MUST SEE! It has something for everyone, and I would consider it an “adult carnival”. If you’re not a prude and have a sense of humor, this show is for you! 😀

High Roller: I’m realizing now there are lots of great deals that make this ride more affordable. We rode the High Roller shortly after it opened and tickets were crazy expensive. The ride is really lovely at night—I would recommend it—but shop around for the best deal on tickets!

Encore Beach Club: I purchased tickets for David Guetta at Encore Beach Club a month in advance, but by no means does purchasing tickets early get you any special privileges. Get there early! The line was long and there is hardly any seating (unless you purchase a  $1000.00 lily-pad) so don’t take anything but a credit card because your stuff is GOING to get WET and its not worth putting your items in a locker. Once you’re in the pool, you’re IN–don’t get out of the pool or you WILL lose your spot! Drinks are priced pretty crazy ($25-$35 each) and lines are pretty long. A fun day to blow money, but not a necessity!

Guns-N-Roses @ The Joint: The Joint is a great music venue. I was really impressed with the acoustics, the stage, and the bar. Tickets were pricey but we got there early and stood right in front of the stage. It was nice to be able to move to the back after listening to the first initial songs in the pit of people. The back of the venue is raised so you can see the stage really well. Bathrooms were clean, and the bar was easy to get service. A great music venue!  🙂

Binion’s Casino: In the early afternoons Binion’s has $2.00 Tables—which is terrific! We always stop to play at Binion’s before heading home. Friendly dealers, waitresses are a little slow, but overall good service. This is a great casino for a gambler on a budget 🙂

Remember to check out my Travel Tips! Book in advance and break up the big purchases such as hotel, flight, and big-ticket events!

HAPPY TRAVELS!