Vegas Trips on a Budget - Part 9 of 9: Wrapping It All Up

This last installment of Vegas Trips on a Budget covers the tips, hints, and money-saving ideas that didn't fit elsewhere in the series. Read on and consider how some of these things might be incorporated into your next Vegas trip.

Avoid the "just this once" mentality - This applies to gambling, dining, shopping, or even traveling. Do what you're comfortable with and don't spend too much money on anything just because you're in Vegas. If you can't afford it, don't spend money on it.

Meet for drinks instead of meals - If you're meeting friends or family in Las Vegas during your vacation, consider meeting for drinks to save money for a meal you'd really like later on (or before, if you're meeting later).

Or meet for an earlier meal - If you'd really rather meet for a meal than for drinks, think about getting together for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner to save some cash.

Scour sites for more deals and ideas - Previously mentioned sites in my other posts offer lots of options for saving money in Vegas, so look around and check out all the deals they have to offer.

Consider joining a message board to get more ideas - Online sites like LasVegas4Ever (http://www.lasvegas4ever.com/) and Trip Advisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/) offer lots of feedback and ideas for trips from people who've been there, done that.

Bring your computer along - Not only can you use it to spend some downtime in your room when you're overwhelmed by Vegas in general or when you run out of money (hopefully not!), you can make notes of your trip experiences to share with others...just like I'm doing now. Also, you can take advantage of free WiFi spots all around Vegas to relax and check e-mails or work if you really have to.

Make sure you have cash on hand - Be sure you save enough money to cover the cost of your cab ride back to the airport and/or to get you home. Some cab companies and parking garages don't take credit cards at all, so you must have cash available as payment.

Get slot cards and use them - Sign up for slot cards and use them when you play slot machines, video poker machines, and even table games like blackjack or poker in order to generate future offers on free or discounted rooms and other comps. Many places start offering discounts for very little play, and you could be missing out on possible savings and deals for future trips.

Use your rewards points, free play, and/or cash before you leave - Unless you know you're returning to Las Vegas in a couple of months, use what you've earned before your vacation is over. Why? Most points and cash back offers expire in 6-12 months unless you put X number of 'new' points on your slot card within a certain period of time. These aren't things you can pass on to your spouse or your kids, so use them before you head for the airport.

Continue to tip appropriately, not extravagantly or cheaply - Just because you're trying to save money doesn't mean you should stop tipping altogether, either. Tip 15-20% for meals and don't forget about the cocktail waitresses, bellmen, and everyone else who still counts on tips as part of their income. For a review of appropriate tipping in Vegas, see my earlier "Tips on Tipping" post from July.

Think about taking a solo trip - Let's face it: solo trips save money because you're only paying for one of everything, but that's not the only good thing about them in my eyes. You don't have to plan around someone else's likes and dislikes, set up meeting times and places, or wait for someone else to get ready or decide to move to another location. It's easier to find seats in restaurants and for shows, too, because single seats are almost always available with little or no wait. Tomorrow's post is all about traveling solo, and there are lots of good ideas and tips that may make you decide to just go ahead and go for it.

Smile! You're in Vegas! - No matter what you do on your trip and how you budget your time and money, this is the most important rule of all. You're on vacation, so enjoy yourself every moment. Do what's fun for you and have a great time. Don't stress or worry, but relax and find something to entertain yourself.

Well, I've come to the end of my series, and I hope you've found some things that will help you save money and maybe even give you some creative, money-saving ideas of your own.

Remember: When the current economic recession is over, being frugal and saving money on your vacation doesn't have to end. Keep using your cash wisely and enjoy all that Las Vegas has to offer.