Vegas on the Cheap

It can be done!

First, I have to warn you that if you drink and gamble, I am not going to be able to save you much money. Those are the two most expensive habits in Vegas. But, I can give you some ideas of cheap and free things to check out and do.

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One, book a cheap hotel. I know what you are thinking. You want the glitz, the galmour, the Vegas experience. Well, let me assure you will find it no matter where you choose to sleep at night. You don't even have to stay on the Strip to enjoy your visit to Sin City. With the exception of our wedding weekend, I don't think we have ever paid over $60 a night in Vegas and we haven't missed out on any of the fun.

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Two, no matter where you stay, the other hotels are there for your enjoyment! You can spend hours wondering from hotel to hotel checking out their themes and free offerings. Ceasar's Palace has a water show, Treasure Island has a pirate show, Mirage has lions, and Bellagio has butterflies----All for free!

Here are the Bellagio butterflies:

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Three, adventure off the Strip! This is an especially good idea for families since the kids aren't too fond of alcohol and the smoke is pretty bad for their little lungs.

Visit Red Rock Canyon. It is about twenty to thirty minutes away from the Strip and the cost to enter is $7 per vehicle. Once inside there are many walking/hiking trail, though if you want to be brief the drive alone is worth the fee. There is a great Vistor's Center that has lots to explore. It's almost like a little museum with plenty of hands-on material.

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Four, drive a little past Red Rock Canyon and stop at Bonnie Springs Ranch. Entrance is $5 per person and that gets you quite a bit. You can tour the (replica) mining town and old buildings there. See what it would have been like during the mining days before you watch actors play out scenes from the past including a Hanging (Fun!) and a Posse Show. In addition, your admission gets you into the petting zoo which includes some rarities like wolves and a lynx. No, you can't pet those ones but there are lots to touch, including the wild burros that will come right up to your car as you drive to the entrance of Bonnie Springs.

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Five, check out M&M World and Coke Store, located right next to each other on the Strip. At the M&M World you can check out the progression of M&M's throughout their history as you walk through the four level building. Admission is free though I can't promise that you won't be tempted to purchase some candy before leaving.

The Coke Store is one of my ultimate favorites. I always go there when in Vegas. Again, there is lots to see and there is no charge to get in and walk around. You may even see the Coke polar bear for a great photo opporunity. If you do spend any money there I strongly suggest purchasing one of their sampler trays. The Coke Around the World tray is $7 and you get cups filled with 16 different Coke flavors that are popular in different countries. They are not all tasty but the experience is not to be missed.

The other tray (seen here) is the Coke Float tray. It features 8 different floats for $8. Try a Grape Float, Mellow Yellow Float, and Sprite Float too! Ben and I cannot finish this tray between the two of us and will easily satisfy a family of four. Yum!

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Six, the Fremont St. Experience. We checked this out on our first night in Vegas and it was worth it! We had heard stories about it being shady in that area and am sure there were unfavorable spots but when you are actually under that largest screen in the World surrounded by people, store owners, security, and police, it doesn't seem too bad. We spent a couple of hours there walking around. There are hotels and casinos right in the heart of Fremont in addition to gift shops and restaurants. The light shows take place every hour starting at 8pm and we stayed for the first one and the one at 9pm (they are all different).

Enjoy your next trip to Vegas and if you have any other ideas, feel free to share them here. I'd love to get more suggestions for the next time we head that way.

It's Spring!

Right? I mean, sure there has been a lot of rain and it has been cold but Spring is here!

I have some ideas to help get you into the Spring Mood and they include two very important elements on Springtime---Flowers & Butterflies!

First, you can't go wrong with the Flower Fields in Carlsbad. This is a seasonal event so enjoy it while you can. There are activities for the kids like a maze and Santa's Playground (Yeah, I have no idea what that's about either). I do think the event is pricey but no one has said that it wasn't worth it. It is $10 for Adults and $5 for Children ages 3 to 10. Children under 3 are free.

Next idea, the Monarch Program in Encinitas. Here you can visit an outdoor butterfly house and a greenhouse filled with the plants that butterflies love. You can have the opportunity to feed adult butterflies, touch caterpillars, and more. They are only open to the public from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays but it is worth the trip. Admission for adults is $7, $6 for teenagers, $5 for children 12 to 4. Children under 4 are free.

Finally, one more great butterfly opportunity, the Wild Animal Park! It is almost time for their annual Butterfly Jungle! I have been a number of times and it is amazing! The cost is free with admission so check out the butterflies and then cruise around the Park before the weather is too hot to enjoy it. (It is gets CRAZY hot out there in the summer). The Butterfly Jungle is open from April 9th through May 8th.

Here are a few of my own photos from the Butterfly Jungle:

Japanese Weekend!

The Beckoning Cats are....beckoning!

The Mingei Museum in Balboa Park is opening a new exhibit this weekend that will include some of my favorite felines. Over 150 Beckoning Cats will be on display along with information about their history and their lucky powers. I have a few in my house, including the ones pictured here so I definitely want to check this out.

Admission is:

$7 for Adults, $4 for Children (Ages 6-17), Free for Children Under 6

Also, this museum is free the third Tuesday of every month.

The exhibit will set up for months so don't worry if you don't make it on opening weekend. In fact I would suggest waiting until March 19th to check out these cats so you can get a double dose of Japanese culture.

On March 19th the Japanese Friendship Garden will be hosting the Cherry Blossom Festival. The event will include food, entertainment, and a tour of the cherry grove.

Admission is $4 for adults and children are free with a paid adult admission.

Balboa Park----Always a Winner!

For those of you who picked up your 50% off passes at Macy's this month, you probably know that this past weekend was the last time to use them (Okay, today counts too, but who goes on a Monday?!).

We were out there touring the Museum of Man at a discounted rate and really enjoying the sunshine. Though cold, there were clear skies and plenty of sun.

Even though the passes are expired and the museum prices seem to be rising every time we visit, I want to remind you of all of the free stuff that can be enjoyed at Balboa Park.

First, there is the Botanical Garden. It is fun to walk through and dream about how your yard could look if you were more motivated and not inherently lazy. (Oh, just me?) There is even a section in the Botanical Garden with plants that you can eat! Fun!

The Botanical Garden is located right behind the Koi Pond, which is always worth a visit. Those fish are huge and entertaining!

Second, the Timkin Art Museum is always free! The artwork is rotated often and you will feel like you did something good for your mind and soul by having just walked through.

Third, there is ample picnicking space! No need to spend a fortune on the food offered at the park, though tamales out of a cart and astronaut ice cream always sound appealing. You can pack a lunch or a snack and enjoy the day. We saw plenty of people napping in the sun, kids playing football, and people munching on goodies.

Fourth, I know this one will sound weird but walk through the Gift Shops. You don't need to pay museum admission to check them out and you don't need to spend money there either. A lot of the time they have interesting books to browse, item similar to those found in the museums themselves, and plenty to touch and see. It's like browsing the mall, only with culture!

Fifth, it's a great place to exercise. I am often craving a different place to get out and move my legs and Balboa Park never disappoints. The Park is very dog friendly and there are lots of awesome buildings, interesting plants, and colorful flowers all over the park.

Sixth, the Art Village! Love it! We walk through there every time and you can see over 30 different artists' nooks and displays. Doesn't cost a penny and there is so much amazing talent out there.

Cheaper Travel Tip #2

All right! Are you ready for my next tip?

Join their team!

That's right! In my last travel tip I suggested signing up for mailing list and liking your favorite places on facebook but if you do your research you can go one step farther. Many places have customer loyalty perks just waiting to be used.

I will remind you that the suggestions I make here are ones that Ben and I have actually used so it's like I am an expert. Many hotels, in particular, will offer discounts and free night stays if you stay with them often.

Vagabond Inn offers the tenth night free AND they are pet friendly! We have stayed with them a number of times and are very close to getting that tenth night.

Best Western offers a night free after three stays with them. We have only stayed at Best Western once in Arizona but we have no complaints.

Sheraton offers a plan called Starwood Points that allows you to earn free nights (among other things) just by staying at their hotels. We stayed at the Sheraton in San Francisco and it was worth every penny (and also pet friendly!).

Of course, the most beneficial to us, has been Alaska Air Miles. Check with your airline to see if they have a frequent flyer program and USE IT!

You may be thinking. "But we don't travel that often. It will take us forever to earn anything free." To that I say, Quit being a poop! It may take months or even years but when you get your free flight or free night in a hotel it will be worth it. Trust me!

You Can Cruise Too!

Warning: This post will discuss our cruise this weekend and will offer very little as far as how to do fun things inexpensively. Sometimes my posts will be more about sharing than offering ideas and this is one those times.


For Christmas this year, Ben and I bought each other a 3 Night Cruise to Ensenada. It was a little bit of a compromise because while Ben likes to travel, after our last cruise of 7 nights, he wasn't quite sure he wanted to spend that much time on a ship again. Thankfully anything over 3 nights was probably out of our budget anyway.



We boarded the Carnival Paradise on Friday and set sail. We had a wonderful time. If you are someone who works too much or travel with someone who works too much, this is a perfect vacation! You see, we didn't have to sit in traffic, read maps or search out the least rundown motel. We just let the ship guide us and even though I am working hard on my Master's and I keep pretty busy, this trip was something Ben really deserved.





For those of you aren't aware, Ben has been working 6 days a week for months now and barely has time to relax. I took great pleasure in seeing him get to lounge, read his book, and eat at buffets (no cooking and no dirty dishes). If I could, I would try to make this happen for Ben as often as possible. He is an amazing guy who will do anything for "us".

Okay, back to the cruise....

In Ensenada we saw La Bufadora, which could be compared to Spouting Horn in Kauai, only bigger!

We were thoroughly harassed by vendors. It was incredibly annoying. They did everything just short of grabbing our arms and yanking us into their little stores. I have never experienced such pressure and I have been to other ports of call in Mexico. Nothing was this awful.

We did get to hold a baby tiger. Let me explain how that came to be. There was a organization with a booth set up that takes care of animals that are abandoned by their parents and they hand raise them. They make money for their cause by letting you take pictures with the animals. We contimplated sneaking him back on the ship but sound minds prevailed.

In the end, we had a wonderful time and I already itching to get back on the ship.

I do have travel advice for you! Cruises are going to cost money and may require some saving to cover the cost BUT if you have a flexible work schedule and can travel on the weekdays, you can get the best deals! For instance, if you look at Carnival's website you will find 3-4 night cruises for under $250 a person. Prefer a longer cruise, if your dates are flexible, you can find 5 night cruises for under $325 a person.
When you consider that all travel expenses are covered (gas, hotel, food, entertainment) you can definitely get your money's worth.

Cheaper Travel Tip #1

I know, just the thought of a vacation sends the credit card farther into debt but let's face it, some of you are going to take a vacation and see something new. Might as well get the best deal.

Ben and I travel often and we usually travel cheap. Vacations are going to cost a fair amount of money but there are ways to make it a little easier on the pocketbook. I have a few suggestions that I will be share throughout the next few weeks. ALL of these suggestions have worked for Ben and I and saved us money.

Here is Cheaper Travel Trip #1!

If there is a some place you like to visit do your research! Go to their websites, join their mailing lists and LIKE them on facebook if they have a page. How does this help?

Well, hotels and airlines often send out e-mails letting you know their latest deals. They will offer deals when you book far in advance. They will offer deals when you book last minute. They will offer deals to return guests. They will offer deals during their off season. They will advertise contests for discounted travel!

AND most of the time you get the deals first if they have a way to contact you.

Here's an example. Ben and I just booked a trip to Vegas. We searched expedia and used all of the e-mails that we had received from our favorite hotels to find the best deal. I noticed that expedia showed the best price at the Sahara so I found them on facebook, liked their page, used their link for facebook fans and saved $30 on our trip. That's $30 less than going through their regular site or expedia!

I am on mailing list for Alaska Travel, Alaska Airlines, Carnival Cruises, Stratosphere, Sahara, and more. Even if you have never been to these places, join their mailing list and you may be there sooner than you think!