Las Vegas budget travel: How to do Vegas on any budget

The writer travelled as a guest of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

$ PENNY PINCH

Have a mind-boggling day in Vegas and spend scarcely a dime by walking The Strip and visiting its spectacular themed hotels. Start off at the glass pyramid of The Luxor and faux skyscrapers of New York New York, which you can ride on a rollercoaster (newyorknewyork.com; $15). The Bellagio has Edwardian-era opulence and spurts famous dancing fountains (bellagio.com; free) while nearby Paris, Venice and Caesars Palace are other gobsmacking resorts. Finish up at Circus Circus whose gargantuan lunch buffet (circuscircus.com; $17) will last you the day. Its Adventuredome (adventuredome.com; $32 day pass) has enough gut-wrenching, crazy rides to while away the afternoon. Then head to the evening Fremont Street Experience (vegasexperience.com; free), a computerised music and light show that covers four downtown blocks, often followed by live concerts. Check in for a mediaeval-themed sleep at Excalibur (excalibur.com; from $65).

TOTAL: $129

$$ EASY DOES IT

The breakfast buffet at The Bellagio (bellagio.com; $21) provides enough in abundance and quality to keep you fuelled all morning. Head 30 kilometres beyond town to Red Rock Canyon (redrockcanyonlv.org; $8 a vehicle) and its scenic gorge drive and verdant valley floor, then lunch at Bonnie Springs Ranch (bonniesprings.com; $16), where the Wild West comes to life in a recreated village ($11). Later, you still have time to check out Venetian canals, the Eiffel Tower and fountains of The Strip. Take in an energetic Blue Man Group show (blueman.com; $96) and dine at Hash House a Go Go (hashhouseagogo.com; mains around $21) for great American food in gargantuan servings. Finish the night at casual Mizuya Lounge (no cover) for great bands and a party atmosphere inside the sleek, relatively modest Mandalay Bay (mandalaybay.com; from $96), one of Vegas's nicest hotels.

TOTAL: $269

$$$ SPLASH OUT

There's no end of ways to spend a fortune. Sleep in (a long night lies ahead) and brunch on the superb gourmet buffet at Wicked Spoon (cosmopolitanlasvegas.com; $24) before shopping along The Strip - The Bellagio (bellagio.com) and The Venetian (venetian.com) have good top-end boutique choices, and you can even buy a Maserati at Wynn Las Vegas (penskewynnmaserati.com). Finish at Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (caesarspalace.com), then unwind at the resort's opulent Qua Spa (treatments $235). Dine on outstanding Greek cuisine at Estiatorio Milos (cosmopolitanlasvegas.com; about $100) and take in the Cirque du Soleil's aquatic show O (cirquedusoleil.com; from $116) before hitting the champagne cocktails at oh-so-chic nightclub The Bank (thebanklasvegas.com; cover $30, cocktails $16) and dancing the night away at XS (xslasvegas.com; $30). Sleep (if at all) at the lovely Four Seasons Hotel (fourseasons.com; from $255)

TOTAL: $806