How I spent five days in Las Vegas
How I spent five days in Las Vegas
Managing spending in Sin City isn't easy, but it can be done.
LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas is a place you can easily lose yourself.
The city can be a great vacation destination. But if you’re not careful, a visit can run up a bill and blow your budget.
Scores of temptations are available in “Sin City.” There are casinos and nightclubs, swanky restaurants and exorbitantly priced shows, guided tours, pool parties, high-end shopping and thousands eager to get drunk.
My challenge was navigating those money pits and more here over the last five days.
For the second time in five months, I traveled to Las Vegas and again did everything in my power to enjoy myself without overindulging and overspending. Unlike February, this visit was a work trip, stretching from Wednesday night until Monday afternoon. My company paid for my flight, hotel, ground transportation and meals. Anything beyond that was on me. So how did I do?
Thankfully, my desires have evolved and my temptations have subsided. I no longer crave many of life’s trappings that I once did. I don’t gamble. I’ve greatly reduced my alcohol consumption. And I gave up clubs long ago.
I’ve been fortunate to travel the world, meet fascinating people and experience all sorts of exciting things. Entertainment, in almost all forms, doesn’t appeal to me like it used to. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have my weak moments.
The difference between the old me and the new me is simple: mindfulness.
Long before leaving Chicago last Wednesday night, I began preparing for Vegas mentally, emotionally and logistically. During this same work trip last year, I voluntarily joined colleagues for a group dinner in which the bill was split evenly in spite of what each member of our eight-person party ordered. It stuck me with a substantially higher bill than my fair share, which my company did not cover in full. I vowed never to do that again.
I also told myself to avoid bars and group outings that might tempt me to binge drink. Vegas has a funny way of inducing even the strongest mentally to want to keep up with the Joneses.
A 3 1/2-hour delay out of Chicago due to inclement weather, albeit aggravating, helped. Rather than arriving on time at 8:50 p.m., I didn’t land until 12:10 a.m. By the time I made it to my hotel, it was 12:41 a.m. The hiccup kept me out of trouble my first night.
We had a staff meeting Thursday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., for which my company had our hotel cater breakfast and lunch. That night, the bosses threw a staff mixer with light fare and an open bar. I took advantage of the opportunity and downed some free booze — Bulleit Bourbon on the rocks.
A second session was held Friday, with breakfast served again. But the meeting ended just before noon so no lunch was served. I had to work Friday afternoon into the evening, and my lady friend flew out to join me Friday night. The mission from there was to have a good time with her without going overboard.
We had dinner at Eataly inside the Park MGM on Friday night. I enjoyed lasagna. She had ravioli. For her meal, an underwhelming serving that looked more like a kid’s portion, I paid $25.
On Saturday morning, we each had pastrami and egg bagels from the Proper Eats Food Hall inside the Aria Hotel. I picked up her meal, another $13. After working Saturday afternoon into the early evening, we headed to Nacho Daddy on the Strip for dinner. The place looks like a tourist trap, but it’s legit.
We shared filet mignon nachos, which I expensed. And I bought a margarita pitcher. The decision was a sensible one. Rather than paying $17 per drink, I spent $40.10 and we had two apiece. Pricer options for higher quality tequila were listed. But why pay $51 for a pitcher before tax when the lower price point would produce the same feeling after a few sips?
Before returning to our hotel, my editor invited me for a nightcap in the lobby. Because we don’t see each other often, I joined him and a few others for one beer, which he paid for. After about an hour, I had enough and was ready for bed.
Sunday was an off day, which started with breakfast at Eat, a Black-owned restaurant in downtown Vegas. I had biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs and bacon. Triest had corned beef hash. We shared a pancake and devoured one of their signatures, La’Kat’s Deviled Eggs. Again, I split the bill, expensing a portion and paying $28 out of pocket.
We took a walk downtown after breakfast, strolling over to the Circa Resort and Casino to check out its expansive Stadium Swim pool. Then we made our way back to our hotel to take a dip in our pool and hot tub. Later, we picked up a sausage and mushroom pizza for dinner from the “secret pizza” spot inside the Cosmopolitan hotel. And I purchased two beers to go with our pie. The alcohol expense again came out of my pocket, costing $19.51.
We’ll fly home Monday afternoon and land late in the evening. For my flight to Las Vegas, I packed a turkey sandwich, a banana, pretzels and shelled peanuts to help keep expenses down when I grew hungry. I won’t have the same opportunity for the return flight. We’ll grab breakfast Monday morning and will need to figure out lunch and dinner while traveling.
But for three sun-soaked days and fun-filled nights in Las Vegas with my lady friend, I will have paid less than $200.
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But my money is coming home with me.