Boujee Budget Travel

January 2025

Las Vegas has a reputation for excess, but with the right strategy (and the right credit card), it can be surprisingly affordable. We spent a long weekend in Vegas in January 2025 and kept costs low by stacking credit card perks, hotel comps, and a little self-control on the casino floor.

Here’s how it broke down—and why Vegas remains one of our favorite budget-friendly getaways.

✈️ Flights: Mixing Miles and Cash

Total: $160.58 for one person

I flew Delta to Las Vegas using reward miles (plus under $6 for taxes), which immediately eliminated the biggest expense of most trips. For the return, I booked a full-fare Southwest flight back to Albuquerque for a total of $154.98.

Using miles one way and paying cash the other gave me flexibility on flight times without blowing the budget—one of my favorite travel hacks.

🚗 Transportation: Keep It Simple

Total: $20.23

No rental car needed. Between the airport and the Strip, Lyft/Uber covered everything for just over $20 per person. Vegas is extremely rideshare-friendly, especially if you’re staying on the Strip and not venturing far.

🏨 Accommodations: MGM Comps for the Win

Total: $0

This is where the budget really shines.

We stayed at Mandalay Bay for four nights—fully comped through MGM Rewards. No resort fee, no nightly rate, no strings attached. If you gamble even casually (and especially if you’re loyal to one casino group), comps can add up fast.

Four nights at a Strip resort in January would normally run hundreds—if not over a thousand— of dollars. Paying $0 completely changed the math of this trip.

🍜 Food & Drinks: A Mix of Splurge and Save

Restaurant & delivery total: $181.71

DIY snacks: $9.99

We aimed for balance: enjoy Vegas food without turning every meal into a production. For my portion, this is what is broke down to…

Where we ate and drank:

Mandalay Bay Noodle Shop, Cosmopolitan food spots, Luxor Buffet, Fat Tuesday (because… Vegas), and DoorDash for a chill night in.

These meal costs were for two people.*

For breakfasts and late-night cravings, we grabbed store snacks here and there for a total of $9.99, which saved both money and time.

Vegas food can get expensive fast, but sharing meals, skipping fancy dining, and mixing in snacks kept our total food spend under $200 for the entire weekend.

🎰 Entertainment: Set the Limit

Gambling losses: $100

We treated gambling as entertainment, not an investment. We set a hard limit of $100 total, played a bit, had fun, and walked away when it was gone—no regrets.

Vegas is much more enjoyable when you decide your losses before you sit down.

Other activities included selling the strip, checking out the free conservatory at Bellagio, and watching the free fountain show.

💳 Credit Card Perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve

One of the biggest “hidden” savings came from the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

Airport lounge access made travel days calmer and reduced airport food spending. Travel protections gave peace of mind. Points flexibility made it easy to book flights strategically.

If you travel even a few times a year, the lounge access alone can justify the annual fee—especially on trips like this where flights are short but still feel luxurious.

💵 Miscellaneous

Tips to servers: $20

Always budget for tips—it’s a small cost that makes a big difference.

💰 Final Cost Breakdown (per person based on 2 People)

Flights: $160.58

Transportation: $20.23

Accommodations: $0

Food (restaurants & delivery): $181.71

Food (DIY snacks): $9.99

Gambling: $100

Tips: $20

Total out-of-pocket cost: ~$492.51 for four nights in Las Vegas

Final Thoughts

Vegas doesn’t have to be expensive.

…it’s entirely possible to enjoy a long weekend on the Strip for under $500 🎰✨