5 Cheap Las Vegas Attractions for $10 or Less

In 1998 Bellagio made a splash—literally—with its grand opening on the former site of the storied Dunes Hotel. Bellagio’s 8-acre fountain fronting the Strip has grabbed attention ever since, thanks to a constantly changing water show choreographed to music. Wide sidewalks and broad viewing decks provide plenty of room for pedestrians strolling by to enjoy the fountain magic, which is especially enchanting at night when synchronized lights enhance the spectacle. Another free treat during your Las Vegas vacation is the dazzling seasonal flower displays in the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.

Although its origins don’t go as far back as Roman times, Caesars Palace does have a long and glorious history, at least by Las Vegas standards. It opened its doors in 1966 as one of the Strip’s first themed resorts with loads of classical (and, some might say, gaudy) columns, statues and fountains. Among the fun things to do here is exploring the lavish casino and the Forum Shops, a mall with really high-end boutiques lining corridors made to look like Roman streets. Throughout the day, the Forum’s Atlantis fountain comes to life as animatronic figures emerge from below to do battle with bursts of flame and jets of water.

You can’t miss the Downtown Container Park in Las Vegas’ hip Fremont East District: just look for the 55-foot-high praying mantis sculpture that shoots fire from its antennas. Basically an artistic arrangement of stacked cargo-shipping containers, this trendy shopping and nightlife destination—with its steel balconies, bridges and towers—looks like a jungle gym for adults. Locals come to shop in the boutiques and galleries, grab a meal at a cool indie restaurant, listen to concerts at the outdoor stage, or during the day, watch their kids slide and climb in the central playground complete with a 33-foot-high treehouse.

You’ll find some of Las Vegas’ best bargains by leaving the Strip behind and heading downtown, where businesses entice visitors with lower prices. This is where the city’s original casino row earned the nickname Glitter Gulch, a destination that became a whole lot more glittery in the ’90s with the unveiling of the Fremont Street Experience. Historic casinos still light the night with garish neon, but now more than 12 million LED lamps arching over Fremont Street create what has been called the world’s largest high-definition video screen. Add a massive sound system, and you’ve got the “Viva Vision” Light Show, one of Vegas’ best free things to see.

One of the most popular things to see when people vacation in Las Vegas is the Hoover Dam, although at first glance a daytrip there might not seem budget friendly. To get the full experience, visitors end up paying separate fees for parking, the visitor center and for the tour inside the dam. While all that is worthwhile, just paying $10 for parking and taking in the awesome views from along the dam’s rim is well worth the 40-mile drive. Despite the name, Black Canyon—the steep-sided chasm in which Hoover Dam was built—is remarkably colorful, with bands of red, orange and brown visible in its walls.

AAA Travel provides peace of mind when you travel—before, during and after your vacation! Members enjoy the advantages of membership including exclusive benefits, savings, map routing and travel planning, plus additional travel needs such as AAA Travel Guides, TourBook® guides, passport photos, International Driving Permits and travel insurance. Your next vacation starts with AAA—your complete travel solution. Visit AAA.com/Travel.