Las Vegas is marketed as the "Sin City" where "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". The slogan is in the brochures and signs everywhere. In reality, there are many things for families to see and do in this "Sin City". The adult theme is no different than in red light districts in other cities all over the world. The only difference in Vegas is that they tend to mix up everything openly. You could be watching some family entertainment and behind you, near naked women will be strutting their stuff for a fee. The remarkable thing in Vegas is that everywhere you go, there are slot machines and casinos. so you can always try your luck, and maybe become rich - or more likely, lose it all and join the homeless club that is also part of the Vegas scenery.
Las Vegas is affordable and many attractions are free. You just have to know where to stay and where to go. It's a big city but if you are a tourist, there are only two places where most of the action is: the Strip or Downtown. Both have numerous hotels and every kind of entertainment you can think of. Vegas never stops until the money runs out.
The dancing water fountain in front of the Bellagio Hotel and the volcano eruptions at the Mirage are spectacular and not to be missed. Both are best observed at night and are free. We've been to Venice, Florence and Rome in Italy, but the gondola sights at the Venetian are more romantic, the David at Ceasar Palace looks better than the real one and the forum fountain reminds you of the Trevi. There is also the Eiffel Tower and the L'Arc de Triomphe at the Paris; and the pyramid at the Luxor to name a few others but as our friend says; not the original. Nevertheless, it's all pretty and free. I think my favorite free activity, however, was just sitting in one place and people-watching-the crowds can be entertaining also.
6 Ways to Save Money in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has so many hotels that competition is fierce and prices tend to fluctuate. Some famous hotels offer a really good deals, so you can have your pick. Most lower their prices at the last minute, so be patient and keep looking. It doesn't matter whether you stay on the Strip or downtown; you have access by foot, bus, or rideshare. Some advise you to rent a car, but if you are not thinking of going to National Parks ( even that you can easily book a cheap tour ) then save yourself the hassle of traffic and parking unless you are staying away from the Strip or Downtown which why most people come to Vegas in the first place.
Las Vegas temperature in summer are some of the hottest in the world (as it is in the desert) but hotels are mostly interconnected so you can just walk from one to another in air-conditioning , or you can just wait to sightsee in the evening when it's cooler. Afterall, that's when the action starts.
We stayed Downtown and got all the Fremont Street experience stuff. Our accommodation was just a block away from the Fremont Street Experience which is the only reason you need to be close to the area. The Mob Museum is also in this vicinity and not to be missed; unfortunately, it is not free but if you are a senior (65+y.o.) or a teacher, you get a good discount. We had planned to spend a couple hours looking around, but instead ended up staying almost the whole day. It has a very interesting history of how the mob helped Vegas grow into the destination it is today.
Drinks are really expensive in Vegas plus this is the place where tips are expected. So if you are on budget, both the Strip and Downtown have groceries where you can buy beers for $2, and they will give you a cup, as you are allowed to walk with liquor in an open plastic container. Otherwise, a cup of beer can easily cost $14+tips at a bar.
You can also walk to the other side of Fremont Street where you can check out the Container Park. This is on the lonely part of Fremont Street and towards the Las Vegas Hostel though some traveler's would not recommend staying there as it gets "dodgy" at night. There are several accommodation in this part of the street, though I only met two people walking along, and it was during the day perhaps because of the heat. There are Bus stops so you can easily get to where you are going if you opt to stay in this side of the street but the rates of some of the accommodations we checked out are not much cheaper than on the livelier part of the area.
6 Ways to Save Money in Las Vegas