Free and Cheap Activities in Las Vegas

Okay, it's been a bit since I've been back from Vegas and I bet you thought I forgot about giving you all the dirty details of the free and cheap things we did there. I did not, but this month has been a crazy one, what with my annual Harry Potter party and other stuff going on. You'll notice that I somehow missed a few newsletters as well, and I apologize for that. Now I'm back to my normal schedule, so let's talk about Vegas.

Freebies can be found around ever corner in Sin City if one knows where to look. Luckily, I do, so I can pass it on to you.

here were are in front of the bus, and on the right there you can see one of the murals you'll see downtown

Downtown artwork

Downtown used to be a place you went to save a bunch of money, but not to do fun stuff or be safe, but the City of Vegas is changing all that, especially by beautifying the area. Now downtown is the cool place to be, and it's much quieter than The Strip. The city has commissioned local artists to beautify the area, and they are doing an amazing job.

While we were there, we stopped by the Container Park (see below) and was able to catch a ride on the Dragon Art Bus that was sponsored by Zappos and Lyft for a free art tour. It lit up, the ride was around 20 minutes and it was pretty awesome to see a different side of downtown without walking.

Wynn has this awesome fountain show going all day for FREE...and even better, no crowds ⛲ . . #jetsetter #jetset #ilovetravel #tourist #tourism #tblogger #tbloggers #travelblog #travel #travelblogger #travelgirl #travelgram #instatravel #traveler #traveller #budgettravel #budgettraveler #budgettraveller #freevegas #lasvegas

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Jul 19, 2017 at 10:34am PDT

Wynn fountain and waterfall

I like the Bellagio Fountains, but it's always crowded and hard to see and you have to wait for certain showtimes. The Wynn has a fountain show (albeit much smaller) that runs 24-hours a day and there are no large crowds you need to compete with for pictures/videos. You can stop at any time of the day or night and watch the fountain waters dance...and if you head around the corner, you can see the awesome waterfall. It's a great place to grab a selfie for your Instagram.

Encore indoor garden

Okay, you all know that I will hit up the Bellagio Conservatory each and every trip to Vegas, but it's not the only indoor garden around. The Mirage has a rainforest, the Palazzo has a floral lobby, and the Encore has a totally unexpected walkway lined with trees and floral sculptures. 

If you want to see a fantastic water show, you'll have get a seat at their bar or outdoor restaurant. After dark, they have a water wall that comes alive with fountains and projected images. It's not free, but it is if you plan to take there anyway. We'll definitely be doing that on a future trip.

Downtown Container Park

I've talked about the container park before. It's basically an outdoor shopping center with tiny shops made from old shipping containers. There are restaurants, an arcade, a salon, a wedding "chapel", a large playground, and a fake grassy area where you can stake a spot on to watch a free movie on certain days.

After 9pm, the Container Park is 21+. You don't have to go in to enjoy the large metal mantis out front that spews fire. Every 15 minutes or so, music will start and the mantis rocks in time with it and also fire shoots out of its antennae. It's a fantastic light show and totally free. You'll also find the Dome here, which also used to be a Burning Man installation, but is now a mini theater, which you will see below.

Silverton Aquarium

Voted #1 free attraction in Las Vegas, the Silverton Aquarium has a ton of different marine animals and even seating for sitting and watching them swim about. You can walk all the way around it (it's not HUGE), and there's even a cute little mermaid gallery with artwork on display around the backside. 

Every day you can watch the rays getting fed and you can have breakfast while watching mermaids swim about and interact with the crowd. There's even a bar right there, so you can grab a drink and enjoy the aquarium. I was very glad that I went out of my way to check it all out, plus the machines there were paying out for me and I went home with much more than I started with.

Affordable Las Vegas

Cheap things can also be found in Vegas, despite there being a ton of luxury shops, spas and haute cuisine everywhere you look. 

The Dome LV

This year they have added a brand new attraction to downtown. The dome that was already a staple at the Container Park has been turned into a mini theater. Of course we had to try it out. They do light shows throughout the day with different themes. We sat in on the U2 show and were the only ones in there. 

While you can get an hour show for around $12 a person, if you book your shows online, you pay less. They even have a meal and show option that's only $15 per person, which is a fantastic deal in my opinion.

Two things I'll tell you: 

1. If it's really hot outside, the temperature inside won't be much better. I would wait until it's dark to hit a show. It felt like we were in an oven, despite the fact that they have "air conditioning" in there. The air doesn't move at all, so it doesn't make a noticeable difference, except that the sun isn't beating down on you.
2. If you get motion sickness, maybe skip this, as it can be very disorienting and make you feel like you're spinning through space at times.

Pinball Hall of Fame

This can be as cheap or as expensive as you like. The PHoF is full of vintage and retro pinball machines, with a few other games mixed in for fun. I think the most recent machine I saw in there was Terminator. I love this place, because machines are either one or two quarters (there are a LOT of 25 cent ones). You can stay for an hour or more on just $5, so it's a fun way to spend time and appreciate some games you either never saw or miss from the past. 

Each machine has a sign on it that tells you when it hit the market, which company designed it and a bit of history behind the concept. It's really interesting and easy to lose yourself here for hours at a time. It's a bit off The Strip and looks pretty shady from the outside, but don't let the building fool you. Inside is huge entertainment.

These are just a few of the things I love that are free and cheap in Sin City. If you look, you can find plenty of things you'll enjoy that don't cost much. Here's another post I did on it.

Taking An Amazing Italy Trip

Few travelers want to make brief jaunts through Italy when visiting this fascinating country. Instead, most want to see it all, and experience as much of the culture, cuisine, shopping, and art as they possibly can. Unfortunately, however, all vacations are limited in their duration and this means it won't be possible to fit absolutely everything in. Following are a few tips that will show you how to make the most of this life-changing excursion.

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Schedule Your Itinerary According To Your Level Of Experience

Italy trips tend to fall into three distinct categories: regional trips, thematic visits, and trips to explore major cities. If you've never visited Italy before, you'll definitely want to check out all of the top destinations like Florence and Venice. This will provide the perfect overview of the most historically and culturally significant locations. You should pencil the Duomos of Milan, the Colloseum, and Saint Mark's Basilica into your itinerary. If you've never seen these things before, you'll be remiss to skip over them during your introductory stay by missing out on the top cities.

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Take A Regional Trip To Experience Specific Locations Like A Local

After you've had the opportunity to experience all of the major cities and landmarks in Italy, think about scheduling a regional trip. This will give you the chance to fully immerse yourself in specific locations, much like a local would. Tuscany, Florence and Pisa are among some of the most popular, regional destinations. Tuscany is highly preferred among those who want to bask in the natural beauty of the landscape, discover a diverse mix of culture and history, and indulge in the best of local cuisine. Regional trips make it possible for travelers to lose themselves in the Italian culture, and without having to contend with crowded tourist areas and all of the related hassles. 

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Plan A Thematic Excursion To Suit Your Tastes

Trips through major cities and regional visits are not the only way to experience Italy. A lot of travelers and travel groups are opting to plan thematic adventures instead. These give consumers the chance to experience and see things that are specific to their own tastes and interests. This is arguably the absolute best strategy for optimizing your time abroad in any location. Thematic excursions are also good for stumbling across towns that you might not have visited otherwise. With these trips, you can place your focus solely on finding the best wine and cuisine, or on viewing all of the best basilicas or artworks on show. 

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Think About Flying Into One City And Departing From Another

Don't let logistics slow you down when it comes to maximizing the amount of things that you can do and explore. This is especially true in terms of planning your arrival and departure flights. Although you definitely can't see all of Italy during a single visit, you may be able to take in a whole lot more with some strategic planning. If your itinerary takes you far away from your city of arrival, don't waste time trying to navigate your way back to your starting point in order to depart from the exact same location. Instead, have your travel planner look for flights that are relatively near the last point on your itinerary. This will give you more time to relax in and enjoy your current surroundings, before getting on your departure flight.

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Enhance Your Trip By Learning A Little Italian Before Heading Out

If this trip is important to you, do your best to pick up a bit of the language before arriving. There are countless travel guides and mobile phone apps that will quickly teach you the 50 to 100 words you'll need for engaging in basic conversation, dealing with merchants, and dealing with unexpected situations. Although you'll definitely run into quite a few people who speak English fluently, having this skill will likely prove helpful at some point in time. 

Just as there are countless things to see in do when visiting Italy, there are also countless tips for optimizing your Italy vacation. Choosing the right type of visit and planning accordingly will definitely help. You should also pick up a touch of the local language, and deal with flight logistics in a way that gives you a strategic advantage over the inevitable and incredibly rapid passage of time.

How To Travel With Your Dog

If I could, I'd take my dog  everywhere. Unfortunately, she isn't welcome everywhere even though she's small and better behaved than most children.

When we travel, we usually leave her at home with my mom, but if we road trip it, chances are pretty good that she's going along for the ride. (See what I did there?) If your furry best friend likes to jump in the car and take a vacation (even a short one), here are some great tips to make it friendly and fun for them as well.

Look at this spoiled doggo

Keep cool - So, its pretty hot in the car and in the summer. Our car doesn't have that fancy dual a/c switch to control the front and the back separately (I have a Kia Rio, it's not THAT big), so to keep the dog cool while driving, we basically have on Max AC and point the vents all at the ceiling so the air gets to her and we freeze our faces off. Another great idea is a Kool Collar. We just bought a new one and it simulates evaporation sweat - because dogs can't do that and wear fur coats all the time - by using ice or their fancy ice packs. We use it at home, we use it at the beach, we use it at the park. No panting. My dog loves it.

Hydrate! - Just like you, dogs need to keep hydrated. If you don't have one of those non-spill bowls that are all the rage for travel times, stop for water breaks for everyone, but mostly for your pup, because they don't have thumbs for opening a water bottle.

Yes, my dog has a bag to ride in, because she's not a good hiker.

Make pit stops - Your dog also can't let you know they are dying for the potty. All that extra water has to go somewhere. Check out the rest areas along your way and plan to stop every few hours to let them do their business and stretch their legs. If you also have kids, you're probably doing this anyway. Then you won't be driving 19 hours straight and swear off road trips forever like that last time.

Rikka is nothing if she's not a great car snorer when she's been a passenger for most of a day.

Comfy up the car - Make sure your dog feels comfy and safe in the car, especially if they get nervous like mine. We bring her bed so we can also bring it inside wherever we stay for the night. She also has her own car seat that allows her to see out the window, be contained and also take a nap.

She likes the bed, but can't jump up or down, so we made her own little version on the floor when we left.

Make their crate awesome - I'm not a crate person, but only because my dog spent much of her life in one her first three years and I was sad for her, so I gave her the choice. She spent less and less time in there, so we put it in the garage. If your dog loves their crate, or it's the best way to travel with them not climbing all over everyone and getting in the way, make sure it's comfortable enough to spend hours at a time in. Get them a cushion or blanket so it's soft and inviting.

My dog likes to sightsee too...and duck under railings meant to keep people out.

Bring home with you - Just like I like to have a little bit of home with me, dogs feel comforted by something familiar. Bring along a gave blanket/pillow/bed and some toys and they'll be happier.

Jerky's the best...even when you're away from home.

Stay on schedule - If you feed and walk your pup on a schedule, try to keep as close to that timetable as possible (even if you're giving extra walks and treats -because exercise makes you hungry). It'll keep them from getting confused and feel more normal even in a different place.

Look at me...in a mining cart.

Do some research - Make sure you know where you can take your dog and where you can't. Find the number of a vet near where you'll be staying. Just in case. Look for dog parks and pet-friendly dining establishments. Many people bring their dogs to the Oregon beaches, so a lot of stores don't mind you shopping with a well-behaved pooch.

Plan ahead -- Make sure you're prepared for all the things you're going to do or. Might happen while you're away from home. Here's a list of what to plan for:

• bring an extra collar/leash, because you never know when one will get broken or lost.
• their fave food is obvs to some. Don't take this as an opportunity to have them sample new cuisines. It'll just make them sick.
• Invest in Doggles. We have a pair of Doggles sunglasses for Rikka to enjoy sitting out in the sun. If your pup likes to stick their head out the window, a pair of dog goggles are good for protecting their eyes from flying debris and might save you a trip to an unknown vet.
• Going hiking or somewhere hot? Get your pup some shoes. Their paws are pretty sensitive, so you gotta protect them, just like your own feet.
• Pack a carrier. My little one gets tired fairly easily, so when she starts to lag behind we scoop her up and carry her in a doggie sling (see above pic). She can rest and still be part of things. It's also good for when we head into some shops.
• Download some phone apps to find dog parks, rest stops & dog-friendly restaurants. I like iexit and dogfriendly.
• Things happen. Look up your route along the way and find emergency vet addresses and numbers to have on hand just in case.
• Don't forget meds/supplements if your dog normally takes them. You can always keep them in the cooler with your snacks and beverages.

How do you like to travel with your dog?