Visiting Las Vegas can get extremely expensive- between the costs of lodging, food, gambling, souvenirs, drinks, club cover charges, taxi rides, entertainment, and etc, you could spend a small fortune on just a weekend in Sin City. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

As a full-time law school student who’s also completing an online business management program, I’m not in the position to spend a ton of money on vacations, but I still want to have some fun. Luckily, I’ve found many ways to do Vegas right without emptying my bank account in the process.

Look for Package Deals

For starters, the best thing you can do is to book a discounted Las Vegas hotel package, and to book it early. Package deals are almost always the best bargain and you can really do a lot more with your money than if you purchased the items separately.

I have always scored the cheapest Las Vegas hotel rooms by purchasing package deals. Some people think the package deals are only for dumpy hotels, but Vegas’ biggest and brightest hotels all offer these discounted packages, so be sure to take advantage of them.

Cheap Airfare

Another one of the best ways to have a rockin’ trip to Vegas without emptying your wallet is to comb the Internet for discounted airfare. Depending on where you are coming from, airfare can come with a pretty hefty price tag, so be sure to utilize cheap travel sites to find the best deal. If you know about your trip in advance, book it months prior to your departure to ensure you are getting the cheapest price possible.

Also, if you don’t have a specific date that you need to be there, try going in the off season to score the best rates. Vegas prices are steepest during spring break and the summer months, so try to avoid those times (it’s too dang hot in the Summer anyway!). Traveling during the winter season will get you the most for your dollar.

Time It Right

Plan your trip to Vegas in the middle of the week. The prices for hotels, clubs and attractions will be significantly lower than if you went Friday-Sunday. The most attractive deals available will always be for mid-week trips, so take advantage of those deals. You’ll pay less and it will be a little less chaotic, which will be nice.

The savings will certainly be worth going during the less-crowded days. However, don’t misjudge what a weekday in Vegas looks like. There are still throngs of people walking up and down the Strip, so you won’t miss a thing. Follow these suggestions and you’ll have a great time in Vegas, and you might even come back with some money in your pocket!