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The Ultimate Guide on How to Spend 48 Hours in Las Vegas and Earn Cash Back
Las Vegas is a city built on flash and extravagance, but you don’t have to be a big spender to enjoy a trip to Sin City. The secret is knowing where to look. Let’s say you have 48 hours in Vegas. Where do you go? What do you do? Below, I’ll help you map out your trip and save big at the same time.
✈️ Fly
First things first, you need to actually get to Sin City to enjoy all it has to offer. A quick search on CheapOair using Rakuten shows flights to Las Vegas as low as $148 from the east coast and $102 from the west coast. If you’re in the middle of the country, fares are also incredibly affordable at $152.
🏨 Stay
At the time of writing, a search on Rakuten Travel & Vacations shows that Las Vegas hotel rooms can be found for as low as $131 for popular destinations on the Las Vegas Strip like Treasure Island, Luxor Hotel & Casino and Excalibur.
🍔 Eat
You’ll see a variety of restaurants below, which were hand-chosen for affordability and quality, for even more savings, be sure to look them up on Rakuten Dining, which is now available on iOS (Android coming soon!) version of the Rakuten App. Use the App to earn 5% Cash Back at more than 10,000 restaurants on top of tax and tip.
Day 1
Breakfast: DW Bistro
Start your day off in the Southwest Valley at DW Bistro for a flavorful twist on brunch. Located at The Gramercy, this restaurant offers a mix of Jamaican and New Mexican cuisine, loved by tourists and locals alike. You’ll fall in love with the bold yet inviting flavors like their Jerk Fried Chicken and Waffles, New Mexican Slow Cooked Pork Omelet and the DW BLT that features jalapeno bacon. Aim high with bottomless mimosas or try any of their delicious cocktails. Not a bad way to start the day if you ask me.
Activity: Picture at the Las Vegas sign
Next, head over to the famous Las Vegas sign for a social media-worthy snap. It’s a free attraction that everyone should check visit at least once in their lives.
Lunch: Jaburritos
If you’re a fan of sushi, make your way to Jaburritos at The Linq to turn your Japanese grub into a burrito or a bowl. Choose from one of their chef creations like the Long Beach, which is a sushi burrito (or bowl) with surimi crab, shrimp tempura, spicy tuna and your favorite toppings. This is a fun way to get down and dirty with a sushi roll as big as your head.
Activity: Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden
Visiting the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden is one of my favorite things to do in Vegas. It’s free, and it will always exceed your expectations. Each season, the horticulturalists and designers on Bellagio’s Conservatory team transform the 14,000-square-foot space with trees, flowers and plants that will wow you.
Dinner: Echo & Rig
Vegas is home to a plethora of steakhouses, but Echo & Rig has got to be one of my favorites. This steakhouse slash neighborhood butcher shop is the perfect place to get a good slab of meat and dine like royalty. You’ll be welcomed by the butcher shop’s meat fridge when you first walk in, preparing you for an unforgettable dining experience.
Entertainment: Absinthe
I know we’re trying to stay on a budget here, but if you’re going to splurge on anything, make it a Cirque du Solei show – Absinthe, in particular. It’s an up-close-and-personal night of entertainment held inside a tent near Caesars Palace. If you book with Rakuten at BestofVegas.com, you’ll earn as much as 4% Cash Back on top of the discounted tickets the site has to offer.
Late-night snack: Tacos & Beer
If you’re the type of person who enjoys late-night eats on a dime, Tacos & Beer is the place to be. Open until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and 1:00 a.m. every other day, this taqueria offers 22 gourmet tacos, plus other goods like bacon-wrapped jalapeños, empanadas, nachos, burritos and more. This is the nightcap you never knew you needed (until now). Tacos range from $2.90 to $4.25, so go crazy.
Day 2
Breakfast: Pinkbox Donuts
It’s your second day in Vegas. What do you want to eat? A unicorn donut? Great answer. I’ve got just the place: Pinkbox Donuts. There, you can order one (or two) of more than 60 donuts. They even have a custom order form if you’re feeling really fancy. The point is, you can get your sweet tooth on and protect your pocketbook at the same time.
Activity: Neon Museum
Stroll through scenery from Vegas history at the neon museum. This collection of restored and unrestored signs and neon art is like walking through a time capsule. Normally $17 per ticket, the museum is hosting a special Tim Burton exhibit from October 15, 2019 to February 15, 2020. The exhibit celebrates Burton’s ties to the city with movies like Mars Attacks! Tickets start at $24 for the experience.
Lunch: Hash House A Go Go
Aptly dubbed “Twisted Farm Food,” Hash House A Go Go is the epitome of Las Vegas and its epic finds. With four locations in the city and The Linq location open 24/7, you know it’s a big deal. They’re most famous for their brunch, which is served all day – think a steak knife in your sage fried chicken and waffles tower to keep it upright. It’s a can’t-miss in Vegas.
Activity: Fremont Street
No visit to Las Vegas is complete (in my opinion) without a trip to old Vegas and Fremont Street. This tourist mecca is kitchy, brash and unapologetic; just the way it should be. Take in the sights and sounds, including the Viva Vision light show, which is shown on the roof of Fremont Street. Light shows happen every hour starting at 6:00 p.m. and run until 1:00 a.m. most nights.
Dinner: Hofbrauhaus
This famous German beer hall is the ultimate destination for beer lovers. The extensive Bavarian menu is fit for the biggest of appetites, and you can find everything from a crispy pork shank to giant pretzels and, yes, the must-have schnitzels. Now, onto the good stuff: the beers. Enjoy a range of classic Bavarian brews imported directly from the brewery in Munich, Germany. We’ll cheers to that.
Drinks: Vanguard Lounge
End your Vegas trip on a high note by taking your party to Vanguard Lounge on Fremont Street for some amazing cocktails. It’s a small but mighty bar with both Vanguard craft creations and beloved classic cocktails that’ll make you wish you never had to leave this fantastic city.
If you hit all the stops on this list, you’ll have a whirlwind trip in Vegas without breaking the bank. Remember that if you use Rakuten Travel & Vacations to book your flight and hotel and use the Rakuten Dining when you dine, you’ll be earning Cash Back the whole time. If you’re not a member of Rakuten, join now and we’ll start you off with $10 when you spend your first $25 towards that Big Fat Check.
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