Whether you like to gamble, see shows, layout in the sun, or just walk The Strip, a weekend in Las Vegas is a popular destination site. Add in the dry, temperate weather and it is a great spot for a quick weekend getaway. We can make it even more desirable by visiting Las Vegas for free using points!

 

Flights

The first step to visiting Las Vegas on points is to get your free flights. McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is home to over 30 airlines, including all of the top airlines, so it is easy to use credit card points/miles for a flight there. From almost any city in the United States, you can find a round-trip flight to Las Vegas for 30,000 miles. Most credit card signups will get you two tickets to Las Vegas after meeting the minimum spend.

The first thing to do is look at the major airlines that fly out of your nearby airport and get a credit card that will work for you. For example, my airport is Denver (DIA) and United has a hub there. There are lots of other major airlines I could use to book a flight to Las Vegas from there also.  Here’s a look at United’s results – you will find different amounts depending on the dates you choose.

 

Let’s look at my return options:

 

 

For 16.4KI can book a flight for $11.20 taxes and fees in February. The weather then is very mild and a nice time to go. Southwest usually has really low-priced tickets so that could be another great option.

Look at the airline you like to fly with and plug in some dates to see what the usual amount of points is to get to Las Vegas. Get that airline credit card or a great transferable points credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card. You can make that flight happen. It is very doable! Let us know if you need help with this step.

 

Hotels

The next step to visiting Las Vegas on points is getting your free hotel nights. There are so many brand-name hotels in Las Vegas that we have a lot of options. Do you have a certain brand you prefer or points for a certain hotel? If so, start looking there. Here are some options I found with a couple of cards I have points for.

 

Hyatt

Hyatt has partnered with MGM so that means I can use points from my World of Hyatt Card to stay at MGM hotels. What’s also great is I can match my Hyatt status to MGM M life status. I can stay at the Bellagio Hotel and enjoy their amazing fountain light show for 20,000 points a night. Another option is Mandalay Bay which also goes for 20,000 points a night.  I can also stay at a Hyatt Place for only 8,000 points a night and get free breakfasts. You can choose to stay in luxury or, use fewer points, and stay at a less luxurious hotel. It’s all about options!

 

 

 

Right now the World of Hyatt Credit Card offers 50,000 points for tiered spending of $6,000 in 6 months. It is easy to pay for your rooms with this one signup bonus.

 

IHG Hotels

Again, I have options. I can stay at the Venetian hotel for 70,000 points a night in luxury or make my points go further and stay at the Candlewood Suites for 20,000 points a night. The cheaper stay includes free breakfast – funny how that works, huh? And I even found some nights at the Venetian as low as 24K in points!

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What’s your preference? Staying in luxury and using more points or staying at a less luxurious hotel and getting more bang for your award points? One of the nicest things about having a great stockpile of points is that I can choose the luxurious options more often. Yep, I’ve become a hotel snob!

Currently, the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is offering a nice bonus of 140,000 points. This card will get you free nights in Las Vegas. With the card, you’ll also get your 4th night free on award stays!

 

Hilton

If you are looking to use Hilton points for your stay, there are a lot of nice options available.

The Elara by Hilton Grand Vacations is a great option. The location is awesome, right in the center of the strip, and connected to the Miracle Mile Mall. In a quick search, rooms were staring at around 80,000 points a night. There is also the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, Embassy Suites, and many more options. You can find something for just about any budget. As a Hilton cardholder, you will also get your 5th night free on award stays!

 

 

Marriott

If you are looking to use Marriott points, there are also a lot of options available to you. Like IHG and Hilton, Marriott will offer you a 5th night free on award stays!

If you would like to relax off the strip then the JW Marriott Las Vegas may be a good choice for you. . Depending on when you go,  you could use your annual 35,000 points free night certificate from one of your Marriott cards to stay for free and top it off for a free stay there.

 

 

Of course, there are plenty of other Marriott hotel options in Las Vegas. The Springhill Suites Las Vegas Convention Center is a cheaper option. The hotel also includes free breakfast and a rooftop pool. You could also check out the Westin Las Vegas Hotel and Spa which is just steps from the Strip.

At low peak times, you can find some great cash prices for Las Vegas hotels. If this is the case you may want to compare prices and look into booking on the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal using points from your Chase Sapphire Preferred or other Chase Ultimate Rewards Cards. On the flip side, at peak times, rooms in Las Vegas can be very pricey. That is when your points will come in very handy!

The best piece of advice I can give you is this: Always be meeting the minimum spend on a credit card! That way if you suddenly need a weekend getaway to Las Vegas or anywhere else, you have some stockpile points. Stockpile points will let you go somewhere fun like Alex and I did to Maui to escape the snow.

 

Things to Do

Bellagio Fountain Show

One of my favorite things in Las Vegas is absolutely free. The Bellagio Hotel has an amazing fountain show that occurs every day and night at certain times. It is especially fun to watch at night when the fountains are lighted and the show is set to popular music numbers. Truly worth making time for!

 

 

Go to a Las Vegas Show

Las Vegas is known as home to some of the best entertainment. Singers, magicians, comics, and Cirque de Soleil are all available to see in a Las Vegas Show. It has become very popular for famous artists to take up residency in Las Vegas for a certain amount of time. Past performers include Celine Dion, Brittney Spears, Cher, and many others. Check here for the 2020 residencies. I would love to see Kelly Clarkson or Keith Urban!

It is also home to some great musicals – I saw Mama Mia there. Hamilton, Disney’s Frozen, and Mean Girls are all available there this year, as well as others.

 

 

Hotel Casinos and Buffets

Although gambling isn’t my thing, it is available in many hotels in Las Vegas. I prefer to visit the many elegant and elaborate hotels and walk around them. I also love a good hotel buffet – the variety of food is amazing! Las Vegas buffets are as legendary as gambling and entertainment. I’ve stuffed my face at The Paris Buffet but here are some other great buffet options.

 

Ride a Gondola

Did you know you can ride a gondola without leaving the United States, see the Great Sphinx without traveling to Egypt, and experience New York while in Nevada? The hotels of Las Vegas have it all! Visit the Venetian Hotel and ride a gondola. Go to the  Luxor Hotel and see the Sphinx. Visit the famous sites of New York at the New York-New York Hotel.

 

 

Visit Fremont Street

I have heard that visiting Fremont Street is like walking down the main streets of New Orleans. It can be an eye-opening and liberating experience they say. If you want to walk on the wild side, head there for a unique experience during your Las Vegas weekend. It is the old part of Las Vegas and, before The Strip was founded, people considered it the main drag. There is a great light show there too so don’t miss it.

 

 

Ride the High Roller

Billed as the tallest Ferris wheel in the world (550 ft), the High Roller is one of Las Vegas’s fun attractions. It actually takes about 30 minutes for one rotation! Enjoy views of The Strip from your glass-enclosed pod. You can even book a wedding in a pod, have a chocolate experience, do yoga in one, or have an open bar in one.

 

 

Hike Red Rock

Want to get out of Las Vegas for a short while and get some physical activity? Just 45 minutes outside of Vegas is Red Rock, a great spot for a nice morning hike. There are a variety of trails amongst the beautiful red rock that one can hike. Perfect for those tired of sitting at shows or in front of the slot machine!

 

 

Check out Hoover Dam

30 miles south of Las Vegas is the marvel that is Hoover Dam. It’s the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere and if you walk across it you can visit both Nevada and Arizona. Tours of the dam are available for $30 a person.

 

 

Bottom Line

Las Vegas is a popular and enjoyable place to visit. Travelers can easily visit Las Vegas on points and get free flights and hotel stays. Pick a hotel with free breakfasts and you can really make it a cheap trip! What’s your favorite thing to do when you go to Las Vegas?