48 Hours in Las Vegas: 2-Day Itinerary + What I Spent

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Las Vegas might be famous for gambling and partying, but that’s not wlhy I go. Anymore. My 25-year-old self had different priorities. These days, give me incredible food, an over-the-top show, and a few quirky experiences, and I’m a happy camper!

When two friends and I decided to spend 48 hours in Las Vegas to see Dita Von Teese perform, we wanted to make the most of our whirlwind girls’ trip without spending a fortune.

Between flights, our shared hotel room, dining, entertainment, and even a spontaneous $10 tattoo, I spent $850.50 (plus 15,000 United miles). Here’s exactly how we spent our two days in Vegas, what everything cost, and how I used credit card points to make the trip more affordable.

48 Hours in Las Vegas: At a Glance

	My Las Vegas Trip
Trip length	48 hours / 2 nights
Travel style	Girls’ trip
Hotel	Mandalay Bay
Main attraction	Dita Von Teese show
Other highlights	Great food, Koolsville Tattoo
Total spent	$850.50 + 15,000 United miles
Best for	A short Vegas getaway without gambling

How to Spend 48 Hours in Las Vegas

Two days in Las Vegas might not sound like much, but you’d be surprised how much you can squeeze into a weekend! Since none of us are big gamblers or party animals, we focused on what we enjoy most: great food, fun experiences, and a fabulous show.

Here’s how we spent our 48 hours in Vegas.

Day 1: The Arts District, Great Food, and $10 Tattoos

After landing in Las Vegas, I grabbed an Uber to Mandalay Bay, checked into our room, and headed to the hotel’s Noodle Shop for a quick bite while waiting for my friends to arrive. We were flying in from different cities, so I had a little time to kill before our weekend adventures could officially begin.

Once everyone arrived, we hopped into my friend’s rental car and headed to the Las Vegas Arts District for dinner at Esther’s Kitchen. If you think Vegas dining is all celebrity chef restaurants and expensive buffets, the Arts District is a great reminder that there’s plenty of incredible food beyond the Strip.

After dinner, we headed to Koolsville Tattoo for what might be the most Vegas souvenir ever: a $10 tattoo! Yes, you really can get a tattoo in Las Vegas for ten bucks (although you’ll want to budget a little extra for the tip).

I wrote an entire post about getting a $10 tattoo at Koolsville, including what to expect and whether I’d recommend it.

By then, our East Coast internal clocks were telling us it was way past bedtime. None of us are night owls, so instead of hitting the clubs, we headed back to Mandalay Bay and called it a night.

Day 2: Shopping, the Wynn Buffet, and Dita Von Teese

We started our second day with breakfast at Morning News Las Vegas before doing a little shopping at Las Vegas North Premium Outlets.

After a successful morning of retail therapy, we headed back to Mandalay Bay to change and get ready for the main event of our trip: dinner and the Dita Von Teese show!

For dinner, we chose The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas. And if you’re going to splurge on a Vegas buffet, this is certainly one way to do it.

Now, I have a few rules when it comes to buffets. First, don’t waste valuable stomach space on carbs. Second, head straight for the good stuff. At the Wynn, that meant taking full advantage of the carving station and the sumptuous seafood selection. You’ve got to get your money’s worth!

While at the Wynn, we also checked out the beautiful Floral Carousel installation. We briefly considered stopping for a drink at Bar Parasol, but we were running short on time.

That was when we started talking about how maybe, just maybe, we needed to plan another Vegas trip with a little more time to enjoy everything.

After dinner, we headed to the Jubilee Theater at Horseshoe Las Vegas to see Dita Von Teese perform.

The show was the entire reason we’d planned this girls’ trip, and it was absolutely worth building our weekend around.

And after the show? Straight back to the hotel and into bed. Wild, I know.

Day 3: A Little Gambling and One Last Vegas Brunch

Before checking out of Mandalay Bay, we decided we couldn’t leave Las Vegas without at least a little gambling.

So we each put our obligatory $20 into the slot machines.

And promptly lost it.

Which, honestly, was exactly what we expected!

With our gambling careers officially over, we headed to 18bin in the Arts District for one last meal before our flights home.

Their weekend brunch menu was the perfect way to wrap up our trip, especially the shareable Cinnamon Toasties.

Although I have one piece of advice: Order your own.

They were so delicious that I really didn’t want to share mine!

After brunch, it was sadly time to head back to the airport and return to reality.

Looking for more Las Vegas activities? Visit the Neon Museum for a quintessential Vegas experience.

How Much Does 48 Hours in Las Vegas Cost?

So, how much does a weekend in Las Vegas actually cost? For my two-night girls’ trip, I spent $850.50 plus 15,000 United miles. Here’s how that breaks down.

Expense	What You Spent
Flights	$226.58 + 15,000 United miles
Hotel (shared)	$105
Show tickets	$228.92
Food	$250 (estimated)
Tattoo	$20
Gambling	$20
Total	$850.50 + 15,000 miles

These are my personal expenses from a 2024 trip. Prices may vary depending on when you visit, where you stay, and what you do.

And of course, there was the $20 I lost in the slot machine. But let’s pretend that didn’t happen. Because girl math.

Flights: Using Cash and Miles

Flight costs can vary depending on where you’re traveling from and the time of year, so I was excited to use points and miles to keep my airfare to Las Vegas relatively affordable.

One of my favorite strategies when booking flights is to compare two one-way tickets against the cost of a roundtrip ticket. Sometimes booking separately can save money, especially when you’re using airline miles.

For this trip, I had enough United miles for a one-way flight but not enough for a roundtrip. So I redeemed 15,000 United miles for my flight to Las Vegas and paid just $5.60 in taxes.

That left me free to shop around for the best deal on my flight home.

I ended up booking Southwest for $220.98, using my American Express Platinum card. That purchase earned me approximately 1,100 American Express Membership Rewards points, and I also earned 1,150 Southwest Rapid Rewards points for the flight.

Those points and miles will go toward future adventures!

Total airfare: $226.58 + 15,000 United miles.

Hotel: Staying at Mandalay Bay

Mandalay Bay sits at the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, which isn’t the most convenient location for sightseeing, but my decision to book it came down to two things: price and reviews.

Mandalay Bay had solid reviews online, with guests describing the rooms as clean and comfortable, two things I prioritize when choosing a hotel. After staying there, I’d have to agree! Both our room and the public areas were bright and clean, and our room was super comfortable. Plus, the price was right!

I booked two nights at Mandalay Bay through American Express Travel for $426.21, plus $88.44 in resort fees, bringing the total to $514.65.

Thanks to my American Express Platinum Card, I received a $200 hotel credit through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, reducing our total to $314.65. (This benefit has changed since my 2024 trip, so check the American Express website for current details.)

We split the remaining cost three ways, bringing my share of the hotel to just $105 for two nights!

And since I paid with my AmEx, I also earned 2,130 Membership Rewards points to use toward future travels.

Thinking about staying at Mandalay Bay? Check current room rates and availability.

Entertainment: Splurging on Show Tickets

Since the whole point of our Vegas getaway was to see Dita Von Teese, we decided to splurge on a table near the stage rather than opt for the stadium-style seating toward the back of the theater.

Our table included drink service, and we were right in the heart of the action! Being so close to the performance made the experience even more memorable, and I thought it was well worth the extra money.

The table cost $708, which we split three ways, bringing my share to $236.

I paid with my Capital One SavorOne card to take advantage of the 3% cash back on eligible entertainment purchases, earning $7.08 in cash back and bringing my effective cost down to $228.92.

Food: Approximately $250

I’ve got to be honest here: I failed pretty hard at tracking my food spending. And since I paid for a lot of it in cash, I can’t exactly go back and do some forensic accounting to figure it out!

I’m going to ballpark my food expenses at $250, which I think is pretty realistic considering we enjoyed a mix of casual meals and fancier dining experiences.

Our big splurge was The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas, which cost around $75 per person. The rest of our meals were considerably less expensive.

Two money-saving strategies I often use when traveling are eating a big breakfast and skipping lunch, then treating myself to a splurge-worthy dinner. Obviously, that doesn’t work for everyone or every trip, but I found it worked particularly well in Vegas.

I also didn’t drink alcohol, which can be a huge cost savings, especially in tourist destinations like Las Vegas.

Hungry for more? Check out what I ate in Las Vegas for more of my favorite Vegas food finds.

Other Activities: My $10 Las Vegas Tattoo

In addition to our main reason for visiting Vegas—the Dita Von Teese show—my friends and I decided to get $10 tattoos at Koolsville Tattoo Las Vegas.

I know getting inked isn’t for everyone, but if tattoos are your thing, it’s a fun and inexpensive way to commemorate your trip!

My tattoo was just $10, plus another $10 for the tip, bringing my total to $20.

Curious about the experience? Read my Koolsville Tattoo Las Vegas review for everything you need to know before getting a $10 tattoo.

Tips for Planning a 2-Day Las Vegas Trip

Is 48 Hours Enough Time in Las Vegas?

It can be, but it all depends on what you like to do!

For someone like me, who isn’t much of a gambler and would rather enjoy a few great meals and one or two cool activities, I think two days is ideal. If I wanted to spend a day exploring Red Rock Canyon, I’d tack on a third day.

If you want to do all that, plus a little gambling and spend some time at one of the many amazing nightclubs Vegas has to offer, I think four or more days would be the sweet spot.

Where Should You Stay for a Weekend in Las Vegas?

For a short trip, I think staying on the Las Vegas Strip is your best bet since it’s the heart of the action in this 24-hour city.

Which part of the Strip you choose depends on what activities you have planned and how much you prioritize budget versus convenience.

Mandalay Bay wasn’t the most convenient hotel for the activities we wanted to do, but our priority for this trip was keeping costs down. Looking back, I think it was definitely worth the compromise!

How to Get Around Las Vegas Without a Car

People say the Las Vegas Strip is walkable, and that’s true. But looks can be deceiving! A hotel or attraction that seems close can turn out to be a much longer walk than expected.

And depending on the time of year you visit, it can be hot. Like, hot hot.

Thankfully, some of the hotels along the Strip are connected by indoor walkways, so you can escape the heat for portions of your walk. We took advantage of those whenever possible.

Las Vegas also has a monorail that connects several stops along the east side of the Strip. Unfortunately, none of the stations were particularly convenient for our plans, so we didn’t use it on this trip.

Uber and Lyft are also readily available in Las Vegas and can be great options for getting around, especially if you plan to enjoy a few adult beverages.

Another option is the Deuce, a public bus that travels along the Strip and into downtown Las Vegas. We didn’t use it on this trip, but it could be a budget-friendly alternative to Uber or Lyft.

Book Your Must-Do Experiences in Advance

If your primary reason for visiting Las Vegas is to see a particular show, be sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Likewise, if you have your heart set on eating at a certain restaurant, make reservations before you go.

That being said, I always like to leave a little room in my travel plans for spontaneity. You never know what cool things you might stumble upon while traveling!

More Things to Do in Las Vegas If You Have Extra Time

There are so many things to do in and around Las Vegas that you could probably spend a month exploring and still not see everything! Personally, I like to focus on one or two main experiences each trip, and Vegas always leaves me wanting more. In fact, I’m already planning my fourth trip!

Two of my favorite experiences from previous trips couldn’t be more different: Red Rock Canyon and the Neon Museum.

Red Rock Canyon is about a 30-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip, but it feels like another world. The National Conservation Area features a 13-mile scenic drive and plenty of hiking opportunities. If you don’t have a car, consider booking a guided tour that includes transportation.

The Neon Museum is a fascinating piece of Las Vegas history, with more than 250 historic signs and the stories behind them. Visiting in the evening and walking among the illuminated signs is a uniquely Vegas experience!

On my next trip, I’m especially excited to visit Omega Mart at Meow Wolf Las Vegas. Located inside AREA15, this massive interactive art installation is part satirical supermarket filled with bizarre grocery products and part surreal maze. It looks like exactly the kind of quirky experience I love!

Interested in checking it out? See Omega Mart tickets and availability.

Final Thoughts: Is 48 Hours in Las Vegas Worth It?

If you’re looking for a quick getaway with plenty of opportunities for great food and unique experiences, I think 48 hours in Las Vegas is a fantastic option. You could also spend the entire weekend lounging poolside, and I’d say that’s totally worth it, too, if that’s your thing!

In my opinion, Las Vegas has something for almost everyone. I’ve visited three times and have barely scratched the surface of everything there is to see and do.

For me, the key is deciding where to save and where to splurge. By using credit card points, sharing a hotel room, and prioritizing the experiences that mattered most, I managed to enjoy a memorable Vegas getaway without spending a fortune.

Forty-eight hours is a great way to sample what Las Vegas has to offer, and if you’re anything like me, it’ll leave you wanting to come back for more.

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