The days of revenge travel are over. After years of being cooped up at home, travelers rushed into the world with a vengeance, sparking a major travel boom from 2022 to 2024. But years of rising prices and a slew of new tariff threats have cast uncertainty over the economy.

A summer vacation survey by Bankrate in March found that only 53% of Americans said they planned to take a vacation this summer — about the same as last year but a drop from 2023, when 63% planned to take a vacation. Of those forgoing travel this year, 65% cited cost as the main factor; and of those opting to travel, almost a third said they plan to take on debt to do so.

But not everyone feels equally squeezed. A Deloitte survey conducted in early April found that even after President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff announcement a few days earlier, estimated travel budgets for the summer on average remained 13% above similar estimates for last summer. Through its surveys over the last few years, Deloitte has identified a trend: High-income Americans have made up an increasing share of those planning summer travel. Nearly half of respondents who said they planned to travel this summer made over $100,000, up from 35% in 2023.

To cater to the growing share of high spenders, the luxury segment of the travel industry is outpacing every other segment. As the middle class cuts back on travel spending, many high-earners are still going all out for their summer vacation.

Over the past year, more and more middle-income Americans have decided to stay home or pivot their plans to save money. Las Vegas, which largely caters to middle-class travelers, has seen a major drop-off. Mark Wayman, the owner of an executive recruiter company with knowledge of the Las Vegas market, says bookings in Sin City this year through September are "the worst I've ever seen."

Some of the anxiety is new, with uncertainty over how tariffs might affect prices and the broader economy. But even before then was the compounding effect of years of price increases. Multiple travelers told me that they have noticed that hotels and flights now include fewer services bundled into their price tags. Southwest Airlines, for instance, recently made headlines in March by changing its long-standing policy of allowing flyers two free checked bags. As a result, people are feeling like their dollar can't go as far.

Reycie Gallardo, a 39-year-old IT project manager in Los Angeles, says that these kinds of changes really shrink the scope of what you can do when you travel. A few years ago, he and his wife might have taken a long weekend as an opportunity to fly to a national park and stay for a few days. Now they'll drive somewhere close, like Santa Barbara or San Diego, and not even stay the night.

Makarand Mody, an associate professor of hospitality marketing at the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, has noticed others making the same decision. Nearly a quarter of survey respondents in April told Deloitte that high prices had prompted them to drive rather than fly in the past year. Deloitte also found that lower-income travelers have driven up demand for more affordable accommodations in the past few years, including RVs, bed & breakfasts, and camping.

Talon Windwalker, a 56-year-old grief counselor in Janesville, Wisconsin, has been making a similar compromise. When planning his trip to South Carolina, the travel enthusiast's 50th state to visit, earlier this year, driving was a clear way to save on costs. But "you make a lot of sacrifices" in the tradeoff, Windwalker says. Driving requires much more planning, and the long days at the wheel can be difficult. "I was gone for a week, but four days of those were just driving to get there and back," he says.

Home-swap platforms like HomeExchange and Kindred have also been seeing huge swells in popularity. Advertised as more affordable, community-oriented alternatives to hotels or short-term rentals, these platforms help members arrange stays at each other's homes. HomeExchange says it facilitated 43% more house swaps in 2024 than in 2023 and finalized 47% more exchanges in January 2025 than the same time last year. Kindred, which launched in 2021, a factor that could account for some of its growth, reported more than 500% more nights swapped in 2024 compared with 2023.

And yet, companies like airlines, hotels, and home rentals are still seeing "some pretty healthy bottom lines," Mody says.

For one, because prices have been steadily rising, companies can still grow their revenue even if demand falters. But also, wealthy people are getting wealthier while maintaining a strong appetite for travel, he says. A recent analysis from Moody's estimated that the top 10% of households had come to account for half of all consumer spending. As high-income Americans travel and spend more, it can offset pullbacks by lower- and middle-income segments of the population that are seeing prices stretch too high for comfort.

This is evident in the booming luxury travel market. The American Hotel & Lodging Association's latest report said the luxury category of accommodations experienced the fastest rate of growth in terms of new construction in 2024. Bram Gallagher, the director of economics and forecasting at AirDNA, an analytics firm that tracks the short-term-rental market, says that demand for stays priced over $1,000 a night has more than doubled since 2019, and bookings in the $1,000 to $1,499 range were up nearly 15% year-over-year in 2024.

Not only is demand for luxury accommodations going up, but prices are too. "We're actually increasing divergence between the bottom and the top of the short-term rental market," Gallagher says. AirDNA data shows that more expensive listings are increasing in price faster than less expensive listings. From February 2024 to February 2025, the average price of "luxury" listings (the most expensive 20% of all listings) increased by more than 5%, whereas the price of "budget" listings (the least expensive 20%) fell by about half a percentage point. Analyses have found that recent growth in the short-term rental market has largely been driven by luxury listings, adds Gallagher.

Roy Madhok, a senior vice president of revenue and distribution at Highgate, a real estate investment and hospitality management company, says that while travel in the budget and middle range is tapering, there's no sign yet that the same applies to luxury travel. As far as he can tell, travel for the highest income groups isn't slowing down.

The growing divergence between budget and luxury travel is leaving a massive middle ground of people who just can't afford how steep prices are getting. While that could mean many of us are left scraping together vacations from a combination of airline miles and staying with friends, there are signs this stark divide might not last forever. Some companies are already starting to tap into this market and win back cash-strapped middle-income travelers.

Madhok sees the adjustment as a kind of "re-normalization" for the travel industry. The recent travel boom wasn't necessarily normal or sustainable, he says. Now, demand seems to be finding a more stable balance. After years of steep price increases in Vegas restaurants, hotels, and shows, for instance, Wayman says that "prices are already becoming more affordable." And if demand continues to stay this low, prices will continue to drop in tandem.

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics supports Madhok's theory of renormalization. According to the Bureau's consumer price index, the cost of airfare this year so far is about on par with airfare last year, which is in line with 2019 prices. Hotels are slightly cheaper this year than last year, though still higher than pre-2020. "After the vibrant rebound in post-pandemic demand, the US hotel industry has been navigating a period of stagnation," reads the recent AHLA report, "signaling a shift toward normalization in travel patterns."

Despite middle- and lower-income travelers feeling priced out of certain options, it's clear that they still have an appetite for travel, Mody says. "There's a really tremendous opportunity" for hotels and other brands to beef up their midscale offerings, he adds. Hotels have started realizing that "this is where people want to be from a price perspective," Mody says, and so creating options for people to travel within that more affordable range will be really important. Over the past year, companies like Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott have announced plans for new hotel brands aimed at those middle-tier travelers.

Will that be enough to narrow the travel wealth disparity? Probably not, Mody says. After all, the travel economy is a reflection of the greater economy, and wealth inequality is still a growing concern. Despite ongoing economic uncertainties, the most luxurious travel experiences are still growing ever further out of reach for the majority of travelers.

Hannah Seo is a Korean-Canadian journalist based in Brooklyn, New York, who writes about health, climate, and social science.

• I travel with my husband and son often, and we've been to 44 states and over two dozen countries.
• Of all the places we've been, Las Vegas is one of our favorite family-friendly travel spots.
• We love Sin City's array of over-the-top experiences and proximity to natural wonders.

As a travel writer and mom, many people ask me about the best place to take kids on vacation.

After visiting 44 states and more than two dozen countries with my son and husband, my answer is still always Las Vegas.

Although Sin City has a distinctively grown-up reputation, the abundance of over-the-top experiences found in this Southwestern hot spot also makes it an ideal spot to take kids of all ages.

My tween has been numerous times over the years, and he's always asking to go back. Plus, our whole family enjoys it.

Here's why we love it so much and think it's a great travel destination for families.

Vegas' themed resorts are a feast for the senses

On a recent trip to Nevada, we got a room at the Paris Las Vegas for just under $100 a night. Fortunately, I've found that deals on opulent accommodations like these aren't hard to come by in Vegas, especially when traveling during the offseason.

Plus, we later got upgraded to a 1,000-square-foot suite complete with epic views of the Sphere entertainment arena and its fun projections. Even my tween was impressed.

No matter where we stay, we love walking along the Strip and exploring the fun, elaborately themed resorts in Las Vegas.

Whether we're riding the roller coaster at New York-New York Hotel, eating at the epic Caesars Palace buffets, or watching the Bellagio fountain show, we never run out of fun things to do at these mega-hotels.

There's a wide variety of immersive experiences and shows

Vegas is widely known as the "Entertainment Capital of the World," and the city's ever-evolving array of shows and experiences means that there's always something new to discover.

We've loved the jaw-dropping acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil, the head-scratching magic tricks of Penn & Teller, and the awe-inspiring interactive art installations at Meow Wolf's Omega Mart.

As my son grows and his tastes and interests change, we can continue to explore even more of the city's varied offerings. It's refreshing to have a vacation destination with so many options for fun.

It's easy to take day trips from downtown to nearby desert landscapes

The glitz and glamour of neon lights is exciting, but we don't have to go far to get away from the bustling city.

As a family, we've made unforgettable memories exploring the colorful towers of Seven Magic Mountains, which are about 25 minutes from downtown Vegas.

We've also had fun hiking in the otherworldly Valley of Fire State Park that's just about an hour from the Strip.

Vegas is also conveniently located near several otherworldly landmarks and parks.

Our family has made a day trip out of the two-hour drive from Vegas to California's Death Valley National Park.

Plus, we've driven two hours from Vegas to Utah's Zion National Park, passing magnificent red-rock canyons and snowy sandstone cliffs along the way. As avid road trippers, there are few drives we've taken that rival this one in terms of epic scenery.

Exploring these remote desert landscapes makes us feel like we're worlds away from the big city — but we can still easily enjoy Vegas' award-winning food and resorts at the end of the night.

Luckily, our flights to Vegas are pretty cheap

Fortunately, nonstop flights from our home in Orlando to Las Vegas are both plentiful and affordable. I've seen round-trip flights on discount carriers like Spirit and Frontier go for as little as $120.

These low prices only entice me to plan yet another glittering getaway to this Southwestern city.

• It can be difficult to accurately determine the cost of constructing a building.
• There are many factors that add to the price, from expensive land to cutting-edge tech.
• In the past few decades, there have been numerous buildings that cost at least $1 billion.

The logistics of constructing a building can make the price tag as high as the towering tip of a skyscraper, but figuring out how much it costs to build a tower or casino isn't always straightforward.

Countless factors play a role in determining how much a structure will cost. An office building has different requirements than a hospital, for example. As with real estate in general, location is key. It's not just the price of the land but the cost of labor that varies dramatically depending on location.

"The problem is there are just so many elements to the cost of these things," Jason Barr, an economics professor at Rutgers University, told Business Insider. Everything from planning and design to materials to unexpected delays can contribute. "All you can do is infer the cost, and there's just so many moving parts that it's nearly impossible," he said.

However, there have been a handful of buildings in the past few decades that have tipped the scales at well over $1 billion. Here are 15 of the most expensive.

The Bellagio, Las Vegas: $1.6 billion in 1998

The first time the Bellagio fountains put on their famous light-and-water show, it was in front of what was then the most expensive hotel in the world.

Steve Wynn developed the hotel to appeal to an upscale crowd, stocking it with designer stores, exclusive restaurants, and paintings by Van Gogh and Monet. Spending $40 million on the fountains and $300 million on art, Wynn eventually dropped the equivalent of $3.2 billion in today's dollars.

It has 3,900 rooms, over a dozen restaurants, and enough casino space to nearly fit three football fields.

The Bellagio has changed hands a few times. Most recently, Blackstone acquired the property for over $4 billion, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in 2019. It was the city's highest price for a resort casino ever.

In general, casinos have a lot of moving pieces that inflate the cost, Barr said, including hotels, restaurants, and gambling spaces. "So they're just vast," he said.

Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia: $2.1 billion in 2017

Hospitals are huge buildings that run for 24 hours and operate special equipment, all of which use a lot of energy.

That's one reason the Royal Adelaide Hospital was built to be as efficient as possible, with rooftop gardens to protect it from the sun and the ability to use waste heat to power some systems. Sensors and sophisticated software also help automate heating and cooling, The Guardian reported in 2017.

Packed with cutting-edge tech, the project was already pricey, but costs swelled and work stalled due to a soil contamination problem, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported in 2015.

Since opening, the 800-bed hospital has faced struggles and scrutiny, including when it was operating above capacity in 2023, per ABC. During that time, patients were left waiting in ambulances due to overcrowding.

Antilia residence, Mumbai, India: $1 to 2 billion in 2010

Many luxury homes have their own movie theaters, but few have built-in salons and private ice cream parlors.

Built for billionaire Mukesh Ambani and his family, the 27-story Antillia is often described as one of the world's most expensive residences, ranking up there with Buckingham Palace. Ambanii is head of the conglomerate Reliance Industries and is India's richest man.

Architectural Digest India estimated the cost of the palatial 400,000-square-foot building at between $1 and $2 billion. The residence is named after a phantom island that cartographers included in 15th-century maps but which explorers couldn't find.

Antillia's design followed principles of Vastu shastra, traditional Indian architecture principles relating to how energy flows, Forbes reported in 2008. The home has modern touches, too, including nine elevators, a six-story garage, and helipads.

Shanghai Tower, Shanghai: $2.4 billion in 2015

One of the tallest buildings in the world at over 2,000 feet high, the 128-story Shanghai Tower stands out even amongst its neighbors in the city's Lujiazui financial district. Its sleek facade twists up toward the clouds.

It holds dozens of floors of office space, a hotel, and numerous observation spaces. There's a sky-high swimming pool on the 84th floor. Dizzying views stretch for 30 miles, according to NPR.

Elevators race up and down the building at 67 feet per second, CNN reported in 2017. At that time, they were the world's fastest.

Shops and restaurants are found on the building's lower floors, and there are "vertical gardens" scattered throughout the building to bring more green space to the urban structure, according to the architects.

The Venetian Macao, Macau, China: $2.4 billion in 2007

Las Vegas is known for making its own version of touristy sights — the Eiffel Tower, an Egyptian pyramid — and Macau's casinos replicate those on the Strip, Stefan Al told BI. He's the author of "Supertall: How the World's Tallest Buildings Are Reshaping Our Cities and Our Lives" and "The Strip: Las Vegas and the Architecture of the American Dream."

The Venetian is one example. "That was more or less copied one for one," he said. From its Grand Canal to duped Renaissance art, it's a little slice of Venice in China.

Macau tends to focus more on gambling than Vegas, which also emphasizes its entertainment, Al said. To that end, the Venetian is awash in slot machines and poker tables. It's 550,000-square-foot casino is one of the biggest in the world.

Those looking for more to do could stay in one of the hotel's 3,000 suites or spend hours exploring the restaurants and stores. The resort has a million square feet of shopping options, according to Condé Nast Traveler. That's nearly enough space to fit seven Costcos.

Wynn Resort, Las Vegas: $2.7 billion in 2005

A few years after building the Bellagio, Wynn put his own name on a Vegas casino. The curved structure held over 2,700 rooms, more than 1,800 slot machines, and a Michelin-star restaurant.

Interior designer Roger Thomas evoked a surrealist atmosphere with brightly patterned carpets and hanging parasols. "Brandscents" — Wynn-patented scents — wafted through the building, designed to evoke an emotional response in customers, according to "The Strip."

Instead of spurting fountains, it had a bubbling lake that changed colors and burbled along with music every 30 minutes. In the casino's early days, visitors were able to gaze at Picasso's "La Rêve" painting, which was on display in the gallery. Guests could also play a round of golf at the 18-hole course.

One World Trade Center, New York City: $3.8 billion in 2014

The rebuilt World Trade Center complex was a controversial undertaking as people debated how to replace the Twin Towers destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Most of the new structures have been built, including the One World Trade Center, which opened in 2014. Its height is a symbolic 1,776 feet, in honor of the year the country's founders signed the Declaration of Independence. It's also the tallest skyscraper in the US.

Architect David Childs wanted its angular shape to be as memorable as the Washington Monument, he told Time Magazine in 2014.

Visitors can take in views from the sky lobby or play table tennis to take a free yoga class, according to The New York Times.

Barr said part of the building's enormous cost likely came from security measures. "That probably is one of the most expensive buildings in the world on a per-square-foot basis, simply because of all the extras that were associated with that," he said.

Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania: $4.3 billion in 1997

It didn't just cost billions of dollars to construct one of the world's heaviest buildings. Workers demolished about a fifth of the city, displacing 40,000 residents, to create the mammoth palace and its lengthy road, deliberately created to be larger than the Champs-Élysee, according to The Guardian.

Over 700 architects worked on its design, and 20,000 laborers toiled night and day to complete the building. The interior contains tons of marble and crystal and gold-leaf ceilings.

Construction started in 1984 at the behest of Nicolae Ceaușescu, who was Romania's communist dictator at the time. Five years later, he and his wife were executed in the Romanian Revolution. The Palace was completed in 1994 and now houses the Romanian government, though 70% of the building remains vacant, CNN reported in 2014.

There are guided tours for those who are curious to explore some of its more than 1,000 rooms.

Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, UAE: $3 billion in 2005

Emirates Palace was built for tourists instead of as a residence for royalty. The hotel is over 2 million square feet but has only 394 guest rooms, including several suites. Domes line the roof, and visitors have access to a private beach.

Ornate ceilings are covered in gold-leaf that needs replacing every few years, CNN reported in 2018. They're also dripping in Swarovski crystal chandeliers.

Coldplay, Rihanna, and Christina Aguilera have all performed at the Palace. The hotel also appeared in "The Fast and the Furious 7."

The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas: $3.9 billion in 2010

Consisting of two 50-story towers, the Cosmopolitan marketed itself as sophisticated, hoping to distinguish itself from the Las Vegas Strip's bright, buzzing competition.

"There's probably an element of these developers competing against each other by adding more bells and whistles to their respective casinos, which is going to dramatically increase the cost," Barr said.

If the energy in the Cosmopolitan's casino feels different, it might be because it has something many others lack: windows. "I think people will enjoy knowing what time of day it is," the Cosmopolitan's chief executive told The Los Angeles Times in 2010.

One of its most iconic sights is the three-story Chandelier Bar, which is covered in 2 million crystals.

Apple Park, Cupertino, California: $5 billion in 2017

A spaceship. A glass donut. However you describe it, Apple's building at its headquarters in Cupertino is distinctive.

Before his death, Steve Jobs announced Apple had "a shot at building the best office building in the world." Initially, he envisioned a clover leaf-like structure that would facilitate employees running into each other and casually discussing their projects, Wired reported in 2017. Eventually, the idea morphed into a single large ring.

In 2013, Bloomberg Businessweek reported the building's cost had skyrocketed from $3 billion to $5 billion. Making it a "net-zero energy" structure with miles of curved glass contributed to the high price.

The ring building has a capacity of 12,000 people, distributed across four floors and covering 2.8 million square feet in total. The curved glass gives views of thousands of drought-­tolerant trees. Four miles of trails wind over the campus.

Employees can also visit the on-site medical clinic or work out at the fitness center, according to The Sacramento Bee.

SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California: $5 billion in 2020

Two LA teams, the Rams and Chargers, call SoFi Stadium home. Rams owner Stan Kroenke built the 3.1-million-square-foot facility, which seats over 70,000 fans.

Rising costs, the death of two construction workers, bad weather, and COVID all delayed the project, which took four years to complete, The Los Angeles Times reported in 2020.

There's a curved roof, part of which is transparent, but the open sides let the air flow in.

One of the stadium's defining features is its double-sided videoboard. It's 70,000 square feet and weighs 2.2 million pounds, USA Today reported in 2020.

There's also space for cultural events. The venue doubles as a 6,000-capacity performing arts space. Documents, artwork, and other items from the Kinsey African American Art & History Collection are on display at the stadium.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore: $5.5 billion in 2010

You could spend a weekend in Singapore's Marina Bay Sands and not see everything. A museum, 270 stores and restaurants, a convention center, a skating rink, a luxury hotel, and a casino fill the trio of towers, which are each 55 stories.

A skyway connects the towers at 653 feet in the air. On the 57th floor, a huge infinity pool measuring 450 feet long offers dazzling views. The most luxurious suites cost more than $26,000 a night.

Star architect Moshe Safdie designed the project, which is part of Las Vegas Sands.

In 2011, "The Lion King" musical made its debut in Southeast Asia at one of the Marina Bay Sands' theaters, according to Playbill. Shots of the resort were shown in "Crazy Rich Asians."

"It's really become an icon for Singapore," Al said.

Abraj Al Bait, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: $15 billion in 2012

The Saudi government built the Abraj Al Bait complex to help accommodate the millions of Muslims who visit Mecca each year, according to Sotheby's. It's hard to tease out how much each building costs individually, but together the seven skyscrapers are estimated at $15 billion total.

The Clock Tower is the tallest of the seven, with its crescent spire topping out at 1,972 feet. It houses the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, which has 1,650 rooms and views of the Masjid al-Haram, the largest mosque in the world.

An astronomy center and observation deck a both located at the top of the building, according to the Skyscraper Museum.

During daily prayers, the tower's clock, the largest in the world, illuminates 21,000 green and white LED lights, per Architectural Digest.

Hudson Yards, New York City: $25 billion in 2020

Another complex of buildings, Hudson Yards boasts some expensive real estate. The team behind the massive project secured $5 billion in financing for 30 Hudson Yards alone in 2015.

Several office buildings, a residential tower, an arts center, and a shopping mall make up the completed structures. Eventually, 16 buildings will be clustered in the area, creating space for 4,000 apartments and 55,000 workers, The New York Times reported in 2019.

The scope of the project is what makes it stand out, Al said. "Very often, that is compared to the Rockefeller Center — built a hundred years ago — in terms of magnitude," he said. That added to the cost, but there were other factors as well, like creating a platform above a rail yard.

"In terms of the scale, the cost of the land, the complexity of the building above an operating rail yard, all of that adds to the costs," he said.

• I celebrated my 40th birthday by going to Las Vegas with friends and was nervous it'd be exhausting.
• Instead of partying like I was 21, I embraced a relaxing trip with activities I was excited about.
• The trip wasn't about clinging to my youth — it was about celebrating just how far I'd come.

When I first began planning a Las Vegas trip with my girlfriends to celebrate my 40th birthday, I was a bit uneasy.

While I packed, I found myself trying on the tight, sparkly dresses I used to wear and wondering if I could still zip them up. Visions of crowded nightclubs, loud music, and tequila shooters gave me pause.

I didn't want to chug energy drinks to go clubbing until dawn and endure the cacophony of a DJ I'd never heard of. The Vegas I used to experience sounded exhausting, and I was too tired to pretend I was still in my 20s.

And then, I had a liberating realization: I didn't have to. I had nothing to prove, only things to celebrate.

I was free to craft an experience that truly resonated with me, not lean into an outdated notion of what a fun Vegas trip should look like. The pressure to be "cool" drifted away.

I planned a trip that balanced fun and relaxation

The heart of the Las Vegas Strip is a sensory overload, and its energy can be as exhausting as it is intoxicating. So, I knew that for my 40th, I wanted a sanctuary, a place to retreat and recharge.

Instead of staying at one of the over-the-top, party-centric hotels Vegas is known for, I booked a suite at Crockford's, a luxury hotel on the top eight floors of Resorts World Las Vegas.

My trip also itinerary looked a lot different from Vegas weekends in my 20s. I knew I wanted to come home to my toddler feeling refreshed, not drained, so relaxation was a top priority.

I scheduled more time at spas than at bars, prioritizing wellness and relaxation over late-night revelry. Instead of pregaming before a night out, I headed to a salon for a glamourous blowout.

On my last day in Vegas, I spent the entire afternoon at a spa getting a decadent hot-stone massage and sipping cucumber water in the sauna.

Of course, my friends and I also dove into some Las Vegas hedonism.

We drank fantastic cocktails, sharing tableside Manhattans swirling with cherry smoke at Pinky's by Vanderpump and dirty martinis downtown at Carousel Bar.

We feasted on seafood towers and bubbly during brunch at Giada and sipped espresso martinis at The Living Room. We watched the new Cirque du Soleil performance and boogied at an immersive '70s dance party and show.

The trip was the perfect way to enter my 40s

Getting older — especially celebrating milestone birthdays — was exciting when I was young but feels increasingly complicated as I age.

However, I felt exhilarated surrounded by friends in a city buzzing with such infectious energy. I've also realized that the older I get, the more I feel free of expectations.

If this is what "over the hill" looks like, I'm on board. My 40th birthday celebration in Las Vegas wasn't a desperate attempt to cling to youth — it was a victory lap and a celebration of a life lived on my own terms.

And as I raise my glass to another year, I know the best is yet to come.

• I love Las Vegas even though I don't really gamble or party and I have been there over 40 times.
• As an introvert, waking up early and finding good people-watching spots make the trips extra fun.
• I think it's wise to figure out which amenities matter most to you before booking a hotel.

Many people don't believe me when I say just how much I love visiting Las Vegas.

After all, Sin City is known for its epic nightlife, parties, and gambling opportunities — and I'm an introvert who doesn't really partake in those things.

Fortunately, there's so much to see and do in Las Vegas, which has some of the best spas, restaurants, and shows in the world. And whether I'm accompanying my partner to a conference or going on a girls' trip, I feel well-rested every time I come home from the city.

After visiting more than 40 times, I've figured out how to plan a great trip to Vegas. Here are some of my best travel tips.

Choose your resort based on the amenities that are most important to you

Before booking a resort in Vegas, consider what matters most to you, whether it's having convenient gym and spa access or a really comfy bed.

In my opinion, the Aria has the best, comfiest mattresses — you can even buy them from the hotel. The property also has a juice shop and Starbucks, so it's easy to grab morning drinks there without having to step into the Vegas heat.

If you want to learn and have some physical activity, try hotels like The Cosmopolitan and Westgate that have tennis courts where you can book lessons.

If wellness is a priority, consider the Fontainebleau. It has a cold-plunge pool, infrared sauna, and snow room in the spa, plus an IV drip lounge and fully-kitted gym with weights.

Bonus tip: Day passes are available at most resorts on the strip if you want to gym-hop instead of only using the amenities in one place.

Hydrate as much as possible

Remember, you're in the desert, where dehydration is a serious risk.

Incorporate hydration into your daily routine as much as possible throughout the trip, even just by ordering a cup of water at each casino you visit or adding electrolytes to your drinks.

In some cases, you may event want to splurge on an IV treatment — there are drip lounges for them throughout Vegas and some services will set them up right in your hotel room.

I find these treatments are even better when you're not hungover.

Reverse the schedule that many other tourists are on

The best way to enjoy Vegas at your own pace is to go out while a lot of the city is still sleeping. Las Vegas is the most alive at night, which can make for peaceful mornings.

By getting out early, you'll avoid especially busy sidewalks and beat some of that Vegas heat. Plus, nothing is better than the crisp morning air during the fall and winter in Nevada.

Remember to look around you, especially if you enjoy art

If you appreciate art, don't forget to observe your surroundings as you go around Vegas. Many resorts here have fine-art collections in their restaurants, lobbies, bars, hallways, and galleries.

For example, the Wynn has Jeff Koons' multimillion-dollar "Tulips" sculpture, the Aria displays Rashid Johnson paintings, and the Palms Casino Resort's Unknown bar features designs from English artist Damien Hirst.

Find free entertainment just by people-watching in the right spots

Although Vegas is a good spot to buy tickets for epic shows, there are also free forms of entertainment by way of people watching.

In my opinion, one of the best forms of entertainment in the city comes from sitting in the casino by the elevators when the party crowds are going out.

I like to find a comfy spot with a good vantage point before the popular 7 p.m. dinner hour and prime 10:30 p.m. bar-entry time.

From there, I enjoy my own "fashion shows" of dolled-up guests heading out on the town.

If you're a beginner at table games, start somewhere cheap

If you're newer to playing cards, start your trip at casinos with low table minimums, like $5.

This is a good way to learn how to play games and which you enjoy without blowing through a lot of cash. From there, you can use the skills you've built up somewhere else.

Just remember that each casino has its own rules and payouts, so talk to your dealer and ask questions before starting a game somewhere new.

• The City of Las Vegas has fined homeowner Xin Tao $180,000 for operating an illegal Airbnb.
• Tao had rented his home to Ryan Murphy, who said he told Tao about his Airbnb arbitrage business.
• Now Tao is suing Murphy and Airbnb for money to pay the fine plus damages. Murphy denies the claims.

The battle over a jaw-dropping fine on a Las Vegas Airbnb is heating up.

For two years, Xin Tao, an engineer based in Oregon, rented a Las Vegas house he had bought as an investment property to a tenant, Ryan Murphy. When Murphy moved out, Tao was hit with a $180,000 fine from the city for what it said was two years of illegal Airbnb operations. In a 2024 interview with BI, Tao accused Murphy of renting the home out on Airbnb without his permission.

Tao is now suing Murphy and the short-term rental giant for the full amount of the fine and additional damages.

Murphy said in a March 2025 interview with Business Insider that he told Tao about his Airbnb arbitrage business, which involves renting homes in Nevada and other states and then listing them on Airbnb.

"I had seven houses in Las Vegas at the time," Murphy said. "Every single one of the landlords knew."

Murphy has not replied in court and told BI that he does not plan to hire a lawyer for his defense. Tao and his lawyer, Andrew Bao, did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment.

The dispute between Tao and Murphy comes as cities across the US and Europe crack down on vacation rentals following a decade of growth. Both the city of Las Vegas and its regional authority, Clark County, instituted new rules in recent years that have saddled homeowners with fines from $55,000 to as high as $240,000, according to local news stations Fox5 and NBC3.

How strict cities choose to be, in both the number of rentals and where they are allowed, will partially determine the future landscape of the short-term rental industry.

The homeowner said he had no idea his house was on Airbnb, but his tenant said he was aware

Tao purchased the five-bedroom, two-bathroom property in June 2021 for $378,000, according to a listing history on Redfin. Because he lives full-time in Oregon, Tao told BI, he bought the house as an investment property.

Although the home is located in the quiet, palm-tree-lined streets of the Glen Heather Estates neighborhood, it's only a six-minute drive from the bustling Las Vegas Strip, making it a prime location for visitors.

Tao began renting the property to Murphy in November 2021 and received a call from the city in December 2021 that the home was being used illegally as a short-term rental, Tao's lawsuit against Murphy says.

Las Vegas keeps strict rules for short-term rentals, including a requirement that the homeowner stay on site with guests and secure a permit and that the property be at least 660 feet from another rental.

Multiple neighbors called the city with complaints about Tao's home, according to code enforcement logs from the city of Las Vegas. Residents complained of an overflow of cars parked in the driveway and said that activity at the house "regularly disturbs" the neighborhood's peace and quiet.

Tao's lawsuit says he immediately contacted Murphy, who said it was a mistake and that he was in contact with Airbnb to resolve the situation.

Murphy told BI he wasn't aware that there was a problem.

"I didn't know that there's any fines," he said. "I didn't know there were any issues whatsoever."

The landlord wants his former tenant — and Airbnb — to pay the fine

Murphy told Business Insider that he ended his lease in 2023 when an issue with a toilet meant he couldn't rent out the property for six weeks. He said Tao's home was one of his lowest-performing properties and so he decided it wasn't worth the headache.

According to Tao's lawsuit, Murphy vacated the property in September of 2023 — and on October 5, 2023, Tao found a notice for a $180,000 fine taped to the door.

Tao told BI last year his reaction was dismay.

"I was shocked. I didn't know what was going on. I thought it might be fraud," Tao said.

Tao is now asking Murphy to pay the $180,000 fine and at least $15,000 in additional damages.

"I could care less," Murphy said. "He's not going to get a penny out of me no matter what he does."

Tao is also seeking compensation from Airbnb. The suit claims that Tao contacted Airbnb in 2022 when he still believed the house was being accidentally listed on the site, and the vacation-rental giant declined to provide any information.

Tao's lawsuit also says Airbnb enabled Murphy by not requiring proof that he was properly licensed to rent out the home. So Tao is seeking a portion of Airbnb's profits.

Airbnb declined to comment on pending litigation.

• Two people working night shifts share how they protect their mental and physical health.
• Late shift work is linked to higher anxiety and depression.
• A nurse and Chippendales dancer share how they find time for sleep, exercise, and relaxation.

Ryan Kelsey wakes up most mornings before 11 a.m. so he doesn't waste his day sleeping.

It's a part of his daily routine that makes dancing at Chippendales in Las Vegas six nights a week manageable. Kelsey also aims to eat at least 200 grams of protein, maintain his rigorous workout schedule, and find time for date nights with his wife.

"I still want to go out to a nice dinner with my wife every once in a while and get dessert, a glass of wine, and all that stuff," said Kelsey.

Shift work, which is defined as work arrangements that are outside typical hours, was significantly associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression, per an article from the JAMA Network published in 2023. For those who hold shifts outside the traditional 9-to-5, practicing self-care is an important part of work-life balance.

Business Insider spoke to two people about how they manage working nights while maintaining their health.

Winding down and getting sleep

The Chippendales have a residency at the Linq Hotel and the dancers must arrive at the venue an hour before their 9:30 p.m. show. Performances go until 11 p.m., Kelsey said.

After performing, the cast takes pictures with their fans for about 30 minutes and Kelsey usually makes it home after midnight.

"Our show is so physical and sometimes it's a few hours before I'm able to knock out," Kelsey said of winding down after work.

Mary Kate Wardlow, 24, also tries to sleep during the day when she's working the night shift as an orthopedic nurse in Chicago. She's in her second year on the job — where she has three 12-hour shifts weekly — and shares her experience in the nursing field on her social media pages.

"I am beyond tired," she said in one TikTok after completing a night shift. "I've been awake for over 24 hours now."

In addition to napping, Waldrow downs energy drinks to stay awake through the grogginess.

"Immediate change in mental health back on a normal sleep schedule," Waldrow wrote on TikTok when summarizing her experience last April, during her first year as a nurse, when she switched from the night to day shift.

Waldrow declined to share how much she earns, but the average hourly pay for an entry-level nurse in Chicago is $38, per ZipRecruiter.

Maintaining health and building lives outside work

To keep up with the physique required for the show, Kelsey said he lifts weights five days a week and does cardio four to six days a week. Kelsey is a veteran of the strip show; after more than 10 seasons, he's looking forward to a pay bump that will push him into the six figures on his annual earnings. However, he declined to share specific numbers.

To be sure, Chippendales made headlines in October when the dancers announced their intention to unionize with the Actors' Equity Association, asking for better wages and working conditions. The union has since also filed an unfair labor practices charge against the company for alleged union-busting practices.

Displaying work-life balance on her social media accounts is important to Waldrow, who wants to provide positive representation for nurses online. Federal authorities project there will be a shortage of 63,720 full-time nurses in 2030, per an analysis published by the Health Resources and Services Administration in 2022.

Waldrow also shows how she takes care of her mental and physical health, including attending hot yoga classes and taking vacations.

For example, at the end of a 12-hour shift earlier this month, Waldrow had to call the behavior emergency response team to de-escalate a situation with a confused patient. "I had to take a little bit of time, decompress," she said in a TikTok after the incident. "Grateful to have a few days off after that shift."

As Kelsey approaches turning 40, he's mindful of the importance of rest to protect the longevity of his career.

"At some point you're going to age out of the show. An injury stops something short or you just decide emotionally you want to move on," Kelsey said. "I will be on stage as long as they let me."

Do you have tips for working atypical hours at your job? Reach out to this reporter at [email protected].

• At HumanX in Las Vegas tech leaders talked about on AI's impact on business.
• Speakers like Kamala Harris emphasized collaboration between the tech industry and government.
• AI enthusiasm ran high but many attendees were focused on practical ways to drive company revenue.

This week, I attended HumanX, where thousands of startup founders, investors, and tech industry executives gathered in Las Vegas to discuss AI's value proposition to their bottom lines — and the future.

The nearly four-day conference opened with remarks from former Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris, who served as "AI czar" during the Biden Administration, was one among a handful of lawmakers at the event who called for stronger cooperation between the tech industry and the federal government.

In the following days, attendees sat in on panels with veteran investors like Vinod Khosla and Tim Draper alongside rising stars of the AI boom like Hugging Face's Thomas Wolf and Mistral's Arthur Mensch. There was ample time to swerve between the booths on the convention floor where tech giants and startups alike had reps ready to woo customers.

AI conferences can feel a bit like a dance. People talk with excitement about the transformative power of this technology, but it's also clear they're gauging where the real value lies.

Here are my top takeaways:

1. Patience is a virtue when it comes to ROI

Conference speakers had some advice on making long-term gains with AI.

Glean CEO Arvind Jain cautioned companies to establish an "AI team" to create a roadmap for integrating the technology. "Make small bets. Don't try to actually immediately focus on ROI," he said. "Focus on education first, like, make your workforce trained with AI."

In the sales landscape, Conviction's Sarah Guo said companies have already made "high-fructose corn syrup" gains, reveling in their capacity to send mass emails or spam customers with calls.

"That actually drove a lot of traction," she said. However, "real customers actually churned off that pretty quickly because it doesn't serve a real need. Nobody wants the spam — which is what it is."

Still, it got people to start "buying the products" and she expects that to continue. "That's what I think we're going to see this year in terms of those real ROI use cases."

2. Vibes and valuations

AI startups are fetching wild valuations, but the question is whether they're caught in a bubble that's set to burst.

Investors are essentially "taking a bet" on the future cash flow of a business, said Tuhin Srivastava, CEO and cofounder of AI inference company Baseten. "I'm a  beneficiary of that," he added.

Srivastava pointed to Anysphere, which makes the coding assistant Cursor, and was in talks to raise funding at a valuation of close to $10 billion earlier this month, after hitting $100 million in annualized recurring revenue in a span of 12 months, Bloomberg reported. Coding startup Codeium, is raising funding at a $2.85 billion valuation after hitting $40 million in ARR, TechCrunch reported.

At face value, these seem like massive valuations, but Srivastava says he thinks they're reasonable in the context of the venture landscape just a few years ago.

"Companies in 2021, during all that craze were like, you know, a million dollars of ARR, raising a billion dollars. Think about these AI companies, they all have a lot of revenue," he said.

He joked that valuations — to some extent — are being calculated on "vibes" but he believes they're grounded in real growth potential. "You know, we're probably at 0.1 percent adoption of AI in the enterprise. So we have a thousand x upside there."

For companies with little to no revenue, talent may be the value metric.

A few investors told BI they heard, to their surprise, that companies acquiring AI startups for a strategic advantage were valuing them on a "per engineer" basis.

If you have more thoughts on talent-based valuations contact me at [email protected].

3. Here's at least one new job we'll see soon

Aside from prompt engineers and a beleaguered new set of "AI heads" at companies, many are still wondering what "new jobs" this technological shift will bring.

As AI makes it easier to code, and "vibe-code," we should expect to see a new wave of highly compensated "product engineers," Andrew Filev, CEO of AI coding platform Zencoder said. These are individuals who are versed in product management, a role that typically oversees new products from ideation to launch, and software engineering, which deals with the technical details of new products.

4. Governance is a pain point

AI governance is still a bit of a murky term.

"There's a little bit of a conflation of governance and regulation," said Navrina Singh, founder and CEO of AI governance platform Credo.

Singh told BI she defines governance with three questions:

1. Do you have a handle or understanding of risk?
2. How do you actually mitigate the risk of these technologies?
3. How do you future-proof your AI investments for potential policy changes — not only at the company level, but at the government level?

The most misinformed opinion companies have is that governance will slow them down in adopting AI. Credo's data has shown the opposite. " We are finding that companies are getting better ROI," she said.

Dataiku's CEO Florian Douetteau observed a similar anxiety around governance at an "executive field trip" the company held for the CEOs of its customer base in September 2024. The company further investigated CEOs' top AI anxieties and published them in a survey. Governance ranked high on the list with 94% of about 500 CEOs surveyed saying they suspect employees are secretly using generative AI tools without official approval.

5. More people are sounding the alarm on deflation

Silicon Valley leaders from Khosla to Sam Altman have expressed concerns that AI will spur deflation. Those fears were echoed by a handful of attendees at HumanX.

To be clear, the US is still experiencing inflation with the consumer price index rising about 2.8% for the twelve month period ending in February 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, technological shifts are often correlated with deflation, as they boost productivity and lower production costs.

"There is no denying that AI-based technologies are evolving rapidly and being adopted by people and enterprises," said Steve Berg, a partner at Lytical Ventures. "There are inflationary impacts happening as well, which offset the deflationary impacts of technology, but what happens when one side or the other becomes dominant?"

• My family and I moved from Texas to Las Vegas in 2014.
• The major tourist destination has been a surprisingly great place to raise a family.
• Here in Vegas, we have access to great entertainment, outdoor adventures, and a major airport.

Before moving to Las Vegas in 2014, my wife and I had been wrestling with the idea of leaving Texas for a while. We spent 30 years in Beaumont, a small city in the southeast part of the state, and craved a fresh start.

So, we set our sights on Vegas, a place we had vacationed to and enjoyed. It seemed like a bold change, and the city's energy was infectious every time we visited.

Making the move wasn't easy. We didn't have a safety net of friends or family in Vegas, and our two children had to stay behind with their grandparents for a bit to finish their school year. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone involved.

But now, more than a decade after our move, we can confidently say that our decision to uproot our family was the best thing we've ever done.

Here are just a few of the many reasons we enjoy living in Sin City.

Outdoor adventures are surprisingly easy to find in Vegas

When friends ask about our lives in Vegas, most are surprised at how often we go on outdoor adventures.

Of course, there were plenty of opportunities to get outside in Texas, but very few of the major destinations were near our home.

Here in Vegas, however, we have access to plenty of national forests, state parks, and national parks. For example, in 45 minutes, we can visit Valley of Fire State Park, home to 40,000 acres of bright-red Aztec sandstone.

And in 15 minutes, we can travel to Red Rock Canyon, a gorgeous conservation area with a 13-mile scenic drive, rock climbing, and hiking trails.

Las Vegas is an excellent base for travel

Before our move, I never realized how strategically placed Sin City is for road trips. While living in Beaumont, driving 11 hours west meant we were still in Texas.

Now, we spend lots of time in cities like Phoenix, San Diego, and Los Angeles, all within a few hours' drive from home.

Living close to Harry Reid International Airport has been another incredible convenience, with affordable flights to destinations across the West Coast, Mexico, and Hawaii.

Back in Texas, with only a small regional airport in our immediate area, traveling out of state was a chore. Sure, we could head further east along the Gulf Coast, but it was more of the same landscape.

World-class entertainment is always minutes away

The closest entertainment options in Beaumont were typically a two-hour drive to Houston. Although artists sometimes swung through, we often found ourselves without any viable concert options.

Now that we're in Vegas, however, we're spoiled when it comes to entertainment. When the best musical acts in the world announce a tour, we typically don't have to hope they include our city.

Vegas also has several major-league sports teams and has hosted massive events like the Super Bowl, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, NASCAR races, and rodeo championships.

Away from the Strip, the Las Vegas suburbs have a small-town vibe

When I lived in Texas, I thought a city like Las Vegas would be sensory overload and a terrible place to raise a family.

It's true that if you spend most of your time on the Strip, the crowds, noise, and constant barrage of lights and music can lead to overstimulation.

However, when you step away from those areas, you discover that Las Vegas and its suburbs have small-town charm. For example, throughout the year, we enjoy community Christmas parades, Fourth of July celebrations, and cultural festivals scattered across the city.

We've found it easy to carve out a peaceful but fulfilling life here, a few minutes from one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

It may not be perfect, but for anyone willing to look beyond the bright lights, the city shows itself as a diverse and welcoming community.

• AI conferences are sprouting up worldwide as global leaders and entrepreneurs rally around the tech.
• HumanX, a major AI conference, is set to take place in Las Vegas this month.
• Organizers expect 330 speakers and over 3,00 attendees, including Kamala Harris and OpenAI execs.

It's three months into 2025, and the AI conference circuit is in full swing.

In January, world leaders, big-name executives, and academics gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where a key theme was "Industries in the Intelligent Age." Attendees discussed topics ranging from AI's impact on manufacturing to whether artificial general intelligence will be a force for good.

In February, more heads of state, AI researchers, and regulators flocked to Paris for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit. French President Emmanuel Macron — who co-hosted the conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — promised that France would cut back the red tape on AI.

US Vice President JD Vance told the summit's attendees that "massive" regulations could constrict the progress of the technology. AI leaders, like DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, stressed the need for international cooperation on regulation.

And now, this month, thousands of startup founders, investors, and technologists are expected to descend upon Las Vegas for HumanX — an event that bills itself as the "most important AI conference of the year."

Executives from companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic, investors from Sequoia Capital and Khosla Ventures, and politicians like former Vice President Kamala Harris will gather from March 9-13 at the Fontainebleau to talk about topics ranging from compliance in the AI age to using the technology to unlock new forms of creativity.

The event will feature about 330 speakers and organizers expect over 3,000 attendees. Tickets cost about $3,200 for general admission.

HumanX was co-founded by event veteran Jonathan Weiner — who has launched large-scale conferences like HLTH, Shoptalk, and Money20/20 — and Stefan Weitz, an alum of Microsoft and an entrepreneur and investor. The pair raised $6.2 million in funding for the event in a round led by New York-based Primary Ventures, along with Foundation Capital and FPV Ventures.

Weitz told Business Insider that fundraising wasn't hard. The firms — which back dozens of AI companies — saw the conference as another vehicle to build momentum for their investments.

"You could even look at it as almost promoting their own book, right? They need these AI companies to be successful, which they need to have enterprises purchasing those solutions, and not churning after a year when the SaaS contract is up," Weitz said. "So, it's imperative to the whole ecosystem that we get out of the pilot purgatory that we've been sitting in for a while and actually start moving forward."

Pilot purgatory, as defined by McKinsey, is a state in which companies have "significant activity underway, but are not yet seeing meaningful bottom-line benefits from this."

Dizzying levels of funding have fueled the AI industry. In 2024, over $100 billion went to AI startups, accounting for a third of all global startup funding, according to a report that HumanX released in partnership with Crunchbase.

While established players like OpenAI and Anthropic collected almost a third of last year's AI funding and companies in the Bay Area landed the majority (about 60%), more money also flowed to sectors deeper in the AI ecosystem — from companies building the hardware and software that supports large language models to applications built on top of them.

AI is also giving Wall Street a wake-up call as it braces itself for a wave of AI-related mergers and acquisitions. Of the 153 private AI companies appearing at HumanX, 29% are targeted for acquisitions.

HumanX's panels will largely focus on propelling growth across all parts of the AI ecosystem.

As Weitz describes it, HumanX will highlight "the great stuff," the "new stuff," and "what companies are doing with that new stuff."

There will also be discussions on how to regulate all this stuff.

As part of that, Harris, the former vice president who served as the AI czar during the Biden Administration, will make an appearance to share her vision for responsibly developing the technology. Harris, who previously described the technology as "kind of a fancy thing," has largely been seen as a moderate, dismissing the idea of choosing between AI regulation and innovation as a false binary.

AI has catalyzed a wave of global change, and Weitz said his team has already been approached about setting up HumanX events in other regions, including Europe and the Middle East. For now, though, he's just hoping the inaugural conference goes smoothly.

"It's one of those things where we're one foot in front of the other. Let's deliver the best thing we can, and then we'll move on from there," he said. "These things take no less than nine months and preferably a year to pull off."

• I've traveled to Las Vegas dozens of times in the past 25 years including many times solo.
• When I'm alone, the best things to do in Las Vegas include walking the Strip and having a spa day.
• I love having brunch by the Bellagio Fountains and drinks at the Chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan.

I've been visiting Las Vegas multiple times annually just about every year since I hit the legal gambling and drinking age in the US.

This means I've been making the pilgrimage to one of my favorite cities in the country for over 25 years.

Depending on the trip, you might find me raging with my husband or friends for a birthday bash or a girls' weekend. Or you may find me taking Sin City solo, as I often visit on work-related trips to trawl tradeshow floors or cover major events in town.

Although it might sound odd to visit Las Vegas alone, I think it's a fabulous indulgence.

Here's what I love to do when I'm in town on my own schedule with nothing but my own preferences to prioritize.

I love to get my steps in with long walks on the Strip.

There's no shortage of rideshare vehicles and taxis around this town, but I absolutely love taking long — and often destinationless — walks on the Las Vegas Strip.

It's a great way to get my steps in amid so much eating and drinking at the city's many incredible bars and restaurants.

Plus, I can take in the Strip's famous lights and scenery while doing next-level people watching away from the vacuum of windowless casinos, where time seems not to exist.

I always take in the iconic Bellagio Fountains — ideally while eating brunch.

No matter how many times I visit Las Vegas, the Bellagio's extravagant fountain show never gets old.

To best take it in, I like to make a reservation at one of the lakeside eateries in the Bellagio.

Most recently, I had an incredible brunch that included a caviar-topped bagel and an extravagant milkshake-like espresso martini from Michelin-starred chef Julian Serrano at Lago.

I've also had memorable outdoor dining experiences at other standout restaurants on the property, including Spago and Yellowtail.

A spa day is a perfect balance to the Vegas action.

I never met a spa day I didn't like, but Las Vegas is the perfect place to indulge in one when I'm by myself.

It's an antidote to the cacophony of the slot machines and vibrant nightlife energy and a surefire way to soothe sore muscles after I've been lugging my laptop around a tradeshow floor.

On my last visit, I had a life-changing massage at the Four Seasons Las Vegas spa, after which I cuddled with a cup of tea under a faux-chinchilla blanket in the darkened relaxation lounge. It was divine.

I always try to grab a drink at the prettiest bar on the Strip.

When I have solo downtime, playing video poker is my guilty pleasure.

To make the activity as glam and exciting as it can be — and so I have a great time even when I don't get lucky — I sit at the Chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan while I play.

The bar is known for its dazzling look and is dripping with over 2 million crystals across three floors. Plus, it has great drinks.

On a recent trip, I indulged in a memorable carbonated cocktail with turmeric, orgeat, and sherry … plus a few other inventive, hand-crafted boozy delights.

For me, shopping at the casino-adjacent malls is a must.

I'm a fan of shopping anywhere in the world, but there is a particular pleasure in strolling the stores in Vegas on my own time.

I find it thrilling to window shop at high-end malls like Crystals (adjacent to the Cosmopolitan) and the Bellagio's collection of designer shops.

There's also plenty of shopping that's more within my budget, from the labyrinthine Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (complete with over-the-top fountains) to the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood (easily accessible from some of my favorite casino properties, like Aria and the Cosmopolitan).

These Strip-side malls are lively and as good for people watching as they are for scoring a last-minute outfit to wear out that night. (And yes, the fact that I'm welcome to wander into the shops with my cocktail right off the casino floor encourages me to ease up on the purse strings and indulge!)

"Food Wars" hosts Harry Kersh and Joe Avella travel across Las Vegas to find the best buffets in the city. They'll be visiting three locations in just one day to see what the city has to offer. This is "Food Tours."

• An LA-based couple has figured out how to do day trips to Las Vegas on the cheap.
• They book $39 roundtrip tickets through Spirit Airlines and pack a backpack for the day.
• Credit card rewards and loyalty points from free apps allow them access to hotel pools and airport lounges.

Ryo Furukawa was intrigued by the Mandalay Bay pool — or, the 11-acre "aquatic playground," as the Las Vegas-based resort describes its popular amenity.

It has a wave pool and a lazy river, neither of which he'd ever experienced.

He and his fiancé, Jenn Dinh decided to make a day trip out of it. It was a bit of a tall order, considering they lived nearly 300 miles away in Los Angeles, but they managed — and, thanks to a cheap Spirit flight and a handful of travel hacks, they did it on a budget.

Since then, the couple has replicated the low-budget day trip to the entertainment capital of the world four more times. They spoke to Business Insider and broke down the cost of their typical 16-hour trip to Vegas, which they can do for less than $100 per person, not including food.

Airport parking: $30 total ($15 each)

The couple typically flies out of the John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County. They drive themselves to the airport and leave their car in the lot.

Furukawa said the daily parking rate recently jumped from $20 to $30, and joked that he needs to "figure out another plan there."

Flights: $39 per person

Furukawa is a member of the Spirit Savers Club, a $70-a-year membership that offers discounts for him, the primary passenger, and up to eight additional guests on the same reservation.

"It paid for itself by just purchasing two tickets. We saved over $70 that one time," said Furukawa, who joined in the summer of 2024. For each subsequent trip, they've saved a couple of bucks.

"There's more savings when the tickets are more expensive — not as much savings when they're already cheap," he explained. But it bumps their ticket prices below $40.

Here's an example of a roundtrip flight for $38.60:

They typically depart SNA at 6:45 a.m. and arrive in LAS at 7:55 a.m. Their return trip leaves at 8:30 p.m. and arrives at 9:39 p.m. Spirit allows one personal item. They both pack a backpack.

Prices do fluctuate, said Dinh, but they've agreed on a cap: "If it's $50, we're not going to go. It has to be like 40-something or under."

Transportation in Vegas: $0 to $40 total ($20 per person)

Technically, the airport is walking distance from the Strip — and they've done the walk before.

"We only have one backpack each, so not many things to carry," said Furukawa. Though, "it's a little deceiving — probably three or four miles of walking."

While the active commute is free, and a nice option on a good-weather day, they prefer to save their legs. They've used rideshare apps and taxis — the taxi fare is set based on the part of the Strip you're heading to, making it easy to price compare with Uber and Lyft — but their favorite way to get around is by renting a car, which gives them more flexibility and the option to explore beyond the Strip.

On their most recent trip in January, they said the car cost a little under $40 for the full day — and they didn't have to top off the gas, either. They drove so few miles that, by the end of the day, "the meter was still past the full mark," said Furukawa.

Taking advantage of free activities and saving their food budget for LA

There's more to Vegas than pricey buffets, shows, and nightlife.

One of Furukawa and Dinh's favorite free activities is visiting the Conservatory at the Bellagio. It features displays that rotate seasonally. In January, they saw the Lunar New Year display; in late 2024, they experienced a holiday-themed display.

They've also explored Circus Circus, a hotel and casino (with free parking, they said) just north of the Strip that has an arcade with carnival games.

Vegas is a walkable city — particularly the Strip, which stretches a little over four miles — and they find themselves doing a lot of sightseeing on foot. They've also used the free trams that operate between Mandalay Bay and Treasure Island.

As for food, they consider themselves "spoiled" with the cuisine options in LA. They'd rather splurge on food at home and keep things simple and less expensive in Vegas. On their last trip, they spent about $20 on breakfast at a café off the Strip. They said it would have been double or even triple had they eaten on the Strip. For lunch, they spent about $30 at Taco Bell Cantina.

They're aware that buying food on the Strip can easily add up, but it doesn't hold them back from the occassional splurge.

They've done a classic Vegas buffet, which is "worth the experience if you have the time," said Furukawa. "Obviously, you want to stay there as long as you can!"

Travel hacks: Flexibility, credit card rewards, and free gambling apps

Flexibility will save your wallet. When planning their Vegas dates, Furukawa and Dinh prefer to take a day off from work and travel on a weekday. There's less traffic and fewer crowds, and it can be cheaper. They're constantly looking at Spirit flights, and if a cheap ticket aligns with a day when they can also land a free hotel room through rewards points — another hack of theirs — they'll jump on it.

In Vegas, use apps to earn free hotels, discounts, and rewards. Furukawa has discovered several apps that anyone can play for free, including POP! Slots, myVEGAS Bingo, myKONAMI, and MGM Slots Live.

Without spending any of his own money, he earns "loyalty points" for the time he spends playing, which can be redeemed for a comped room at MGM properties on select days (you still have to pay a resort fee, he said), discounted food or shows, and "Freeplay," a form of credit that allows you to play casino games.

"You can only redeem three rewards per about 30 days," he said. "I usually redeem 100,000 loyalty points for $25 myKONAMI Freeplay at three different properties. Most Freeplay on their app usually requires a minimum of a two-night stay, but this $25 Freeplay requires no stay."

On their latest trip, he said he was up $50 from Freeplay. It made the trip even more affordable.

Take advantage of credit card points and perks. One of their top hacks used to be using the Wyndham Earner Business Card, which allowed them to match earned Wyndham status to Caesars Rewards, which got them free parking and a waived resort fee. The Points Guy was also a fan of this perk, which is no longer effective as of January 31, 2025.

On their most recent trip in January, the couple booked a comped room based on their play. Thanks to their Caesars Diamond status, which was still effective at the time, they could park their rental car at Caesars for free and didn't owe the $54.95 resort fee. It allowed them a place to store their backpacks and leave the car for the day.

Another credit card benefit they have is Priority Pass, which grants them access to lounges in various airports, including the one in Vegas. They like to arrive at the airport early enough to get a free meal at the lounge before heading back to LA.

They said they're looking forward to the Capital One Lounge coming to the LAS soon.

The couple hasn't selected their next Vegas date yet, but at this point, the planning is minimal. "We just copy and paste," said Furukawa. "I pick her up, we go to the airport, park my car, and then get on the flight with our one backpack. It's a nice escape."

• My husband and I have gone on more than 50 trips to Las Vegas in the past 20 years. 
• I've seen first-timers repeat mistakes, from missing hotel deals to refusing to leave the Strip.
• With careful planning, travelers can stay within their budget and have a great time in Sin City.

With over 50 visits to Las Vegas under my belt, I consider myself an expert in all things Sin City.

Early in our marriage, my husband and I started traveling to Las Vegas every June to celebrate our anniversary. The summertime trips were so fun that we added an annual Christmastime Vegas visit to our calendars too.

We still couldn't get enough, so we returned to the city more and more frequently over the past two decades.

I love Las Vegas, so I'm always disappointed when I hear people complain about it, especially when many of their negative experiences could've been avoided.

Here are the common mistakes I watch many first-time visitors make, along with tips on how to avoid making them yourself.

Not creating a budget or deciding what to splurge on in advance

Between the casinos, shows, and restaurants, the cost of a vacation in Las Vegas can add up.

With a little planning and prioritization, you can enjoy your trip to the fullest without blowing through your budget.

When we craft our trip itinerary, my husband and I always decide where to splurge and where to save. Since we love delicious food and special dining experiences, we make sure to account for the costs associated with meals at restaurants like Michael Mina, Toscana, and Brezza. 

If you don't want to dish out money on high-end dining, you can still get great food at more casual joints such as Eataly, EggSlut, Evel Pie, or Famous Foods Street Eats. 

The Strip can get pricey, so you can also save a bit of money by heading downtown. There, you'll find the Fremont Street Experience, nostalgia-filled hotels, The Mob Museum, and an array of more affordable bars and restaurants. 

Booking a hotel without checking for more affordable dates

Hotel prices in Las Vegas rise and fall throughout the year. Sometimes they soar due to massive conventions happening around town. Other times, they drop because of scorching temperatures and post-holiday lulls. 

If your schedule is flexible, check hotel rates for a variety of dates to find the best deal before you book. Rates are usually less expensive on weekdays than on weekends, so take advantage of any flexibility in your schedule. Plus, lower prices often mean the hotel will be less crowded.

Some of my favorite hotels on the Strip include Aria Resort & Casino, the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, NoMad Las Vegas, and Resorts World Las Vegas.

 

 

Forgetting to make reservations at popular restaurants

If you're hoping to try some of the most popular restaurants in Las Vegas, make reservations in advance. I've learned from experience that some can get fully booked months in advance.

Spago, Wolfgang Puck's flagship restaurant in the Bellagio, serves a brunch that's all the rage. Plan to make reservations a couple of weeks beforehand if you want to try it.

A table at The Mayfair Supper Club, also located in the Bellagio, has become one of the hottest tickets in town. Make a reservation at least a week in advance, especially if you want to go on a Saturday or Sunday.

Paying full price for shows and attractions without looking for deals

Las Vegas used to be all about gambling, but it's evolved into a multifaceted entertainment hub.

There are shows and concerts every night of the week, and visitors can find a variety of things to do in Vegas, from touring museums to riding roller coasters. 

The ticket prices for these attractions can be pricey, but you can often find deals if you're resourceful. You may want to try checking discount sites like Groupon and Travelzoo. Tix4Tonight also sells discounted tickets for same-night shows at booths on the Strip and downtown.

Overpaying for basics and travel essentials at hotel gift shops

One time, we forgot to pack sunscreen when we traveled to Las Vegas. Although we could've replenished our supply in the hotel gift shop, I've found that the basic goods sold in the resorts can get expensive.

So, we walked to one of the many nearby drugstores, which sold the bottles at prices comparable to those at our convenience stores at home. 

If you're looking to purchase snacks or beverages, I recommend stopping at ABC Stores on the Strip or downtown. The convenience store's prices are usually more affordable than those at resort shops.

Not properly preparing for all of the walking the trip can entail

Many people underestimate the amount of walking they're about to do when they arrive in Las Vegas.  

We needed at least 10 minutes to walk from one end of the Bellagio to the other. Walking the entire length of the Strip along Las Vegas Boulevard can take about 90 minutes.

There are almost no pedestrian crosswalks on the busy street. Instead, people travel up and down the Strip using stairs, escalators, and pedestrian bridges. The setup creates a safe route for pedestrians, but it does require more roundabout traveling.

I recommend packing comfortable shoes and allowing yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.

If you're unable to walk (or you just don't want to), you can still use other ways to get around the Strip, which is wheelchair accessible. The monorail, buses, and trams run frequently, with stops at the major resorts and attractions. 

Spending most of your trip driving around the city and paying for parking everywhere you go

After we park our car at the hotel, we almost never move it until we check out. We prefer to pay for parking only once and don't want to worry about car logistics if we're out on the town.

We get around mostly by walking. We also use rideshare apps. Most hotels have signage directing guests to designated Uber and Lyft pick-up spots, which are often separate from the hectic main entrances.

We also take the free trams, which stop at many of the resorts on the Strip. In my experience, they're a safe and efficient mode of transportation. Since hotel signage makes the departure point clear, they're also easy to navigate.

In addition, if you came to Las Vegas without a car, I don't recommend renting one if you plan to spend most of your trip in the city itself. 

Skipping local museums

For years, I laughed at the idea of visiting a museum in Las Vegas, but I've since changed my tune. Now, it's one of my favorite things to do there.

The Neon Museum features vintage signs from famous hotels, restaurants, and bars. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Arts hosts rotating exhibits, so be sure to check the schedule online.

I also suggest checking out Perception, a 17,000-square-foot digital art museum. 

Never leaving the Strip

Enjoy the Strip, but don't be afraid to take some time away from it.

When you're ready to trade the Strip's nonstop commotion for some nature, head 30 minutes to Red Rock Canyon or an hour to Valley of Fire State Park. Both spots are great for sightseeing and hiking. 

Visitors should also consider driving an hour from the major resorts to tour the Hoover Dam in Boulder City. When it was built in the 1930s, it was the world's largest dam — and it's still worth visiting now.

This story was originally published on August 15, 2022, and most recently updated on February 12, 2025. 

• I visited the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It's the largest buffet in the city.
• It cost me $65 (price per person) to access the 25,000-square-foot buffet for brunch. 
• I wouldn't return to the buffet, but it's worth going at least once due to the sheer scale of it.

When I headed to Las Vegas for the first time, my friends and family told me I had to try the Bacchanal Buffet.

Located within Caesars Palace, it's the largest buffet in Las Vegas at over 25,000 square feet with over 250 menu items.

Here's what it was like going for brunch.

I visited during brunch time and paid $65 for my ticket.

The buffet opens at 9 a.m. on most days, so I headed over for brunch right when it opened.

I was there on a weekend with my sister, and our brunch tickets were $65 per person. There was a line from the moment we arrived.

The Bacchanal Buffet looked very nice inside.

While checking in, I was given a table and no other instructions.

Per my online reservation details, I had about 90 minutes to enjoy the buffet after I got my seat.

We started with the seafood station.

Unsure of where to begin, my sister and I walked to the seafood station first. There were clams, crab claws, mussels, shrimp, and other seafood items.

The next station was all about meat.

It included items like sliders and popular sides for meat dishes, like corn on the cob. I also saw more unique items, like truffle-roasted chicken.

There was an entire display devoted to sausages, and passed meaty breakfast staples like bacon and corned-beef hash.

There was also a carving station.

The carving station had striploin, prime rib, and smoked brisket, to name a few meats.

I also had the option to wait a little longer and have some of the meats freshly cut for me.

The next station was filled with classic breakfast items — it was my favorite.

This breakfast station included waffles, pancakes, and French toast.

The buffet offered various fixings like frosting, sprinkles, and fruit that you could use to customize your dish.

There were also eggs, oatmeal, and other typical breakfast items in this section. The display looked incredible.

Next was a section with Mexican-inspired dishes.

The highlight of the Mexican-inspired section was probably the made-to-order birria tacos loaded with marinated meat.

Ready-made buffet options included different types of beans, tortillas, and various tacos.

At this point, I was starting to get overwhelmed.

Next, I was at what appeared to be the Italian-style station with Italian wedding soup and arancini, stuffed Italian rice balls.

The section also had croque madame, though, which is a French dish with ham and egg.

The buffet had so many options and I spent a ton of time trying to decide what I actually felt like grabbing.

Next up was an entire display of pizzas and flatbreads.

At this brunch buffet, there seemed to be a huge emphasis on more savory, lunch-worthy foods.

The section had a range of pizza and flatbread options, each with a detailed description of its toppings labeled above.

There were also ready-to-eat pasta dishes and a made-to-order pasta station if you wanted to get something customized.

Next was the station with over 10 varieties of bread.

The bread selection featured a large assortment, from brioche buns to cornbread. It even had multiple types of crackers.

It was followed by the cheese station ...

The cheese station was packed with slices, cubes, and chunks of all different cheeses.

... and the meat station.

At this station, I found slices of meat and a range of nuts and dried food, which felt worthy of a charcuterie board.

Next, I found rolls and rice-filled options.

This station had rolls including vegan options and Spam musubi, a roll featuring canned ham that's popular in Hawaii.

I also saw a wide range of Asian-inspired soups and six types of dumplings up for grabs.

I passed popular dishes like black-pepper beef and General Tso's chicken.

The section had a ton of entrée options, ranging from salt-and-pepper frog legs and General Tso's chicken to fried rice and black-pepper beef.

Before sitting down, I headed to the last and final section: dessert.

The buffet had every dessert you could imagine, including miniature tarts, cookies, and freshly made crepes.

The dessert section also had a sorbet station ...

The sorbet station had a section nearby with toppings, like sprinkles and syrups, to dress up your sweet treat.

… cheesecakes, trifles, cupcakes …

The desserts looked adorable and easy to grab.

... and fruit.

I appreciated that the fruit was ready to eat — the melon was cut and grapes were de-vined.

I had to wait in line if I wanted anything that wasn't grab-and-go.

The crepe station, like many of the buffet sections with made-to-order dishes, had a long line in front of it.

I wasn't surprised by the lines since the buffet is pretty popular and famous, but it made it difficult to decide what was actually worth waiting to order.

It felt a lot easier to just grab dishes that were already available.

Ultimately, I ended up with a crepe, plantains, and a crème brûlée for my breakfast.

The many options made it overwhelming for me and I simply couldn't decide what to eat. It was a bit of a paradox of choice — having too many options made it hard for me to pick any.

Because of that, I didn't actually get much at the buffet. I just got a crepe, plantains, and a crème brûlée

In terms of taste, the food was what I'd expect from a buffet: decent quality with some highs and lows.

Some things (like the freshly made crepes) were better than others. It wasn't the best food I've ever had, but it was good.

The Bacchanal Buffet is worth visiting if you're in Vegas and have never been, but I wouldn't return.

The Bacchanal Buffet was unlike anything I've ever seen before, and it felt very "Las Vegas." The massive displays of food were impressive, grand, and beautiful.

For me, though, the experience was overwhelming with its many food options and lines. I didn't even end up wanting to take $65 worth of food.

I'm glad I tried the buffet once — and I recommend going if you've never been — but I don't feel the need to go back.

This story was originally published on December 11, 2023, and most recently updated on February 12,2025.

President Donald Trump floated moving nearly 90,000 IRS agents hired under the Biden administration to the border to patrol the area while armed with guns. 

"On day one, I immediately halted the hiring of any new IRS agents. They hired, or tried to hire, 88,000 new workers to go after you. And we're in the process of developing a plan to either terminate all of them or maybe we'll move them to the border. And I think we're going to move them to the border," Trump said during a rally at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday evening. 

"Where they're allowed to carry guns, you know, they're so strong on guns, but these people are allowed to carry guns, so we'll probably move them to the border," he continued. Certain special IRS agents are permitted to carry firearms as part of their duties, according to IRS Code, 26 U.S. Code § 7608. 

Trump joined supporters in Las Vegas this weekend after touring destruction in North Carolina left by Hurricane Helene in September, as well as California, where he toured Los Angeles and met with local leaders about the wildfires that have ripped through the area this month. 

TRUMP VOWS TO DELIVER ON 'NO TAX ON TIPS' CAMPAIGN PROMISE DURING LAS VEGAS SPEECH: '100% YOURS'

While floating moving the thousands of IRS agents to the border, Trump also suggested ending income tax across the board, saying his plans on tariffs could fill the financial gaps. 

"How about just no tax," he said to cheers, while he chuckled. "You could do that. You know if the tariffs work out like I think, a thing like that could happen, if you want to know the truth." 

‘FLOODING THE ZONE’ TRUMP HITS WARP SPEED IN FIRST WEEK BACK IN OFFICE

"Years ago, 1870 to 1913, we didn't have an income tax. We had, what we had is tariffs, where foreign countries came in and they stole our jobs, they stole our companies, they stole our product. They ripped us off. And, you know, they used to do numbers. And then we went to tariff, a tariff system. And the tariff system made so much money. It was when we were the richest from 1870 to 1930. Then we came in with the – brilliantly came in – with an income tax," he continued, explaining the Great Depression rocked the U.S. shortly after moving away from the tariff system of the 1800s and early 1900s.

Democrats in 2022 approved $80 billion in funding for the IRS, including to hire roughly 87,000 new agents across a 10-year period as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law that year. 

IRS BANNED FROM BUYING GUNS, AMMO WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS UNDER NEW BILL FROM SEN. ERNST

Trump's Vegas speech focused on taxes, hearkening back to his June campaign rally in the state when he first announced he would eliminate taxes on tips.

"Any worker who relies on tips [as] income, your tips will be 100% yours," Trump said on Saturday in the city that is run by service workers at flashy hotels and casinos and restaurants. 

DEMOCRATS HIRE ARMY OF AGENTS AT IRS TO SQUEEZE HONEST TAXPAYERS FOR GREEN NEW DEAL

Trump also touted that a handful of his campaign promises are already unfolding into real results, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and dismantling some federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

"We got rid of the woke crap," Trump said Saturday. "A lot of crap… you know, these people were petrified of it. I'll tell you, these companies, they run these big companies, they were petrified of it."

Fox News Digital's Andrea Margolis contributed to this report. 

President Donald Trump shocked gamblers in Las Vegas when he unexpectedly dropped by a casino floor on Saturday.

Prior to the surprise visit, Trump had addressed thousands of supporters at the Circa Resort & Casino in Sin City on Saturday afternoon. Photos and video show Trump strolling around the casino floor after the speech, while surrounded by security.

The crowd began chanting "USA! USA!" as Trump walked past the slot machines. The president was also seen briefly interacting with enthused gamblers.

TRUMP VOWS TO DELIVER ON 'NO TAX ON TIPS' CAMPAIGN PROMISE DURING LAS VEGAS SPEECH: '100% YOURS'

The president also naturally walked up to a craps table where a game was in progress, telling a player to "throw the dice."

When journalists shouted questions at Trump, a craps player scolded the press pool and told them, "I'm rolling here." Trump told a gambler that he was "doing a good job" before leaving.

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Trump also said thank you to staff workers holding water trays, shortly after his speech focused on reducing federal taxes for hospitality workers with his "no tax on tips" campaign promise.

"Any worker who relies on tips [as] income, your tips will be 100% yours," Trump said to a cheering audience during the speech.

"Nationwide, over four million workers depend on tip income, including an estimated 700,000 single moms…here in Nevada…think of it, a quarter of the typical restaurant workers' pay comes from tips. I didn't know that," he added.

Fox News' Sarah Tobianski and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.

President Trump visited Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon to discuss his agenda for American workers, stressing a "no tax on tips" policy as the first week of his second term wraps up.

Speaking from the Circa Resort and Casino, Trump appealed to the myriad of hospitality workers in Sin City during his speech.

"Any worker who relies on tips [as] income, your tips will be 100% yours," Trump said.

The Republican, who previously touted the policy as a 2024 campaign promise, also addressed Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo during the speech and bluntly asked him about how important the issue was during the November election.

‘FLOODING THE ZONE’ TRUMP HITS WARP SPEED IN FIRST WEEK BACK IN OFFICE

"You think that had an impact on the election?" Trump asked. "What, a half a point? It's pretty big….nationwide over four million workers depend on tip income, including an estimated 700,000 single moms."

"And here in Nevada…think of it, a quarter of the typical restaurant workers' pay comes from tips. I didn't know that," Trump continued.

The president then addressed impacted workers as "some of the very citizens who were hit hard and very hard by the ravages of the Biden economy, which was inflation."

"When I think of Biden, I think of incompetence and inflation," Trump said of his former opponent, who left office on Monday.

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Earlier this week, Trump said that he would visit Nevada to "thank" voters for electing him in the November election, as the Silver State historically votes blue.

"I’m going to Nevada, and I’m really going to thank Nevada for the vote because we won Nevada," Trump said at the White House earlier this week. "That’s normally a Democratic vote and I just want to go there to thank Nevada for the vote."

During Saturday's speech, Trump also touted some of the promises his administration has already delivered on, such as withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and dismantling some federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

"We got rid of the woke crap," Trump said to a cheering audience. "A lot of crap…you know, these people were petrified of it. I'll tell you, these companies, they run these big companies, they were petrified of it."

Trump noted that he froze hiring within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on his first day in office.

"They hired, or tried to hire, 88,000 new workers to go after you," Trump told the audience. "And we're in the process of developing a plan to either terminate all of them or maybe we'll move them to the border."

Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton contributed to this report.

• President Donald Trump stopped in Las Vegas on Saturday.
• He discussed his proposal to exclude workers' tips from federal taxes.
• Trump said he will work with Congress to push forward legislation.

President Donald Trump stopped in Las Vegas on Saturday to share details about his administration's plan to exclude workers' tips from federal taxes.

The president first announced his proposal last June during a campaign rally, also in Nevada, where a significant portion of the workforce is in the hospitality industry and where he scored a major victory in November.

Trump would need approval for the tax change from Congress, where Republicans hold majorities in both chambers.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, promoted a similar idea during her campaign.

While in Las Vegas, Trump said he'd work with members of Congress "in the coming weeks" to ensure a bill reaches his desk.

"No tax on tips!" Trump said as a crowd of supporters cheered nearby. During the speech, Trump said his administration would also raise worker wages, but did not share additional details.

During his speech, Trump welcomed American Hotel and Lodging Association CEO and President Rosanna Maietta onstage, where she spoke about the proposal's potential impact on the service industry.

"I am here to tell you that the American dream is alive and well in the hotel industry today," she said.

She referenced the tax bill Trump promoted in 2017 during his first administration. "The 'no tax on tips' builds on that momentum," Maietta said. "So, we are so excited to support you in that effort."

She added that her organization would urge Congress to pass Trump's proposal.

In June, however, Trump's remarks drew criticism from the Culinary Workers Union, which includes Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165. The union represents 60,000 workers in the Las Vegas and Reno areas.

"For decades, the Culinary Union has fought for tipped workers' rights and against unfair taxation," Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement at the time. "Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, but Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon."

In a statement to Business Insider on Saturday, Pappageorge said, "The Culinary Union welcomes plans to end taxes on tips, but it must not end there."

"Eliminating taxes on tips and ending the $2.13 sub-minimum wage — that is the reality in too many states across the country — will uplift millions of hospitality workers," he said. "Taking on both issues is critical to ensuring one job is enough for workers to support their families."

The statement urged Republicans to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats to find solutions.

"Republicans have made promises to lower the cost of living for Americans. Delivering on those commitments must start with meaningful action, and they must work with Democrats to raise the sub-minimum wage, eliminate taxes on tips, and address corporate greed driving up prices on essential goods like food, gas, and housing," Pappageorge added. "It's time for Congress to act now to deliver real solutions for working families."

Some experts who track the industry earlier told Business Insider that eliminating federal taxes on tips could have unintended negative consequences, like encouraging employers to lower wages to avoid taxes.

Martha Gimbel, the executive director of Yale University's Budget Lab, told BI that a new system would create "an incentive for employers to try to get more of their workers' compensation in the form of tips."

Gimbel said the proposal could let business owners shift the onus for employee salaries onto customers and claim tax breaks through lower payroll and Social Security fees.

Representatives for the White House did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Trump's speech in Nevada comes one day after he visited California to address the wildfires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles County and elsewhere.

While at a roundtable with local California officials, the president said he would help fund relief efforts but did not detail how much federal aid California could receive.

Trump also said he would implement an executive order to direct more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Southern California and Central Valley.

On Friday, Trump also visited North Carolina, where some parts of the state are still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

Trump on Friday also floated overhauling or eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, calling it a "big disappointment."

The president said his administration was eyeing mechanisms for potentially empowering governors when it comes to disaster aid.

President Trump is back in Nevada on Saturday to thank his supporters for helping him win the state, which has traditionally supported Democrats for president over the last couple of decades.

Trump will wrap up his first trip of his second administration with a rally Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.

"I’m going to Nevada, and I’m really going to thank Nevada for the vote because we won Nevada," Trump said at the White House earlier this week. "That’s normally a Democratic vote and I just want to go there to thank Nevada for the vote."

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Trump carried Nevada by three points in November's presidential election after narrowly losing the Silver State in 2016 and 2020. He became the first Republican presidential nominee to win the state in 20 years, since then-President George W. Bush carried the state in his 2004 re-election.

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The president is expected to offer details on his campaign trail promise - which he first made during a rally in Las Vegas last June - to exclude tips from federal taxes.

"Can you remember that little statement about tips?" the president said during one of his inauguration day speeches. "Anybody remember that little statement? I think we won Nevada because of that statement."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, aboard Air Force One on Friday, told reporters the rally in Las Vegas would have "an economy focused message."

"President Trump will be talking about promises that he intends to keep, that he made to the American people on the campaign trail," she added.

TRUMP'S FIRST 100 HOURS BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE: ‘SHOCK AND AWE’

The economy in Nevada's two largest cities - Las Vegas and Reno - is dominated by the hospitality and service industry. And many workers - from restaurant waiters to hotel clerks and maids to car park valets - rely on tips for much of their income.

But exempting tips from federal taxes will require Congress to pass legislation, which won't be easy to accomplish.

But a bill to do just that - which was first introduced last summer - was re-introduced into the new 119th Congress earlier this month by Democratic Sen. Jackie Rosen of Nevada and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Trump arrived in Las Vegas on Friday night. The president's stop in Nevada follows Trump's trip to California on Friday where he toured the devastation of the Los Angeles fires with residents who were personally impacted, met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and participated in a roundtable with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other state officials.