Las Vegas probably isn't most people's idea of a budget destination. Even if you're not blowing your cash gambling on the casino floor, you could easily spend up a fortune in the city's five-star hotels, A-list nightclubs, Michelin-starred restaurants and designer boutiques. But it is still doable if you're on a budget. I spent four days in the city and found a great deal at the Hilton Grand hotel. Bobbi, Mary and I shared one double room to keep the cost down and it was luxury compared to the last hostels we had stayed in.

Day 1 - Friday 20th May
After the longest 5 hours on a night bus from Los Angeles we arrived in Las Vegas at 5.30am. We requested an Uber (taxi) and arrived at the Hilton, completely exhausted but excited to see the real Vegas!

The hotel let us check in at 6.30am, this was such a bonus as we weren't meant to check in until 16.00. I think this was only because Bobbi had found a comfortable sofa to sleep on and the lady said we couldn't sleep in the reception area (as we were making it look untidy) so she managed to find us an empty room. We all had a nap, this gave us the energy to hit the strip!

First on the agenda was the Stratosphere buffet brunch, we though 'when in Vegas' you have to tick off as many things from the 'bucket list' as possible. With full stomachs, we walked to the North shopping outlet where I bought some gifts to take home and treated myself to a pair of jeans.

The bus is the cheapest way to make your way up and down the strip is by purchasing a 24 hour bus pass costing $8 and stops at all of the major hotels. After shopping we caught the bus to the strip to visit the Balagio, Venitian and Ceasers Palace hotels.

You could easily keep yourself entertained just wandering the Strip for hours - watching the gondoliers on the canals at The Venitian, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York, see the pyramids at the Luxor and visit the fountains at the Bellagio. I was amazed! The hotels were unbelievable, each one trying to out do its neighbour. I could not believe the detail and scale of everything including the replica Eiffel Tower.

After we had spent four hours exploring just one section of the strip, we decided to hop on the bus back to our hotel to freshen up. The three of us were still so full from the buffet breakfast we skipped dinner and enjoyed a few drinks instead. Before heading out to Marquee, a club at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

When it comes to saving money on club entry, it is definitely easier if you're a woman. You'll often be handed discount flyers on the street or approached by club promoters who can get your name on the guest list. Mary had found a website which meant she could add our names to the guest list if we entered before 11.30pm. The guest list queue was still long when we arrived but considerably shorter the general admission line and we had no cover charge. Once we were inside we bought a drink and danced the night away...well until we finished our drinks, (they were too expensive to buy another!)

I did stop off at the Casino on the way out of the hotel and won $13.90 on the slot machines, not quite winning the cost of my trip back but it was a start!!

We arrived back at the hotel at 2am and hit the pillow. With out alarms set for 5.50am to start day 2 in Vegas!