() High prices are dealing Las Vegas a tough hand.
Visitation and hotel occupancy numbers have decreased, with the latest data showing 400,000 fewer visitors in June compared to the same time last year.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority attributed the year-over-year decline to “the broader backdrop of persistent economic uncertainty and weaker consumer confidence,” according to its report for June.
With drinks on the Las Vegas Strip averaging $20 to $25 and hotel resort fees pricing out some visitors, Bruce Rosenberg, global president of HotelPlanner, told that “Vegas has gotten too expensive.”
Instead of crowding the Strip, some budget-conscious tourists are checking into small desert towns just beyond Las Vegas, where newly renovated resorts and low-cost casinos are drawing in visitors priced out of the city.
“There are a lot of local destinations that offer gaming. It’s within driving distance … they don’t necessarily have to go to Las Vegas,” Rosenberg said.
Some inflation-weary travelers are swapping the Strip’s soaring prices for smaller nearby towns like Mesquite, Nevada, which is about a 90-minute drive northeast of Sin City and promises many of the same perks casinos, golf, and resorts without the Strip’s sticker shock.
“Mesquite offers all the ingredients of an amazing vacation, such as great weather, award-winning golf, top-tier spas, exciting entertainment and a growing culinary scene, just without the inflated prices or overwhelming crowds. There’s no parking fees and no over-priced resort fees,” said Justin Moore, CEO of resort operator Mesquite Entertainment.
‘Detour destinations’ trending among vacationers
Expedia identified “detour destinations,” towns or cities close to popular tourist hotspots that offer comparable experiences, as a 2025 travel trend. According to Expedia, 63% of consumers are likely to visit a detour destination on their next trip.
Santa Barbara, California, made Expedia’s list of detour destinations as an alternative to Los Angeles. Internationally, Cozumel, Mexico, made the list as an alternative to the resort town of Cancun.
In Mesquite, CasaBlanca Resort offers a luxe resort alternative to Las Vegas, including a golf course and spa, and Virgin River Casino & Lodge is billed as a more casual, family-friendly atmosphere.
“Unlike Las Vegas, where everything moves fast, Mesquite is slower-paced, charming and approachable,” Moore said, “But still offers the entertainment and hospitality people want when they travel.”
Despite changing consumer habits, Mesquite Entertainment said it’s overseeing a multimillion-dollar renovation to modernize its properties and enhance resort amenities.
“From a marketing standpoint, we’re focused on reaching travelers who still want to get away, just without the premium price tag of a big city,” Moore said. “Our goal is to show them that Mesquite delivers the experience and relaxation they’re craving at a cost that doesn’t break the bank.”
