Skip these
The Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris is $25 for an okay view — the free view from the Cosmopolitan Boulevard Pool bar is better. The High Roller observation wheel is $30 to $75 and takes 30 slow minutes; do it once, never again. Madame Tussauds. Any shark tank that is not the Golden Nugget's (which is free with pool access). Fremont Street ziplines when SlotZilla lines are 90 minutes on weekends. Gondola rides at the Venetian ($40 indoor, $56 outdoor) for a two-minute loop. Chippendales — the show peaked in 2010. Most magicians who are not Penn & Teller.
Do these instead
Rent a car and drive Red Rock Canyon scenic loop ($20, 13 miles, sunset is unreal). Take the Neon Museum guided tour ($30, 1 hour, actual history). Eat at Lotus of Siam or Raku in Chinatown. Drink at Herbs & Rye — best classic cocktail bar in the city, no cover, no reservation. See a Sphere show if one is on ($100 to $500 and legitimately worth the top end). Walk the Arts District on First Friday. Take the Hoover Dam and Boulder City half-day. Play $10 blackjack at El Cortez downtown for the honest old Vegas feel.
Good to know
Is the Sphere overrated?+
No — the visual technology is genuinely new and the U2 and Postcard from Earth productions deliver. Skip the cheap tier seats which distort the immersion.
Are the free casino shows worth seeing?+
Bellagio fountains yes, Mirage volcano is gone, Fremont Street canopy yes once, Wynn Lake of Dreams yes if you are already there.