No budget for hotel this trip so I rented a van instead. Can I leave a van parked engine running with AC on for a solid 5hr while I sleep in the back?

Never tried and I'm sure someone here has...

Seems like renting a van would use up enough extra money and gas to stay in a cheap motel or hostel.

If you try it be sure to fill up first. Would be a bitch to wake up out of gas.

lol no bro not without draining your battery be glad you have leg room in a van I crashed in my 2015 fiesta and had zero leg room, be careful of cops and crazy's you can get a room for $35 at gold coast don't risk your life being cheap.

If you must I believe circus circus/walmart allows this most other places will get you a couple hundred dollar fine if caught by the cops

In before tunnels

Just park in a garage to stay out of the heat and try to insulate the van so the cold air stays in.
But if you include the money it costs to rent the van, gas and parking its probably easier and cheaper to stay in a dump motel.

airbnb?

how can you afford to actually do anything in vegas if you can't afford the initial hotel room?

Definitely will fill it up every night. The van is only $15 a day after all fees etc.

Dead battery is what I was afraid. What if I leave it in neutral and reach over to hit the accelerator a few times during the 5hrs? Would that help keep it from losing a charge?

And I looked into all hotels/extended stay, way out of my budget. The first nights I am here are 9/16 and 9/17. Gold Coast for those nights alone would be over $400.

Cheapest places to stay seem to be around $45/night. Dumps like Harbor Island or Siegel Suites. I'd have to rent a car anyways to get around so might as well just save that money.

So if AC is not an option in the van, maybe there is somewhere I can camp for free at night? I could buy a tent from Target or something.

How uncomfortable would it be in a garage this time of year with no AC?

I am an AP chasing a rare opportunity. Separate bankroll and liferoll. Really need to pinch pennies on this trip to maximize what I have available to risk.

I'd check out rooms on airbnb or stay at the budget suites for $250/wk on trop no car needed. I think you greatly underestimate what a hassle this is going to be.

As far as Vegas vacation plans go this has to be the absolute "Nut Low"

#LIFENIT

Drive up mt. Charleston where it's cool, shut it off and sleep in the pines with the windows down.

Top of a parking garage at night might be ok this time of year.

And I agree, if you are this broke, don't go to Vegas. I've done it and it sucked.

fortunately when I was crashing in my car it was the tail end of winter so I just needed a blanket I scrambled to get a place as summer approached for fear of the 105 degrees that cant be escaped.

I mean you can do it just keep everything rolled down and get a extension cord with a fan there are spots where you can have outlets available, unfortunately the only spots I can think of with outlets are behind stores. Worse case scenario you wake up every few hours hit the ac then go back to sleep if anything youll lose like 10lbs, GL though.

Maybe have your van be low on gas when you leave it running for the night so that it runs out of gas in about an hour, long enough for you to fall asleep cool. Then in the morning add gas to your van from a pre-filled 5 gallon or whatever portable gasoline container that you'll have with you inside the van.

Edit: But will the ignition staying in the on position drain a lot of juice.

It's only about 80 at midnight this time of year. Cool it down the best you can before you go to sleep, and maybe lie next to a bag or two of ice.

Are you not going to shower the whole trip? Going to brush teeth in casino bathroom sinks or just not bother?

This sounds like a worse plan than the "Moving to Las Vegas with $2k" threads.

Worst case staying at a roach motel. Will probably be better to book that in person. Suppose last minute Airbnb couch may work as well

Agreed

Thank you these are good tips. I wouldn't necessarily have thought top of garages but I suppose in desert climate that is best.

Not sure I want to leave windows open. That would clash with my intended innocuous normal van parked inconspicuously look

Right, not concerned about gas. Positive the engine can stay revving all night. Just wondering if idling alone can hold up the battery when running the AC at a moderate level

I am hoping for 80 or less as I certainly believe that will be tolerable

There are many places in Vegas to take showers. Obvious and already well known ones include Planet Fitness, Aria pool and MGM pool

Obviously the best plan is to rent a storage locker.

Some random tips:

1 - Sleep naked for maximum coolness

2 - Park at the Cosmopolitan (the parking lot is underground - park 4 levels down)

3 - Google: "stealth camping" "stealth parking" "urban camping"

4 - Buy a battery operated desk fan from Walmart (15 bucks or less)

5 - Keep windows slightly open but don't snore when you sleep

6 - Shave your armpits so that you can easily wash it quickly in most public restrooms using their liquid soaps before another person can walk in to witness what you're doing

7 - Shave your crotch area and powder liberally

8 - Take advantage of the free wet naps (for wiping shopping carts) at Walmart and some grocery stores

You forgot the most important tip of all: Don't go!!! Unless you work harder at your paper route or can collecting business and save up more cheddar before you go so you can afford lifes finest luxuries like a bed and maybe some food. If you can only afford to sleep in a van how much can you really have for a gamboo roll? What are you planning to do for dinners... dumpster diving at In-n-Out Burger? Hope you don't get into a wrestling match with a dumpster diving racoon over a half eaten double double animal style left behind by the Trooper.

On a serious note this can also be very dangerous... not sure if your aware but sleeping in your car in a place like Vegas is begging for trouble. Your asking to get harassed, robbed or worse... Vegas isn't Disney Land, its a place filled with low lifes, crack heads, desperate homeless people, thugs and common criminals. Probably one of the worst places to leave yourself vulnerable by sleeping basically in public and not being aware of your surroundings... not being aware of your surroundings is the most common thing that gets people into a jam that they cant get themselves out of. I guess the cliff notes version of what I'm trying to say is: There's a good chance that this thing won't end well

I have slept on couches and floors all over the world. I have slept in over a dozen different airports. I have slept in a car in the US for probably over 30 nights total. I see nothing wrong with these approaches when the next viable option is really expensive and not worth it.

The last time I slept in a car was in southern California and I had a car set up specifically for sleeping. It was a small hatchback but we set it up with the back seats down, 2 sleeping bags on top of 2 sleeping pads to make it comfortable for our backs, and we had a battery powered fan circulating air (although we turned it off after we realized it was night outside.) We parked in a Walmart parking lot that we saw good reviews for on a site where people rate sleeping at Walmarts. We had a great time!

So I have nothing against sleeping in a car.

With all that said, you can find better options in Las Vegas. The first choice is going to a hostel and sleeping in a dorm room with other people. Yes, it's possible someone gets back late and might make some noise in the middle of the night getting to bed but if it happens 1 night out of 5, it's not a huge deal. At least you are in a bed with a mattress and have access to a real bathroom to shower and shave.

Then mid-week move to a cheap hotel. It's not like your choices are the van or Bellagio. You can find something cheaper in this town.

But he's going to be in the suite version of a car - a van. And he has access to Planet Fitness showers.

OP, maybe you can just fill a big tupperware tray with ice, put a battery-op. desk fan behind it blowing air over the ice then toward you to maybe cool the air from it some as you fall asleep. I'd imagine you can park at some big motels at night.

Whatever you do, keep us updated.

I can see why OP is going this route. Some weekends are very expensive, and September has a lot of them. Instead of spending $400 for 2 nights in a crappy hotel where you basically have nothing afterwards, that's two buyins in a 1/2 game. Vegas isn't as cheap as it was a couple years ago.

It has to be Walmart, no? I mean there was a case in Salinas this year where a woman killed herself in the Walmart parking lot in a car with a dashboard cover on the windshield and tinted windows and her body was not discovered for like three months.

There's always one that ruins it for the rest. Walmart cart persons will be on the lookout.

yes, vehicles have alternators that keep the battery charged so long as there's gas. having it idle for hours on end... probably not the best of ideas long term. but if its a rental, go for it.