Source: ezinearticles.com
Many seasoned Las Vegas visitors have their own unique perspectives regarding Las Vegas trip "values". These obviously vary depending on individual preferences, budgets, and previous Las Vegas trip planning and actual visitation experiences. There is a plethora of varied " Las Vegas Best Values" lists from numerous print and online sources. What follows is an alternative list of 15 of Las Vegas' best value options (and that's key) for future Las Vegas vacationers. Any current Las Vegas " best values " list is subject to change because visitors , their experiences , and the community itself often evolve rapidly. Rapidly changing situations are particularly relevant currently because of the present economic climate in Las Vegas and everywhere .
1. Southwest Airlines as air carrier:
In our experience, you can't beat this airline for average lowest fares to Vegas. Sign up for their e-mail specials and "Ding" services. There's a reason why this airline has to my knowledge never filed for bankruptcy and we can safely speculate that lower fares and it's effect on customer satisfaction and subsequent ticket sales and passenger volumes are a significant aspect of their success.
2. Car Rental:
Car rental is a favored mode of transportation because it often provides for greater flexibility and freedom when in Las Vegas and this represents value for us. Our trips seldom last fewer than four days and having a car at our disposal permits spontaneous decisions to go where we want when we choose to. Securing a truly good car rental rate can be challenging at times (currently car rental rates are trending upwards) and it can require multiple visitations to multiple online sites over the course of trip planning efforts in order to get a good deal. These multiple visits coupled with signup at car rental agency special offers online memberships can result in a decent rental rate with some effort. The exorbitant taxes and fees associated with car rental at McCarran airport is an element that renters have to accept ; these add-on costs often represent 30 -50% of overall rental costs. Yet, car rental costs can compare favorably with other modes of in - town transportation such as taxis , shuttle services, and limos.
3. Ellis Island steak special:
This is still a bargain at $6.95 (recently increased from $4.95). It's not huge and it's not perfect but is a great value for a decent meal. It's not on the menu so request it from your server. Ellis Island is located a few blocks east of the strip on Koval Lane which parallels Las Vegas Boulevard (near Flamingo Road).
4. Shrimp cocktail at Golden Gate (downtown):
This classic Vegas dining delight is still just 99 cents for player's club members ($1.99 for nonmembers).
5 .Coupon use:
There are tons of available free coupons and a few excellent purchasable bulk coupon sources for use in Las Vegas. These collectively can make a huge difference in your Vegas savings quest with a little invested time and effort. We routinely purchase two bulk coupon sets from both the Las Vegas Advisor (now the Members Rewards Book ; formerly the Pocketbook of Values) and the American Casino Guide which are traditionally the standard Las Vegas coupon sources. Two orders from each of these sources routinely saves / earns approximately 4 - 6 times their purchase cost for us (blackjack matchplay and free ace coupons along with multiple dining 2-for-1's).
6. Playing the 'comp' game:
If one literally "plays their cards right" or elects to play only high payback percentage slots or video poker with applied strategies in bankroll management , comp accrual can add very real dollars to your Vegas budget. I play $5 - $25 minimums blackjack and both the wife and I play high payback slots (there are a few , despite their reputation) or full - pay video poker at 40 cents to $2.00 per spin denominations. We haven't paid for a room in Vegas for more than two years ( 8 trips lasting four to nine days each). Presently the economic climate in Vegas has the casino - hotel companies scrambling to entice patrons and comps with attached freebies are the norm. Make certain to attain memberships in player's clubs and online casino mailing lists (see following entry) to acquire these great comp offers which are particularly favorable for free or discounted rooms.
7. Player's club and casino - hotel online e-mail list memberships:
Particularly now, the value of this effort can't be overemphasized. There's a full-fledged , raging casino war for patronage occurring.
8. Vegas Buffets:
The Las Vegas buffets are famous and they vary in price, service, culinary variety, and quality. We try and visit one or two upper tier buffets (ie Bellagio and Wynn) on each Sin City trip and always attempt to buy in for the lunch buffet prices at 30 - 45 minutes prior to the anticipated meal type changeover to the dinner offerings . This allows sampling of both lunch and dinner menus at a reduced price (dinners are always more expensive and this approach saves $15 - $20 dollars for two people). Additionally, we also dine at some of the cheaper off-strip buffets such as The Orleans (quite good) and also utilize many 2 for 1 buffet and restaurant coupons from the above mentioned sources.
9. Fab Four Live music show:
My significant other and I enjoy this Beatle's impersonators live music bargain show. It's often possible to acquire half - price tickets (as we did recently for our upcoming trip for $24.50 each) from one of three sources . Half Price Shows, Goldstar Tickets, and Tix4Tonight ticket venues often offer tickets for this show at deeply discounted rates.
10. Stratosphere Free Funbook:
This funbook has maintained a top comparative reputation as the best ( highest expected value of approximately $20.00) funbook offered in Las Vegas. Pick one up for free at the Stratosphere player's club desk.
11. The free Las Vegas strip spectacle at night:
Bellagio's fountains, Mirage's volcano, Luxor's pyramid beam, the visual of several converged architectural casino configurations at the corners of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard , the Eiffel Tower at Paris , and the melded, skewed, and occasionally inebriated and entertaining human behavior along this iconic locale are sights to behold.
12. Vegas options:
The choices are truly endless. There's value in this fact as long as your cash supply and ability to remain conscious hold out.
13. Point multiplier days and other casino gambling promotions:
Take advantage of published slot / video poker 2 - 10 X point multiplier days at many off - strip casinos. Some of these locales also offer occasional table games promotions as well as slot and table games tournaments with reasonable buy -in amounts. Refer to the Vegas Values Report at the American Casino Guide website for weekly updated casino promotion offers prior to a Vegas trip.
14. Avoidance of insurmountable house edge casino games:
Avoid keno, big wheel, and the plethora of newer blackjack offshoot games such as spanish fun 21, etc due to exorbitant house odds off the top.
15. Trip planning with regularly updated research:
Though it obviously requires time and effort, this factor pays off multiplicatively at times. Car rental rates, airfare, and room offer deals among other elements change with regularity and often daily, as does the town itself.
Cheers...
Charles Higgins
Author is a multiple visitor to and passionate about Las Vegas, NV. I author a blog entitled Frugally Vegas @ http://sincitytravel.blogspot.com which offers Las Vegas trip cost-savings tips along with Las Vegas news, info, Las Vegas trip reports, and multiple Vegas links.
