ANYONE HAVE ANY TIPS ON PLANNING A CHEAP VEGAS VACATION?

Last minute hotel deals are pretty good on http://www.hotwire.com if you aren’t too picky on where to stay.

Southwest airlines is a cheap airline ticket if you are flying instead of driving (try to book at least 2 weeks ahead for the best deals.) If you are willing to fly at odd hours, you get the best rates.

Cheap flights are also on http://www.kodiak.com.

There is an airline that specializes in travel to and from Vegas called Allegiant Air. They tend to operate out of smaller, out of the way airports that don’t normally service Vegas, but the flights are generally very inexpensive. I believe the Allegiant Air fleet operates mainly on MD-80 aircraft. If Allegiant doesn’t service an airport near you, your best bet would probably be Southwest.

When booking a hotel, you can use services like hotels.com, travelocity, and whatnot – but I recommend booking your hotel room directly through the hotel if possible. That way, if there is a drop in rates (which typically happens), you can get your hotel rate lowered. With pre-paid services, you’re just out of luck.

If you’re the type of person who just uses a hotel room to store your stuff, you can aim towards some of the lesser hotels (Hooters Hotel/Casino, The Sahara, etc etc), but if you like to spend alot of time in your hotel and be pampered, you should aim for the Venetian, Bellagio, or the like. Check out tripadvisor.com and read people’s reviews of the hotels you’re thinking about, and see if they’re within your tolerance range.

Also sign up for your hotel’s player’s club card. Even if you don’t play enough to get good comps, it puts you on their mailing list, and they do have some good deals from time to time.

There will be lots of people pimping out timeshares, they will offer you free dinner, shows, rooms, and they will be on every streetcorner and in alot of the hotels. Pretty much never worth it, just say “No thanks” and keep walking.

Just walking around on the Vegas strip will take a whole day. Most hotels have neat/free things to look at (The Bellagio water show, art shows, live bands, etc etc). There are many, many great places to eat, especially if you’re not afraid to spend money on a fantastic meal. (Personally, I recommend Commander’s Palace in the Venetian. I never miss a chance to go there when I’m in Vegas).

Gambling wise, the strip will have higher minimums during the weekend, which might make table games a bit expensive.

The Las Vegas Monorail can be cost effective, depending on how much you plan to visit other hotels. (If you have a group of 3 or more, it’s more cost effective to just use taxis). Check out the Las Vegas Monorail’s website for operating hours and prices.

Vegas is very overwhelming on your first visit, just remember to have fun and try not to overdo it.

Since you have some time to plan, spend some time looking at the sites listed below. They have lots of information that is well-organized and up-to-date on hotels, attractions, restaurants, and anything else you’ll want to know. They will also direct you to sites for travel package deals. Your timing in going Mon-Sat is excellent; you’ll get the best prices that way. Don’t be afraid to make reservations, then cancel if you find a better deal. Just make a note of the time limit for cancelling without penalty.

Use Hotel Comps. (Ask at the front desk about the comps that they may offer) Use coupons – it sounds cheapy but it saves you bunches and the cost do add up. Instead of gambling away all your money, just enjoy the food and sights. Explore the casinos – you may have the urge to play a slot or two but keep it to a minimum, remember, the casinos “never” lose.