Las Vegas Money Saving Tips

With the slow world economy, tourists are looking for bargains, discounts and freebies. Las Vegas has always been a great tourist vacation destination. There is no better time to visit Vegas than the present time. Almost all hotels have discount rates, gas prices are coming down and airlines are once again offering discounts. Planning a trip to Las Vegas? There are lots of ways to save money. I visit Vegas twice a year and on every visit, I still discover ways to save a buck or two. Here are a few money saving tips. I hope these tips come in handy on your next trip to Sin City.

Las Vegas Buffets

When visiting Las Vegas, most people worry about how to get there, where to stay and where to eat. Vegas has an abundance of hotels and restaurants, but eating out can be pricey. The place to eat in Vegas, and get a lot for your buck, is a buffet. The food is good and very reasonable. Almost every hotel and casino has a buffet and most meals are priced under $20 for all-you-can-eat.
Here is a list of buffets with prices.
http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/buffet.php

Discount Show Tickets

If you love Broadway shows like I do, Las Vegas is the place to visit. Most hotels on the Vegas strip have shows and concerts - everything from Le Reve or Cirque Du Soleil 'O' to famous magicians like Penn and Teller - the list goes on.
Show tickets, on the other hand, can cost you between $40-$200 per ticket, but don't despair, there are ways to get discount or half price tickets. Here are some tips:

Bellagio

Hotels in Las Vegas offer guests some of the most fantastic experiences available. If you want to be blown away, stay at any of the well-known hotels on the Strip. You won't be disappointed!

You might need a little help when it comes to selecting the right hotel in Vegas because there are so many. Some things you will want to consider when making your selection are:

• Location (do you want to stay on the Strip or off?)
• When you plan to visit (look out for convention season when everything is sold out)
• Amenities offered
• Special deals (some hotels have package deals that include shows)
• Cost

However, it's always nice to know more about where you will be staying before you get there. For the next few days, I'll be talking about some of the popular hotels on the Strip and try to give you a virtual tour. Let's begin, shall we?

Bellagio

The Bellagio hotel gives off an air of gentle elegance. The 8-acre lake in front of it is spell-binding and you may stand in front of it for a while watching the famous dancing water fountain. The fountain moves in time to music and also has a light display. Watch a clip of the dancing fountain here.

Like most, if not all of the hotels in Las Vegas, Bellagio has a casino floor. Sign up for the MGM Mirage Players Club card to earn points you can redeem for cash, get complimentary rooms and show tickets.

If you've never seen a show by Cirque du Soleil, don't miss the opportunity to see "O" at the Bellagio. Mere words are not enough to describe the experience. This video will give you a small taste of what you can look forward to.

The lush plants, flowers and trees at Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will give you a nice escape into nature. You'll forget you're in Vegas! The Gardens change five times a year to reflect the seasons and to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Don't miss the opportunity to see international art collections by influential artists at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.

Bellagio has 19 of the finest restaurants in Vegas. Two of them have been certified AAA Five Diamond restaurants.

For the ultimate vacation, include a spa experience. The Bellagio Spa has treatments from different parts of the world guaranteed to help you relax. Take your significant other with you or a group of friends. Men can also enjoy a shave in a private Barber Room at Salon Bellagio.

Now, if you have marriage on the mind, Bellagio has two chapels and an outdoor wedding venue. The onsite wedding planners take care of the arrangements in style.

For the business people out there, Bellagio has facilities that are more than adequate for conventions and meetings. These include 3 ballrooms at 22,000,, 30,000 and 45,000 square feet, and 25 meeting rooms between 1,000 and 10,000 square feet.

That's the Bellagio in a nutshell. Next, I'll talk about Luxor.

Transportation in Las Vegas

Getting around in Las Vegas is pretty easy. You can take a taxi , hop on the trolley , ride the monorail, catch a bus or even rent a car. If you're on a limited budget, however, then you'll save a lot by taking the trolley or a CAT bus.

The CAT bus that runs down the Strip is called the Deuce. A one way fare on the Deuce is currently $2. However, if you plan to take several rides on the bus, you can save a lot of money if you buy an all-day pass for $5. You can use it for unlimited rides for the day. You can also get a one month pass if you plan to be in Vegas that long. See fares and schedule for the Deuce here. The Deuce is pretty good but when traffic builds up on the Strip it may not be the best option for you. That's when you should consider the trolley.

The trolley is faster than the Deuce because it runs behind the casinos instead of on the Strip so it won't get caught up in endless traffic. It has 3 routes that cover the strip and downtown areas. The only drawback? Wooden seats. Ouch! However, unless you plan to ride around on it all day this shouldn't be much of a problem. Check out the trolley fares and schedule here.

Now, if you want totally free rides, then look into the free shuttle services offered by several casinos. They are very convenient if you plan your stops well. Enjoy your visit!