Las Vegas Weekend Specials

Las Vegas Weekend Specials

by Casey Rhodes

Las Vegas weekend specials that let you enjoy lower rates and great prices on shows and attractions may appear harder to come by these days. With a recession on and consumer prices rising everywhere, it's no wonder travelers everywhere are coming to this conclusion.

But just because all the indicators are showing that you won't be able to get a great deal in Las Vegas, does that mean you can't? The answer is a little surprising.

According to the 2008 survey conducted by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Las Vegas is ranked in the top 10 travel destinations for the sixth year in a row now. Number two to be exact. And this is despite the fact that over the last 10 years the city has morphed from a bargain destination into a luxury resort destination.

Obviously, the fact that the city remains a hot spot shows that there still must be deals to be found. After all, it's not just the rich and famous that travel to sin city. So the question is, then, how exactly do you go about getting great Las Vegas weekend specials?

The answer lies within a few little "insider secrets".

The first secret actually has to do with knowing when to NOT plan your Las Vegas getaway. You will most likely not find great deals at New Year's, most three-day public holidays, July 4th or during school vacations. Valentine's Day should be avoided too - unless of course you are planning to get married in a hurry.

The major peak times are New Year's Eve through mid-February because this is winter escape time for many travelers. Typically, July 1 through Labor Day is when the family vacationers hit Las Vegas, however, there are definitely some good deals to be found during this time. And that leads us to our second secret, which is...

During the summer in Las Vegas, temperatures hover around 100 degrees. This means fewer conferences are scheduled and to make up for the lost revenue, hotels slash rates during this time. 2008 looks especially promising because of the recent increase in the volume of hotel rooms. So good in fact, that Circus Circus is currently offering a 3 night stay, albeit mid-week, for the ridiculously low price of $42 dollars per night. And reduced room rates and packages are not the only good deals this time of year either. Airfare credits and restaurant and entertainment discounts are among the perks too.

The third insider secret is planning what you actually want to do.

While it's impossible to cover everything there is to do in Las Vegas in one article/report, here are two of the best things the insider's recommend as "must do" for unforgettable Las Vegas weekend getaway:

The Strip: The Las Vegas Strip is where you'll find the best deals (including a photo opportunity in front of the Bellagio fountains where the Oceans 11 crew met at the end of the movie.) There is moving sidewalks you can ride into Bally's and Caesars, cold beer for under a buck, samples of bourbon filled chocolate at M&M's retail store and you can even get a free picture with Elvis at the Imperial. To really appreciate and love Vegas, you definitely need to walk the strip and take it all in.

Great Gambling (for a lot less!): There are a lot of casinos - Golden Nugget, Bally's, Circus Circus, Imperial Palace and Palms, just to name a few - that offer regular free gambling sessions to teach you the rules and give a few tips. Besides the free gambling sessions, you can reduce your gambling expenses (and increase your odds of winning) by by going to the downtown casinos. The Palms, the Station Casinos, Slots A Fun and the Las Vegas Club are great places where the rules are a bit more relaxed and you can still find penny slots. Be sure to join the players club no matter where you decide to gamble because, win or lose, whether you're playing pennies or five dollar machines, the points you will earn can add up to a lot of freebies too.

The bottom line is that Las Vegas weekend specials are much easier to get than you could ever imagine.