Bargain hunting!
What became of Las Vegas on $25 a day?
SLOT CLUB PROMOTIONS, like the one
above for the Palms, offer new members
the chance to get free 'money' and
bargains such as 2-fo
food deals
06/27/2006 - by David Stratton
It's been 15 years since a book called "Las Vegas on $25 a Day" has been published.
Don't look for it to be resurrected any time soon.
The trend in recent years - especially with the Strip hotel/casinos - has been to shed the fun book, coupon and on-the-cheap image of Las Vegas of the 1980s and early '90s.
Fifteen years ago you could rent a room at the old Hacienda for $15 a night, or get a free room at the Western Hotel if you had their coupon.
You could eat yourself into oblivion for $2.99 at the Westward Ho buffet, or dine in elegance at the Dunes' Dome of the Sea for a few dollars more.
Over the years, Las Vegas has evolved into a more upscale, diversified destination, offering superb but costly restaurants and hotel rooms, health spas and golf courses.
Today, guest rooms on the Strip are averaging about $150 a night - higher on weekends and holidays - steak dinners cost $30 to $60 on average, and production shows like Cirque du Soleil's "O" bring up to $150 a seat.
Today, the only "accommodations" on the Strip for under $25 is the RV park at Circus Circus.
Obviously, the Strip is no longer home to the low-cost, weekend getaway.
"Las Vegas was known as the capital of the cheap vacation - and you got what you paid for," said Alan Feldman, spokesman for MGM Mirage. "We used to give away coupon books for free drinks and two-for-one buffets. Now we have 300-thread-count sheets and turn-down service."
Bargain hunters are not happy about the metamorphosis. But does that mean that bargain Las Vegas is completely dead?
Not yet. There's still a pulse but you have to hunt for it.
A good place to start is Anthony Curtis' Las Vegas Advisor, a monthly newsletter that features bargain-priced deals and promotions. His top 10 bargains are even syndicated and published in newspapers throughout the country.
A dedicated gambler and bargain hunter, Curtis knows where to find the best buffet crab legs (Aladdin), which video poker game has the best payback percentage (9/6 jacks or better) and when to play keno (never).
Some of his recent Las Vegas values include:
. Complete steak dinner: Ellis Island, $4.95
. Shrimp cocktail: Golden Gate, 99 cents.
. Ham and eggs: Arizona Charlie's Decatur, $2.49.
. Prime rib dinner: California Hotel, $6.99.
Also worth exploring are tourist guides distributed in casinos and the airport, free magazines in the hotel room and fliers handed out on the street (skip the ones from "escort services," unless you're, well, a degenerate).
One of the best sources of good deals and even free money are the casinos' slot clubs. For instance, sign up for a new Boarding Pass card at any Station casino and you're awarded up to $500 in free slot play.
All you have to do is play off the free credits and you can keep - or keep playing - the amount you won.
As an ongoing club member, you will also be entitled to monthly discounts on dining, shows and other events, as well as free slot credits - depending upon your level of play.
Other casinos that offer machine credits for signing up for a card include the Golden Nugget and Hard Rock, both of which offer a $10 machine credit.
At the Stratosphere, if you have a driver's license you can claim two coupons good for match playing $5 table bets. With the coupon and a $5 chip, your bet is doubled to $10, whether it's on the craps table or mini-baccarat table.
You can get a similar coupon at the Imperial Palace.
Deals and coupons can also be used for dining and entertainment. For instance, Harrah's, next door to the Imperial Palace, often gives free passes to its Mac King Comedy Show, which normally costs $21.95. If you can't get a free pass, you might receive a coupon that cuts the price to $7.99.
You'll also find plenty of good coupon and slot club deals at the locals casinos, such as Station, Coast and Arizona Charlie's, as well as the casinos on the Boulder Strip, such as Sam's Town, Boulder Station, Nevada Palace and the Longhorn.
Of course, you'll need a car to track down these bargains. There aren't any taxi cabs that offer two-for-one deals.
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