Las Vegas tips, tricks, and best deals

There are still good 99-cent shrimp cocktails if you know where to go, along with many other great deals to be had by the traveler who does his or her homework first. Please take a look at my journal entries for the places, attractions, meals and deals to help you make the most of your time (and money) in Las Vegas!

Quick Tips:

Please read my journal entries for more info, but don't miss:

>www.lasvegasadvisor.com

>www.lasvegasfunbook.com

>www.cheapovegas.com

>Mandalay Bay - beach, pool, and spa

>"Speed" and "Manhattan Express" rides

>Blue Man Group at Luxor

>See Cirque du Soliel "Mystere" but SKIP "O"!

>Pirate Battle at Treasure Island

>Blackjack, shrimp cocktails, and the piano player at the Golden Gate

>Nachos and beer (free!) at Holy Cow

>Steak and shrimp at Hard Rock

>Free casino chips with coupons

Best Way To Get Around:

You can get a lot of places on foot or by tram/taxi/moving walkway, but if you want to get off the Strip (and there are a lot of things to do an see besides the Strip) you probably want the convenience of a cheap rental car. Parking is free just about everywhere, but traffic on the Strip can be bad. Plus, if you stay out too late partying and gambling and then walk home, it can be hard to find your rental car later.

There are times to go cheap, and there are times when it is worth it to spend the money. Mandalay Bay is worth the price of admission in my book. This beautiful luxury hotel is located at the south end of the famous Las Vegas Strip, convenient to the airport and next to Luxor. The advantage of this location is that unlike hotels located in the middle of the Strip that have thousands of pedestrians in and around them, Mandalay Bay is not a point that everyone passes through on their way to another hotel. Although it is still full of guests and gamblers, there are far fewer "gawkers" clogging up the hallways. This also makes it easier to get in and out of with your car, since there is far less traffic around the hotel. But it is still conveniently located, and you can take a tram or use the air-conditioned indoor walkways to get to Luxor and Excalibur, where you are just across the street from New York New York and Tropicana. In fact, we often left our rental car at Excalibur and walked back to the hotel after partying into the wee hours of the morning.

The rack rate on the rooms can be expensive, but try booking through Travelocity.com for a better deal. I also recommend the Mandalaybay.com website, where you can sign up for their "Paradise Club" for free and get special room deals like the excellent "Paradise" package, which includes spa passes and airline vouchers with your room reservation for $99 a night. Believe me, that deal is worth every penny, and we will be staying at Mandalay Bay again!

Some of the best parts of Mandalay Bay, other than the excellent service, beautiful surroundings, and great location, are the pool area and the spa.

First, the pool area, or Mandalay Beach as they refer to it. It is a large complex that includes multiple pools and hot tubs, a "lazy river" ride, a wave pool, a "beach" with real sand, private cabanas, and a stage for live music. If you plan on spending any time at the pool at all (and if it''s 110 degrees outside you probably will) you will be happy you chose Mandalay Bay. I suspect that if you had kids you could keep them occupied here all day. We thouroughly enjoyed taking a dip and catching some rays. Some tips to remember: the drinks are expensive and weak, but tasty; renting a tube for the Lazy River costs $20 so do it early, and share the love by giving it to somebody else when you leave; the beach gets crowded, so go early to secure yourself a good lounge chair; and if you prefer less "kid noise", head to one of the pools instead of the beach.

Second, the Spa. I never experienced a spa before so I can''t compare this one to others, but since our package at the Mandalay Bay included 2 free day passes, we decided to take a shot. It was wonderful! You get access to a lounge area with free Starbuck''s coffee, juice, snacks, bottled water, and a big-screen TV. Then, after showering and changing into your robe and sandals (provided) in the locker room, you have access to hot tubs, a cold dip tub (didn''t try that one!), a steam room, and a sauna for as long as you want. Or you can relax and read a magazine. If you are uncomfortable being naked or semi-naked around strangers, you can wear a bathing suit, but if you are OK with it, birthday suits are allowed.

A trip to the spa is very relaxing, and a great way to start or end your trip. I was relaxed for the entire plane ride home. And for an even better experience, treat yourself to a spa treatment, like a massage or facial. Prices start at about $60 for a 25-minute treatment and are well worth it, but call ahead as time slots do fill up. Tip: a treatment also includes spa access, so you can use your day pass on one day and get a treatment on a different day to get double time at the spa. And obviously, the men''s and women''s spas are seperate, so make sure your significant other knows that you won''t be spending your spa time together. I won''t say that this enhances the element of relaxation since my wife might read this, but you can read between the lines - a few hours of absence does make the heart grow fonder, after all.

The Hard Rock's 24-hour restaurant, "Mr. Lucky's", usually has unadvertised specials. These are not on the menu; you have to ask for them. The steak and shrimp for $5.99 is listed as one of the best values in Las Vegas, and it was very good when we had it. The steak, while not exactly filet mignon, was decent, while the shrimp (3) were excellent. Salad and potato were also included. As an added bonus, it is available 24 hours so when your red-eye flight lands and you are looking for some chow, this is a great place to go, especially if you follow it up with the 55-gallon drum they call a cup of coffee.

The Hard Rock is also an excellent place to people watch, and the location of "Mr. Lucky's" right off of the casino floor provides a perfect venue for observing the crowds of good looking young gamblers. The music is loud, which is good if you are out with your buddies but you might want to think twice before bringing your parents.

One note: the entire place gets VERY crowded if there is a concert at the Hard Rock that night, and they tend to jack up the prices on the special as well. We ended up there on the same night as Bob Dylan, and the $5.99 special was $7.77, which still isn't bad, but be aware that it could happen.

...and in my opinion, the cocktail servers (not to mention the patrons) at the Hard Rock are the most attractive in Las Vegas, if that influences your decision making at all.

The Pirate Battle in Buccaneer Bay at Treasure Island is one of the better-known free attractions on the Strip, and is a must-see on your trip to Las Vegas. But it is always crowded, and standing in the late-day sun trying to see over the people in front of you can take some of the fun out of it. An alternative is to make a reservation at the Buccaneer Bay Restaurant, which has views of the battle. Make sure to request a seat with a view, and remember that the battle is staged at 4:00, 5:30, 7:00, 8:30, and 10:00pm; the restaurant closes at 10:30pm. The food is good but pricey (some entrees are over $50), and the service is excellent. NOTE: you may have to share a window with another party to see the battle, so the view can be hit-or-miss. Also, you may not be able to hear the actors speak, since the windows do not open. This is a good way to see the show for a second time, but might not be the best choice if you only have one chance to see the Pirate Battle.

Another alternative is to watch the action from the outdoor deck at the Battle Bar, located next to the Race & Sports Book.

Finding a buffet in Las Vegas is easy; choosing one can be hard. The $30 gourmet buffets at the Bellagio and Aladdin are good but pricey, and the $1.99 "bargains" at some unnamed locations prove that you get what you pay for. But if you are looking for a very good meal and a very good price, give the Orleans French Market Buffet a shot. It is consistently ranked among the best deals in town, with good reason. The selection of food is huge, with Mexican, American, Italian, seafood, and other types of chow, all of it quite good. I was into the fried steak and country gravy myself, since I figure that you need a hearty serving of foods from the "fried and breaded" group to keep your strength up while losing money at the tables. But anyway, the food is good and varied, and leave room for dessert, especially the cheesecake. This is also a great place if you have kids or picky eaters with you, since there isn't much "exotic" food in the mix.

Hours and prices are at their website.

Want to get an even better deal? There is a two-for-one buffet coupon in the Las Vegas Advisor's coupon book, and I believe there is also a discount coupon in the free Orleans funbook you get with the voucher from www.lasvegasfunbook.com - bring your appetite.

If you are a fan of celebrity chef Emeril, then this restaurant is a must. After watching him create dished with "BAM" on his TV show, I had to take the opportunity to taste one of his creations myself, and I was not disappointed. We were told that the house specialties were the BBQ Shrimp and the Crab Cakes, so we ordered those. My wife is a crab cake junkie and she swore they were the best she had ever had. I feel the same way about shrimp, and Emeril's staff "kicked it up a notch" to great effect with their BBQ Shrimp.

If you like seafood and are looking for something a little more interesting than fried flounder or the peel-n-eat shrimp from the casino buffet, you will not regret choosing Emeril's New Orleans Fish House, whether you are a fan of his show or not. It will set you back a few dollars but it's worth it, and lunch is less expensive than dinner. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for dinner or on weekends.

You can find hours and menus at www.emerils.com, in addition to recipes and other info.

A great pit stop after visiting the Sahara or riding the "Speed" ride, or heading down to Freemont Street, Holy Cow is a small and quirky brewpub/restaurant/casino located right across Sahara Blvd from Sahara and the NASCAR Cafe. Leave your car at the Sahara and enjoy the best nachos (with steak) that I have had in a long time. If you think that Chi-Chi's is the epitome of Mexican cuisine, prepare for a pleasant surprise when the waitress brings you a mountain of fresh chips, shredded beef (ask for it), cheese, excellent fresh guacamole, and other assorted tasty items. The chicken quesadillas are equally as good. And to top it off, Holy Cow is a brew pub where you can enjoy any of a number of handcrafted beers with your chow.

What could be better? How about FREE food and beer? Coupons in the "Las Vegas Advisor" coupon book are good for two-for-one menu items and drinks, and even better, a coupon at www.holycowbrewery.com/freebeer.htm is good for a free beer! Who wouldn't like that?

The "Manhattan Express" ride at New York New York casino is one of the new roller coasters that is beginning to crop up on the Strip, and along with "Speed" at the Sahara, it is one of the better ones. Although it is relatively tame compared to what you would find at a Six Flags-type amusement park, it is a pretty good steel coaster ride with two decent drops, and some loops and corkscrews. Of particular interest is a half-corkscrew that sends you upside-down into a half-loop, and although it is hard to describe, most coaster enthusiasts will agree that this unique element is the second-best part of the ride. The best part, whether you love coasters or not, is the fantastic view as the coaster makes it's way through the New York skyline. We give this one the thumbs-up.

Some tips:
Like any attraction in Las Vegas, it can get crowded on the weekends and in the evening, so catch it during the week if you can; the ride is not too scary for brave kids who meet the height requirement, so bring them along; there is a two-for-one coupon for this ride in the Las Vegas Advisor "Book of Values", available online.

Like the Manhattan Express at NYNY, "Speed" is a new steel roller coaster on the Strip and is worth the trek. Located in the NASCAR Cafe attached to the Sahara, it is a decent ride (one of the best in Vegas, in my opinion) but isn't quite as scary as a monster rollercoaster you might find at a large amusement park (which might be a good thing to you). But don't get me wrong, it is a very good ride. "Speed" is a linear-induction coaster, which means that instead of a long slow climb up the first hill followed by a big drop, you are launched right out of the building like you were taking off from an aircraft carrier. You then go through some loops, twists and turns, go straight up, experience a brief sensation of weightlessness, and then go through the entire ride backwards. Oh, and when the train gets back into the building, you catch your breath and get a second ride immediately, which is pretty cool since you can really enjoy it when you know what to expect. If you enjoy roller coasters, make sure you catch this one. Tip: there is a two-for-one coupon for this ride in the "Las Vegas Advisor" coupon book, available online.

The Stratosphere tower is one of the more recognizable landmarks on the Strip, a tower standing over 1000 feet high. In fact, I was told by an employee there that it is the tallest structure west of the Mississippi and that it was originally intended to be about 2000 feet high, but that plan was nixed by the FAA. At any rate, it is a very tall building and the views from the observation tower at the top are unbelievable.

However, having said that, there is nothing else to recommend about the Stratosphere. The two thrill rides at the top are a waste of your money. The "High Roller" roller coaster has a nice view but the ride is suitable only for the very meek. The "Big Shot" is marginally better and also has a nice view, but is a rip-off for about 30 seconds of ride time. As for the Stratosphere itself, it is located in a neighborhood where you wouldn't want to go out on foot, the service is bad, and the slot club promotion is useless unless you intend to come back in the next nine months or so. The bottom line: if you want to see the view, just get the ticket for the tower ascent and skip the ride tickets (all attraction tickets are ala carte), and don't spend any time at the Stratosphere doing anything else. It's a good quick pit stop on the way to or from Freemont Street. If you must ride the rides, there is a two-for-one coupon in the "Las Vegas Advisor" coupon book, but don't say I didn't tell you that it is still a waste of your money.

If you haven't heard of them, the Blue Man Group is comprised of those three bald blue guys playing percussion in the Pentium-4 commercials. They are also one of the hottest shows in Las Vegas, selling out night after night, after their long-running show in New York City.

I had the opportunity to see them in a very small theatre in New York a few years ago, and it was one of the best shows I can recall. My only concern about seeing them in Las Vegas was wondering if they would be able to take a show designed for a small room and make it "big enough" for a Las Vegas showroom. They did not disappoint.

It is hard to adequately describe a BMG show. They never speak, but communicate through music and motion, and some parts of the show are very funny. There is audience participation, and you are asked to read and sing along with the music at various points. They play a multitude of percussion instruments, most of them handmade from PVC pipe and other unusual items. There are strobe and other lighting effects throughout the show, as well as a lot of splattering paint and miscellaneous items flying around. In fact, when I saw them in NY, they ruined my shirt! They avoid that here by providing ponchos to guests in the first few rows, but don't worry too much since I'm sure they don't want you to go home and change your clothes instead of staying after the show and gambling. Like I said, it's hard to describe.

Summary: Blue Man Group is sort of like Drum Planet meets Gallagher meets Mummenshantz, but you really have to see it to believe it. This show caters mostly to a 20 to 30-something crowd due to the volume, although there is nothing offensive about it that would prevent you from bringing your kids (or parents). If you are looking for a nice quiet relaxing evening, see the coma-inducing "O" at Bellagio, but if you want something with some edge and some rock to it, don't miss Blue Man Group. And don't forget to stick around after the show to meet the Blue Men in the lobby, take pictures with them, and have them "autograph" your tickets. One last thing... DO NOT get to the show late! You will understand what I mean when you see the show. Highly recommended.

Shows are every night at 7 and 10pm, get tickets at luxor.com or by calling 800-577-7428, about $80.

If you need proof that "Mystere" is one of the shows to see in Las Vegas, then consider that we bumped into none other than former president Clinton on his way out of the theatre. And I'm sure he has no problem getting tickets to whatever shows he wants to see.

To describe any Cirque du Soliel production as a modern circus is not really accurate, and if you are interested in circus acts your time is probably better spent at the tacky Circus Circus. But if you are interested in a mesmerizing show that transports you somewhere beautiful for 90 minutes, "Mystere" is for you. There is minimal narration as the beautiful live music and the amazing artistry of the dancers and acrobats takes center stage. A loose storyline runs through the diverse series of performances, each one more amazing than the last, as they dance across the stage, soar through the air, and even swing from the rafters high overhead. Don't worry about sitting far back from the stage, that just means that you will be closer to the aerial acts.

In my opinion, "Mystere" is one of the shows that you really should not miss while in Las Vegas, and Mr. Clinton agrees. If you want a taste of the show, visit link for video and audio clips and pictures, althought they will not do justice to the immersive experience of seeing the show live. One final word of advice: if you love "Mystere", do NOT be tricked into seeing Cirque du Soliel's other Las Vegas show, "O" at the Bellagio, which is grossly inferior to "Mystere" at a much higher price. If you want more Cirque du Soliel, visit their website and see when their traveling production "Dralion" is coming to your town instead.

Shows are 7:30 and 10:30pm, no shows on Monday or Tuesday. You can get tickets ($80) at link or 800-392-1999

Having seen Cirque du Soliel's other show in Las Vegas, we also got tickets for "O". We has seen a story about this show on the Travel Channel, and knew that it combined the world-famous Cirque du Soliel performers with a technological marvel of a stage that allows them to alternately walk on water, float on it, swim through it, or dive into it. It sounded like an amazing proposition, but sadly, it did not live up to it's billing.

The drawback to this show is that they seem to me to be relying far too much on the gimmick that is the stage. Once the initial "ooh"s and "aah"s are out of the way, the show does not have any of the humor, warmth, charm, or beauty of "Mystere". With only one or two exceptions, the performances themselves do not compare with those of "Mystere". Particularly tiresome are the amazingly unfunny "clowns" that appear between performers, apparently to bore us to sleep for an agonizingly long time while the real performers are changing costumes. I actually dozed off a few times, and caught others around me doing the same. We read reviews that said "O" was not as goos as "Mystere", but we figured that with the amazing stage set, the location in the swanky Bellagio, and the astronomical ticket price, it had to be at least as good if not better that it's sister show. Please, believe me when I tell you that "Mystere" deserves to be the standard-bearer for Cirque du Soliel in Las Vegas, while "O" is a big ZERO.

NOT RECOMMENDED unless you have time and money to burn and have trouble sleeping. But if you must, tickets are $110 and $90 online at link or 888-488-7111, shows are at 7:30 and 10:30 with no shows on Wednesday or Thursday.

Did you ever play cards for pennies when you were a little kid? Well, maybe you didn't, but since I grew up in the shadow of Atlantic City when casino gambling was legalized, I did. We played blackjack and poker, mostly made the rules up as we went, and had fun. Years later, I played blackjack in Atlantic City and discovered that it wasn't any fun at all. Everybody at the table was quiet, unless you deviated from "standard" blackjack strategy, when everyone at the table yelled at you. I decided that I was not going to waste my time at the blackjack tables in Atlantic City.

What does this have to do with the Golden Gate Casino and you? The Golden Gate is a small but comfortable casino located at one end of the Freemont Street Experience, across from the Las Vegas Club. When you need a break from the crowds and the long odds on the Strip, spend a few hours at Freemont, where the casinos all seem to have better odds and cheap eats abound. At the Golden Gate in particular, you can actually have fun playing blackjack and knock back some free drinks and joke with the other players at your table. I played for the first time in years and had a great time - in fact, I didn't go home until the sun was beginning to come up! Very late at night seems to be the best time to play; the casino is busy but not overcrowded, you can meet interesting people from around the country at your table, and the dealers and floor people are very friendly.

And although they aren't as liberal with the rules as I used to be as a kid playing for pennies, the blackjack is very liberal by casino standards - allowing you to split any pair with or without doubling down, for example.

In addition to gambling, you can get a great margarita on the rocks at the bar, and the bartender who came on after midnight made them especially good in a glass the size of a fishbowl. Play video poker at the bar and it might not even cost you anything.

The piano player also adds to the fun, and you can hear him over the din from any of the gaming tables. It's fun to play "name that tune" as he plays; I was able to identify Billy Joel, Elton John, and a very upbeat version of "Hotel California", among others.

And if you start to get hungry after hours of blackjack and margaritas, grab a snack at the deli, which serves a very good 99-cent shrimp cocktail.

To make the deal even sweeter, there are coupons in the Las Vegas Advisor coupon book for a 2-for-1 food item and one hour of bonus payouts for every blackjack you are dealt. Park at the Las Vegas Club on Ogden street, validate your ticket at that casino, and your parking is free.

If you aren't a high-roller, there are two tricks to getting stuff Las Vegas casinos: casino club cards and funbooks.

All of the major casinos have a player's club card that they want you to sign up for so they can track your play and periodically mail stuff to you. By signing up, you often can get special deals on rooms or food. Some of the casinos offer a special incentive to sign up, such as bonuses on play, a one-time rebate for your losses, or a funbook. Make sure you get all the details beforehand, especially on the "rebate" deals; you usually have to play a certain amount for a certain time, and the rebate comes in the form of a check that is mailed to your home, and you can only cash it by returning to the same casino within a given time period. The Rio and Stratosphere offered great rebate deals. If you are planning to return, you really can't go wrong.

Some casinos also have a club or email list that you can sign up for online. Mandalay Bay offered an excellent package including a room, passes to the spa, and other perks just for joining their "Paradise Club", which was as simple as giving them your name and email address.

Casino "funbooks" range from the very valuable to the nearly worthless. You often get a funbook by signing up for the casino club card, but sometimes you will need a coupon such as those found online at www.lasvegasfunbook.com or from the Las Vegas Advisor's coupon book (not free). These funbooks usually have discounts for drinks, food, and trinkets in the gift shop. The Hard Rock has a great funbook that you can get with a coupon and new casino club card membership; it includes free drinks and a free shot glass from the gift shop. But the best funbooks offer a bonus on your casino buy-in, meaning that you get $30 of chips for $20, for example. The catch is that these chips have to be played at the casino's tables; they can't be cashed in. When you win a bet made with them, you get paid in regular chips that you can then cash in. In other words, you have to play the bonus chips until you lose them, but hopefully you have won some regular chips along the way. If you were planning on playing table games anyway, this can be a great deal since you start off with a few dollars worth of free chips. Look for this deal at Excalibur, the Sahara, and Circus Circus, among others. When you sign up for a card at Circus Circus, they give you a funbook with a coupon for a free funbook at Excalibur, and both of them have this "bonus buy-in" included.

I can't claim to be an expert on every possible deal and discount in Las Vegas, nor can I claim to know everything there is to do... there are just way too many of both. But I can share those things that I have learned through my own personal experience traveling to Las Vegas.

Some general tips:

> For great guides to just about every hotel in town, visit www.cheapovegas.com - informative, funny, and they tell you what free swag you can steal from the bathrooms of various hotels.

> There are many coupon books available on the Internet with 2-for-1 deals and other offers. The one offered by the Las Vegas Advisor (www.lasvegasadvisor.com) is not free but is excellent, and I used many coupons from there. There are dozens of other offers and coupons on their site that you can get for free. You can also use a search engine to find coupon books.

> There are also coupons that can be printed directly from your computer. Visit http://www.lasvegasfunbook.com, or use a search engine.

> You can get around the Strip without a car, but you will find yourself walking a lot and probably miss some of the off-strip attractions. Rental cars are inexpensive, and there are no fees to park in the major casino parking garages. Traffic on the Strip is always bad, so be ready for it.

> Plan ahead! Tickets to the major shows often sell out, but if you buy them in advance you can get good seats - we sat front row center for the Blue Man Group at Luxor simply by getting tickets a few weeks in advance. There are no scalpers there, so don't expect to be able to get in to a sold-out show at the last minute. I would also recommend making your dinner reservations in advance, especially for the popular gourmet restaurants like Emeril's.

> Check websites like Travelocity and Expedia for decent deals on airfare and hotels, and don't forget to check on package deals that often include extras like spa passes. If you want to stay at one of the fancy hotels on the Strip, check out their websites as well, and if they have a club or mailing list, join it to get special offers on rooms or packages.

> Las Vegas has become a mecca of culinary delights from all corners of the world. If you want to eat at one of the many excellent gourmet restaurants in Las Vegas (and you should!), you might want to try lunch instead of dinner. The food is still just as outstanding, but the prices are lower and the crowds are smaller. Be aware that some restaurants are only open for dinner, however.

> If you have a choice, visit during the week instead of on the weekend. Again, prices are lower and crowds are smaller, but check in advance to make sure the shows and restaurants you plan on attending are open, and most have some "dark" days during the week.

> Of course, gambling put Las Vegas on the map. If you gamble, remember that the slot machines and the "big wheel" are the worst bets in general. And keep this in mind: the average player in Las Vegas loses about $100 per day - they have to pay for all those free shows somehow!

> There is plenty to do in Vegas, even if you don't gamble; give yourself enough time to enjoy it!

Within 12 hours of arriving in Las Vegas, make sure that you head over to Vacation Village. It is located at 6711 Las Vegas Blvd South, which is the extreme southern end of the Strip, below Mandalay Bay, near the airport. Why would I want to go there, you ask? Free cash, of course! Go to the Promotions Booth, which is located directly across from the front door, and present your airline tickets to get a free spin on their big wheel. You will win $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, a free room, or half of your airline ticket money back. I guess they only want to pay your way out, not fly you round-trip, but it is one of the few "sure things" in town... just keep you fingers crossed that you don't win the free room.

If the Promotions Booth is closed, you can have a pit boss give you a voucher to come back the next day for your spin. I can't say that I would spend any time at Vacation Village otherwise, but the people were very friendly and I won $20, so I would recommend it. No coupon needed, just bring your airline ticket.