i like to use
http://www.allegiantair.com/, maybe they fly to a town near you, but most times i can get a trip to cost less then $400 each for 2 people for round trip flight and hotel. for either a Sunday-Thursday trip, or a Thursday-Sunday trip.
Never use the airport shuttle unless your by yourself. because they charge you per person, so the added price per person will cost the same as the shared cost of 2 or more people taking a taxi, while the shuttle takes WAY longer to get there, while you wait for other people to boards and take off. taxi is the way to go, quicker and cheaper from the airport.
always use the bus on the strip, it is super cheap, you can get a 24hour or 48hour ticket, and it will pick you up and drop you off right on the strip. this is way better.
Taxis are not allowed to pick you up on the strip, so if you want to use one you have to walk all the way to a casino lobby to get one, which is a pain, and for the price of 1 taxi ride, you could have rode the bus for 24 hours, as many times as you want. also i hate the fact that not only do you have to tip the taxi (i dont mind) but the dude standing at the taxi stand from the hotel, also expects a tip, just for telling the taxi for you where you wanted to go. (what the hell? i can tell him myself.)
and never never never take that sky rail shuttle train thing. its WAY more expensive then the bus. and you have to walk way off the strip to get to it, then take it, then walk all the way back to the strip. not worth it at all! the bus would have picked you up, and dropped you off, right at the curb.
the last time i was there, i was able to get a 24 hour buffet bracelet for 5 diffrent casino's for around $30 this was way worth it! i ate 4 buffets. one of which would have cost more then $30 in itself. if they still have it get it. you can get it at the paris, planet Hollywood, cesars palace, Harrahs, or the Rio.
Don't eat the ceasar's palace buffet, it is a rip off. also the treasure island buffet sucks.
Good buffets are
Paris: is ok
Harrah's: Very good!
Planet Hollywood: Very good!
Rio: ive heard it is excellent, but havent tried it myself.
If your looking for a good in between meal, you can try the $2 1lb hot dog from slots of fun. you have to get a circus circus players card though to make it that price.
but when i tried it, it gave me gas that could kill. smelled like week old road kill (lol, my poor girlfriend she was a trooper)
also see free shows like the bilagio fountain, the mirage volcano, and the living statues inside the Cesar's palace and the piriate ship fight in front of the Tresure Island.
If you want to see shows, instead of buying them in advance, the way to go is to go early in the morning the day you want to see the show, and go to one of the several "half price tickets" booths they have on the strip, they have one near the M&M store, and several others. go there and buy your tickets the same day as the show.
The only thing that sucks about this, is you have to wait in line, and you buy a "Voucher" which you then have to take to the casino that the show is at, and then wait in line again, to pick up your tickets with your voucher. so you waste some time waiting in line twice, and possibly crossing the strip to pick up the tickets. but its worth it.
The blue Man Group show is fucking awesome. but its expensive as fuck.
Chris Angel's "believe" circus de soleil show is trippy as hell. i wished i was on shrooms while watching it. (others ive talked to, didnt like it, but i did.)
i had alot of fun playing blackjack at "bill's gambling hall", and "O'Sheas" they had a $5 min which was great. and i loved the down to earth atmosphere
(the big casino's have only 1 or 2 $5 tables, and they are always full)
I really enjoyed the "free" drinks while gambling.
(always tip the waitress at least $1 per drink more the first time if u want her to keep coming back to you quick)
if you learn basic strategy of blackjack, like when the dealer has a good chance to bust, and when to double down. then you can sit at the blackjack table with the same money for hours while drinking for free. to me this is where i make my money. i may not have won anything but in those 2 or so hours, i drank enough free drinks to feel like i came away a huge winner. and if you get good (or lucky) you will win enough to cover all the tips for both the waitress and the dealer, and walk away with more then you sat down with.
also i feel like they entertained me for a few hours which i feel is worth something too, i dont mind loosing a little, so long as i had fun doing it. (if you got a friendly dealer)
ill post some more if i think of any.
Good luck, and have fun!!
I love vegas, im going next month.
