assetbest 
In Cheap Summer Vacation Tips I mentioned my upcoming Las Vegas trip. It exceeded expectations — fun, affordable, and relaxing, with activities for every age and budget. Some attractions were pricier, but overall the trip was well worth it.
Our group included El Carino, our daughter Carina (in her 20s), and my mom. Vegas really does have something for everyone, from arcades for little kids to shows and gambling for seniors.
Always hunt for coupon books and sign up for players cards at each casino’s customer service desk for comps and promotions. We got $40 in free play when we signed up at Paris, which cut our four-person brunch buffet bill from $65 to $25.
We booked a Southwest package that included airfare and two hotel rooms at Paris for four days and three nights — about $1,000 for the four of us. Most cities have special flights or vacation packages; check regional airlines and sites like Expedia, Orbitz, or Priceline. Packages usually save you a few hundred dollars. Midweek travel is ideal — we went Monday to Thursday and found fewer crowds and better deals.
Hotels run the gamut. We stayed at Paris, complete with an Eiffel Tower, hot-air balloon, shops, and a bakery-filled buffet. Luxor is a giant pyramid, the Venetian reproduces an indoor canal, and I actually preferred New York-New York to the real city — cleaner and smaller.
Getting around the Strip is easy by monorail, bus, taxi, or on foot. If you visit in summer, bring water and sunscreen.
Favorites and freebies
– The Mob Attraction at the Tropicana was a blast: an interactive experience with actors where we took part in a staged “crime,” then learned the real mob history. Discount tickets are often sold outside the hotel and in coupon books.
– MGM offered a free screening for a TV market-research event in exchange for coupons — we enjoyed being part of the audience and picked up free photo booth souvenirs with themed backgrounds.
– Madame Tussaud’s felt incredibly lifelike and offered lots of photo ops. With a $10-off coupon plus a senior discount, our price was about $15 per person.
– We splurged on a gondola ride at the Venetian with an Italian singer — very romantic (even with my mom along). It was roughly $20 per person. The opera performances in the San Marco-style square were free and lovely.
– We used a half-price coupon for a Chippendales show — $25 per person — and had a fun time.
– The live Price Is Right show (hosted by Joey Fatone) was enjoyable; tickets were about $50 but included a free T-shirt. Shop around for discounts.
Most hotels also offer free lounge shows or concerts with quality performers. Beyond that, Vegas has comedy shows, variety acts, Broadway-style productions, headliners, showgirl revues, Cirque du Soleil, Dancing with the Stars events, and many other options.
Family fun and pools
We visited arcades at New York-New York and Excalibur (and I’ve been to Circus Circus before). Games take quarters or fifty-cent tokens and you can rack up tickets for decent prizes. Every hotel has a pool; some have waterfalls and extras. Mandalay Bay even has a lazy river and beach. Circus Circus and Excalibur are especially kid-friendly with jugglers and kids’ shows.
Drinks, gambling, and shopping
Cheap and discounted drinks are everywhere — at the Flamingo we used a coupon for two margaritas in souvenir glasses for $10. Dollar shots and $2 mixed drinks are common, so you can drink cheaply with coupons and specials. We’re not heavy gamblers, but we played a bit: I won $2.30 on penny slots and then lost $10 at $1 blackjack. Hooters Casino advertises $3 blackjack tables, though we didn’t make it there.
Souvenir stores are packed with trinkets — shot glasses, mugs, light-up Vegas signs, and T-shirts — and prices are reasonable. Every hotel has shops and there are malls to suit every taste, from the Hard Rock’s Miracle Mile Shops to the upscale mall near the Cosmopolitan.
Vegas really is an ideal family vacation with something for everyone. Let me know any travel tips I’ve missed.
