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RELAXING DEALS, FUN DEALS, FOOD AND DRINK DEALS: Vegas on the Cheap

Sour economy could be sweet deal for savvy shoppers

If there's anything positive about Las Vegas' struggling economy -- and that's a big if -- it's the return of the good casino deal.

While we're nowhere near the $3.99 all-you-can-eat buffets of yore -- yet -- there are some decent deals to be found, even for those whose budgets are tighter than a Rio cocktail waitress's uniform.


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  • Room rates in many hotels are a consumer's dream, especially with the tantalizing extras being thrown in. Circus Circus will give you gasoline and a buffet visit, too, if you stay for at least two nights. New York-New York will put you on Park Avenue (sort of) for booking a weekday stay.

    But you don't have to stay in a hotel to enjoy some of the better bargains in local casinos. Drink like a fish at McFadden's in the Rio or stuff your face with spaghetti at the Wild Wild West. You can even take in a Strip show for half price.

    We checked around town and found that just about everyone is offering something for a little less than usual. There were too many deals to include in this story, so we narrowed it down to seven deals in three categories: Relax, fun, and food and drink. The list is not inclusive, and prices change without notice, so be sure to check with the casino before heading out.

    RELAX

    Circus Circus

    2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 734-0410

    Get free gasoline when you stay at the hotel in an offer that runs through Aug. 31. A two-day stay will earn you a $25 gasoline credit; three nights get you $50. You'll also receive a $25 gaming credit, two-for-one dinner at the buffet, $4 off a ride pass at Adventuredome and a fun book with $100 in coupons. Rates start at $40 a night.

     

    Excalibur

    3850 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 597-7700

    The Stay and Play package starts at $69 a night for a room and comes with $25 worth of food and two passes to the spa and fitness center.

     

    Golden Nugget

    129 Fremont St., 385-7111

    Stay at least two nights and get a rate of $59 a night (Sundays through Thursdays) as well as a coupon book worth $250. The coupons are good in the hotel and casino. If you book it, ask for the spring package.

     

    Luxor

    3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 262-4000

    This package is called the Getaway for a good reason: Book a room (starting at $69, depending on dates) and you'll receive two-for-one admission to the spa, $20 off spa services, a $30 dining credit at Fusia and $10 to gamble with.

     

    The Mirage

    3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 791-7111

    If you book a room online, for $109 a night or more, you'll get $30 credit to the Cravings buffet and two passes to Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.

     

    New York-New York

    3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 740-6969

    The hotel is offering the Fifth Avenue package through Aug. 28. The weekday room rate is $80 a night and includes a few extras, such as the "Park Avenue" Strip view upgrade. Guests receive two cocktails, two breakfasts for the price of one at Il Fornaio, $15 off a spa treatment and two-for-one Manhattan Express roller-coaster tickets. This deal must be booked online at reservations.mgmmirage.com.

     

    Rio

    3700 W. Flamingo Road, 777-7777

    Locals receive 20 percent off of any treatment at the Rio's Spa Mondays through Thursdays. You must show a local driver's license or ID.

     

    FUN

    "Chippendales: The Show"

    The Rio

    3700 W. Flamingo Road, 777-7776

    Ladies, this is your chance to see the famed hunky guys in all their glory and for half the price. Through Aug. 31, Monday and Tuesday tickets are 50 percent off. They're usually $58.

     

    Gerry McCambridge, "The Mentalist"

    Hooters Hotel

    115 E. Tropicana Ave., 739-9000

    You'd have to be mental to not take advantage of this one-day promotion. McCambridge is celebrating his 500th show by providing guests -- a limited number, of course -- with a free show June 19. He'll also meet and greet you. Call now before tickets are gone.

     

    "Jubilee!"

    Bally's

    3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 967-4567

    To celebrate 16,000 performances of one of the Strip's last remaining production shows, Bally's is offering locals two tickets for the price of one. You can buy as many as four tickets and get four free. The deal is good through June 30.

     

    "Mamma Mia!"

    Mandalay Bay

    3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 632-7580

    Through June 29, get two-for-one tickets. They're regularly $75 and $100 each. You can buy eight.

     

    "Monty Python's Spamalot"

    Wynn Las Vegas

    3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 770-9966

    Catch the Broadway show before it's gone July 13. Tickets are two for the price of one, if you mention the word "laughter." You must be a local, and you can receive a maximum of eight tickets.

     

    "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding"

    The Rio

    3700 W. Flamingo Road, 777-7776

    If you love weddings enough that you'd pay to see one, this is your chance. And you can even take a guest for free. Through Aug. 31, VIP and general admission tickets are two for the price of one, for the Sunday through Thursday shows. If you go Fridays or Saturdays, you'll get 15 percent off.

     

    Risqué

    Paris Las Vegas

    3655 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 946-7000

    If clubbing is more your scene, check out Risque at Paris Las Vegas. Through June 29, the nightclub is waiving admission on Saturday nights for locals with ID. It may not sound like much, but that $20 savings can buy you a drink once you're inside.

     

    FOOD AND DRINK

    Ellis Island Casino & Brewery

    4178 Koval Lane, 733-8901

    You used to be able to get steak dinners for $4. Those days are gone, but $6.99 is a pretty good deal, at least for this meal. It comes with a 10-ounce steak, baked potato, green beans, bread and a beer. It's not on the menu, so you'll have to ask for it. Speaking of beer, Ellis Island has its own microbrewery. You can buy one daily, 24 hours a day for $1.

    Fleur de Lys

    Mandalay Bay

    3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 632-9400

    At $59, the early evening prix fixe is pricier than some of our other selections. But it's at Fleur de Lys, one of the more expensive restaurants on the Strip, so it's a deal. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. daily, you can enjoy a tasting menu that includes an appetizer of either truffled onion soup or Yukon gold potato ravioli; an entree of beef short ribs or Alaskan King salmon and a dessert called the "Chocolate Feast."

     

    Golden Gate

    1 Fremont St., 385-1906

    The famous 99 cent shrimp cocktail was recently raised to $1.99. It couldn't be helped, what with the price of gasoline and food these days. But you can still get it for 99 cents by signing up for the casino's players' card. That's it.

     

    McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon

    Rio

    3700 W. Flamingo Road, 777-7777

    For $10 ($20 if you're a guy) you can drink at an open bar for two hours during the Saturday Night Special. That's a lot of drinks. Of course, it's only on Saturday nights and only between 10 p.m. and midnight.

     

    Tony Roma's

    Fremont

    200 Fremont St., 385-6257

    Tony Roma's inside the Fremont offers daily early bird specials from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., including a prime rib dinner for $8.99. If you're more of a late-night person, try the steak and lobster for $11.99, available from 9 to 11 p.m. daily

     

    Triple 7 Restaurant and Brewery

    Main Street Station

    200 N. Main St., 387-1896

    During happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, microbrewed beers are $2 and well drinks $1.50. House wine is a buck and appetizers are $4.25.

     

    Wild Wild West

    3330 W. Tropicana Ave., 740-0000

    If you love spaghetti, you'll love this deal. On Wednesdays, pay $4.99 and slurp all the noodles you can. It's for dinner only, and you have to buy a drink, but you'll get out of there for less than $10.

    Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.

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    wynn nighman wrote on June 05, 2008 10:52 PM: In March the Strato offered me free room and Nascar tickets so I paid $206 airfare roundtrip from Cleveland. In April Free room at Harrahs and a friend gave me free N.H.R.A. tickets so I paid $218 from Cleveland. I normally fly out to Vegas Monthly, but I just paid $497 for a July flight. A time that is usually an off-period due to the heat in your city. I am recieving offers for free rooms, dinners,shows,gambling tournments, even $ 100 gift cards or $ 100 cash towards travel costs to come to Las Vegas. I believe your City is in trouble. Unless Casinos start offering free air or train service to mid-range players like myself, your going to be in for massive lay-offs.
    And Harry do like we do in Cleveland, drink a six-pack and then slip on the BEER GOGGLES. I promise you that they won't look ugly anymore. Wynnvegas@hotmail.com


    Suzanne Hudson wrote on June 04, 2008 10:24 PM: Yes, you can find lots of free or cheap fun if you know where to look. I agree, best buffet is Main Street Station. Next best is Texas Station, and club members get points that can be used for free buffets. Mermaids downtown has 99 cent hot dog and 99 cent soda. Stay after dark for the free light show overhead, and free live bands play nightly. A hidden treasure on Oakey at LV Blvd is Luv-It Frozen Custard, a family owned business that makes fresh treats with fabulous flavors. Hubby and I used to splurge once a week with a double cone of flavors of the day. Cherry, coconut, and chocolate are especially good, as are the peach and blueberry. Free shows abound, such as the Bellagio fountain, lions at the MGM, Battle For Atlantis and the Roman statue fountains at Caesar's Forum Shops, living statues at Venetian, light & fountain show at Sam's Town, live circus acts at Circus Circus, and there's karaoke all over town, and lots of dancing to be found. Parking is free, if you know where to look, too. A little checking around and planning ahead can make for a fun and cheap time. More money left to play with or to pick up souvenirs... and don't forget to tip, when possible! Lots of folks are struggling these days, even in this glamorous city, which is a shame, but the state doesn't have much to offer it's hard working citizens or those down on their luck.


    Carol Martin wrote on June 01, 2008 07:08 PM: Are you people crazy, sounds like you are getting people to spend a little toooo much. What about the tickets for Nathans go to Venetian bring them a Nathans coupon get two large seafood dinners for $9.99, or go to Fashion show mall get a candy apple and a hot dog and I mean a large candy apple for under $10. Don't forget Terribles, $29.00 for a room with $25.00 and the rooms are nice. and don't forget to send them to the oxygen tank place in from on binnions to get their sheets of coupons which have two tickets for ViVa Las Vegas, that used to be $45.00 an the Strat. for years. We'll you didn't even remind them to get their players cards so they can have their free slots ect. Did you know if you sign up a Fitz they send you $10 gaming, $10 food, 2x points, 2 show tickets, simply for signing up. although they are good to me $25 gaming $20 food and of course 2x play points, and 2 show tickets i enjoyed that today. Dont forget to surrend to the red cross tell the truth and all that good stuff so they can every six weeks or so give you your show tickets, have fun


    ex gambler wrote on June 01, 2008 02:38 PM: I don't see any specials from the locals casinos. I guess Stations strategy of eliminating the competition and then eliminating specials and perks has come to fruition.


    Michael Ray Thompson wrote on June 01, 2008 02:24 PM: Thanks for the information! You forgot the buffet at Main Street Station. It's the best buffet dowwntown.


    Harry Reid wrote on June 01, 2008 01:07 PM: These chicks are typical Vegas idiots... ugly, drunk, and stupid.

    My sixth and seventh wives to add to my compound.


    Only in Vegas wrote on June 01, 2008 12:28 PM: Wow … I might go out tonight, leave the wife at home, get drunk and act like Gibbons if these gals are going to be there!!