Royally Flushed

Vegas is wooing out-of-town shoppers with free tickets to shows like Blue Man Group at The Venetian.

Here’s how to roll three of my favorite things — Las Vegas, shopping and free — all into one sentence:  Do your holiday shopping in Las Vegas this year and get free show tickets.  No kidding.  Non-Nevada residents who shop from 11/29 through 12/13/2009 and spend $500 or more at participating retail shopping areas such as the brand-new Crystals at CityCenter, the Forum Shops at Caesars, the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and even the stores at the Las Vegas Premium Outlet mall can qualify for two complimentary tickets to shows like Phantom at the Venetian, Peepshow at PH, Donny & Marie Osmond and more.  Find all the details at VisitLasVegas.com.

Speaking of CityCenter, the sure-to-be-spectacular new Aria and Vdara resorts are both taking reservations and you can get special rates when you use the promo codes plus these links:

Aria: ARIA “Winter Special” Rates from $159/nt (2nt Min). *Enjoy this incredible offer at ARIA, MGM MIRAGE’s newest resort-casino at CityCenter – Stay Two Nights at a Special Rate from $159 per night and Receive a $75 Resort Credit (*See site for additional details and restrictions). Dec 17, 2009 – Apr 1, 2010. Promo Code: AR159G75 (Exp 4/1/10).

Vdara: Vdara “Winter Special” Rates from $139/nt (2nt Min). *Stay Two Nights at Vdara Hotel & Spa at a Special Introductory Rate from $139 and Receive a $50 Resort Credit (*See site for additional detail and restrictions). Dec 1, 2009 – Mar 31, 2010. Promo Code: VRLVCVA (Exp 4/1/10).

Also, take advantage of more great rates this winter by booking a room at MGM Grand with this cool offer –

MGM Grand Las Vegas “Holiday Spree” — Rates from $75 per night. *Promo includes: $35 Dining credit, $25 Spa services credit, and 15% off retail purchases. (*See site for additional details and restrictions). Nov 4, 2009 – Mar 31, 2010. Promo Code: MKT320 (Exp 1/31/10).

Bally's Las Vegas features big, comfy rooms, a great center-Strip location and more at discount rates.

Several years ago (and, no, we’re not saying how many) when we first started taking frequent trips to Las Vegas  we got a recommendation for a hotel from an unlikely source: our dentist. The topic of “favorite hotel in Vegas” came up during one of those routine visits — the type where you can still talk during the appointment — and our fav D.D.S. (who is a native of Phoenix) told us he traveled to Vegas quite a few times each year for both vacation and to attend dental conferences. His hotel of choice on the Strip: Bally’s Las Vegas.  Now here’s a guy who could stay pretty much anywhere — and had — yet he chose Bally’s time after time.  He gave us a bunch of reasons so we decided to give it a try and ended up agreeing with a lot of what he said.

Since that conversation and first stay, we’ve hung our hats at Bally’s a number of times not only because we use our Diamond status in Harrah’s Total Rewards® club to get free rooms but also because we actually like staying at Bally’s. Is it the fanciest hotel on the Strip? No, not by a long-shot but it may be the best budget hotel on the Strip! (more…)

Sunset Station is one of the casino resorts taking part in this year's huge "Station's 4th of July Blast" fireworks show. (Click the pic to check on rooms.)

Station Casinos will be hosting the biggest fireworks show in Las Vegas this 4th of July 2009 when each of the Company’s nine properties participate in a huge simultaneous pyrotechnics show to celebrate the holiday.  Called the “Station’s 4th of July Blast,” the monster production will go off at 9:30 pm on Saturday with shows at Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Boulder Station, Fiesta Henderson, the new Aliante Station, Santa Fe and Sunset Stations plus the shared location of neighboring properties Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho. (more…)

Owner of The Palazzo -- Las Vegas Sands Corp. -- sees troubled times ahead.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. — owner of The Venetian and The Palazzo casino resorts on the Strip in Las Vegas, plus the Macau Venetian, Sands and Four Seasons — said in a regulatory filing today that it probably won’t meet the requirements of loans arranged by Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. unless it cuts spending on developments, boosts earnings at its Las Vegas Strip casinos and raises more capital. (more…)

Vegas Tripping lets you vote on favs and failures.

Best slots.  Best video poker.  Best table games.  Best cocktail waitress uniforms.  Worst buffet.  Worst casino.  Worst overall.  Vegas Tripping wants to know who – or what - you think should take home the prize in these and lots of other categories for the site’s 2008 Trippies Awards. 

Here are my choices — designated in boldface – in just a couple of categories:

• Best Overall – Bellagio, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Orleans, Wynn Las Vegas -  Love the decor, Jean Philippe pastries, the Conservatory, the Chihuly ceiling in the reception area, the Lake Show, the restaurants, the pool – the whole vibe.
• Worst Overall – Casino Royale, Circus Circus, Hooters, Imperial Palace, Tropicana – Smells bad, weird layout and I never win anything there plus it’s too easy to rag on the Circus.
• Best Cocktail Waitress Uniforms – Caesars Palace, Orleans, Rio, Paris, Wynn Las Vegas - These outfits stick in my head.  Royal blue and boobs.  What more do you want?
• Best Buffet – Caesars Palace, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Wynn Las Vegas, The Venetian – Beautiful food in a beautiful setting for beautiful people.
• Best Signage/Neon – Flamingo, New York New York, Wynn Las Vegas, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace – That flashing, clashing orange and pink just says “Vegas” to me.  I still remember my first ride down The Strip in the early-80’s (back when you could actually hit 35mph) and seeing that riot of glowing neon.  Sigh.

So, do your duty as a citizen or denizen of Las Vegas and go vote at Vegas Tripping.