$aving Money in Vega$

At home, I'm somewhat of a spendthrift. Ok, maybe more than somewhat. I cut coupons, look for deals, and even wash and reuse Ziploc bags. It's not that I don't like spending money. On the contrary, I really enjoy it! But I like to save a few bucks here so I can spend a few more bucks there (in Vegas).

Once I'm on vacation in Sin City, I usually don't worry about shelling out a few dollars more than I would at home. The trips to Vegas are what all the penny-pinching is for, anyway. But, since I do like to save money, I make sure that if it's convenient and if it's worth it, I'll save some dough. Here's how:

First, and most importantly, remember the most important 3-letter word in Las Vegas - ASK. If you don't ask, you won't get. Ask nicely, and you might even get some more. Once you join a slot club or "rewards program" or whatever they call it at any casino, they track your play so that you can get comped (receive complimentary items). I join all of these, because even though I usually don't qualify at most places for free comps, it's still worth holding on to the player's card in case they're having a promotion or something. For most table games, a lot of places expect you to shell out $25 per hand or roll to get comped. That's too rich for my blood. However, if you're a slot player, it doesn't matter if you're playing nickels or $500 per pull, insert your card into the machine and it will keep track of your play. The longer you play, the more points you accumulate for free stuff. Easy as pie - or cherry cherry cherry if you're playing slots.

In addition to the casino's club, take advantage of your hotel's coupon book (sometimes called a "funbook") if it offers one. They only give them out to hotel guests, so it's kind of like a "thanks for staying with us" gift. Usually, they'll have good coupons for food, shows, night clubs, and gambling. Make sure that you look at the restrictions on the coupons. You don't want to try to use a 2-for1 buffet on Saturday for a coupon that's only good Sunday through Thursday. Been there done that.

Many Vegas publications have coupons, too. Check out the Las Vegas Visitor Information Center (it's at the corner of Paradise and Desert Inn) for lots of good newspapers and magazines, including What's On and Showbiz. Mostly their coupons are for shows and attractions, but you'll find some good restaurant deals, too.

The internet. You can save a bundle of green before you even get to Vegas if you plan properly. The world wonderful web is a good place to start. When you plan your trip, check out internet deals because they often beat travel agents' and hotels' best prices. Package deals (especially ones offered by airline companies) are usually a good way to save a lot of cash because they bundle services (flight + hotel + rental car or a combination of these items). But even if you're not bundling services, if you deal with a reputable site and read the fine print before you put your money down, you might be surprised at how much you can save.

You can also save some money with internet coupons. Just enter "free vegas coupons" in your favorite search engine. I wouldn't mess with services that ask you to pay for coupons, even if it's just a few dollars, unless you really know what you're getting and you're sure you're going to use them. There are plenty of free coupon sites out there, so why bother paying for them?

That gives you a good starting point to saving money. At least until you blow all that cash when you hit the big jackpot!