Simplifying Las Vegas Blog Posts - 8 Years of Fun (So Far)

I looked back at some older posts today. I couldn't believe that I've been blogging about Las Vegas since 2006. To my surprise, my first few posts have some of the same topics that are important in Las Vegas today, like money-saving tips when booking a trip, taxis, and downtown opportunities. The blog posts are important to me because they help me with my book.

My first cover in 2008

Las Vegas is very different, for sure, and when I think back to 2008, when I first published Simplifying Las Vegas, so much has changed in the publishing landscape. Back then, Amazon's Kindle Desktop Publishing program was new for authors like me.

I have learned a great deal since that first book. I've made improvements to the content, the layout, and the tips in every single book. It now takes me the good part of a year to review and revise SLV.

The latest version

Back then, I didn't know what it would lead to, I didn't know what to expect. Sure, I hoped Oprah would invite me to her show to talk about it as one of her favorite books. I would jump up and down on her couch and say "I'm in love with Las Vegas!" Never happened. But that's ok.

I'll keep writing. I think it's worth it. Forty million people a year visit Las Vegas. Now if everyone bought one or two copies of my book, I'd be doing ok. But if not, I'm still doing ok. Visiting Las Vegas and writing about Las Vegas is just one of those things I'll always do.

So if you want to support my habit, keep sending me emails, commenting on this blog, and visiting Las Vegas. Oh, and buy a copy or two of my book.

Viva,
Mike

Plan Your Las Vegas Holiday

If you are thinking about a taking a holiday trip, consider Las Vegas. I did a little comparison shopping, and here's what I found on southwest.com:

• The week before Thanksgiving (M-F), a flight from my hometown of Charleston, SC to Las Vegas is about $700 (well, this is what happens when you wait to the last minute)
• The week of Thanksgiving, it goes up to $394
• The week after Thanksgiving, the cost goes up to $545

With hotels, it's a little different story for times around Turkey Day. I looked at Treasure Island, a decent hotel in the middle of the Strip, to see what their rack rates are for the same time period (checking in Monday, checking out Friday)

• The week before Thanksgiving, the total rate is $157
• The week of Thanksgiving, it goes up to $205
• The week after Thanksgiving, it goes down to $185

Thanksgiving is not far away, so you may not have time to plan a trip that soon. However, if you are thinking about a vacation around Christmas, Las Vegas can be a bargain. Here are some of my findings, again on southwest.com:

• The week before Christmas, a flight from Charleston, SC to Las Vegas is about $472 (M-F)
• The week of Christmas, it goes up to $697
• The week after Christmas, the cost is over double at $1078 (New Year's is crowded and expensive)

For hotels, the best rates are also always the week before Christmas. These are some of the best room rates you will get any time of year in Las Vegas. Again, here are some findings from TI:

• The week before Christmas, the total rate is $154
• The week of Christmas, it goes up a little bit to $184
• The week after Christmas, it's a whopping $679

Now this was a quick search. When I plan a trip to Las Vegas, I look at a lot of package deals, several websites, and research costs as much as I can. For detailed information about how to save a ton of money on your trip, consider buying Simplifying Las Vegas online.

Can't make it for the holidays? Plan ahead - way ahead. If you can book your trip 6-8 months in advance, you will save a lot of money. I know that's hard to do, but when it comes to vacations, the better you plan, the more you'll save.

Happy Holiday Shopping!
Viva,
Mike