Cheap Flights To Las Vegas, They Are Out There!

I spend hours looking for the best deal on airfare to get to Las Vegas. Its a game, the more I save, the more I can spend in Las Vegas. I search for convenient flight times, short layovers and good seats at the lowest price I can find without traveling in the baggage compartment or strapped to a wing.

Yesterday, I scored and I scored big! Woooo Hoo....I'm going to Vegas, baby! OK, so I was just there 6 weeks ago, but I managed to blow a disc in my back and we didn't get to do everything we wanted to do. When you can't walk, are tethered to a heating pad and under the influence of pain killers, it keeps you from having the quintessential Vegas experience. I spent a lot of time in a jacuzzi and not in the casino. My husband had to push me around in a wheel chair and that wasn't much fun. He left me in a gift shop when he got distracted by a candy display and I was surrounded by a tour group. I'm claustrophobic! He forgot where he parked me and couldn't see me. He had to pay big time for that! This trip is my do over. OK, so I held that over his head and we are both getting a do over.

I fly a lot. I hit Vegas at least 5 times a year or more, if I can figure out a way or an excuse to go. I use Kayak to find my flights. Find Cheap Flights from 100+ Sites with One Click. They will search hundreds of sites to find the very best rates. This is such a cool free service, it literally saves hours and days of searching. It hits all the major sites like Travelocity, Orbitz and Expedia. Kayak also hits the airline sites. Its amazing how much the same seat on the same plane can vary on the different sites. Sometimes the airline sites are less, sometimes not. This is such a cool site and it WILL save you a lot of green.

I have no more free vouchers from taking a voluntary bump, so I make it my mission to find a great flight AND try to get bumped. I will sit for hours at an airport, if I can get to my destination and get a free voucher for a round trip, to Las Vegas, of course! If you want more information on how to get bumped to get a free airline voucher for a free trip, check out this awesome site. Gadling's Guide to Getting Bumped.

My First Time, The Stupidity Begins

The early 80's were a different time. I was young, newly single and ready for a change of pace. "Cuz" and I were raised together like sisters. Cuz is also newly single, her husband was tragically killed. Both of us are miserable over the holidays, our parents decided we need a trip to Las Vegas.

I fly to Phoenix and we drive through the desert. We pick up a couple of big cowboy hats at an outdoor market to shade us from the desert sun and we're off.

We've packed a list made up by our parents:

The strip is one way, lock up your parking spot early and walk.

Don't drink and drive.

Don't talk to strange men.

Play slot machines with bars on them.

Armed with our words of wisdom, maps, extra water for the car, a cocktail dress and some cash, we arrive at twilight just in time to see the neon.

My heart is pounding...I've never seen anything like this! I've lived in a pastoral farm community and this is amazing! I literally could feel the heat of the lightbulbs.

Then it happened...within minutes I became stupid. Yup, here I am, educated, sensible, managing a business..and I become stupid.
And, I'm having the time of my life.

Las Vegas Show Guide

Here is a web site that has all the Las Vegas shows. You can even search by the type of show you want to see. Its all here at Vegas. Com

Getting Around in Las Vegas

Getting around Las Vegas is easy. You can rent a car, hire a limousine, take a taxi, take a shuttle bus, ride the Deuce bus, ride the monorail or walk.

If you fly into McCarren airport, you need transportation from the airport to the hotel. Most people take a taxi or rent a car. Some hire limousines. Here is something you need to know: Some limousines are nothing but a shuttle bus that stops at every hotel. It takes FOREVER to get to your destination. Its called limousine service, but if you want to rent a real stretch limo and hit the strip like a high roller, you can do it in the area near baggage pickup.

I like to rent a car. Its not hard to drive in Las Vegas. You need to drive like a cab driver, ignore the cabs honking at you, don't gawk at everything on the strip, watch for the pedestrians who insist upon jaywalking and drive sober. You also need to watch for the other idiots on the roads who have been drinking, are gawking and blasting their boom boxes, and others who are just plain lost and scared. Otherwise, its a go. I've never had problems driving in Las Vegas. I like to go all over the valley and taxi's are way too expensive if you want to go to Summerlin or Henderson. Valet parking is free at every hotel. Just tip the valet a dollar or two and they take care of parking and retrieving your vehicle.

The Deuce bus is a double decker bus that goes up and down the strip. Its $2.00 per ride of $5.00 for a 24 hour pass. The bus holds 97 passengers and they are really popular as an inexpensive way to get around town.

The monorail is a fun ride. There are 7 stations, the stations are behind the hotels. The monorail runs from the MGM Grand to the Las Vegas Hilton with stops in between. If you are going to a convention at the convention center, its an easy way to get there as there is a stop at the convention center. They are having a special one day pass for $9.00.

And if you are going to walk, wear comfy walking shoes. The strip is like an optical illusion, it looks like the buildings are close, but they are a long walk.