Take in Vegas without the spending guilt

All it takes is this guide and less than $700

Andrea Sachs | Washington Post

1/11/2009 - 1/12/09

WHERE TO STAY: There are accommodations for every type of budget, even on the Strip. Rates can start as low as $23 a night (Sahara and Stratosphere, for instance) and soar into the hundreds (Wynn, Venetian, Bellagio). To streamline the process and save some cash, research packages. A variety of online travel sites, including Orbitz, Expedia and CheapTickets, offer air-and-hotel deals. Over Christmas, for example, I booked through Orbitz a nonstop flight from Reagan National and two nights at the MGM Grand, on the southern end of the Strip. The $484.17 total included a $25 food credit at the resort, two-for-one spa pass and 10 percent off spa treatments. For a weekend in late January, packages include $366 per person for two nights at Excalibur, $469 for the Mirage and $559 for Bellagio. Before booking, check the hotel's location to be sure it's on the Strip.

GETTING AROUND: From the airport to a Strip resort, a shuttle costs $6 one way. Sign up outside at Ground Transportation. You can also hire a limo or grab a bus from the airport.

If you are sticking to the Strip, you can hoof it (it's about four miles one way) or catch the Deuce, a double-decker bus that picks up and drops off along the route. Fare: $3 one way or $7 for a 24-hour pass. For sites off the Strip, take a CAT bus for $1.75 per ride or $4 for a 24-hour pass. Just be warned that you might have to wait 20 minutes or so for a bus. (These rates reflect a fare increase going into effect Jan. 11.) Info: 800-228-3911, www.rtcsouthernnevada.com.

WHERE TO EAT: You will never go hungry in Vegas. Over the years, the city has become a top culinary destination, attracting celebrity chefs. At the MGM Grand, for example, Joel Robuchon, Michael Mina, Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck all have restaurants. However, I chose the cuisine over the chef and had an amazing meal at Shibuya (MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-891-3001). The Japanese eatery excels with the traditional dishes — sushi, sashimi, Wagyu beef, miso soup, etc. — but also surprises diners with its presentation, such as the chilled tofu in ginger-infused broth ($22), served in a misty rock garden.

For all-you-can-eat, drop into any of the casino buffets, which usually feature multiple cuisines, carving stations, salad bars, etc. I ate at the Riviera Hotel and Casino's World's Fare Buffet (2901 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 800-634-3420), which charges $12.99 for lunch. However, I dined free by signing up for the Club Riviera, a casino club.

WHAT TO DO: Escape the lights and clatter of the Strip at the Springs Preserve (702-822-7700, www.springspreserve.org), a serene 180-acre nature site with environmental exhibits (many interactive), desert hiking trails, gardens and cuddly-cute wildlife. The center also has classes and special events, a gift shop selling unusual recycled items and a Wolfgang Puck cafe. Gardens and trails are free; general admission is $18.95. To save money, check for coupons in the visitor guides available at hotels and the airport.

The MGM Grand features a free lion habitat, but to see A-list cats (Siegfried and Roy's four-legged assistants), visit the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage (702-791-7111, www.mirage.com/attractions/secret-garden.aspx; $15). In addition to the white tigers, the facility houses Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (not trained, but part of a research project), white lions, a jaguar, alpacas and more.

If you are tight on cash, Vegas is rife with free activities. CBS Television City (Studio Walk in the MGM Grand, 702-891-1111), for one, invites visitors to watch a TV show, then complete a survey about the program. An employee said that our opinions could help make or break a show, so don't hold back. For other ideas, see Vegas.com's list at www.vegas.com/attractions/freeattractions.html.

Vegas is becoming the Broadway of the West. The in-demand shows, such as Criss Angel, Cirque du Soleil (Love, KA, O, etc.) and Bette Midler, are pricey, with triple-digit tickets. If you don't mind lines and a gamble, stop by Tix4Tonight (877-849-4868, www.tix4tonight.com), a discount ticket outlet with four locations on the Strip. For the best pickings, arrive at 9:30 a.m. to review the listings, then get in line to wait for the box office to open at 10. I snagged David Copperfield tickets for $64.45, about $35 less than the going price.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, 877-847-4858, www.visitlasvegas.com.