Unsurprisingly, the official Las Vegas Tourism website (tel. 877/847-4858; www.visitlasvegas.com), run by the city's Convention and Visitors Authority, already has a clock counting down the month, days, hours and minutes until New Year's Eve. However, that's not the only cause for celebration in this very American destination -- Christmas precedes it, and going even further back, on May of this year the city celebrated its 100th birthday. If you start at this portal, it is possible to peruse pages and pages of deals listed under the tab "special offers."
The Mirage, (tel. 800/374-9000; www.mirage.com) located on the Strip, is running some specials on room rates until December 31, 2006 called "Winter Destinations," with rates from $89 on selected dates only. Rates through December 11 start at $99, drop down to $89 between December 18-23, and jump up to $109 on January 2 & 3. Their site is helpful because you can easily view the starting rates on a calendar, day-by-day basis. If you want to head to Vegas on Christmas and through the 28, the room rate is a mere $149. From December 28 through January 1, standard rates apply. Select weekday stays between now and Christmas offer the opportunity for suite deals.
The luxurious, popular AAA five-diamond award-winning Bellagio (tel. 888/987-3456; www.bellagio.com) offers special Internet promotional rates based on availability between December 11-22, starting at $159 and creeping up to $199 for Friday and Saturday night, and again January 2 & 3 ($179, $199).
If perhaps you're looking for a quintessential Vegas kind of experience -- charmingly tacky and over-the-top -- the Circus Circus Hotel and Theme Park (tel. 877/224-7287; www.circuscircus.com) features some deals running until December 31, 2006 for online booking If you book between now and December 28 you receive a $10 resort credit, plus over $100 in other savings, including free food. The rates listed are for the Skyrise Towers (the resort is rather large with several types of accommodations) and rooms are available from $31.95 up to $94.95 until December 28.
The ersatz (ok, what isn't ersatz in Vegas?) Paris Las Vegas resort (tel. 877/796-2096; www.caesars.com/Paris/LasVegas) may make true Francophiles shudder (what doesn't, though?), but the French-themed resort is currently offering a "Passport to Paris" package, with rates from $115 per night and $50 in dining values, two-for-one tickets to the Eiffel Tower Experience, and other bonuses. The offer is only good until December 31.
Finally (at least for the hotel deals), the Venetian (tel. 866-403-8046; www.venetian.com) has put together a Winter Wonders deal from $169 per night between now and January 31, 2006. Other amenities include an upgrade that includes express check-in, complimentary shoeshine, daily newspaper, $10 off admission at Madame Tussaud's, $10 in promotional slot credit or table games and a 2-for-1 admission to Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. You must book by January 31 and mention code GWINLVD.
Through Expedia (tel. 800/397-3342; www.expedia.com) you can book a trip to the Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa, styled after an Argentinean ranch from $241 based on travel from December 21-23 from Chicago to Las Vegas, with a two-night stay. An additional promotion is listed at the bottom of this page -- if you book a reservation in the "standard room with 20 percent off spa discount" category, available on select dates through December 22.
Orbitz (tel. 877/548-4251; www.orbitz.com) is running a few specials for Las Vegas, too, starting from $247 for three nights plus airfare. The three hotels are Luxor ($247, based on Los Angeles departures), the Bellagio (from $389) and MGM Grand (from $280), priced from a Los Angeles departure. Most of these deals are only good until December 28. Details and amenities vary depending on the location.
Hotels.com (tel. 800/2-HOTELS; www.hotels.com) offers a deal for the Bally's Las Vegas, located right on the Strip, from $69 per night. It's a price reduction from their standard rates, which start around $125, good for travel that must be completed by January 5. It's recommended to book as soon as possible for best availability. Click on Las Vegas and a list of other hotel deals, including Flamingo Las Vegas (built in 1946 and founded by Bugsy Siegel), from $55 per night, also pop up.
Last-minute travelers should check out the weekend specials available from America West Airlines (www.americawest.com) only through the Internet. The special is finite and comes with restrictions: tickets must be purchased by December 9 and you must depart the next day. Fares from Columbus to Las Vegas are priced from $108 one-way, Denver from $132, and Phoenix ($83). The deal requires a minimum two-night stay with a return anytime between December 12 and 15.
Check out what other travelers have to say about Sin City on our Nevada Message Boards.