Las Vegas may be the gambling capital of the free world, or the universe for that matter, but it's also the hometown of the art of the deal, a wheeler-dealers paradise where hotel rooms can be had for a night of rolling dice and you can negotiate for upgrades as easy as saying "hit me." It wouldn't be Las Vegas if you couldn't talk your way into any deal. Why should travel companies be any different? They're constantly besting each other by enticing travelers to gamble, eat and sleep under their roofs, or fly in their planes. Throw in a free round of golf, a spa treatment, makeover, all the drinks you can inhale as long as you're sitting at the tables, some grub at buffets as large as Rhode Island, and it's hard to pass up a Vegas vacation. This summer, travel prices to Sin City make it almost impossible.
Worry Free Vacations (tel. 888/225-5658; www.worryfreevacations.com) has deals to several Vegas hot spots including the MGM Grand, the Bellagio, the Excalibur, Steve Wynn's Golden Nugget, and New York New York. Travel is good through May 29, 2005, so book these babies fast. A trip from Detroit to the Excalibur lasting five nights (you'll either love Vegas or hate it after that stretch) starts at $384 with air included. From Tulsa a four-night stay at New York will run you only $329 with air and hotel. From Denver, a four-night stay at the Excalibur will cost you $324, a three-night stay at the Luxor will run you $347. Check out Worry Free's Vegas specials page. They list extra incentives to stay at certain hotels such as concert tickets to hot shows like rapper Nelly, R&B songstress Alicia Keys, rock sensations Maroon 5 and the legendary U2.
America West Vacations (tel. 800/235-9298; www.americawestvacations.com) always has low-priced air-inclusive deals to Vegas from all over the Western states. A two-night non-stop air stint to Las Vegas starts at $193 out of Phoenix. The trip includes two nights at the Aladdin Hotel, and, by booking now, you receive a $10 dining credit at an Aladdin restaurant and a $10 bonus slot play. From other cities prices run $199 out of San Francisco, $200 out of Los Angeles, $248 out of Seattle, $281 out of Chicago and $335 out of Boston. Prices are based on two-night stays and select Sunday and Monday departures. Air taxes and security fees are not included. If you want to get out of Vegas for the day, America West Vacations has some day tours to the outlying areas. A day of sightseeing around Lake Mead, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, costs $65.99 for adult and child. You'll tour the lake from an old-fashioned riverboat. You'll be picked up at your hotel and whisked away for a nine-hour, full-day trip that includes jaw-dropping views of the dam. See the Las Vegas Shows and Tours page for details.
Count Southwest Vacations (tel. 800/243-8372; www.swavacations.com) in as another airline hawking great vacation deals to Las Vegas. A two-night trip from Sacramento, California with accommodations at the world famous Caesar's Palace goes for $234 or $269 from El Paso, Texas. With accommodations at Wynn's Las Vegas, a two-day trip from Phoenix costs approximately $279 while the same trip from Austin, Texas will run you $409. These packages need to be booked no later than three-days prior to departure. Again, security fees and air taxes are not included in the package price.
