Whether you are a single person who wants to party or a parent who wants to enjoy time with your family, Las Vegas has something for everyone.

If you do not care about staying off the Strip, the Orlean is a location and they have family activities like a cinema on site.

If you want to stay on the strip, here are some suggestions:

Caesar’s Palace, Venetian, Bellagio – All their rooms look like luxury. If you are trying to go to Vegas on the cheap, you probably will not be able to afford to stay here. They have deals sometimes, but these hotels are usually going to be the higher priced options.

MGM (My favorite) – All of their rooms clean, neat, look like new. You can find rooms at affordable rates without worrying that the quality will be similar to a Super 8 or Motel 6. I have stayed here for as low are $59/night (it was a Wednesday night in the middle of winter but I am still talking about it).

At the Stratosphere, Excalibur, Luxor, Paris, Tropicana and Circus Circus, it is best to stay away from the cheapest rooms they have to offer. Most of the time, the cheaper rooms have not been renovated as the premium rooms. Those rooms could be on par to rooms you might find at a Super 8 or Motel 6. I pay the extra few dollars for the upgrade instead of taking a chance on the quality of the room. And
Stratosphere is on the shetchy end of the strip.

When deciding on a hotel, check what coupon books you receive with your room. Most likely you will receive discount coupons for hotel stores and restaurants. For example, Stratosphere offered a coupon for a free pass to the observation deck which was a $13 savings. Once up there, I had to get on the roller coaster and some kind of spinning fair like ride. Might as well since I am not afraid of heights. Nothing to it but to do it !

Wherever you stay, Saturday night is probably going to have the most expensive room rate. I have paid $200/night and $89/night in the same visit! Many shows have “dark” days when they are not performing, so keep that in mind when planning what days you are going to be in the city. There is a lot to do in Vegas. You can go shopping, pamper yourself in the spa, try out different celebrity chefs’ restaurants, visit museums, or see one of the many shows. Any time of day or night, there is fun to be found.

I advise renting a car or else you will stuck on the strip. Being stuck on the strip is fine if all you want to do is throw your money away at the slot machine and blackjack tables. But I don’t have that kind of money. Once you have rented your car, like I did, you have to ride to the Hoover Dam. It is only about an hour away and worth every minute (even if you have to endure all the “dam” jokes). It is also worth the drive to go to the Grand Canyon too. Be prepared to spend close to $50 for entrance to the Hualapai Indian Reservation Grand Canyon West to see the Grand Canyon. The tourist trap of a skywalk is located here and you can walk on it for an additional $29.95. The Grand Canyon may be breathtaking, but I was still grumbling about the entry fee. It seemed to be excessive to me.

Since I love desserts, I have to go by Freed’s Bakery every time I am in Vegas and get some of their wedding cake (white cake with strawberries and Bavarian cream between the layers and buttercream on top). Delicious!! That is the only place I have found from Food Network’s Rachel Ray’s $40 a day (remember that show?) that I actually like.

Overall, Vegas is a fun town and there is something for every budget. It is not all about playing in the casino. There is no doubt that Vegas is an extremely commercialized that is designed to get you to spend your money, but there are ways to spend as much or as little as you want. Whether on or off the Strip, you can have a great time. And remember “What happens in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas”