Is Las Vegas any place for the bargain hunter? Sure! If you play your cards right, Las Vegas hotel, airfare, food, and other deals are there for the taking — allowing you to win big even if you lose out on the casino floor.

Airfare

Deal hunting begins when you book your airfare to Vegas. Look out for airfare and hotel package deals that can save you a bundle, as well as hotel and car rental packages if you plan on driving once you’re in the city.

The Best Airfare Rates

Sites that offer bulk airfare rates can also save you money right off the top. Try sites such as tripspot.com, govegas.com and vegas.com, as well as sites like orbitz.com and smarterliving.com.

Be Flexible

If you are flexible about the day and time you head to Las Vegas, sites such as hotwire.com can help your flexibility pay off.

Hotel Deals

Today, the best Las Vegas hotels all offer streamlined online reservation systems that make it easy to shop around for great room rates and book your room online.

Don’t wait until you’re in Vegas to shop around for the best deals. When booking airfare and hotels, flexibility and the willingness to comparison shop is the key to taking advantage of spectacular deals.

Timing is Everything

The best way to make a bargain out of your Vegas vacation is to avoid weekends, when most people come out to play and room, airfare, and food prices are jacked up accordingly. If you can’t avoid weekends entirely, at least try to avoid weekends that will drive large crowds to Vegas, such as weekends with championship boxing matches. Unless you’re a boxing fan, these weekends will simply mean higher prices for you.

There are also deals to be had during the low season. Vegas summers are hot and dry, so if you can handle a sizzling Sin City — of if you’re a complete night owl — a plethora of deals will be waiting for you. Those who take a summer vacation to Vegas during the middle of the week can enjoy reasonably priced rooms, great meals deals, and freebies such as show tickets. Just avoid the Fourth of July, which draws sizable crowds.

Gambling

Everyone knows that high-rollers can enjoy free drinks and cigars on the casino floor. But what about the rest of us?

At your favorite hotel or casino, sign up for their version of the "frequent gambler card." You may have to wait in line, but the wait will soon pay off. Use the card to rack up points, and you’ll be enjoying some great freebies in no time.

If you love slots, be sure to sign up for your favorite casino’s slot club. Once you are on the mailing list for your favorite hotel/casino, you will free room offers, slot tournament invitations, and other freebies and perks.

Lastly, if you’re not averse to filling out forms, getting on several hotels’ mailings lists can give you the pick of great Las Vegas hotel deals and much more. Hotels regularly dole out special room rates, free show tickets, and other great perks to those on their mailing lists, because they know that great money-saving offers will keep you coming back.

Coupons

Lastly, don’t forget the humble coupon.

An increasing number of websites let you print coupons from home and bring them to Vegas to redeem. Enter "las vegas coupons" into your favorite search engine to uncover the treasure trove of such sites, which include www.vegas4locals.com, www.vegascoupons.com, and www.lasvegas-nv.com/las-vegas-coupons.htm. Printing out coupons before you depart can be a great way to plan your activities and get excited about your trip.

Once you are in Vegas, pick up coupon books in your hotel room, hotel lobbies, shopping areas, and taxis. The coupons can give you great ideas for cheap and tasty dining, 2-for-1 show tickets, and more. Great deals are there for the taking, and you may discover some great new restaurants and attractions while you save money!

Vegas may be an exciting destination for adults and children alike. With a little planning, flexibility, and insider knowledge, you can save a bundle while having the time of your life.