Las Vegas For Under $250

The Deal Detective is SmarterTravel.com's resident bargain hunter, Kate Hamman. She's always on the lookout for new travel deals and invites you, dear reader, to submit your own questions.

shanee writes, "It's my 30th birthday and also my two year wedding anniversary. We are looking for the best deals to Las Vegas [for] travel October 15 through October 18. We want to spend between $300 and $700 [for] airfare and hotel."

My goodness, you do have plenty of great reasons to celebrate, and Las Vegas is a prime spot for a wonderful party. Though it's possible to find cheap rooms in Vegas almost any time of the year, let's go for the gold and see if we can find a really great deal at a fabulous casino resort.

I've learned that it's rarely wise to assume anything in life, but I'm going to make an exception and assume that your budget is per person—though I'll also include a few options that fit your prices for two people, just in case.

October can be an ideal time to visit Sin City, as the warm desert weather is cooling down and there are fewer visitors—which can mean lower rates. However, prices drop even lower for stays during the weekdays, as weekend prices tend to be higher. For example, a room at the Paris Las Vegas in October starts at $69 for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, while it costs about $165 for Fridays.

I realize that you have set dates because of a special occasion, but it can pay off to have a bit of flexibility in your plans. Plus, Vegas is a city that literally never sleeps, and every evening of the week is like a Saturday night.

Another example of how to save by altering your travel dates is to check the deals from United Vacations, which is offering vacation packages starting at $244 per person (with taxes and fees) in October. The deal includes round-trip airfare from San Francisco (other departure cities are available for a higher price) and three nights' accommodations at hotels like Luxor, Bellagio, and the Wynn Las Vegas. The catch is that you must depart on a Monday. Book by October 5.

Pleasant Holidays' two-night vacation package at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino is another way to save, if you can shift your dates. The deal starts at $272 per person (without taxes and fees) in October, and includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles, two nights' accommodations, a $50 slot credit, and dining and entertainment discounts. You must travel on a Monday or Tuesday to get this price.

If your travel dates are set in stone, Expedia is offering three-night packages starting at $344 per person (without taxes and fees). The deal includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles (other departure cities are available for a higher price) and three nights' accommodations at a range of hotel properties. Book by October 15.

Another great resource to find deals for specific dates to Vegas is Southwest Vacations. Most of the specials I found were expiring the same day this article publishes, but new discounts are released all the time and it's worth checking back to see if there's a deal that fits your schedule.

This should give you an idea of what's available and what you can fit into your budget. Even if you can't change your dates, I hope you find a great deal that has you celebrating in style.

As for my other readers: Do you know of some ways to win big in Vegas? Have you had any experience in booking weekdays versus weeknight stays? Please share any and all tips below.

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All prices, dates, and booking details listed here were valid at the time of publication. Some information may have changed since that time.