Feeling lucky: How to save big in Sin City Flights from Minnesota to Vegas have been running as low as $99 round-trip in recent months, but a low advertised price for early March is $179. I watched hotel rates for several months, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays were generally cheaper, unless there was a special event or big convention in town. Hobbit Travel is offering three-night hotel/airfare packages for as low as $400 in early March (1-800-916-0000; www.hobbittravel.com).

For lunch, I took cheapovegas.com's advice and went a few blocks east of the Sahara to Lotus of Siam (1-702-735-3033; www.saipinchutima.com). It's in a rundown strip mall, but Gourmet named it one of the best Thai restaurants in America. For $8-$22, you can get such items as a fried mussel omelet or a whole barbecued chicken. I had a duck curry with peppers, tomatoes, grapes and nuts. Wonderful.

Insiders say the Redwood Bar and Grill (1-702-385-1222; www.thecal.com/dining/redwood-bar-and-grill) in the California Casino is a great deal for a splurge, especially the unadvertised porterhouse for under $20. Ellis Island Casino and Brewery (1-702-733-8901; www.ellisislandcasino.com) has a $6.99 steak special, but you have to ask for it.

Pools are free. Try Mandalay Bay, the Flamingo or Bellagio.

Billboards advertise deals on shows everywhere, and hotels offer cut-rate prices to guests when not sold out. Or, you can go to www.tix4tonight.com for half-price deals. It has several locations on the Strip. "The Mac King Comedy Hour" at Harrah's is less than $20, and you can get into afternoon shows with a coupon if you buy a drink.

Walk the Strip and you can also pick up tons of coupon books, or go to www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/pdf/shopping_passport.pdf and download money-saving options.

And you won't be sorry if you go to www.cheapovegas.com.

JON TEVLIN