Some good reasons to visit Vegas now

Some people hate Vegas; some can't live without it. Here are some reasons to visit now:

They're practically giving away luxury hotel rooms.

You no longer need to go into debt to do Vegas right. Check this: Published weekday rates of $169 at Wynn Las Vegas, $129 at Bellagio. Where else can you stay at a Four Seasons Resort for $200 per night plus tax, plus get a $100 resort credit? (Not for nothing is the Vegas property rated No. 1 on TripAdvisor.) Only in Vegas, baby.

You deserve some pampering.

The home of the groaning buffet is also a major spa capital. Sophisticated facilities such as the Qua Baths at Caesars Palace and the Bathhouse at Mandalay Bay's THEhotel are a must. Many resorts are discounting spa experiences.

You need retail therapy.

Although Vegas is supposedly all about "gaming," for many visitors it's all about shopping. The malls attached to the major casinos (e.g., the Forum Shops at Caesars) are a huge draw but so are the outlet malls, such as the Las Vegas Premium Outlets South (with 140 stores) and North (150 stores). If you have a car, head for the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas in Primm, Nev., with over 100 stores. Leave room in your suitcase.

It seems weird calling Spring Mountain Road -- just off the Strip -- "Chinatown," seeing as it's really "Asiatown." Strong suits are regional Chinese, Japanese (Raku at 5030 Spring Mountain is a must), Korean and Vietnamese, but don't stop there -- Las Vegas is jam-packed with Thai restaurants.

99-cent margaritas

The Vegas many people grew up loving is back in full force, with the craziest drink deals and some pretty terrific happy hours. Of course, at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, right at the corner of Flamingo & Las Vegas Boulevard, happy hour runs all day, and the margaritas really are just 99 cents. Need something slightly more high brow? Hit Las Horas Loca at Agave, a classy Mexican restaurant out by the Red Rock Resort. Every day, from precisely 4:05 p.m. to 6:27 p.m. (for real), it has 25-cent tacos and $1 Coronitas (10820 W. Charleston Blvd.).

It's naturally beautiful.

Minutes from town, you can be hiking in Red Rock Canyon, while just north of the city, there's cool, green Mount Charleston, towering 12,000 feet above the valley floor. Vegas is the perfect jumping off point for a tour of the Southwest's most memorable natural attractions -- the so-called "Grand Circle" ... Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, and, of course, the Grand Canyon.