Top free attractions

For those looking to make the most of their travel budget while visiting the "Entertainment Capital of the World," there are myriad options for the value-conscious visitor. Here are just a few:

Free attractions line the Las Vegas Strip and they're not hard to find. The Mirage's volcano erupts in a lagoon filled with waterfalls and palm trees every 15 minutes from dusk to midnight.

Next door, nightly passersby can catch the "Sirens of TI" at Treasure Island. The revamped version showcases the popular pyrotechnic war as male renegade pirates battle "sexy sirens" of Sirens' Cove. Performances run every 90 minutes beginning at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, the world-famous Fountains at Bellagio thrill visitors with more than 1,000 water-emitting devices choreographed to music by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Whitney Houston and Andrea Bocelli.

The Rio's "Masquerade Show in the Sky" features state-of-the-art floats that are suspended from the ceiling and parade above the casino floor in a one-of-a-kind Carnivale celebration.

Downtown's famous, casino-lined street is now the Fremont Street Experience, a 175,700-square-foot pedestrian area covered by a continuous canopy studded with more than 14 million lights. Each evening on the hour, this canopy comes alive with spectacular light-and-sound shows.

From Las Vegas Hilton to Luxor to JW Marriott, most major resorts offer free lounge entertainment that is available practically around the clock.

Low-priced attractions abound as well. "The Mac King Comedy Hour" at Harrah's Las Vegas is a great show value, with tickets priced at less than $20. The show contains quirky humor, visual gags and King's sleight-of-hand, all delivered in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.

For lunchtime bargain-hunters, nothing beats the classic $0.99 shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, the oldest hotel in Las Vegas. For gourmet on a budget, many Las Vegas buffets now offer fare from around the world and at a reasonable price.

The Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino's Carnival World Buffet offers more 300 offerings and 70 dessert dishes from around the world - from pizza to omelets to teppan yaki to fresh pasta. Another example is Paris Las Vegas' Le Village Buffet which showcases five provinces of France. Each station is themed for a particular province and features a different facade designed to replicate the architecture of that region.