Shopping coupon

Looking for discounts at the mall?

Go to www.VisitLasVegas.com. Under "Shopping," users can download the Shop Las Vegas Passport coupon redeemable for gifts and discounts at most Las Vegas malls including Fashion Show, Desert Passage and Las Vegas Premium Outlets to name a few. While you're at the malls, check out the variety of free entertainment they offer, from singing gondoliers at Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian to the Forum Shops' Roman statues that come to life inside Caesars Palace.

New hotels coming to Vegas in 2008

New hotels open in Vegas all of the time. Here is a list of what coming in 2008
In January, The Palazzo celebrated its grand opening. The newest resort by Las Vegas Sands Corporation is located in the heart of the famed Las Vegas Strip. When combined with the neighboring Venetian and Sands Expo and Convention Center, The Palazzo gives the company the largest hotel and convention complex in the world. The $1.8 billion Palazzo features more than 3,000 all-suite rooms and offers shopping, dining and entertainment on two luxurious levels. The 450,000-square- foot retail space, The Shoppes at The Palazzo(tm) is highlighted by Barneys New York and connected to The Venetian via The Grand Canal Shoppes. It houses approximately 60 high-end and mid-level stores from the most recognizable brands to the hottest newcomers and unique one-of-a-kind boutiques drawn from all over the world.

Aliante Station, the latest resort project by Station Casinos and Greenspun Corporation, topped off the concrete structure of its hotel tower in November 2007. The $675 million project broke ground in late February 2007 in North Las Vegas. The property is scheduled to open late 2008 and will feature: 200 hotel rooms; a full array of gaming offerings including table games, slots, race and sports book and poker room; six restaurants; a 16-screen Regal Cinemas movie theatre; a 700-seat entertainment showroom and meeting/convention space. Aliante Station is located on approximately 40 acres at the intersection of the 215 Beltway and Aliante Pkwy. in North Las Vegas.

Palms Place Condo Hotel and Spa broke ground in January 2006 and, after 19 months of construction, continues to be right on schedule for occupancy in early 2008. Palms Place will feature 599 condominium-suites, from spacious studios to one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites and spectacular penthouses. Amid lush landscaping and beautiful gardens, a world-class, 50,000 square-foot pool and spa enclave will boast the first hammam in Las Vegas offering decadent blend of ancient and contemporary treatments. The building will also feature the SkyTube, a moving walkway that will join the residences with the Palm's casino, restaurants and nightlife.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower is set for opening in April of 2008. True to the brand's form, the property will reflect the "Ultra Luxury Trump Lifestyle" in every possible fashion. From the exterior, which will be clad in 24-carat gold glass to the elegant lobby areas and luxuriously furnished and decorated condominium hotel units, every aspect of the building will reflect the superior level of quality that is synonymous with the Trump name. Rising 64 stories, the building will house 1,232 suites and 50 penthouse suites, a world-class spa, salon and fitness center, gourmet dining at DJT Restaurant and Bar, a pool with private cabanas, indoor meeting space and a business center. Plus, Trump will offer a personal attache service for every guest.

Luxor has announced a multi-phase enhancement plan designed to revolutionize the resort and bring new energy to the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The evolution is slated to take place in several phases, with the first phase encompassing the casino level and the second phase encompassing changes to the property's signature atrium and galleria areas including several retail changes, a re-branded coffee shop and new buffet. The third phase will focus on room remodeling and is planned to begin in 2009. Projects in Phase One of Luxor's evolution include a host of sexy-chic new restaurants, lounges and nightspots, as well as a spa-like poolside lounge, redesigned casino floor and Cirque du Soleil show featuring illusionist Criss Angel.

Encore, the second tower of Wynn Las Vegas, is under way with completion expected in December 2008. The $1.4 billion hotel and casino will house approximately 2,000 rooms. The tower will house its own casino, pool, restaurants and other luxury amenities.

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.

Cars and wax

If your Las Vegas dream vacation involves fast cars and celebrity sightings, you'll have plenty to brag about to your friends back home.

Check out the multi-million-dollar Auto Collections at Imperial Palace, one of the world's largest selections of antique, classic, muscle and special-interest automobiles available for sale. The 250 automobiles span a century and range in price from $20,000 to $3 million.

Then, check out Penske-Wynn Ferrari/Maserati showroom at Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada's first and only factory-authorized Ferrari and Maserati dealership, offering the finest in new and pre-owned cars.

After you've chosen your dream car, you'll be ready to meet and greet some of the most famous celebrities in the world at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Located at The Venetian, the museum showcases more than 100 wax figures of some of the world's most popular film, television, music and sports celebrities. Visitors can even interact with several of its "celebrity" experiences for a truly memorable photo opportunity.

Mini-Productions

If you simply want to be entertained, you've come to the right place. Las Vegas has no shortage of shows. But shows does not need to mean huge productions. There are smaller productions put on by casinos. Most of these mini-productions are free.

Las Vegas offers a variety of themed mini-productions, which occur regularly throughout the day. Travel back in time and into the fascinating world of Roman mythology with two shows, Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain Shows, which feature Roman statues that come to life, inside the Forum Shops at Caesars.

At The Rio, The Masquerade Show in the Sky features state-of-the-art floats that are suspended from the ceiling and parade above the casino floor. The show evokes the electrifying and colorful atmosphere of Carnivale as performers clad in exotic masks and brilliant costumes entertain with exciting music and dance.

At The Mirage, witness this world-famous volcanic eruption as smoke and fire spray 100 feet above the waters below, transforming a tranquil waterfall into spectacular streams of molten lava.

Downtown's famous, casino-lined Fremont Street has been converted into a 175,700-square-foot pedestrian area covered by a continuous canopy studded with more than 14 million lights. Called the Fremont Street Experience, this canopy showcases spectacular light-and-sound shows every hour on the hour during the evenings.

Vegas coasters

You don't need to go to an amusement park to go on a roller coaster.

If you're looking for thrills of a different nature, Las Vegas offers all of the excitement you're looking for. Stratosphere has three of the world's highest rides located 100 stories above the ground: Xscream (which teeters riders over the edge of the tower 900 feet above the ground), the Big Shot - a thrill ride that shoots fun-lovers 50 meters into the air at a force of 4G's before letting them free-fall back to the launching pad - and Insanity, an appropriately named, dizzying spinning ride that dangles passengers over the edge of the tower before whirling them around at speeds approaching 40 miles per hour.

Speed - The Ride at the Sahara takes passengers around a roller coaster loop and up a 224-foot climb at speeds topping 70 mph and then retraces the same path...in reverse. The Manhattan Express at New York-New York is an exciting roller coaster with twists, loops and dives around the resort. It features the first-ever heart line roll, which provides a sensation similar to that felt by a pilot during a barrel roll in an airplane.

The Desperado, one of the world's tallest and fastest roller coasters, is located near the California/Nevada border just 30 minutes from Las Vegas at Buffalo Bill's in Primm, Nevada. The ride begins with an initial lift height of 209 feet and a breathtaking 225-foot drop.

America's largest indoor theme park, the Adventuredome at Circus Circus, offers 21 rides and attractions.

Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton features an outer space shuttlecraft thrill ride and re-creations of the U.S.S. Enterprise's bridge, turbo lift and grand corridor.

Vegas Romance

For the romantic in you, slow things down a bit with a Gondola Ride at The Venetian. Accompanied by singing gondoliers, this leisurely tour takes you along the quarter-mile replica of the Grand Canal in Venice. Just down the street, you'll discover another romantic Italian attraction at Bellagio.

The world-famous Fountains of Bellagio will speak to your heart as opera, classical and whimsical musical selections are carefully choreographed with the movements of 1,000 water-emitting devices.

Next stop: Paris. Take an elevator ride to the observation deck atop the 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas for a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Valley.

Seeing animals on the Vegas Strip

When you're not winning in the casino, lounging by the pool or savoring delicious cuisine, you'll find that Las Vegas has a variety of must-see attractions and entertainment options to keep you and the whole family occupied.

From thrilling roller coasters to virtual-reality simulator rides and erupting volcanoes to wax museums, Las Vegas' attractions appeal to people of all ages, interests and budgets.

Discover the wild side of Las Vegas (as if you haven't already) at a variety of attractions for animal lovers. Visit the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo Hotel and see Chilean flamingos, swans, ducks, koi, goldfish and turtles. Venture over to The Mirage for the Dolphin Habitat & Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden.

The Secret Garden is home to royal white tigers, white lions, black panthers, a snow leopard, golden tigers and a four-ton elephant. The Dolphin Habitat, adjacent to the Secret Garden, houses an extended family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

At MGM Grand, see The Lion Habitat, a showcase for public education and appreciation of this majestic creature. The lions live in custom accommodations on an 8.5-acre ranch 12 miles from MGM Grand and visit the habitat daily. Get up close and personal with endangered and unusual aquatic animals at Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef.

Visitors journey through a replica of an ancient temple ruin and a sunken galleon ship surrounded by several varieties of sharks.