Mature travelers to Las Vegas need never pay full price for a room. Most major lodging chains with senior-discount programs have inns in Las Vegas;
some of the large independent resort hotels also offer deep discounts.
But beware: The regular rates in certain hotels-for instance, the new Excalibur and the family-oriented Circus Circus-are lower than some hotels`
senior rates.
And some Las Vegas hotels are worth considering just for the novelty of staying one night, even if they are expensive and don`t offer senior rates:
for example, the new Mirage with its dolphins and white tigers or the exciting Caesars Palace.
Here are some special Las Vegas deals for seniors:
– The Palace Station hotel-casino, about a half-mile off the Strip west of Interstate Highway 15 (2411 W. Sahara Ave.), gives guests age 55 and over a $30 rate on rooms regularly priced from $55 to $65. For more information:
800-634-3101.
– The St. Tropez Resort, an all-suite hotel without a casino (that means it`s quiet), also a few blocks off The Strip (455 E. Harmon Ave.), offers guests age 49 and over a 15 to 20 percent discount off its regular rates of $89 to $115. For more information: 800-666-5400.
– The Four Queens hotel-casino, in the heart of downtown Las Vegas (202 E. Fremont St.), offers guests age 55 and over a $35 rate on rooms that are usually $47. The deal is good Sundays through Thursdays. And the Four Queens has a terrific restaurant, Hugo`s. For more information: 800-634-6045.
– The clean, quiet Best Western Mardi Gras Inn (3500 Paradise Rd.), behind The Strip but within walking distance of the Hilton, Sahara and Las Vegas Convention Center gives guests age 49 and over 10 percent off all room rates. The inn features roomy mini-suites where travelers can relax and watch television while a companion sleeps. For more information: 800-634-6501.
– And the Tropicana (one of our favorites) gives seniors 25 percent off any room rate. That can bring a bill down as low as $29 a night. The ”Trop” has a casino as large and loud as any in town, along with neat little hideaway bars, snack spots and a friendly staff. For evening entertainment, the hotel extends half-off to seniors at the long-running Folies-Bergere and 25 percent off the meals at the Island Buffet.
The Tropicana is at the south end of The Strip (3801 Las Vegas Blvd. S.), within walking distance of the town`s newest tourist attraction, the Excalibur. For more information: 800-634-4000.
– As for the chain hotels, a host of room-rate bargains includes: two large Hiltons with 25 percent to 50 percent off for seniors; five Travelodges with 20 percent off; two Comfort Inns with 10 to 30 percent off; four Days Inns with up to 40 percent off; La Quinta with 10 percent off.
Traveling with a pet? The Rodeway Inn, also on The Strip, has a bargain for guests age 49 and over with pets. They get 10 percent off.
For the free reservation phone number of any Las Vegas hotel chain, call 800-555-1212.
