With Tourism Decline, New Las Vegas Travel Deals And All-Inclusives

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Tourism may be down, but Las Vegas is still open for business—and getting less expensive to visit.

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Las Vegas tourism just saw its sixth straight month of declining visitor numbers, and media around the country have pounced on the city’s troubles with headlines like, “Has Hell Frozen Over?: Las Vegas tourism is in trouble” (SFGate.com) and “An Empty Strip and Fewer Tips: Is Las Vegas in Trouble?” (Time Magazine). There has been a lot of finger pointing, blame and rationalization from all sides, but the silver lining for travelers is that with Vegas visitation down, whatever the reasons, the city is starting to roll out travel deals, even on the Strip, were hotels have been resistant to package discounts. For would-be visitors, that means there are now some notable new Las Vegas travel deals.

What’s Going On With Las Vegas Tourism?

Two big hits to Vegas tourism have been a substantial decline in Canadian visitors, prompted in part by the current administration’s policies, and a drop in convention business. But the most popular reason critics give is that consumers finally got fed up with all the creeping extras, high costs and incessant nickel and diming, especially the rise of resort fees and high priced parking for hotel guests. “Resort fees” are a bogus construct that plague the entire travel industry, where you have to fork over an extra daily fee on top of your quoted room rate for things that have always traditionally been included at hotels, like using the gym and pool—and even if you don’t use them you pay. It’s a pure and simple hotel industry money grab, it is often deceptive, and it happens around the globe, but has been especially prevalent in Vegas. At the same time, everything from mini-bars to a beer at what were once cheap lobby bars has gotten wildly overpriced, especially on the Strip. With one top resort charging mini-bar prices like $26 for a bottle of Fiji Water and $16 for a single serve Monster energy drink, while greatly cutting back on free drinks in casinos and especially sports books, it’s easy to understand how people could get fed up.

Las Vegas Gets An All-Inclusive Deal

But I love visiting Las Vegas, and as I said, the good news is that there are some new travel bargains to be had. A few months ago, I wrote about the rollout of a novel all-inclusive package in Downtown Las Vegas, which has remained consistently more affordable than the Strip, but generally less desirable. While these kinds of “bottomless” packages are standard in spots like the Dominican Republic and Mexico, they are far from the norm in Vegas, where cheap rooms are often offset by sky high drink prices.

So, this all-inclusive package at the Plaza Casino Resort is extra special here, and you can read much more detail about it in my original piece, but since then there has been a significant change. The package was originally just for the hottest part of the summer, which is always off peak in the hot Vegas climate, and was supposed to end last month, but was just extended through the end of September (so far, and I would not be surprised if its gets extended again) which speaks to the ongoing tourism woes. The rate starts at $125, and that includes overnight lodging, “resort fees,” parking, meals, with several outlets to choose from, and bottomless adult beverages at select on-site bars, a throwback to the glory days of low cost Vegas. I can’t imagine covering your room, board and indulgent drinks for a full day in Vegas for less. (I also recently wrote about the newest Las Vegas airport lounge, an entrant in the exploding lounge battle between top travel credit cards).

New Travel Packages At Top Strip Hotels

But the big news is in the heart of the Strip, where most of the properties are owned by a handful of multinational casino resort operators and have been largely hesitant to budge on packages, though room rates in Las Vegas have always been extremely elastic, with dynamic pricing across an extremely wide range. Downturns like the current one are always reflected in cheap room rates, but these may still come with high extra fees, parking and almost never include a break on food or drink.

Yesterday, however, one of the giants, Caesars Entertainment, broke from the mold with a just launched package—and most surprisingly, it’s good all the way through December 31, 2025—well into the return of what should normally be a much more peak season (though there are blackout dates). So, unlike the summer deals that require you to tolerate the city’s sometimes triple-digit heat, you can enjoy these in much more pleasant weather.

Here’s the bottom line: The just announced $300 Escape packages are good at your choice of three Caesars Entertainment properties, all in the heart of the Strip: Harrah’s Las Vegas, The LINQ Hotel or Flamingo Las Vegas. I’d personally choose the LINQ, as for me it is the most contemporary and lively, and opens onto the open-air pedestrian LINQ Promenade, but each property has its own following (or you can pick based on package availability).

Whichever you choose, for $300 you get a two-night stay at and a $200 food and beverage credit. It’s virtually impossible to spend two nights in Vegas without spending $200 on food and drinks, so that effectively makes your room rate $50 a night—and that includes all “resort fees.”

What I especially like about this one is that the dining credit is good at all eight Caesars properties, not just the three with lodging packages. So, you can parcel your $200 out across grab and go, drinks or food courts, or use it to splurge on a higher-priced celebrity chef meal from Bobby Flay. Nobu Matsuhisa, Gordon Ramsay or many other high-end eateries. The credit is valid at more than 100 dining and lounge venues, from fine dining restaurants, top steakhouses, and famed chefs to casual food halls, buffets and coffee shops. It’s a great deal no matter how you slice it, especially given the long time frame it runs in, and there’s a special booking portal online just for the $300 deal.

“There’s no better time to visit Vegas, and this package is an incredible value in the heart of The Strip,” said Dan Walsh, SVP and General Manager of the three resorts in the package release. “From upscale dining to convenient, fast-casual meals, this offer gives guests the opportunity to try a wide range of options across all our Las Vegas resorts.”

More New Las Vegas Travel Deals

I’ve never been a big fan of the Sahara, a non-descript casino hotel at the very upper end of the Strip, isolated between the already far flung Fontainebleau and the Strat, and it recently lost its main lure and top amenity, the stunning Bazaar Meats restaurant by Jose Andres, arguably the best steakhouse in Vegas (moving into a more accessible space at the Venetian). But the Sahara is worth thinking about because it launched a newsworthy bargain package. The All-In Rate Experience starts at just $69 (excluding taxes) and adds a $25 per day resort credit for food and beverage, free late checkout, free room class upgrade and free parking (valet or self), a great deal on the Strip, even a remote section of it. It is also the furthest lasting top offer I’ve seen, good until January 4, 2026.

It is entirely likely that additional hotels will roll out packages and deals in the current tourism climate, especially following the Caesars announcement, and I would not be surprised if one of the big corporate competitors responded with packages, so if you want to get your Vegas on, keep your eyes open. The city’s official visitors website, VisitLasVegas.com, has a page that lists current packages and offers and is a good resource for consumers looking for new Las Vegas travel deals.