Las Vegas Top Ten Values

1. Room Rates - Vegas Club Et al. - - $23 and up

Are room rates as low as they can go? We can’t predict
the future, but we are starting to see signs that they
might finally be stabilizing. Even if they are, that means
that we’re only now seeing the bottom, and the great
bundling deals that include free-play and resort credits are still readily available. So we’re keeping the room-rate roll going with the great low-cost Vegas hotel room holding steady in the #1 spot.

2. Steak Dinner - Ellis Island - 24 hours - $6.95

The complete steak dinner at Ellis Island is the best-value meal deal in a city full of good-value meal deals. It’s a 10-ounce filet-cut sirloin, which comes with salad, garlic green beans, choice of potato, and fresh microbrewed beer, all for $6.95.

3. Dollar Days - Sahara - Daily - $1

Dollar Days continue at the Sahara: dollar beer, shots (with souvenir glass), hot dogs, and blackjack, all in the rear of the casino near the NASCAR Café.

4. Prime Rib - South Point - 24 hours - $12.95

We keep trying prime ribs, but we keep coming back to the big slab at South Point for the one-two combo of quality and price. It’s served 24 hours a day in the coffee shop, with your choice of soup or salad, potato, and rolls if you ask.

5. Steak & Eggs - Arizona Charlie's Decatur - Daily - $3.99

The Arizona Charlie’s Decatur steak-and-eggs breakfast special is served 24/7 and costs $3.99, but you have to show a player’s club card to get that price (four people can get the deal on one card). You can also get the steak (or ham) and eggs at Arizona Charlie’s Boulder for $3.29, but it’s a bit more difficult to travel there and the coffee shop isn’t open around the clock.

6. Buffet - M Resort - Daily - $14.95-$29.95

Dilemma time. M Resort’s Studio B Buffet raised some prices lately. Kinda. Fridays through Sundays, dinner is
now $29.95 (up from $22.95). However, the higher prices are for a new seafood buffet with higher-quality offerings,
so maybe M gets a pass. Additionally, however, the $2 discount for showing the iMagine card has been rescinded.
Oooph. Then, in a positive move, M added kids pricing: 5-8 years old, lunch $10.95, dinner $16.95, seafood dinner
$22.95. Of course, our policy is that a Top Tenner that raises prices must exit the list, if only for a brief time. So have prices really been raised? The Monday-Thursday buffets are the same spread and the same price. No, you can’t get that $2 card discount, but that was an extra that not everyone used. Our heads are exploding! OK, we’re compromising -- keeping M on the list, but dropping them to #6. Come on, it’s not a cop-out. The former price is available most of the time and we hear that the seafood product is exceptional. Plus, it allows us to finally bring in a related deal that’s been waiting on deck (see #10).

7. Lunch Comp - Crown & Anchor - Daily - $20 Buy-in

The free lunch with a $20 video poker buy-in, available 11 am to 3 pm, is still going strong at the Crown & Anchor pubs. Plus, if you miss lunch, the $20 buy-in entitles you to a free appetizer (including the great chicken fingers) from 3 p.m. to midnight. And all the while, you’re also drinking comped premium draft beers from around the world. It’s ironic that the best comp in Comp City is now available outside the casinos (locations are at 1350 E. Tropicana and 4775 Spring Mountain).

8. Hot Dog - Suncoast - 10 am-6 pm - 75¢

The hot dog at the Suncoast available from the vendor cart in the sports book is only 75¢ and comes with relish, onions, and sauerkraut for the price. It’s the best hot dog deal in town, along with South Point, which offers the same thing during the same hours at its sports book.

9. Beer - Casino Royale - Daily - $1

You can find a lot of dollar beer deals around town, but Casino Royale serves bottled Michelob around the clock right in the heart of center Strip. Or you can opt for $1 margaritas (traditional or strawberry served in 12-ounce plastic glasses).

10. Margarita Brunch - - Sunday 10:30 am-3 pm - $14.99

We’ve been waiting for an opening to include the super-fun Sunday brunch at Garduño’s at the Palms. “Super fun?” Yes. The food’s good, but this is a real Sunday-morning party, due to the bottomless margaritas that come with the price. And that price is just $14.95 (assuming you don’t use your Palms MRB coupon to get it for $7.50). With the change at the M and the demise of the one of the other remaining good low-cost Sunday brunches, the time was right for Garduño’s to get onto the list.