Question of the Day — 2 Nov 2006

It's true that Las Vegas is no longer quite the bargain-hunter's haven of yesteryear: Gone are the 25¢ blackjack at downtown's long-defunct Club Bingo, the imploded Boardwalk's 59¢ chicken and roast-beef dinners (25¢ at Christmas), the free photos at Binion's and Imperial Palace, the 5¢ cup of coffee at Nickel Nicks at Westward Ho (RIP), free ice cream at the Gold Coast (and the Westward Ho, where it came with free cookies, too), and on and on.

That said, there's still plenty of free entertainment (see our "Activities" section under "Vegas Info") and bargains galore -- like the odd 99¢ graveyard special¹, $1 beers², and 99¢ shrimp cocktails³ -- if you know where to look for them, not to mention a whole raft of buffets that come in under $7, decent rooms for under $30 if you plan your trip wisely, and heaps of monster-saving coupons (just check out LVA's Pocketbook of Values, plus all the other members deals on this site).

But let's face it, these days Las Vegas caters to the ultra-rich even more than it does the value-seeker and, if money's no object, there are myriad ways to splash some serious cash, without even going near the gaming tables. Here are some suggestions:

• Let's start with accommodation. What was long the most expensive suite available for private use in Las Vegas, namely the $17,500-a-night Verona Sky Villa at the Las Vegas Hilton, has now been well and truly eclipsed by the Fantasy Towers at the Palms, where the Hardwood Suite, complete with basketball half-court, rotating loveseat, and extra-large Jacuzzi, will set you back a cool $25,000 a night. Or how about the 9,000-square-foot Hugh Hefner Playboy Mansion Sky Villa, with its glass elevator, indoor pool, three bedrooms, and spa treatment, dining, media, massage, and dining rooms, where you won't get any change out of $40K per night? Hmm, yes, that's quite a lot, but the view is priceless.

• So there's your digs taken care of. Now, what about transportation? Forget those free shuttles and trams: If you really want to splash out, how about hiring a Lamborghini Gallardo from Rent-A-Vette? It's only $1,599 a day and you get the first 100 miles free. Bargain!

• Hungry? There are several options food-wise if you really want to throw some money around. If you're in the mood for something lengthy and gourmet, check out the tasting menu at MGM Grand's Joël Robuchon. The 16-course menu's $350 per person, and that's not including your booze tab. But if all those courses are going to eat into valuable shopping time, why not just grab a burger? Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay serves one that costs $5,000 (actually, the burger's a mere $75; the accompanying wine and crystal stemware, which you get to keep, add on all the extra zeros.) But that's no longer the priciest in town, since the Palms introduced its $6,000 version. Unlike the kobe and truffle extravaganza that comprise the FleurBurger 5000, this is a humble Carl's Jr. offering, but it comes served with a 24-year-old French Bordeaux and can be delivered direct to your room -- sorry, villa.

  And as recently reported in Today's News, we believe our fair city may now be home to the most expensive potato in the world, ever. Served as a side dish at Fiamma Trattoria at MGM Grand, the $70 Yukon Gold white truffle potato consists of the largest potato money can buy, which is baked to perfection and folded with bacon, sour cream, imported parmigiano-reggiano, and two grams of fresh Alba truffles from Italy. It's then topped with an additional seven grams of shaved Alba white truffles, just because they can.

• Looking for some after-dinner cocktails? Apparently, Bellagio’s Prime steakhouse still has some of its $1,050-a-shot Chivas Regal 50-Year Salute available, or sip on an "Aristocrat Martini" at Hard Rock’s Body English, which not only features some of the most rarified liquors known to mankind, but also comes garnished with a ruby-encrusted white gold swizzle stick, which is yours to keep. Cute.

• If it’s retail therapy you’re after, there are no shortage of outrageous shopping opportunities, especially in the jewelry department. We recommend heading over to the Esplanade at Wynn, where the Cartier store has limited-edition Vegas-themed charm bracelets in white gold, diamonds, and rubies. The full set of playing cards, dice, poker chips, roulette, and joker will set you back around $60,000. Or, in the same plaza, check out Graff: When we called to research this, they had a 30 carat cushion-cut 30 yellow diamond available. Cost: $940,000.