Las Vegas: Strategies: When to Go

With 38.9 million visitors in 2006, Vegas is now packed pretty much year-round. The average occupancy is an astonishing 95 percent for the city’s hotels overall, even higher for the luxury properties. And unless you deal well with absolute insanity, avoid New Year’s Eve at all costs. The only semislow times are the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas and August, when average temperatures can be higher than 100 degrees. Bear in mind, though, that inexpensive packages during the summer months often bring in the masses.

TIP: To avoid the crowds and get much better deals on rooms and suites (and a much better chance of staying where you want), plan to go Sunday through Thursday.