On a recent trip to Las Vegas with my family, I discovered a few money saving tips.

• Combine business travel with leisure to save money, and vacation time, on your trip. Recently my husband attended a conference for an organization he belonged to and my daughter and I were able to join him on the trip. We also extended the trip a few days to enjoy some vacation time as a family. Since most of the conference will be reimbursed, we were able to vacation for much less than a standard vacation.


• Save money on food by asking locals where they eat. Check with locals for the best deals. We were able to find a restaurant that served $4.99 steak dinners and $3.99 chicken fried steak breakfasts which saved us a lot of money over the high prices Las Vegas Buffets and restaurants.


• Sign up for players cards at casinos. Even if you do not gamble, players cards often offer discounts on meals and lodging on current and future trips. Many casinos also offer coupon books for free or discounted food or drinks.


• Find the best free activities and shows. In Las Vegas nearly every casino has free shows or exhibits. Most are located outside or just inside the casino so the entire family can enjoy the show. If you have a car, you can also check out Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.


• Save time at checkout. Most hotels now offer an express check out option. This can save you a lot of time, especially if you plan to check out during busy times. Also if your room was on a lower floor, finding an elevator at check out can be a challenge. You may have better luck finding an elevator by heading up first while the elevator is empty, then ride it back down to the lobby.