WALLET FRIENDLY: Time shares, condo hotels and home rentals reduce the cost of a visit to Las Vegas

By Beverly Beyette
LOS ANGELES TIMES
LAS VEGAS – When Las Vegas was in its infancy, high-end hotels practically gave away rooms to lure gamblers. Today, travelers can break the bank paying for a few nights’ lodging. But there are alternatives – condo hotels, time shares and vacation-home rentals.
Time shares are as plentiful as slot machines. Besides those already built, several more are under construction. When not occupied by owners, they’re usually available for short-term rental, as are units in condo hotels, another fast-growing segment of the market.

On a recent trip, I stayed at the Platinum, a new condo hotel not far from the Strip, and at Hilton Grand Vacations Club, a time share at the Strip’s north end. A suite – a small apartment really – at the Platinum was $195 a night midweek, including tax; a room with kitchenette at the Hilton averaged $191 a night for three nights including a weekend. [read story]
Don’t forget to check out Holiday’s selection of Las Vegas timeshares, available, as always, at 60% to 80% below retail prices.

Destination: Girls’ Timeshare Getaways

Family vacations are wonderful for making cherished memories. And couples’ only trips are great for rekindling romance. But most women would likely agree that when they need to escape from everyday life and get out of town for a few days to feel refreshed and recharged, they turn to their female friends for a girls’ getaway.
These kinds of women-only trips can take many forms, and can fit all sorts of budgets and time frames. But certain things are usually on the agenda–plenty of time to relax, share stories over decadent meals (and lots of red wine), nurture your spirit, read a good book, indulge in spa treatments or enjoy some exercise in the great outdoors. One thing’s for sure: no husbands, boyfriends or children are allowed.
One way a handful of gal pals can hunker down in spacious accommodations together is in a timeshare. With one- to three-bedroom units, you can bunk up–even pull out sleeper sofas–and stay up late into the night giggling like teenagers at a slumber party. With plenty of room to spread out and a full kitchen for prepping meals (or running the blender for margaritas), this type of lodging makes a great home base for an estrogen-filled adventure.

Here are just a few destination ideas for your next girls’ getaway:

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
With 60 miles of gorgeous beaches, major amusement parks and water parks, dozens of golf courses and even a NASCAR speedway, Myrtle Beach is one location where women can not only kick back oceanside, but also enjoy a few adrenaline-charged thrills. Anglers can head out into the deep blue sea for some serious sport fishing, shoppers can hit the Tanger Outlets, outdoor flea markets or indoor malls.

Las Vegas, Nevada
You know the saying: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” And a lot can happen in Sin City besides just gambling at the 24-hour casinos. Women can schedule spa treatments in many of the mega-resorts on the strip, tour the Hoover Dam, take a guided mountain-bike tour, fly high in the sky with helicopter “flightseeing,” experience weightlessness at an indoor skydiving center, catch a show, and shop till they drop.

Various Spa Resorts
If your idea of a perfect gal-pal getaway involves a daily massage, manicure, pedicure or facial, check out the variety of timeshares at spa resorts throughout the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. From Orlando, Florida to Palm Springs, California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, these resorts typically include not only full-service, on-site spas, but also fitness centers, swimming pools, golf course privileges and other luxurious amenities for the ultimate in relaxation.