Warning. My title is a bit tongue in cheek. As a non-gambler, I'm not a big fan of Vegas, but my husband loves it. Actually, once I get there, I can sometimes enjoy the rather kitsch sense of irony that characterizes the entire town. Nonetheless, here I am in Vegas. My husband got one of those offers from Hilton Grand Vacations. Three nights for $95, as long as you are willing to listen to a long sales presentation. It's a actually a nice place, and the fact that there's a full kitchen means that you can save some money on food.

But about Vegas: here's what makes me laugh. It's kind of like Epcot. You can find an accurate replica of just about every city in the world. Today, we explored the Venetian, and I'll be darned if they didn't reproduce Piazza San Marco, minus the pigeons.

So what about Vegas on a budget? While the ultra cheap buffets are a thing of the past, even the luxury hotels have food courts. For a pseudo-luxury experience, have lunch at Sugar and Ice in the Wynn Hotel. Sandwiches are about $10, and you can watch the waterfalls while you eat. If you can get a room with a fridge, eat dinner at Cafe Luxe in the Venetian. Portions are enormous, so you can save the leftovers for the next day.