Area businesses offer great summer discounts to residents

One good thing that's come out of this depressed economy is the really good getaway deals for getting away to -- well actually -- right here in Southern Nevada.

Take for instance the little bedroom community of Mesquite about one hour and 20 minutes north of Las Vegas. The Springs Condominium Resort, 720 Tamarix Way, is offering three-night stays for a two-night price, Sunday through Thursday, for $129 per night on its two-bedroom condos. Friday and Saturday will cost you $159 per night. But then if you want a little more elbowroom, you can book a three-bedroom condo for $169 per night, Sunday through Thursday, or $199 per night Friday and Saturday. The condominiums are only 4½ years old, and the community features a heated swimming pool and hot tub, fitness center, business center and free Wi-Fi in the clubhouse.

"We overlook the mountains and are across the street from a city park," said Theresa Ramos-Garcia, resort manager. "We also offer discount rates at four golf courses in Mesquite -- Falcon Ridge, the Palmer course, the Canyons and the Conestoga. You can save 50 percent off."

Ramos-Garcia points out that the condos were built as triplexes with only three units per building so as to create a less congested and more secluded ambience. The current staycation rates are available through the end of June.

The resort is also offering a Kiddies Treat package where parents with children can stay for four days and three nights, which includes a surprise goodie bag for children, when they book a two-bedroom unit for $199 or a three-bedroom condo for $289. This package is available Sunday through Thursday through the end of July.

The Falcon Ridge Hotel, 1030 W. Pioneer Blvd., prides itself on being a gambling-free resort. Situated atop a hill as you drive into Mesquite, it offers picturesque views of the valley below.

"We try to be as opposite from casinos as we can be," sales representative Larry Austin says. "We are kids and pet friendly, unlike casinos."

In fact, Austin says the hotel has reserved one wing of the resort for pet owners. And youngsters can enjoy an arcade conveniently situated off the hotel lobby.

"We offer a free breakfast seven days a week," says Austin, adding that it's a full breakfast and not continental. Special golf and spa packages and group rates are also ongoing at the resort.

Room rates range from $70 to $100 per night. Suites are available with a $10 upgrade for a petite suite and $20 upgrade for Jacuzzi suites and $50 upgrade for a one-bedroom suite.

The CasaBlanca Resort in Mesquite is offering a golf and spa package for $79, according to Marty Rapson, general manager. It includes a deluxe-tower room at the resort and a choice of a round of golf, a 50-minute massage or two 25-minute spa treatments. The good part about this package is that it's not per person, but per room.

Rapson explains that a couple can stay for $79 and share the two 25-minute spa treatments, or add on another round of golf or spa treatment for the second person. This price goes from Sunday to Thursday and is slightly higher on the weekends and is subject to availability.

Loews Lake Las Vegas, situated on 21 acres of lakefront at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, is enticing families to a staycation at its resort by offering $99 per night room rates during the week and $119 per night rates on weekends throughout the summer. It is also offering an Early Bird Package at $149 per night that starts with an 8 a.m. check-in and includes lunch for four at the Sandsabar Grill restaurant.

An "I'd Rather Be Golfing" two-for-one special starts at $299 per night and includes golf for two at the South Shore Golf Club, which includes greens fees and luxury accommodations. Youngsters can learn how to make sushi in the resort's SushiSkool, taught by Loews' signature Japanese Master Shushi Chef Osamu "Fuji" Fujita of the sushi restaurant Marssa.

"This is a great opportunity for a stay-at-home parent to entertain their kids and have a mini-vacation during the week -- all for about the cost of taking the family to a water park for the day," says Brian Johnson, general manager of Loews. "The bonus is that not only do they get to enjoy two pools, water slide, white sand beach, playground and a lake, but also they get to stay the night and truly take advantage of a luxury resort atmosphere."

In conjunction with the resort's amenities, Loews' concierges are available to plan outdoor adventures that include helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon, off-road tours, kayaking adventures along the Colorado River and Valley of Fire hiking tours.

For those who want to escape the present and take a trip into the past, then the historic Boulder Dam Hotel in Boulder City would be an excellent choice. Built during the construction of Hoover Dam, it offers quaint one-bedroom rooms starting at $69 per night and suites with a kitchenette for $99 per night.

"You will not feel like you're in Southern Nevada," General Manager Roger Shoaff says. "There is no gambling. There are plenty of green trees. A lot of people feel like they are in Iowa. There is a real hometown feeling in Boulder City."

Shoaff says the hotel offers a 10 percent discount for AAA and AARP members. The front desk is open 24 hours and breakfast is served from 6:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and lunch choices include soup, salad or sandwiches from $9 to $12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Boulder Dam Hotel is conveniently located near the historic downtown area of Boulder City, which features a traditional main street with pull-up parking in front of businesses that include antique shops to browse, restaurants, a brew pub, a hardware store, banks, coffee shops and small art galleries. Lush green Bicentennial, Wilbur and Escalante parks are nearby to walk through or simply relax and take in the small-town flavor of Boulder City.

Nearby activities can include a mountain-bike jaunt through Bootleg Canyon, which is a series of scenic trails just west of the city; Lake Mead cruises aboard the Desert Princess paddle wheeler, which can either be sightseeing or dinner cruises; a couple rounds of golf at the Boulder City Golf Course; or a train ride on the Nevada Southern Railway train that winds 3.5 miles west along the historic Boulder Branch Line to Railroad Pass.

If you hop on Interstate 15 South and drive about a half hour to Primm near the California border, you'll find some great deals beginning June 1. Guests who book a room at Buffalo Bills also receive two unlimited passes for the day to the 209-foot Desperado rollercoaster, the Maxflight Cyber Coaster and the Turbo Drop, which plunges riders to the ground from 170 feet in the air. Youngster can also enjoy the kid-friendly Frog Hopper.

The Primm Valley Casino Resorts include three properties: Buffalo Bill's, Primm Valley Resort and Whiskey Pete's.

Of course, when it comes to staycations, if you want to squeeze in as much as you can in the shortest amount of time, nothing beats Las Vegas. Here's a quick rundown of a few of the great deals available:

To coincide with "The Hangover Part II" movie, Caesars Palace is offering a two-night stay in one of its "Classic" rooms that includes a $50 food and beverage credit. Guests are able to upgrade to the Emperor Suite, the two-story suite used in the original "The Hangover" and "Rain Man" movies, for an additional cost.

Guests can also enjoy 20 percent off meals at the Beijing Noodle No. 9 restaurant and 20 percent off dinner, Sunday through Friday, at the Payard Patisserie & Bistro.

Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace offers staycationers a classic 50-minute Swedish massage for $99 that's intended to relax the entire body and improve circulation. A dilo rescue wrap is offered for $150, lasts 75 minutes and is guaranteed to renew, revitalize and regenerate your skin with dilo oil combined with exotic oils from nuts and pure aloe.

Bally's is offering two-for-one tickets to its "Jubilee!" shows at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m., Saturday through Thursday, in the Director's Choice, VIP and Celebrity sections. Spa at Bally's is giving 25 percent off on spa services with advanced reservations. Bally's Steakhouse is offering 50 percent off on select bottles of wine and guests can get $20 off their meal on Sundays at the Sterling Brunch.

The Flamingo Las Vegas is offering $10 off floor seats at the George Wallace show, two-for-one tickets for the Vinnie Favorito show and $10 off tickets for the Nathan Burton show. Staycationers can get 20 percent off breakfast and retail purchases at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, and if they buy one children's buffet at the Paradise Buffet, they get the second one free.

"Le Rêve" at Wynn Las Vegas recently launched its Celebrate Locals campaign and is offering $75 tickets (splash zone and premium seats) to the aquatic spectacular through Aug. 14.

Harrah's Las Vegas is offering two-for-one tickets in its general admission and VIP seating to its "Legends in Concert" show; two-for-one tickets to its "Defending the Caveman" afternoon and evening performances on reserved-level seating only; and two-for-one tickets to 10:30 p.m. performances at The Improv Comedy Club.

Paris Las Vegas is giving guests a two-for-one admission deal on its Eiffel Tower rides; two-for-one tickets to the Anthony Cools 9 p.m. performance and 50 percent off select bottles of wine at the Les Artistes Steakhouse.

The Rio currently has two great deals for staycationers. If a room is booked for two or more consecutive nights, a guest receives 20 percent off the lowest of the two nights. If you choose a Masquerade or Carioca suite, a 50 percent savings is available. All of Rio's restaurants are offering 25 percent off, casino bars are giving 50 percent off drinks and shows are offering two-for-one tickets.

So you see: What happens in Vegas, is worth staying in Vegas ... and surrounding communities.