Las Vegas hotel rates are on a losing streak

— -- How low can they go?

Hotel rates in Las Vegas— as elsewhere — have been on a losing streak. But summer deals in Sin City couldn't be more sizzling.

The Las Vegas Advisor's annual July survey of room rates at 84 Vegas-area casino hotels found 65 with rates below $50, vs. 47 last July before the economic meltdown. That includes 16 charging less than $20 a night on certain dates. Last July, there was just one lodging with an under-$20 rate.

"I never expected it to come in this low," says Las Vegas Advisor publisher Anthony Curtis. "It's an amazing time right now." (Prices for all properties are minus taxes and fees and aren't necessarily the official posted rates.)

Hotels where under-$20 rooms were found include popular downtown Vegas properties (Binion's, Four Queens, Golden Gate) near-Strip options (Hooters ) and the Sahara on the Strip.

Under-$30s include the Strip's Circus Circus, Riviera and Tropicana.

Among lodgings where under-$40 rates were uncovered: Flamingo, Harrah's, Las Vegas Hilton and Rio.

In the under-$50 group: Bally's, Hard Rock, Luxor.

If you want to stay where high-rollers do, now's the time. Summer is not high season in Vegas. There are fewer conventions, and temperatures can be uncomfortable (topping 100 degrees this week).

It's possible to get into the Wynn Encore, for instance, for $109 a night, with a $75 resort credit for a two-night stay. Curtis knows of a man who says he paid $109 at Encore, with a second night free, after signing up for its guest e-mail list.

"The values in Las Vegas are the best I've ever seen," says Vegas.com marketing vice president Bryan Allison, who has been in town 16 years. These days, "upscale isn't reflected in the price."

Starting this month, luxurious The Signature at MGM Grand is celebrating its third birthday with a "Celebration" package valid through Aug. 31. Rates start at $129 a night, and include perks such as a $100 beverage credit and upgrade to a suite (based on availability) for those celebrating birthdays in July and August.

The Advisor (LasVegasAdvisor.com) says it found a $110 rate at The Venetian, vs. $199 last July.

Allison says rate drops aim to keep hotel occupancy up and lure guests in hopes they'll spend money gambling, eating, drinking, clubbing, shopping and seeing shows. But gaming revenue is down. And Vegas-area hotel occupancy January through April averaged 82.4%, down 6.7% from the same period in 2008, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says. Average daily rate through April was $87.30 this year, down from $132.74.

Vegas.com has been offering a package that includes airfare from New York City and two nights at the Luxor for $354 a person, including taxes. It also has a promo involving MGM Mirage: Stay any of the chain's properties for at least three nights and get two complimentary tickets to any Cirque du Soleil show or to The Lion King.

So how do you get a hotel bargain?

Target weekdays, shop around. Book online and sign up for promotional e-mails from favorite casino hotels.

Curtis writes in the Advisor: "The hipper resorts — think Planet Hollywood and the Palms — often give additional discounts to their Twitter and Facebook members. Just sign up to 'follow' a hotel's Twitter feed if it has one, or as a 'fan' on its Facebook page, to keep abreast of the latest deals, including offers like 'First 50 people to ReTweet this get an additional 30% off next weekend's already discounted rate.' "

Vegas also is whetting visitor appetites in other ways.

Some MGM Mirage properties are turning away from the tradition of pricing buffets higher at dinner.

For one fixed price, you can pig out at lunch and dinner at Luxor ($35), Excalibur ($25) and MGM Grand ($29.99). MGM Grand, for instance, typically offers unlimited prime rib and crab legs.

Looking ahead, there's concern about a Vegas bounceback because more rooms are due by the end of the year, Curtis says.

The upscale Aria and Vdara at MGM's CityCenter are expected in December and October, respectively; the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Paradise Tower, with more than 500 rooms, is due the end of July.