Question: What is the No. 1 question you get asked?

Peter in Lincoln, Neb.

Answer: It used to be a tie between, "How do I get coupons?" and, "How do I get comps?" Now, "When is the monorail going to open?" has eclipsed both.

Nobody knows for sure the official answer to the latter question. Delays in the testing of the new Las Vegas Monorail have forced the company to be very vague about an opening date, saying it will probably happen late this summer. I've heard everything from Independence Day through Labor Day and beyond, but my guess is it will probably be closer to the later dates. If I was a betting man, I'd say early September. You can keep track of the progress on the official Web site, LVMonorail.com.

As far as the coupon and comp things... coupons and comps are not as common as they used to be. For the most part, they aren't going to get you top-of-the-line stuff for free. Yes, you might still be able to find a two-for-one buffet coupon, but it isn't going to be for the exclusive and expensive ones like you'll find at Bellagio or Paris. And, yes, you can gamble enough to get comped show tickets, but you'll wind up spending 10 times the amount that you would have paid if you just bought the tickets in the first place.

The best sources for coupons are the magazines you'll often find in your room when you arrive, like "What's On" and "Showbiz," plus Friday's "Neon" entertainment section in the Las Vegas Review Journal. All are crammed with coupon offers for the B- and C-list shows and restaurants.

Again, the chances that you'll ever find a two-for-one coupon for something like "O" are pretty slim.

Some hotels also give out coupon books at their players' club desks or to guests who are checking into the hotels.

As far as comps are concerned, go sign up at the players' club desk and use your card at all slot machines and table games. Like I said, these days most clubs require a fairly serious amount of gambling before you're going to start seeing serious rewards. You'll most likely need to be making $25 bets at the table games and playing for an extended period on the dollar slots before you're going to get anything more than a key chain.

There are some exceptions to that rule; the smaller, less-expensive, and out-of-the-way casinos are more generous with their comps and rewards than the big palaces at the heart of the Strip.

Thanks for the questions. Again!

If you have a question you'd like to submit, click here.

The Full Story

Vegas Notes: Mirage Buffet Reopens; Concerts Set On Lake
Mandalay Bay Rolls Out Fun, Quality For All Ages
Vegas Q&A: What's Top Vegas Question?

In Next Week's Column

Next week: The latest from Las Vegas.

Plus, don't forget to send your questions about Las Vegas. I've got room for more, so send them in today!

Click here to go to the main page of Vegas4Visitors.com and see all of the fantastic resources Vegas4Visitors has to offer you when planning your next trip to Las Vegas.