Las Vegas is a year-round destination, but timing matters. The cheapest flights and hotel rates come in July and August when temperatures climb well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Most visitors prefer spring or fall when the weather is pleasant.
New Year's Eve is the most exciting -- and most expensive -- time to visit. The Strip closes to traffic and fills with thousands of revelers. Fireworks erupt at midnight above the casino lights. Hotels run New Year's packages, and clubs charge premium prices for open-bar parties. Book rooms well in advance.
The Strip on New Year's Eve gets wild after 8 p.m. -- wall-to-wall people all night long, no vehicles allowed. It is free to join the street party but bring your own food and drinks. Many people will have had more than a few by midnight.