Rick Steves says he is not anti-travel agent.

You need a travel agent. Rick Steves, the European do it yourself independent travel host, writer and producer of the popular PBS television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of 30 European travel books has become an advocate of using travel agents. He especially encourages purchasing airfare through travel agents. He writes:

"You can't save money by buying directly from the airlines."

"Travel agents save you money."

The low-rollers Las Vegas

Or how I made $75.00 from nothing but coupons and casino cards. This article from the Dallas Morning News warms our heart. Low stake gambling. Coupon promotions. Getting off the strip for better deals. It is a lesson in doing Las Vegas 101. Free registration...rather annoying is required to read the story.

Are cheap Las Vegas strip hotel rooms a thing of the past?

The Las Vegas Review journal speculates about the strip's future based upon the recent closing or about to be closed 5,000 lower-cost hotel rooms. Fewer bargain rooms means fewer bargain travelers. Is this good or bad for the strip's future?

Majority surveyed still consider Las Vegas a good value

Here is a link to the Las Vegas Review Journal latest article finding that Las Vegas' higher prices are still not keeping visitors away. But yet there is some concern about Tribal gambling.

Cancun Update

Cancun is still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Wilma. Work still continues. Here is an update from the Chicago Sun Times Travel Section, including some recent on site reports about the rebuilding efforts at Cancun

The Imperial Palace She Ain't What She Used To Be. A Quick Las Vegas Trip Report.

Two colleagues just returned from five days attending a Las Vegas trade show. Staying at the Imperial Palace, they came back with very mixed feelings about the property which was recently sold to Harrahs in August 2005.

We liked the Imperial Palace because of its moderately priced rooms and absolutely great location.

This time however the rooms were rather worn, the casino had huge vacant spots were slot machines had been removed, causing it to be more crowded then needed.

Although no official announcement has been made, expect the Imperial Palace to be torn down soon as Harrahs will soon disclose its' plans to expand its presence in Las Vegas.

Valentine Day weekend was very popular. Las Vegas was crowded. Wait times, even at restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory were well over an hour Saturday night.

Le Village Buffet at Paris Las Vegas has made the No. 1 spot on the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” poll for three consecutive years.

Le Village Buffet serves foods inspired by five provinces of France. Each station is themed after a particular province, including certain artictectural charisteristics of the region. Guests order their meals at each station

La Raclette area features melted cheese, cured meats, steamed potatoes, assorted vegetables and French bread. La Grillade food station offers a selection of assorted skewers of meat, seafood and grilled sausages.

The Brittany station specializes in crepes, while Normandy offers seafood and fish. Burgundy features prime rib, ham, rotisserie chicken, veal stew and pork chops. Alsace serves traditional chicken mushroom vol-au-vent, stuffed croissants, grilled Alsacian sausage and salmon scrambled eggs.

Le Village Buffet is a find and can be expensive. More than $25.00 for Sunday buffet. However, if you show up at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, you can still take advantage of the cheaper breakfast buffet bruch price. Just linger a little until the official start of the 11:00 a.m. Champaign brunch, and enjoy the much more elaborate and exceptional buffet for half the price.