The best things in town are free (or almost)

Barbary Coast

You can get good prime rib at a great price ($13.95) at the Frontier Room at the Barbary Coast Hotel & Casino. The meal includes soup or salad, potato and a nice slab of lean beef, available 24 hours a day.

\o7Frontier Room, Barbary Coast Hotel & Casino, 3595 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (888) 227-2279. \f7

Chris Erskine

*

Beacher's Rockhouse

This rowdy little joint offers spontaneity, a dash of glitz and zero pretense. When the mood strikes, the eye-catching staffers like to pour vodka shots directly into patrons' mouths, gratis. Get there before 9 p.m. and avoid the $10 cover.

\o7Beacher's Rockhouse, 4 p.m.6 a.m., 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (in front of Imperial Palace); (702) 699-7844. \f7

-- C.E.

*

Bellagio

Most people watch the fabled Bellagio fountains erupt, cascade and shimmer to the strains of classical and popular music from Las Vegas Boulevard; it's better from in front of the casino. Shows are every half-hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; every 15 minutes between 7 p.m. and midnight. On weekends, catch them every half-hour between noon and 7 p.m. and every 15 minutes between 7 p.m. and midnight.

\o7Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (702) 693-7111, www.bellagio.com.

\f7

Rosemary McClure

*

Circus Circus

You'll find free circus shows here throughout the day, with clowns, contortionists, flying trapeze artists and other acts. The Circus Theater presents performers from Argentina, Russia, Poland and other places every 30 or 45 minutes until 10:30 p.m. or later, depending on the day.

One caveat: The show I watched last only five minutes.

\o7 Circus Circus, 2880 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (877) 434-9175, \f7www.circuscircus.com.

Jane Engle

*

The Deuce

On the Strip, it's always rush hour. To cut down on taxi fares, consider the Deuce, the popular double-decker bus. Twenty-four hour passes, available at machines at each stop, are $5. Single rides are $2, cash accepted. Tip: When the lower level jams up, head up to the second level, which is twice as roomy.

\o7The Deuce, RTC of Southern Nevada; (702) 676-1500.\f7

C.E.

*

Forum Shops

Fountains, lasers and animatronic characters tell the story of Atlantis on the hour from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. If you're in the mall, check it out -- it's at the far end near the Cheesecake Factory -- but don't go out of your way.