Las Vegas - transportation: DTW-LAS & hotel

Anyone have any ideas how to route a trip from DTW-LAS for 3/26-3/29 (red eye for 3/30 return) for under $250. So far best I can do is through EWR.

Also, any hotel suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you and please advise if this is the wrong forum for these questions

I know it's not < $250, but the direct on NW out of DTW (7:27PM on 3/26, 10:40PM on 3/29) prices out in the $290 range on Expedia ... $20 extra each way is a great price to pay to skip the connection (especially trying to do a connection AFTER a red-eye, one of my least favorite things.)

Just play 1 less hour at the tables/slots, and you'll probably end up even between the $250 fare and a $290 one :)

I'm sure that there are plenty of ways you could make the $40 difference a wash once you get there.

As far as the hotels, sign up for as many e-mail promotions as you can. Most of the Caesars Entertainment sites offer an immediate $10 discount if you book online. Looks like you'll be dealing with the NCAA Regional Finals at that time, so don't be surprised if the rates are a little higher.

Also, if you play poker, you may want to try calling ahead and booking a room through the poker room. Haven't tried this in Vegas yet, but I found out too late at the Borgata in AC that the Poker room offered significant discounts off the rack rate for Poker Players when you called ahead & booked through them. Yes, you had to put in 4-8 hours, but some rates were well below $100, when the going rate on the web was $199.

Have fun and good luck!