have you never been to Vegas?
OMG> . It's still crazy interesting with TONS to do cheap or free (tho there is also now TONS to do that costs an arm and a leg). Vegas has morphed into a Food city too. . so TONS of great restaurants.
but it's absolutely a case of "you get what you pay for". . .
here's my suggestion if you've never been: (and this works for Gambler or non-gambler). . .
4 days: Thurs-Sun
Thurs: fly in, stay towards the center of the Strip (Mirage if you don't mind spending $$$$, or Flamingo if you don't mind a Day's Inn vibe). .but it's all about location. If you stay in that area center strip, you're walking distance to a lot of stuff. In particular the "Tix 4 Tonight" booths. . there are two of them in that area (one between Flamingo and Bally's, and one in Fashion Mall center):
http://www.tix4tonight.com/
Swing by Tix4Tonight Booth and see if there are any decent seats avail. for any of the Cirque shows playing (you'll have better luck on this night than on Sat or Sun for a Cirque show). If possible, try for "Love" in the Mirage, "O" in Bellagio, or "Mystere" in Treasure Island. . all of those shows are among the best Cirque offers in Vegas, and walking distance from center strip hotel. AND you can stop and watch the Mirage Volcano, the TI Pirate ship/Sirens show, and the Bellagio fountains on the strip).
if you can't get into a show, then instead walk down the strip and admire the lights, and scenery (the Ceasar's Palace mall is amazing with tons of shops, and the classic Moving Fountains show in the mall). Eat at Wicked Spoon in the Cosmopolitan -- expensive, but among the best Buffets in town.
Friday: spend the day going up and down the strip, checking out the hotels/casinos. All very different looking, and all offering different things to do either free or for charge (the Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is very good, and Madame Trussaud's, and several other attractions are fun as well -- and you can get cheap tix from either the Tix4tonight stands, or from any of the many coupon books. If able to, try to get tix for "Absinthe" in the tent in front of Caesar's Palace -- my favorite show in town.
Depending on show/no show, end the evening at "the Steakhouse" in Circus Circus. .and amazing (and expensive) steakhouse -- among the BEST in Vegas -- in a crappy hotel/casino. No, really. . but you can stick around and watch the free circus performances over the main casino, or go ride some rollercoasters in the Adventuredome while you are there
).
Sat: take the $2 24hours Deuce shuttle down to Freemont Street (classic vegas, and the original "strip"), where you'll recognize the classic casino's and signage you've seen in movies: Vegas Vickie over Glitter Gulch titty bar, Tex across the street, the Plaza hotel (from Back to the Future). Spend the whole day here.. .there's also the Neon museum (with classic Vegas signs), the Mob museum, and tons of gift shops, and restaurants. You can do the Heart Attack Grill for dinner, but if on Freemont ont he weekend? I'd go for the Seafood Buffet at the Golden Nugget (they only do it on weekends, and it's incredible).
Sun: Last day, so take the free shuttles (or a cab) to the offstrip, but still near hotels: Rio (to watch the carnival in the sky over the Casino floor), or Hard Rock Hotel/Casino to see the memorobilia, and walk across the street to play the Neon KISS Monster Mini Golf. . soo much fun!
those are my suggestions