Las Vegas. The Jewel of the Desert. Sin City. No matter what you call it, Las Vegas is worth seeing. It's a fascinating city full of gaming, spectacle, and a variety of outdoor activities. Renting a car in Las Vegas is a great way to see the city. Parking is easy and mostly free. Las Vegas is easy to navigate since it is laid out in a north/south and east/west grid, with the Strip serving as the main north/south artery.

If you just plan on visiting Las Vegas to gamble and drink while staying on the Strip, don't bother with a car rental. If you want to see more of the Strip (which is long), get away from the Strip (which is a good idea), or take trips to see things like Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam (which is spectacular), then it is a good idea to get a rental car.

Getting a car rental discount in Las Vegas is not difficult. It is important to do your research up-front, before you leave for your trip. Shopping around will give you an idea of the discounts that are available. There are so many variables, though, it pays to do thorough research.

Prices can vary depending on when you go, how long you say, if you stay over a weekend or not, where you are staying, what airline you are flying, where you pick up your car, where you return your car, how far you are going, and more.

All the big car rental companies have offices in Las Vegas, some in the airport, and some near the airport. Allstate, Dollar, Hertz, National and Sav-Mor all have desks in the terminal. Nearby, on Paradise Road, between Flamingo Road and the airport, you will find locations for Airport Rent-a-Car, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, Thrifty Car Rental, and U.S. Rent a Car. Choosing a company not at the airport itself will save you the eight percent airport fee, and may give you additional discounts on the base price.

The number one rule of getting a car rental discount is compare, compare, compare. Often, different companies will offer the same car for very different rates. This will depend on what they have available, the season you are renting your car in, and more. There are so many different companies vying for your business, you can often play one against the other to get matching prices... or better.

If you belong to any groups or associations like AAA, AARP, NAACP, and more, ask the car rental company about any discounts the provide to groups, companies and associations. That can often save you several dollars per day.

Whatever car rental company you get your discount from, drive safe, get the car back on time, fill the tank before you return the car, and have a great time in Las Vegas.