Cheap rooms, scenery and other reasons for people to visit Vegas

By Kyle B. Hansen

Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 | 12:30 p.m.

Tired of the guest bedroom being occupied? Then pray the in-laws don’t see this: "10 Reasons to Visit Vegas Right Now.”

But the list, by travel journalist George Hobica and published by the Huffington Post, may be a good reminder to Southern Nevadans about why they live here.

For example, you can get good Asian food without going to Asia, Hobica says. It’s also naturally beautiful with Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston close by and amazing National Parks in nearby states.

He also has a nice spin on some of our eyesores: Those half-done construction projects on the Strip make tourists “feel better about not finishing that home improvement project.”

But for locals, there might also be some pain when they realize his comment to people renting houses in expensive cities might also apply to people with underwater mortgages:

“Did you know that it may be cheaper to move into a Las Vegas hotel than continue paying rent?” Hobica asks. “Based on published rates that start at $24.95 at the Tropicana or $23 per night at Circus Circus (found via Hotels.com recently), you’re looking at a bill for, say, the month of June, of about $1,350 before taxes. Just think, though: That includes utilities. And daily maid service! And a nice pool! You won’t even have to change a light bulb (they have staff for that).”

Maybe living on the Strip isn’t such a bad idea…

But back to the positive: If you need another reminder why you love Las Vegas, check out this video from Ragan’s PR Daily.

Aimed at getting people to come to an upcoming convention in “sunny and warm Las Vegas,” the video says it is 2 degrees in Chicago.

Today’s forecasted high temperature in Vegas: 64 degrees.