Las Vegas is a shopping mecca. Designer boutiques grace every ritzy Strip hotel, each of which offers its own exclusive selection. The Forum Shoppes at Caesars
boasts Versace and Louis Vuitton. The Palazzo features Diane von Furstenberg, Fendi, Coach and Ralph Lauren. Wynn Las Vegas sports a Ferrari dealership, as well as the largest offering of Rolex watches in the U.S. With stores like these to choose from, how hard can it be to find the perfect item? Assuming you have both the taste and budget of Paris Hilton, of course?

But in these troubled economic times, what is really impressive are shopping venues suited to the tighter budget. Local malls are always an option. But even in Las Vegas, a mall is just a mall, with the same chain stores found across the country, all offering the same merchandise. When I am searching for something truly different, or when I just want to turn shopping into an “experience,” I head to a swap meet.

Las Vegas delivers that kind of shopping as well, having two especially good swap meets: the Fantastik Indoor Swap Meet and the Broadacres Swap Meet. These two swap meets are very different in character, but do have some things in common. Each is open only Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and each charges shoppers $1 to enter (although Fantastik refunds the entry fee with a purchase). Each has plenty of free parking, an assortment of food vendors and designated children’s areas. And each offers row after row of booths filled with a vast selection of goods.

But that’s where the similarities end.

The Fantastik Indoor Swap Meet is not a traditional swap meet, and not just because shoppers are greeted by Bernie the Kangaroo. Here, the sellers do not offer secondhand items. While antiques sellers are permitted, the shops otherwise must offer new goods. But “new” doesn’t have to mean “just like everything at the mall.” Arranged along aisles with names like “Circus Circus Circle,” the small stores at Fantastik offer truly unique items.

For example, Coco, at Wassa Wear, has colorful skirts and tops that suggest both African and Caribbean inspiration. The sumptuous colors make her space pop. Across the aisle, Lolita’s has a selection of home décor items to fit any taste, from the elegant to whimsical. Other shops offer imports ranging from brightly colored art glass from Poland to handcrafted items from Peru to leather goods from Italy. On my last visit, I contented myself with a small leather bag from Italian Handbags, but I enjoyed browsing through a vast range of artwork, rugs, swords, stun guns and wigs. There is even a dollar store filled with very affordable Christmas decorations.

Fantastik reaches out to entrepreneurs, offering them the opportunity to start their retail business with overhead far lower than at the local malls. Maria Rodriguez is one such newcomer to Fantastik. Her shop, Deals and More, open for just one month, offers clothing for the whole family. The current economic downturn gave Maria the motivation to begin her business. She wanted to offer quality merchandise at affordable prices, and is doing her best to follow through on her dream. Nothing in her store costs more than $30. While business so far has been a bit slower than she had hoped, she is confidant she’ll succeed. Since Fantastik proudly lists a host of shops under its roof still in business after 10, 15 and even 20 years, Maria just may be right.

The Broadacres Swap Meet is a more traditional swap meet. First, much of it is outdoors, although many of the small shops are located in covered spaces. And while it has many permanent sellers, Broadacres also offers short-term space rental, even for a single day or weekend.

For sheer selection of merchandise, Broadacres cannot be matched. While the secondhand items, including antiques, are in keeping with what you will find at any swap meet in the country, the selection of new merchandise available here amazed me. Clothing ranges from T-shirts and sweat socks to business attire to wedding gowns and other formal wear. As my daughter and I walked through the aisles, we saw cookware, shoes, toiletries, fresh produce, leather goods, knickknacks, wall art, electronics, tires, large and small appliances, pets and furniture for every room in the house. There were even a couple of hair salons and a photography studio with an onsite makeup artist.

I personally did not see a kitchen sink, but I have no doubt one was for sale somewhere in Broadacres’ 41-acre lot. I did see a large selection of kitchen and bathroom faucets, new and in their original boxes. The prices made me regret my recent online purchase of bathroom hardware for our home remodeling project; before I stopped by Broadacres, I’d thought I’d gotten a good deal. But I was happy with the price of the coffee grinder I bought at the swap meet — about half what I would have paid at a regular discount store.

Also unmatched is the festive air at Broadacres. There is a true “market square” atmosphere here. The rich smells of BBQ, burritos and chicharrón permeate the air. Music spills out of nearly every booth, providing the perfect backdrop to the time-honored practice of haggling over prices. In fact, if it were not for the fact that the accepted currency is U.S. and that English is spoken at nearly every shop, you might well think yourself in a market town in Latin America. This swap meet is a micro-economy, with everything needed for daily living available somewhere on site.

Both these swap meets offer unique shopping experiences. If you are looking for an unusual gift, Fantastik might be the better choice. If you are looking for just about anything else, head out to Broadacres. Either way, if you like shopping, you’ll have a great time, and you’ll find some terrific bargains.

Fantastik Indoor Swap Meet
1717 S. Decatur Blvd.
Las Vegas
Fri., Sat. and Sun, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Broadacres Swap Meet
Intersection of North Las Vegas Boulevard
and Pecos Boulevard
North Las Vegas
Fri., 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. and Sun., 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.