If you’re tempted to save money by staying home this holiday season, a trip to Detroit just might be in the cards. The Motor City is close enough to be affordable, yet far enough away to feel like a vacation. Make it a quick weekend or even a week: Either way, you’ll be sure to enjoy the games — from slots to sports — as well as the host of other entertainment options at hand.

While there, why not stay in one of the combined hotels and casinos, which pair sophisticated rooms with top-notch diversions, like MotorCity Casino Hotel (866/STAY-MCC, www.motorcitycasino.com). The establishment’s newest venue, Sound Board, brings in headliners on a regular basis. Tap your feet to the tunes of The Four Tops (Nov. 14), or swing by in December for Wynonna Judd’s country classics (Dec. 11).

If you’re looking for entertainment both inside and out of the casinos, Greektown Casino-Hotel (888/771-4FUN, www.greek
towncasino.com) is the place to enjoy high-class amenities at affordable prices. “The hotel is very upscale,” says Riley Meredith, division director of business and gaming at Preferred Public Relations, the Las Vegas-based company that promotes Greektown, “but they’ve done it in a way where they can offer a really reasonable price.”

Currently, the hotel and casino offer an ongoing rate for select rooms, starting at $99 a night, and a flat buffet rate of $9.99 for every meal, every day, at the International Buffet in Greektown.

Other opportunities abound in Detroit’s Greektown neighborhood. “It’s not just the casino and hotel,” says Meredith.

Spend an afternoon exploring the coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants and stores that comprise this district, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Meredith also touts the casino’s proximity to Ford Field (313/262-2000, www.fordfield.com). From the tables to the teams, Greektown is the perfect location for a full weekend of games. Cleveland Browns fans won’t want to miss the Browns play the Detroit Lions on Nov. 22.

Or, for a more relaxed evening, head over to the Fox Theatre (313/471-6611, www.olympiaentertainment.com) on Dec. 12 to watch “The Great Russian Nutcracker,” Moscow Ballet’s twist on a classic. Lovers of the classics will also want to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts (313/833-7900, www.dia.org) to see the museum’s permanent collection of European, American, Asian and African-American art, and view “Photography — The First 100 Years: A Survey from the DIA’s Collection,” on exhibit through Jan. 3.

Art aficionados will appreciate a tour of the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House (313/884-4222, www.fordhouse.org), an English-inspired iconic home set on Lake St. Clair on the Grosse Point Shores. Henry Ford’s only child and his wife filled their home with art, and the styles are reflective of their individual contemporary and classic tastes. On Nov. 17, interested visitors can attend a special tour, “The Secrets Behind the Paintings,” to learn more about the Fords’ art.

Edsel’s parents, Henry and Clara Ford, had their own magnificent estate, Fair Lane (313/593-5590, www.henryfordestate.org), which is also open for tours. This season, it’s brimming with activities, including candlelit dinners, walks and tours, luncheon concerts and holiday tea with “Clara.”

All in all, it’s the perfect seasonal getaway.