OT: Any tips on cheap Vegas rooms?

[malibuconlee]

Other than trying expedia, etc. Any secrets I dont' know about?

A friend from "the days" is getting married in Las Vegas in August (HOT!!!) and DH says we can go. I thought rooms would be a lot cheaper, but have gone up since our last trip several years ago. We can stay at the Stratosphere for $62 average a night, but was hoping for something further South on the Strip.

We've only stayed at Excalibur and twice at Luxor.

Thanks guys!!

 

[salmoneous]

Vegas prices change every day, and the best deals usually show up about 3-4 weeks ahead of time. I'd go ahead and book a fully refundable room and keep a general eye out on prices. Almost all the hotel websites will allow you to sign up for email specials. They aren't usually great bargains, but will save you a few bucks off published rates.

As it gets closer to your trip, start to get more serious about checking hotel websites and your email specials.

One thing to consider are off-strip hotels. The Orleans and Gold Coast aren't techincailly on the strip, but they are more convient to the heart of the strip than someplace like the Strat.

 

[kjs1976]

I second that you need to check almost daily. Try not to go over a weekend...most expensive days...and when there are big conventions in town.

AAA has some good rates at certain places. So does the entertainment book. We booked a suite at the Venetian in Jan. and the price has already gone up $50 a night...but we're locked into the cheaper rate.

 

[got2travel]

I'm just back from a friend's wedding in Vegas last weekend. The best rates I found were from booking an airfare/hotel package on Southwest. The came in $100 lower than the major travel websites and more than $200 cheaper than booking everything separate.

If you don't need airfare, then definitely sign up for all the hotel emails that you would be interested staying in. I've gotten some pretty good deals sent to me in the past, unfortunately they were never when I was going to be in Vegas.

Also, the Hooters Hotel and Casino just opened a few weeks ago and have been running specials. They are at the South end, behind Tropicana and across from MGM.

Unlike the previous poster, I actually saw prices going up the closer I got to my trip. I think the 'cheap' rooms went fast.

Finally, this thread on fat wallet is amazing. It lists just about every code out there for all the major Vegas hotels. I wasn't able to use any for my dates, but maybe something will help you.

 

[MyGoofy26]

Sign up for the mailing list of every hotel you're interested in - they send out emails about once a month for discounts for about the following 2 months. You can book a refundable room and if something comes along better, then cancel and book the new one.

LOTS of the Strip hotels use Priceline, so that's always an option if you don't mind not knowing exactly what you're going to get.

There are usually some good packages out there. We went the first week of September and booked about 3 weeks out for $300pp for 4 nights, nonstop air. That was through Expedia. I've seen some good packages with Hotwire as well (for packages they will actually tell you which hotel you're booking) The trick to packages is to watch for a fare sale. . . when the airfare drops, the package price drops.

You could always stay off the Strip. If it's not a big deal to you, there are some great deals to be had off the Strip and most hotels offer a shuttle. We decided VERY last minute to go to Vegas for New Years this year for the matchbox twenty 'reunion' shows - announced with about a month's notice. Even the cruddy Strip hotels wanted $300 or more a night, the average at least $500 a night. We stayed at the Doubletree for $120. And for as far away as the Stratosphere is from the "action" of the Strip, some of the off strip hotels will be closer and more easily accessable.

 

[Amberle3]

You're not likely to see good rates for August this far out - maybe around May or June they'll start with the summer specials. The casino websites will usually have deals going on for midweek (Sun-Thur stays). Weekends will always be higher, and for whatever reason summer is often more expensive than spring or fall.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I bet in a couple months you will see Aug rates go down...it is hot as snot in Aug as we went in late July, high was 125 one day and you could bake a turkey on the sidewalk but fun none the less!!

You should see good rates for Aug as a lot of people like to go during Spring/Fall months to Vegas IMO!!


It is awesome isn't it?? We love doing a lovers trip to Vegas every year, just dh and I

 

[disneysteve]

We stayed at Excalibur this past August and the rates were very reasonable. Keep in mind that mid-week prices are MUCH lower than weekend prices. Mid-week you should be able to pay $50 or less. The prices double or triple for Friday and Saturday nites.

By the way, we were there August 16-20 and the highs were only in the 90's which really wasn't bad at all.

 

[Sherri]

Try circus circus or the four queens I bet they have good rates.
Last year we stayed at Harrahs for the week for free because we were comped for time played in Atlantic City. BUT we said next time we are going to stay off the strip at the Four queens because that is where we spent most of our time anyway.

 

[mjh8955]

We found a great rate on Excalibur's website. Then we called them directly and they gave us an even lower rate. This was over spring break a couple years ago. The rooms were huge.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Where's the wedding? While it's pretty easy to get around Las Vegas, what with the (pricey) monorail, the public bus system, the Strip Trolley, taxis, a few hotel-to-hotel trams... you want to stay in or near the same hotel.
August can be extremely reasonably-priced, depending where you stay, but it can be extremely hot as well (i.e. last summer temperatures reached 117º at some point - but it's a dryheat )
Keep an eye on the Fatwallet Las Vegas thread: http://www.fatwallet.com/t/63/483868/
Note that, as of today, there are NO deals posted that will be valid for an August stay - those will come later, as the hotels announce them.

 

[malibuconlee]

Thanks for the tips everyone!! I was doing some more looking and was wondering why some were showing no room avail on the hotel sites, so I googled and found their tourism convention site. I added up about 90,000 projected for different conventions that week. Including team nationals for amateur pool. (I might actually know a few people from South Dakota that go every couple of years!!!)

So, I called the bride and e-mailed her the link. She freaked out that it's going to be so busy and is worried about flights if it's that busy (she and several of her friends that will be going are flight attendants and will do their free flight thing). She told me to hold off until she talked to her DFi.

She did say that when she had looked rooms were cheaper the week before and the week after. Now she knows why.

I've been in August for one night before. On our way from San Diego to Salt Lake City. I can't believe she wants to get married in August there!! But she says she's been there before and knows how miserable hot it will be. Whatever makes her happy. I'll just be happy to see her.

 

[malibuconlee]

The wedding is going to be at Treasure Island, but I'm not sure if that's where the couple are staying. I don't think she's decided yet.

I know I'm spoiled. I love the Luxor/Excalibur area of the strip. I just remember thinking that The Stratosphere was so far away from everything.

The last time I was there they were still building The Bellagio!!!

 

[RCBA]

As the previous posters said, keep checking. We booked through AA Vacations and got the Stratosphere for $19/night on weekend!

 

[chrissyk]

A while back, the Venetian was regularly coming up for $79/night on Priceline. It was happening 15 days or less from the date of arrival if I remember correctly. Check biddingfortravel.com and see if that's still the case. You can always book a backup reservation that can be cancelled, and then try for something like the Venetian deal on priceline

 

[My2Cinderellas]

if you have Allegiant Air nearby, they typically have good packages, especially during the week. you have to book pretty far out to get the best rates, we've booked in May for a September trip 2 years in a row. the hotels up near TI are Mirage, Harrahs, Venetian and the new Wynn. The Riviera is farther up, but not too bad and very cheap, according to DH who said it was ok for the price. I haven't seen it. We've stayed farther down at Bally's one year, and Alladin (now Planet Hollywood) the next. I preferred Bally's location, but much preferred the Alladin's casino and shopping. DH has stayed at Harrahs for the lamest batchelor party Vegas has ever seen, and at Mandalay Bay for a conference. He said Harrahs was fine and he loved the Mandalay. As well he should for the price. good thing work picked that tab up.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The wedding is going to be at Treasure Island, but I'm not sure if that's where the couple are staying. I don't think she's decided yet.

I know I'm spoiled. I love the Luxor/Excalibur area of the strip. I just remember thinking that The Stratosphere was so far away from everything.

The last time I was there they were still building The Bellagio!!!

Bellagio? Yeah, it's been a while since you've been to Las Vegas
With the wedding at Treasure Island, you want to stay either Center Strip (Wynn, Venetian, Treasure Island, Mirage, Harrah's, Bally's, Flamingo, Paris, Caesar's Palace, Bellagio, Imperial Palace, Barbary Coast) or South Strip (Monte Carlo, MGM, Luxor, New York New York, Mandalay Bay, yeah okay Excalibur if you insist ), or just west of Center Strip (Palms, Rio).

A while back, the Venetian was regularly coming up for $79/night on Priceline. It was happening 15 days or less from the date of arrival if I remember correctly. Check biddingfortravel.com and see if that's still the case. You can always book a backup reservation that can be cancelled, and then try for something like the Venetian deal on priceline

Check out biddingfortravel.com for a list of "hotels bid and won" in Las Vegas, and to see what hotels other people are getting around your time period and at what price. If you bid only on five-star Strip Area, IF anything's available it would be the Bellagio or the Venetian.

 

[musicdude]

We love Las Vegas, baby!!!!!
Try looking at lasvegastalk.com there you can look up current offers that aren't known to the general public. The Flamingo runs some pretty decent deals too. It is centrally located and has a great pool but lousy buffet. The monorail has a stop there also. We acually think that the monorail one day pass is a pretty decent deal. It is good for 24 hours from the time of purchase, so we buy it in the late afternoon or early evening and then use it that night and the next day. We just make sure we are back through the turn stiles a couple of minutes before it expires. You also may want to look up the american casino guide at amazon, it is like an entertainment book for gambler's.

 

[pigletof4]

I am not going to Vegas, but here is a sight that has cheap Vegas rooms. http://hotels.travelzoo.com/las-vegas-hotels/. I am actually using one for Niagara Falls. You may have to scroll a bit on the rooms to find the deal. That is what I had to do for the Embassy in Niagara Falls. This address was actually posted on another thread here on the dis. HTH.

 

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

Bump...

Planning a trip for my sister & I for September!