Vegas?

[Ambifins]

Greetings,
OK, I've been thinking about trading my points into Interval to stay in Vegas for a week in March (not this March, March 2007--I like to think ahead).
I looked on the website, and there are 8 possible choices. I've never been to Vegas, so I don't know what the difference is between those resorts. Any suggestions?
Also, in my guide they talk about points for peak season, off season, etc etc etc, but I can't find what constitutes a peak season.
Anyway, I'd love to hear from someone who's done this kind of trade before.
Thanks

Oh, and I'm ONLY going for the shows.

 

[gppnj]

I love Las Vegas. However, I don't think I'd ever use my points for a Vegas trip for two reasons:

1. I like to stay on the strip, and I think all the places we can trade for are off the strip.

2. Although I love Las Vegas, I've usually had my fill by the fourth day, and I believe when we trade, we've got to take a full week.

I was thinking perhaps a combo trip of three or four days in Las Vegas and then three our four days at Disneyland. (I've never driven through the desert, so it might be a fun drive getting from one place to the other.) I consider the 2006 point cost for the Grand Californian to be a bargain, so I'd love an excuse to go there again. I'd pay for the Las Vegas accommodations with cash.

 

[lovinthemouse]

I agree with gppnj. I can only hadle Vegas for about 4 days. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Vegas. There is only so much gambling one can do. I would also try a split with Disneyland for a couple of days. My sister did the drive and it was not too bad. Good luck

 

[pumpkinboy]

Well, I was going to warn you about the Chevy Vega (not a very good car when new, cute but impractical as an antique; heck, the AMC Gremlin was a better car) but that does not seem to be the subject here.

Trading into II to go to Las Vegas is probably not the best use of resources. It will be far more flexible and far less expensive to simply rent a hotel or timeshare room for cash; rent out points to cover this if you like, or save those points for a bigger DVC trip next time. Las Vegas hotel rooms are relatively cheap since the casinos know that if they give you a bargain on the lodging, you will likely more than make up for it on the gambling. Also, like Orlando there are lots and lots of Vegas timeshares, renting for cheap: a quick search on the Interval International site for Member Getaways displays Jan-April prices from $79 a night ($554 for the week) for a studio, as low as $58 per night ($404 for the week) for 1BR and the $83-$125 a night ($604 -$899 for the week) for 2BR. Of course this requires you buy your own II membership, but that's cheap enough (nearly as cheap as the exchange fee Disney was going to charge you anyway).

Save your DVC points for where they go farthest: WDW and the DVC resorts. Heck, use your points at the Grand Californian after Vegas if you want. But pay cash in Las Vegas. Good luck!

 

[dvcmomdeh]

I have to agree. I have thought about exchanged for a place in Vegas as we also love this ADULT WORLD!! But it's not worth it. It would be if we could exchange to Mandalay or some place like that.

However, even if they offered Mandalay with 3 meal options a day I wouldn't trade after this last trip (beginning of November 2005). My inlaws like to stay at the cheapest place which happens to not be where they like to gamble and spend ALL DAY. I could never go back for a nap. What a pain. You have to have a nap in the afternoon if you want to stay up all night long.

I'll be using points for DCL, Hawaii or the Carribean someday.

 

[Anewman]

I dont know if you are going to exchange for 1 or 2 bedrooms but during Mid season a 2 bedroom would take 252 points, With a rental value of $2500.

$2500 would get you awesome accomidations in vegas for a week and if you shop around you could stay in decent(LV Hilton level) accomidations for around $800 for the week. Rooms are really cheap mid week and decently priced on weekends compared to other parts of the country.

 

[snowwhitemom]

You really can get great deals in Vegas....Sunday thru Thursday will cost about the same as a Fri and Sat. Its all the same the week nights are not quite by any means...Mandalay Bay "The Hotel" (NOT THE RESORT) is incredible....probally one of the best I have ever stayed in there...being on the strip is sooo much fun and easy to get around. Before I would trade points I would try to buy my vegas ressie out straight...the cash you save will be a large amount ....worth your time by every means......no matter what , You must do breakfast at "The Egg and I" it is about a ten buck cab ride from the strip but Yummy and well worth it, I still think about those bluberry cashew pancakes, lol. Hope this helps some.

Have a wonderful trip when the time comes.

 

[TiggerFreak]

I'm with many others in not being able to take more than 3-4 days.
It's like an all day adult binge fest on any and every vice imaginable.
That said, my DD turns 21 this coming February and Dad promised her years ago that he would take her to VEGA$ for her 21st. Sooo. . . off we go the 1st week in March ( she's a junior at Mich State and that break week) for 3 nights in Vegas and then 4 nights at WDW (she has missed our annual trips the last 3 years because of college).

As to trading points, nada, nope, no-do-ie.
Too many good deals on rooms and no trades to strip rooms.
We usually stay at TI (Treasure Island) but this time we are trying the Monte Carlo. It's in the middle of The Strip and less per night than the rack rate for a studio at OKW!!!

So can I act Goofy while I'm in VEGA$ ???

 

[Caskbill]

We love Vegas also, but contrary to most of the others here, we like to stay for a week or longer if possible.

I do agree, don't trade your DVC points.

You'll find that rooms in Vegas are cheaper weekday (The California crowd all come for the weekend). You'll also find that the cheapest rates are when there are no conventions at all in town. Basically, the bigger the current convention is in town, the higher the weekday rates.

So plan accordingly as much as possible.

I highly recommend you get a hotel right on the strip. Downtown is OK but a much lower end. There are some nice hotel off the strip, but if you don't have a car getting around can be an issue.

Keep in mind you'll do a lot of walking. The strip is fairly long from one end to the other.

Finally, the shows are great, but they 'ain't cheap'....The best ones cost more than $100/ticket.

Have a great time.

 

[tmt martins]

Boy we just went to VEGAS as an ANN 13th in July .You think WDW is hot 110 all three days.They say but it's not as humid well you are your own greenhouse .Thank god you could just slip into casino after casino to keep cool.
Just like Disney we still had a great time.

As for trading in points NO WAY you can get very nice CHEAP rooms all over the Strip and less off strip.

 

[manning]

You think WDW is hot 110 all three days

The day we went to laughlin it was 124 there. I wish I had an egg to see how fast it would have fried on the trunk hood.

Agree, pay cash and do it during the week.

 

[Anewman]

I remember My very first trip(long time ago).

It was 109




AT 3 in the morning.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Native Californian chiming in.

If you sign up for the Vegas sites:

lasvegas.com
vegas.com
cheapvegas.com

you'll find some good prices. Circus Circus is cheap but is really rundown. I recommend Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, Ceasers, or the New York New York. I love Vegas but I'm on sensory overload by the third day.

 

[manning]

Native Californian chiming in.

If you sign up for the Vegas sites:

lasvegas.com
vegas.com
cheapvegas.com

you'll find some good prices. Circus Circus is cheap but is really rundown. I recommend Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, Ceasers, or the New York New York. I love Vegas but I'm on sensory overload by the third day.

Sensory overload is minor compared to empty wallet!!

 

[downontheBW]

Another vote for a 3-4 day trip; we stayed 5 nights once and it was just too long but we only stay on the strip. If you want to rent a car and go to Hoover Dam and some other day trips, you could probably fill up a week. The great thing about Vegas is that you arrive at the airport and can get to a hotel on the strip in 5-10 minutes and you can walk pretty much everywhere from there.

For us, much of the fun is staying at a big casino hotel; so far we've stayed at Luxor, MGM Grand, Mirage and NYNY. For the big resort hotels, prices seem to be going up lately, I can't find much under $100 for a weeknight and weekends are all over the map pricewise. Still looking for good prices on Paris, Bellagio, Venetian and the new Wynn.

Most timeshares are a few miles from the main part of the strip. If you really do want to use DVC points (without stepping down too much in value) and stay on the strip or at least a decent timeshare, you could always post an ad on TUG or redweek for a 3-4 day trade with an owner of Hilton Grand Vacation Club - Hilton owners have points and can book a day at a time just as we can (weekends are higher points). The newest Hilton isn't in the best spot on the strip but is nice; the Flamingo location is great although a bit older property. I wouldn't trade for the convention center Hilton, I don't like the location or the hotel, but that's my personal opinion. You can check them out on HGVC.com. - avoid the timeshare sales folks, though.

We did this type of private trade for the Hilton Hawaiian Village - 3 nights at Boardwalk for 3 nights in Waikiki. It worked out great! Good luck!