Where do I start?

[Lorelai71]

Normally we go to Disney World but this year my brother is insisting on Vegas. I am currently reading these boards to figure out where to stay and when to purchase.

Any advice would be appreciated. We will be going the first or second week of August. How hot will it be?

How soon should I purchase airfare? Is it better to try to get air and hotel as one deal?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jlima]

Normally we go to Disney World but this year my brother is insisting on Vegas. I am currently reading these boards to figure out where to stay and when to purchase.

Any advice would be appreciated. We will be going the first or second week of August. How hot will it be?

How soon should I purchase airfare? Is it better to try to get air and hotel as one deal?

Thanks in advance.

August will be HOT. Like over 100 every day. Expect to stay inside a lot.

Look at Southwest's rates as soon as they open up. It might be cheaper to buy two one way tickets, depending on how they sell them.

If you buy a package, the biggest drawback for me is that the company you buy it from will function as a travel agent and "own" the reservations and it may be difficult to ask for specific room types before you arrive. I always book everything individually when I travel; I've worked in strip hotels and I've seen how package customers were treated by managers.

Anything else? Just ask! I've lived here for 12 years and worked at 3 strip properties and in corporate offices for two gaming companies. Have fun planning your trip!

 

[Peri]

We go to Vegas once or twice a year.

You should make your reservations closer in - it is not like Disneyland reservations, which are a world unto their own, lol.

Check out the hotel's and casino's websites and look for specials. There are usually plenty in the summer because it is so hot. Above poster absolutely right on in regard to plane fare and I would book it separately, too.

Enjoy your wonderful trip - there are some Good Deals to be had!

 

[KKB]

Plan on HOT--but casinos are WELL air-conditioned. You may even need a light wrap inside. Walking from casino to casino is not usually a problem.
I do recommend staying midstrip...Ballys for lower end, Mirage for midroad, Bellagio for upper. (Mirage & Bellagio have lovely pools) I have stayed in over a dozen properties, but Ballys is the one we stay at the most for huge rooms, great prices & location (south tower furnishings are tired but great strip views; north tower rooms are lovely w/ mountain views) If your budget is on the low end & you still want a nice pool, Flamingo is the place. A GO room is a bit more, but a nicer room than standard.
www.fatwallet.com is a great place for a listing of many current property deals (go to forums...travel discussion...LV hotel thread...last page & work backward). But most deals in Vegas show up w/in 3 months of arrival. BUT we could have booked a terrific deal at the new Aria 5 months out...price has gone up since then. I often book/cancel several times before a trip as I find better deals--JUST BE SURE RESERVATION IS FULLY REFUNDABLE!
It is rare that packages are cheaper than buying separately, but you never know.
Does Allegiant fly anywhere near you? They fly into smaller airports. Usually very good deals, but they only fly certain days & their pricing is ala carte...they will charge you to choose a seat (you don't have to choose...they can), etc.

 

[VAN]

We were just in Vegas in December and are planning to go again for a week in March.

I agree with everything KKB said. Book everything separately. I have recommended this to others and they have saved a bundle by booking a hotel and then keeping an eye on the rates - then rebooking. Just make sure any deposit is fully refundable.

I just booked our airfare on Allegiant ... not a "great" price but it is a non-stop flight so that kind of makes up for it. I think all of the airfares to Vegas are a bit higher than they used to be - maybe due to the number of flights being cut.

Just go out and price out the various flights to get a feel for what is out there. Keep checking and then take the plunge when you think the price, schedule, airport, etc is right. For August, I would think late Spring might be when prices get attractive; however, you can sometimes find something the further out you go. Hey, you are going to Vegas - the timing on purchasing airline tickets is a bit of a crap-shoot!

A big help to us when we first started visiting LV was to get the book "The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas" ... lots of good info in there. Also, if you plan to gamble, purchase a book on how to play the games you are interested in. So many times I see people sit down and make $10 bets at BJ and it is obvious they don't know the first thing about basic strategy! Why not just drive down the strip and throw your money out the window!!! LOL.

We have also been able to get coupons for food, etc off the internet. I may be giving money to the casinos through my gambling; however, I love a 2 for 1 hot dog at Nathans'.

Don't forget to sign up for the players clubs ... we are getting all kinds of comped room offers with Freeplay. We don't gamble that much, but it is a sign of the times. Last two trips our hotel rooms were comped and our next trip 7 nights of hotel free!!!

Good luck.

 

[Lorelai71]

Thanks for the great advice.

I think it would be best if we went in November instead. It seems that August might not be the best time. I can go the first week of November because we have teacher's convention then, so I will be off on the 4th and the 5th.

I signed up at several hotels to get their newsletter/deals but what is the player's club and how do I sign up for that?

Is the first week of November a good time to visit? I guess anytime is probbaly a good time to visit Vegas.

Still not sure where to stay. I wouldn't mind a mid-range hotel. This is our first trip so it's almost like "re-con". I kinow we would want to come back in the fututre.

KKB, based on your advice, I am leaning toward Ballys.

I am not really a gambler. I went to a casino once or twice in NJ and gambled $20. I work hard for my money and really don't like to give it away. I know gambling can be fun but I am afraid of getting carried away so I normally give myself a limit and stick to it. (Then again, I have never been tempted by the devil they call Vegas!)

Also, I know the weekends are more expensive but it seems like the best dates for us would be Thur., nov 4 - Mon., Nov 8. We would be flying in from Philadelphia. Any suggestion on what time of day we should arrive and depart? I want to maximize our time there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

November is good - better than August. The prices may be a bit higher, but it's worth the extra money to not sunburn right through your clothes. Many hotels close their pools for the winter in October or so, but Bally's is one that I think stays open. Flamingo is another (you've gotta see that pool, and the adjacent preserve!), as well as Mandalay Bay and a few others.

 

[jlima]

Thanks for the great advice.

I think it would be best if we went in November instead. It seems that August might not be the best time. I can go the first week of November because we have teacher's convention then, so I will be off on the 4th and the 5th.

I signed up at several hotels to get their newsletter/deals but what is the player's club and how do I sign up for that?

Is the first week of November a good time to visit? I guess anytime is probbaly a good time to visit Vegas.

Still not sure where to stay. I wouldn't mind a mid-range hotel. This is our first trip so it's almost like "re-con". I kinow we would want to come back in the fututre.

KKB, based on your advice, I am leaning toward Ballys.

I am not really a gambler. I went to a casino once or twice in NJ and gambled $20. I work hard for my money and really don't like to give it away. I know gambling can be fun but I am afraid of getting carried away so I normally give myself a limit and stick to it. (Then again, I have never been tempted by the devil they call Vegas!)

Also, I know the weekends are more expensive but it seems like the best dates for us would be Thur., nov 4 - Mon., Nov 8. We would be flying in from Philadelphia. Any suggestion on what time of day we should arrive and depart? I want to maximize our time there.

Try & get a red eye Wed night and get there Thursday morning! And fly out late on Monday too. I think Southwest flies to Philly. Have fun planning your trip!!

 

[VAN]

You join the players clubs once you are at the casino. Right now the economy is so bad that they are handing out offers even for those who don't gamble that much.

Bally's is a good location because there are several other casinos within an easy walk. We've always preferred the Tropicana intersection (Tropicana, Excalibur, NYNY, MGM) - besides those casinos, you are connected via free monorail to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Also Monte Carlo is right next to NYNY and has a free monorail in the back that connects to City Center and Bellagio.

So my recommendation would be one of these two "clusters" for a location. I tend to go to bed before my husband, so like to be in a place that I feel safe walking back to the room so he can stay up gambling.

Do research for coupons on the internet, purchase American Casino Guide for additional coupons, buy and read Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas for lots of tips and things to do in Vegas. All good resources for the newbie.

 

[KKB]

I personally am not a fan of the Tropicana intersection. (NYNY, MGM, Excalibur, Tropicana) as it is on the far south end of the strip--especially for first timers.
Ballys is not a spectacular hotel, but the location is great, the rooms are large, and the south towers has great strip views (if dated furnishings) while the north tower has been redone nicely and you often get mountain views. Most pools are still open in November, but don't bet on the weather cooperating. The midstrip location is nice to tour the north strip one day, and the south strip another. Mandalay Bay is a FAB property with a crummy location...I don't recommend it of first timers. But I could totally stay there and never leave.

 

[VAN]

The real trick to staying in the Tropicana location is knowing how to get around (e.g. the complimentary monorails).

We actually stayed at Bally's for a couple nights in March and found the whole area a bit congested. We had a car and actually spent a lot of our time at South Point and the M Resort which is even further south from Mandalay Bay. Really enjoyed those resorts ... a bit like you used to find on the strip. The strip properties can be a bit difficult for the low-level gamblers ($5 pitch BJ is our game).

Anyway, either "cluster" will be fine. Everybody has their favorites for a variety of reasons.