I am going to Vegas in December and want to stay on the strip?

Question

Any recommendations for a reasonable hotel, and what is the best avenue to purchase? Priceline maybe? Also looking for show recommendations, and trip to Hoover Dam. Any place to get discount tickets?

Answer 1

Luxor is running several December specials, and it's one of my favorite hotels.
http://www.luxor.com

The Stratosphere is a nice 3 star hotel and "generally" it's the best value on the strip.
http://www.stratospherehotel.com >The Strat will price match the best rate you can find online, incase they don't already have the lowest rate.

The Orleans is a little over 1 mile West of the strip, on Tropicana, but, it has a free shuttle to the strip & also one to the Gold Coast/Palms/Rio area. The Orleans is very nice, and, it's been rated the #2 best value hotel in the World.
http://www.orleanscasino.com >Will price match

The Gold Coast is a sister property of the Orleans. The GC is a nice clean 2 star+ hotel but it's not nearly as nice as the Orleans. It is however a little more convenient to the strip, maybe 5 minutes, depending on traffic on their free shuttle. The Orleans takes around 10 minutes.
http://www.goldcoastcasino.com >Will price match

I know you said "on the strip", but I thought I would mention the latter two because they will often save you a lot of money.

Two sites I like to use to compare room rates with the hotels own.
http://www.travelworm.com
http://www.hotels.com

Web sites for every hotel/casino in LV
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/referenceguide-hotels.cfm
You still have time to go to any hotels web site that you're interested in and sign up for e-mail updates. They will send you specials when they become available.

The best room rates for the entire year are from November 18th to December 28th - If you can go Sunday through Thursday you can save a bundle. Hint >I would book something at a reasonable rate now, through the hotel, then keep checking because more than likely between now and December you will be able to find a real bargain. You can always cancel the first reservation and make another.

It's best to have the reservation in hand, you never know when they will decided to have a major prize fight in LV and that runs the room rates up 200%-400%.

Shows
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/shows.cfm

These are the best - Money no option - IMO
Mystere - Treasure Island
"Ka" - MGM-Grand
"O" - Bellagio
Blue Man Group - Venetian

Best value show
Mac King - Harrah's
Dirk Arthur - Tropicana
>Discount & 2-4-1 tickets are easy to get for these.

for discount & 1/2 price show tickets
http://www.tix4tonight.com >3 locations on the strip & 1 downtown
http://www.tickets2nite.com >near the Coke bottle in the Showcase Mall, next to MGM

Tours
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/activities.cfm
IMO Hoover Dam isn't a good place to go right now. Between the construction and the terror alert(they stop every car, and search every van & truck) you can sit in traffic for a couple of hours. >"A quick 35 minute trip" >You might be able to do it in 45 minutes, between Midnight and 4am<
My favorite place to go "near" LV is Mt. Charleston - Toiyabe National Forest. Mt. Charleston is at almost 12k ft, it's nice and cool, they have picnic areas, hiking trails, camp grounds, beautiful old growth forest, incredible views. The best part is it's only 35 miles North of LV on I-95 and there is very little traffic.

Info on all LV public transportation
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/transportation.cfm
>This one can save you a lot of time and $$ if you learn which to use, and when..

If you like to save $$ take a look at one or both of these
2008 American Casino Guide >08 comes out 11/1 you might as well buy the one that will be good for all of next year as well. >You can pick on up at a local book store<
http://www.americancasinoguide.com

The Las Vegas Advisor's POV
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com

We go to LV 2-3 times a year for 2 weeks or more at a time and have for over 20 years. This year(6/4 - 7/5) & (12/13/07 - 1/1/08)>So far, I have a hard time saying no to a great deal :))

~Jack~
.

Answer 2

Well, for starters, your timing is not the greatest, everyone in the north and northeast will be making plans along with you.
SO if it's gotta December, then here's some things to try:
1. The best way to see LV is mostly dependent on how cash you are planning on spending and how long you are going to stay? To not have after regrets or Vegas remorse in two or three months later when the bills hit you, plan and save now!
2. Try to buy all your air, hotel, (and IF necessary) car rental from the same travel agency or website. They generally can offer great package deals. For example, sidestep.com or any travel site will have package deals, or better yet, hotvegaspackage.com or search "cheap las vegas package deals" and go from there.
3. Know what encompasses "The Strip". IOW, what hotels are on the strip, off the strip, or very far away! This will matter a lot when you see package deals real low$$ and those bigger hotels $$ deals.
4. The Strip does not have everything. Sometimes we stay downtown at the Fremont area and use the free bus system or buy a 5 day bus pass to go to the "strip" that way saving on hotels and getting a ride to the major Hotels and still being able to enjoy what their guests enjoy. Most everything you hear about Las Vegas is located in about a 2 mile stretch on the "Strip" so most people walk, everything's real close, and most times the bus system (esp. at night) can take 4ever b/c everyone's trying to drive on the strip all at the same time, so it pays to walk for free.
5. As for shows, there are several places that sell 1/2 price shows for THAT day of showing, Search internet I'm sure you'll find them. Most times the seats are a little in the way back, but sometimes the audience area is small and every seat is a good seat and only draw back is after buying the "general seat" ticket you have to go directly to the place of showing ticket office and show them your 1/2 price ticket and they will assign you a seat, this may take along time to do, depending on where your shows are located.
6. So plan now to find the best deals and if possible find someone you know who personally went there and ask them 20 ???s and they'll help even more! Viva Las Vegas

Answer 3

There are two discount outlets near M & M world on the strip (Las Vegas Boulevard). Try each of them on the day of the show.

See if you can rent a car to go to Hoover Dam. It is a quick 35 minute trip. There is a discount on tour tickets if you go to the web site for Hoover Dam

For hotels, try any of the big travel sites such as Expedia, Travelocity, etc. Once you find the lowest price, compare that to the hotel's own web site.

Join the slot club where you are staying so that the next time you venture into Las Vegas, you may get a better deal.

Answer 4

I highly suggest calling yourcloset Travel Agent.
They will take care of it all for you.
Shows, Hoover dam trip air and hotel.

If you book from a website, IE: expedia, priceline,
and you need to make changes or need to cancel your SOL.

But your Travel Agent can and will make the changes for you and you speak directley with him/her everytime.

Oh and here's the kicker, TA's get the same rates you see online and they don't charge extra for their services.

Circus Circus is probably the cheapest, but if you are not takingkids, I suggest you stay at the Planet Hollywood, NY NY, Or Luxor.

Answer 5

I got good hotel room rates on Orbitz (i did hotel+flight). If you need airline tickets too, id go through one of the travel websites. Try them all; expedia, orbitz, travelocity, etc.

As for which hotel, it depends on your budget. could range anywhere from $51 a night to over $500 a night.I've stayed at the MGM Grand which was $90 for weekdays and $130 for the weekend day we were there. Theyre modestly priced, and a very nice hotel

*edit*
Im staying at Excalibur in November for 4 nights

Answer 6

Best hotel I stayed at on the strip was Bally's. You can usually pick up good rates through orbitz and expedia. My room was $65/night, which is excellent!

Harrah's is nice too, slightly better than a Holiday Inn, but still centrally located.

I didn't like Excalibur, but that was 10 years ago.

Answer 7

MGM Grande, Paris, Ceasars, and of course the Venetian are all awesome. Once you step into one of the nice new fabulous hotel/casinos- you are ruined because then the flamingo, tropicana, harrahs, rio etc... all look like sh!at in comparison. But if you are only going to gamble, who cares what the resort looks like, right? If you are going to sight see, stay in a resort with a tram stop.

Answer 8

Visit Vegas.com for all the info you need.

I've stayed at the Luxor a couple of times and really liked it. But I've also staye at the Excalibur, but that was years ago.

Will be staying at the Riveria in Oct. Have heard good and bad about it, so I'll have to see for myself

Have fun...

Answer 9

its not right on the strip but i think the Rio is the best place to stay. every room is a suite and the beds are sooo nice. on the strip the TI (treasure island) isnt bad. do not stay at circus circus or excaliber they are the worst. i would see any of the Circe de sole (sp?) shows.

have fun!

Answer 10

For discount hotel rates go to:
http://www.smartervegas.com/hotels.aspx

For vegas tips (where to travel to, attractions, exc...):
http://www.smartervegas.com/tips.aspx

Good value promotional deals (hotels):
Treasure Island: http://www.smartervegas.com/hotels/Treasure_Island/PromotionalCodes.aspx
Paris: http://www.smartervegas.com/hotels/Paris/PromotionalCodes.aspx
Excalibur: http://www.smartervegas.com/hotels/Excalibur/PromotionalCodes.aspx

Hope this helps ;) Enjoy.