Vegas Weekend packages...

[Nufy]

The Valentines thread got me curious about Vegas as well.

Where are some of the best deals found when looking to head to Vegas for a weekend ??

Would like to stay on the strip obviously.

Looking for the weekend around march 10.

[flames85]

I used allegiant airlines (http://www.allegiantair.com/) last year and flew out of Great Falls Montana.... but i also live closer. Great deals!!

[Stranger]

I just came back. We stayed at Treasure Island because we got a good deal on Expedia. I wouldn't recommend TI though. I've been five times now and TI is the only casino I stayed in that I wouldn't go back to. Personally I would spend a little more and upgrade to a slightly newer casino. They also have a $20 per night fee when you check out for local calls, internet and the gym. I thought it was only $20/stay, but I ended up paying about $90 extra bucks when we checked out. The drink service was slow in the casino and it seems to be in need of a reno.

I would say to stay at Planet Hollywood. They have a good location and the casino and rooms are recently updated. They are also around middle of the pack for price.

If you aren't too picky on shows go to the half price tickets store and buy your tickets the day of the show. You can save quite a bit.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Stranger

I just came back. We stayed at Treasure Island because we got a good deal on Expedia. I wouldn't recommend TI though. I've been five times now and TI is the only casino I stayed in that I wouldn't go back to. Personally I would spend a little more and upgrade to a slightly newer casino. They also have a $20 per night fee when you check out for local calls, internet and the gym. I thought it was only $20/stay, but I ended up paying about $90 extra bucks when we checked out. The drink service was slow in the casino and it seems to be in need of a reno.

I would say to stay at Planet Hollywood. They have a good location and the casino and rooms are recently updated. They are also around middle of the pack for price.

If you aren't too picky on shows go to the half price tickets store and buy your tickets the day of the show. You can save quite a bit.

Really? To each their own I guess but I usually go about 3 to 4 times a year and normally stay at TI and love it. The rooms are nice and it has a good location I find.

I've stayed in the Palazzo (by far the nicest but expensive), Monte Carlo (cheap but couldn't pay me to go back), Harrah's (first experience in Vegas) and Treasure Island. I don't spend much time in the rooms but I really find the group or age that you are or are going with really depends on the experience that you are going to have at each hotel. For example, i'm 31 and if im going to Vegas with a bunch of friends to party it up and want a little crazier atmosphere I'm probably going to select a place like New York New York or Planet Hollywood. If i'm going on my comps I'm going to TI because they treat me the best and the GF likes that the mall is right across the street. With my parents we stay at the Palazzo, tables are more expensive rooms are more expensive but very nice hotel and experience.

It's tough to suggest Hotels in Vegas based on the fact that each hotel is offering a completely different experience and all have their hi's and low's.

The one thing I would suggest though is signing up online for players club cards and promotions. I usually receive multiple deals each week from various hotels each week and that can save you a ton of money on standard room rates.

[pylon]

Wynn or Encore are the only places I will stay now. Unbelievable.

I learned a really good trick from a total sleezeball I know, to getting all VIP'd in Vegas.

- Book all of your stuff under your name.

- Have business cards made up for a fictional company, make sure they are good quality, on very heavy card stock, and make sure the words president or ceo under your name. I am lucky, as I have a small corporation I set up a few years back, and I am technically the president.

Go to the VIP check in counter and hand them your business card and say, "I am just checking in, should be under my companies name." Be very friendly and cheery.

They will not find your company in the system, but will find your name. Act relieved. When they tell you you are staying in the basic accommodations, and are checking in at the wrong counter... politely disagree and say ," That is not what I asked my assistant to book, are you sure?" I wanted the 'x' suite.

They will act all apologetic, and typically upgrade you for nothing, or a heavy discount. Worst case, you get the VIP check-in and out, which takes a couple minutes, as opposed to 45 or so at the main counter, and usually a comp dinner or show. This has worked twice for me now. The last time I was there I went from the base $300/ night room, to a $800 per night room at no charge.

Also, sign up for a Hertz gold account, it is 60 bucks. Book a Mustang convertible online. When you get there, go to the Hertz gold rental counter, and act all important. Be on your cell phone and use phrases like, "Why are you asking me? I pay you to make these decisions." or "No, tell their realtor 2.4 million is our final counter offer." Make sure you are loud, and they hear this conversation, even if nobody is on the other end of the phone. Walk up to the counter and hand them your card. "I am here to pick up the Corvette convertible I have reserved." They will say you booked a Mustang...and again, blame your assistant, and say she must have booked the wrong car.

Hertz Corvettes are near impossible to rent in Vegas, the wait list is about 4 months, because they are such an amazing deal for $100 a day.

You will:

A) get the best rental car deal in Vegas for $100/day for a new Vette. As they usually have a spare kicking around, in case one gets banged up or breaks down.

B) Get upgraded to a Mercedes C class, a hummer or some other luxury car, for the same price.

I have used this in Vegas, but also other cities to get massive upgrades. Hope this helps.

If anything, it is good for a good laugh. Last time we were down there my girlfriend was pissing herself laughing watching me work them for upgrades. I honestly had the staff at the Eiffel tower restaurant convinced I was "The President of Alberta". And got the best table in the restaurant without a reservation.

[Captain_Obvious]

I got to Vegas about six times a year on quasi business ventures, and every time I hear someone I know telling me they're going I shutter at the prices I hear.

Most people end up paying north of $500 for a return flight connecting both ways, and then hundreds of dollars for some over priced room on the strip.

I usually pay between $270 - $375 for direct flights both ways. Granted I purposely go a few days earlier than the weekend and or stay a few days later though.

If you must go Thurs or Fri - Sun or Mon you will pay through the roof unless you do some heavy duty scouting. If you have to go prime time weekend flights, look as far in advance as you can on Air Canada and Westjet, and look several times a day online. Prices fluctuate. I also book two one ways as opposed to round trip, which almost always seems to be cheaper for some reason.

Car:

I always rent a car from the airport so I can pick it up on arrival and drop it off when I depart. Searching the rental places on their websites is always the cheapest way to go and I usually pay between $100 - $200 for a car for the entire trip including gas.

If you will be cabbing everywhere it can add up fast, but if you plan to remain intoxicated the whole time that might be your best bet.

I travel a lot in town when there so the rental car works best for me.

Hotels:

Really depends on the trip you're taking. If you're going with a lady friend, book a nice hotel on the strip through hotels.ca - or - do some research and sign up (online) for a "Players Club" card to the MGM or one of the other major casinos. They will email you very low price offers on a regular basis to book discounted rooms.

If you're going with a wife or girlfriend and have the money, I'd book the Wynn or the new City Center. Those are high end. The MGM and New York New York types are a bit cheaper but also slightly less classy (although still nice). Then there's the middle of the pack strip hotels, all the way down to the Luxor and Stratosphere which are at either end of the strip and are usually the lowest priced.

Now, if it's a trip with the boys that's a whole other story.

Forget the strip (unless you get a great price)... book just off the strip. Some of the deals online to rent a condo can be a good deal depending on how many people you intend to stay with.

I recommend a Hotel called the Tuscany which is right behind the Flamingo. It's got 650 square foot rooms with two beds and a couch. Very new and clean. Often stay there for $40 a night. Its got a casino and a few restaurants and is stumbling distance from the strip. It's a real hidden gem in my opinion because of the size / price / location. Usually find the lowest price for it on hotels.ca or a similar site.

If you don't care about the hotel you'll stay in because you don't plan to be there much the Super 8 behind the Hard Rock is often $35 a night (including wifi which most places don't) and it has an amazing BBQ restaurant inside and a micro brewery! There's a kareoke bar there (not a fan myself) and the entire Emerald Island Casino (in the Super 8) has $1.50 pints of beer from the brewery.

If I'm there with buddy's I book something off the strip and use the extra money as disposable income while down there. Always works out well.

Either way, most people I hear of buying packages end up getting gouged in my opinion. I go frequently, book everything myself separately and usually end up paying half of what the people I meet down there end up paying.

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by Stranger

They also have a $20 per night fee when you check out for local calls, internet and the gym. I thought it was only $20/stay, but I ended up paying about $90 extra bucks when we checked out. The drink service was slow in the casino and it seems to be in need of a reno.

This has become more and more common in recent years. The majority of hotels now impose a "resort fee" which tacks on another $8 - $20 per night.

They say it's for the pool, local calls, and some times internet.

Basically it's their way of combating all the cheap online bookings by adding additional fees on. It's just about everywhere now.

The worst part is some of them don't include the internet, so some hotels tac on that money as a resort fee and then some wifi company charges $12.99 a night for internet.

If you book on a site like hotels.ca just check the notes as they list the resort fee on the booking page.

You pretty much just have to factor it in to your pricing when you're booking now days.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Captain_Obvious

Either way, most people I hear of buying packages end up getting gouged in my opinion. I go frequently, book everything myself separately and usually end up paying half of what the people I meet down there end up paying.

Not that I don't agree with you, but when I goto Vegas, living it up is all part of it. I can't say I'm usually looking for a deal or to stay off the strip.

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Not that I don't agree with you, but when I goto Vegas, living it up is all part of it. I can't say I'm usually looking for a deal or to stay off the strip.

You can live it up without paying $1200 for a trip per person is all I'm saying.

Billing a wild weekend in Vegas dupes a lot of people in to over paying.

With the economy in the US there are a ton of deals on airfares and top hotels all the way to mid ranges ones because casinos are ultimately just looking to get people through their doors.

A little research can save you a lot of money without sacrificing where you're staying or how you get there.

I'm all about living it up with the money I've saved by not over paying to get or stay there.

[gargamel]

It's not as cheap as it was a few years ago, but you can still find decent airline prices and great hotel deals if you search a little. I'm a fan of NY, NY because it's within walking distance of In-N-Out, and I like the Imperial Palace because you can get the penthouse for something like $150. If you're doing Vegas right (i.e., not with a girlfriend/wife), you shouldn't be in the hotel except when you're sleeping anyway, so location is much more important than anything else. I probably wouldn't stay south of NY, NY or north of Treasure Island.

Originally Posted by Captain_Obvious

I'm all about living it up with the money I've saved by not over paying to get or stay there.

Exactly. If me searching for a good deal helps to put a nice young lady through college, then it would just be wrong not to do it.

[Nufy]

Quick bump in case there are any differing opinions....

[Travis Munroe]

Go to vegas and gamble your heart out....just be sure to get a players card.
Within 2 weeks of returning home all depressed the emails will start to come in.
Free this free that for your next trip.
So that money you spent gambling is either
a) paying for your next trip out
b) going to make you a lot of money on the initial gamble

I just dont see a way to lose hahaha (50% sarcasm)

[rayne008]

I found this one a few days back...

We stayed at the new Planet Hollywood towers a few months back..
Great 1 br suite, in bedroom 2 person jacuzzi tub, full kitchen, 4 LCD's + giant projector scrren/blinds. Highly recommend it.

- Since it's in Planet Holleywood, easy access the ABC store downstairs, and cases of cheap beer for the suite.

- I've also flown out of Great Falls, saving about 1/2 price on hotel and flights.

- Since we had 4 people, we ended up taking limo's everywhere, ended up being cheaper that taxi's.
(and a lot more plentiful)


----------------------


PACKAGE REVIEW
Destination: Las Vegas
Departure Date: Sun. Feb. 27, 2011
Hotel Name: Wynn Las Vegas -
Duration: 3 Days
Supplier: Room: Meal Plan: Deluxe Resort Double Room-European PlanFLIGHT INFORMATION
» Outbound Flight

Calgary (YYC ) to Las Vegas (LAS )
Flight Number: 1400
Departure Date: Sun. Feb. 27, 2011
Arrival Date: Sun. Feb. 27, 2011
Departure Time: 6:30 PM
Arrival Time: 8:10 PM
« Inbound Flight
Las Vegas (LAS ) to Calgary (YYC )
Flight Number: 1401
Departure Date: Wed. Mar. 02, 2011
Arrival Date: Thu. Mar. 03, 2011
Departure Time: 8:55 PM
Arrival Time: 12:36 AM

PRICING INFORMATION
Price Taxes Total per passenger Qty Total Adult
$409.00 $129.92 $538.92 2 $1077.84 CAD

--------------------

[rayne008]

oh...
and google "Rehab Party" at Hardrock

[Travis Munroe]

^^ you said planet hollywood but your itin says wynn?
also, i do nto agree on the whole rehab thing....basically a jersey shore juice head party, sure the women are great to look at but thats about as much as you will do (unless you start juicing yourself). Not to mention the costs... what did you pay to get in and how many hours did you wait in line?
On a side note, majority of pools are closed this time around, was it open (if you went recently?)

[return to the red]

ok so if you are not opposed to driving to Great Falls. Just did a quick search on Allegiant Air and you can stay at the Mirage or Treasure Island for abou 390 per person. Or you can say at the Bellagio or Ceasars Palace for about 550 per person.

www.allegiantair.com I live in Lethbridge to I use them all the time. I don't really use the Hotel packages as I do to much gambling. Basically I think if you are about 800 for 2 of you for air and hotel you are looking pretty decent.

Edit: $834 staying at Treasure Island taxes in, just make sure you uncheck the shuttle from the airport and don't buy the ticket offers on the plane!

[Crazy Bacon Legs]

I am an uninteresting person with no personality.

Would this "Vegas" place be a good place for me to go?

[rayne008]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

^^ you said planet hollywood but your itin says wynn?
also, i do nto agree on the whole rehab thing....basically a jersey shore juice head party, sure the women are great to look at but thats about as much as you will do (unless you start juicing yourself). Not to mention the costs... what did you pay to get in and how many hours did you wait in line?
On a side note, majority of pools are closed this time around, was it open (if you went recently?)

I worded that badly..

I went to the PH towers a few months back, but I saw the deal for flights and the wynn just a few days ago. It's a good deal as the flight departure/arrival times are ideal.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by return to the red

ok so if you are not opposed to driving to Great Falls. Just did a quick search on Allegiant Air and you can stay at the Mirage or Treasure Island for abou 390 per person. Or you can say at the Bellagio or Ceasars Palace for about 550 per person.

www.allegiantair.com I live in Lethbridge to I use them all the time. I don't really use the Hotel packages as I do to much gambling. Basically I think if you are about 800 for 2 of you for air and hotel you are looking pretty decent.

Edit: $834 staying at Treasure Island taxes in, just make sure you uncheck the shuttle from the airport and don't buy the ticket offers on the plane!

Its easy for us Lethbridge people to fly out of Great Falls. Only adds roughly one extra hour of driving each way. In October of 2009 my wife and I went and stayed at NYNY, using one of the packages with Allegiant Air, and we paid under $700 total. Unless it has changed, Allegiant Air only flies to Vegas on Mondays and Fridays. So you're usually booking a Monday - Friday trip, or a Friday to Monday trip. If you need more flexibility on arrival dates, then Allegiant won't work.


General comments on what other people said:

I won't stay off strip. For me, most of the stuff we do is on the strip, so why bother saving a few bucks at the expense of convenience.

NYNY and MGM are cheaper priced, and they aren't high-end, but they are still nice places to stay. MGM is better than NYNY. Actually MGM has the best beds I've ever slept in, in a hotel.

Staying south of NYNY depends on your preferences, or what you're doing. Excal which is akin to NYNY, but quite a bit older, isn't all that extra far to go. Mandalay Bay is a very nice place to stay, but it does seem quite a bit far. I stayed there for a conference and to go down to the other end of the strip felt like a long journey. One of the nicest rooms I've stayed in in Las Vegas though. Feeling like you're far away from everying vs very nice rooms... depends on what you like. I wouldn't not stay there, but I'd try to stay a little bit closer to the middle.

Many people would ideally like to stay in the middle of the strip. People even think that MGM is too far down south. I'd rather stay at MGM or NYNY every time, but not adverse to trying other places.

Definitely get a players card. Get one of each players card. You get a bunch of "goodies" just for signing up. Just because you're staying at an MGM property doesn't mean you can't sign up for a Harrah's card, or a card at Venetian/Pallazzo. We get a lot of good deals emailed to us as a result of being a card holder.

I never rent a car. With the exception of going to the outlet malls so my wife can shop until I drop (and even after I drop) or to Freemont, we walk the entire time. Helps to burn off the calories of the extra food and alcohol that I normally wouldn't consume.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bacon Legs

I am an uninteresting person with no personality.

Would this "Vegas" place be a good place for me to go?

Vegas isn't for everybody, but everybody fits in well in Vegas. You never know until you've tried it. I never had any sort of desire to go to Vegas. I reluctantly went since my wife wanted to see this place that her parents travel to twice a year. I fell in love with Vegas and I can't go enough times.