Vegas - what did you use to book your trip?

[GreenLantern]

My wife wants to go Vegas, we will be heading down with another couple for 4 nights in November and we've never been.

I know there is an on going Vegas thread I will scour for information about the city itself, but what I am interested in right now is what people used to book their holiday.

Costco, westjet, Expedia... so many options, some seem so much cheaper than others. We're flying out of SK, so should be similar to Calgary (except not direct :/).

So I'm just curious, which website did you use to book your trip and how did it work out?

[Amethyst]

I think I used Expedia, because they had more hotel options. I didn't care about the hotel, as long as it was clean and safe and ended up getting one for $26 a night or something.

[getbak]

WestJet/Air Canada Vacations.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I'm going next weekend. We used Expedia. I've used Expedia quite a few times and never had any issues so I just stuck with them. Got a decent price a few months ago, 5 nights at Caesars for approx. $610 Canadian. But.......beware of resort fees. Caesars is I think $44 a night......American. Ouch. I've heard a few times if you book directly through the hotel they can sometimes be more lenient in waiving resort fees and giving out comps but I always go through Expedia so I have no idea.

[bigtmac19]

I used Expedia when I went. The flight/hotel/car deals were pretty good.

[Northendzone]

We used westjet vacations once, and Expedia the second time.

Next time I book, I will use Expedia to sort thru the room pricing and then call the hotel directly to see what their best price is.

The last time we went, our flight home did not leave until 7 in the evening. The hotel would not give us a late checkout because we booked with Expedia, so we just stayed for another night as it was cheap.

And as mentioned, watch out for the resort fees as most websites list the rooms by room cost only.

[Strange Brew]

I use things like Expedia for price checking but then I always book directly through he airline and hotel.

[8 Ball]

Just book it yourself. Find the hotel you want to stay at and ask them what deals or promotions they have going on. Then book your flight. It's easy because it's a direct flight. Me, the wife and kids just did this with San Francisco. We saved a lot of money by doing this. Expedia would have cost us more.

[dino7c]

book the cheapest room in a decent hotel then slip them a $20 when checking in and ask for an upgrade

trust me

[Philly06Cup]

smartervegas.com has the best deals for hotels. They have a list of hotel coupon codes including ones that aren't listed elsewhere. Sign up with a throwaway email for some extra deals.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

When my wife and I went down for our honeymoon we booked 4 nights directly through the hotel and 2 through Orbitz.

From what I gather hotels will put guests that book directly through them in the better (even if same category) rooms. The four nights ended up in an upgraded suite, two nights through Orbitz were next to the elevators in a room with the thinnest walls I've even seen (could hear the cell notifications of the people in the next room and hear them brushing their teeth).

[OMG!WTF!]

I don't really know how I got here. I have my hunches. But I'm still blocking out a lot.

[stang]

vegas.ca is what we used.

[Buff]

I have never found sites like Expedia or booking or hotels etc to be cheaper. I always book directly with the hotel I want to stay at. They will always give you the best rate.

As mentioned above, go to SmarterVegas.com. It is a website that lists all the deals that the hotels have going on at that time. You aren't booking through that website as the site redirects you to the hotel's site to do the booking. Sign up to gain access to the "hidden" deals. Those are deals that the hotel just doesn't try to advertise.

I always book my flight directly with the airline or through airmiles.

The rest you can wing it.

Want a plethora of advice and tidbits? Check out vegasmessageboard.com. It's a forum dedicated to all things Vegas.

Ask me too. I may not like the same things you like but I go to Vegas often enough that I may be able to help you out with some things.

[GreenLantern]

Thanks for all the replys, very helpful. I'm going to spend time tomorrow looking st the hotels directly.

Did you find when you book that deals are coming and going all the time? Is it better to lock it in as far in advance as you can? Or thematically roll the dice to see what last minute deals may pop up? Like right now the flights home from Saskatoon really suck, nothing is direct and won't ever be, but 15 hour travel days are brutal for a 4 day trip.

[agulati]

Try using the $20 tip trick at the front desk. Certain properties have higher success rate.

I have used it successfully at Bally's where they upgraded us to a much better room and waived the resort fee.

I have also used it successfully at the Venetian. They upgraded us to their best rooms, gave us early check in and late check out, waived the resort fees and gave us food coupons (For $40)

[GreenLantern]

Wow that's impressive. Did you just slide it across the counter and say why we're here to check in. Or tuck it in their g string with your teeth?

[getbak]

If you've found a specific place you want to stay, look into signing up for that casino's players' club (even if you don't plan on gambling). They might send you discount codes to get you to book there.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Wow that's impressive. Did you just slide it across the counter and say why we're here to check in. Or tuck it in their g string with your teeth?

lol, I usually just give it to them and say "any upgrades available"

[OMG!WTF!]

It goes over even better if you just say thanks for checking us in. They know it's for upgrades and it gets awkward if there are none. You kind of have to be willing to tip them anyway.