vegas

[mnis]

Thinking (and ONLY at the "thinking" stage) of planning a trip to vegas for DHs 40th....can anyone give me any tips on how to go about it...eg

where would I get the best package deal?
am I best pricing things independently?
If yes what sites are the best?

anything else? We'd only be going for 4-5 days; wanting to fly from scotland and dont need a car

thanks
mnis:angel:

[inlimbo]

Really shop around and be flexible with your dates.

Flights were cheaper after October 1st, and hotels fluctuate (week to week) depending on what conventions are in town.

We managed to pay less to stay at the Venetian (usually v.expensive) than than the MGM (mid-range) because their was a convention at the MGM.

We booked through Bon Voyage. But i used expedia, and a few other sites including the hotels websites to find prices.

Other thing to look at is the flights, we went indirect because of cost but would have paid the extra £50 to fly direct next time round.

Good luck

[bq20]

Agree with inlimbo, check if there are any public holidays or conventions in town. Rates also rise heavily over weekends, if you could do Mon - Friday hotels would be cheaper. Also agree to pay for a direct flight, if you have to change planes it makes the travelling very long, especially if you are only going for a few days. We have often booked hotel direct from each hotels website as it has worked out cheaper than the usual expedia, airline network etc. Anything else I can help with, just pm me, we are off there again in October.

[Diamonddog]

Try to avoid Fri & Sat nights - seriously. Alot of hotels won't let you book in on these nights (you can book in before and stay over the weekend). Prices at the weekend will rise by anything between 40-80%!!!! Also, it's damn busy!!!

There are five main areas for hotels in Vegas:

1) Downtown (the oldest part of the city)
2) The Strip (otherwise known as Las Vegas Boulevard South), split into:
a) North Strip (Circus Circus, Stardust, Stratosphere etc)
b) Centre Strip (Caesars. Ballys, Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio etc)
c) South Strip (Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, New York New York etc)
5) Off strip hotels (Rio, Sam's Town, etc).

You'll pay more for South & Cente strip properties. The cheapest areas tend to be downtown (besides Golden Nugget) and the smaller off strip properties.
There's a reason for this - they involve either driving or taxis and/or are less glamorous.
Don't forget - conventions, holidays and boxing fights will escalate prices enormously. If you can get rooms - the average occupancy (that's average ) is 92% year round!!! On weekends, that's closer to 99% - seriously. For the bigger events listed above - it's at least that!!!
So - plan ahead. And , if you see a great hotel price, book it. It can disappear in five minutes. I'd seriously suggest a first timer trying to stay centre/south strip, Sun-Thu. Try the Imperial Palace - right opposite Caesars Palace/The Mirage and next door to The Flamingo Hilton. You normally get some great prices in an excellent setting.

When are you looking to fly? Vegas is a desert - it's stiflying end of June through until mid September. April/May is a lovely time to go. End of Sept/October can be very pleasant, but variable. One warning - between November & March, the temp rarely gets above mid 60s. It can be damn cold - I've been there in January with snow!!! You will not be able to use the pools from Nov-Mar, generally. They are unheated and outdoor.

The days of cheap Vegas flights appear to have gone - you'll pay anywhere between £270-550!!! Again, try not to fly on Fri/Sat. Only two firms fly direct from the UK- Virgin and Airtours (I think). If you have to fly indirect, try to avoid gateway cities like San Fran and (especially) LA - the LA market acounts for a huge amount of total holiday makers, and the flights are subsequently more expensive/heavily booked. Delta fly via Cincinnatti - and it's up to two hours quicker!!

I've booked my holidays off of teletext - package deals tend to be expensive, because they charge per person, whereas the accomodation should be per room. Unlike Orlando, which has a surfeit of rooms, Vegas is very heavily booked and you will pay proportionately more. However, it's cheaper to get a flight for 7 days than 4 or 5 - it's how you balance these things out that count. If you are speaking to the hotels direct, always ask for their 'lowest rate'.

Do you need a car? In Vegas - no. You can do trips to the Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam (a must do) by coach and save yourself a long drive and lots of anguish using the car unnecessarily up & down The Strip!!! There are two different buses/trams that stop at casino/hotels very frequently - and there's also the monorail, down the back of the casinos.

Hope this helps!! PM me if you need other ideas!

[bq20]

BMI also fly direct Manchester to Vegas.

[inlimbo]

They've also been having problems with the monorail - it wasn't working in February and long works were expected.

[Astrid]

Totally agree with all that has been said already.

Diamonddogs areas of the Strip is excellent, I wish he'd given me that advice before we went!!

We stayed in The Sahara, north of the Strip and even though it was walking distance to the heart of the Strip, it was a long walk!! We were next to Wet n Wild which wasn't open when we were there in October (albeit I'm talking quite a few years ago).

If I go again I'd aim for centre to south Strip to really be in the action and, have to say wouldn't stay at the Sahara again.

I loved Vegas, you'll have a ball! Have fun planning.

[mnis]

thanks all for your replies...shall start some investigations then

mnis:angel:

[hamptonlakes]

Hi Mnis,

We have just come back from vegas went 11th May for a week it was excellent apart from the flight we did a changeover at DC booked through BMI/ UNITED which had booked before BMI announced there direct route from manchester.

We stayed at The Excalibur and to be honest we were very very happy with the hotel and facilities, we booked a spa room and it cost us $800 for the 6 nights and was well worth it.

The food was great in the hotel apart from the all u can eat buffet was awful to be honest but they have there own Mc Donalds, Sandwich Bar and many other places to each.

Dont forget to visit the old town Freemont Street where Vegas first started and we visited and there were bands playing and every hours after 9 pm i think the ceiling comes alive as a TV the biggest TV in the world and what an experience.

We visit many of the hotels including MGM Grand, New York New York, Belingos (the ceiling and flower gardens are worth a look) plus we went past the new hotel called Wynn.

Like people have said the prices at the weekend go up quite along compered to mid week. I had booked so shows only to have them all cancelled i had booked Celine Dion, Gladys Knight and so was guttered but will make sure i book shows etc.

I am sure you will love Vegas plus i hired a limo to pick us up at the airport and take us to the Excalibur and return 6 nights later and this cost $65 each way, it was a great experience but if you decide to book a limo for the weekend you have to hire it for atleast 3 hours.

Try www.airline-network.co.uk or www.flybmi.co.uk for you flights
we booked the hotel direct www.excalibur.com

Wesley

[backysteve]

The Sahara Hotel has rooms on offer at the mo for $39, but as someone has already said keep looking at the hotel websites as they are always having offers.

[isanda]

I am starting to have second thoughts about my trip to DLP for my 40th. Vegas???? WDW???? Mmmmmm