The Vegas Guide Thread (tips & tricks)

[ILikeDVD]

Oh yeah i saw it on the news. The weather here in Ca, the latest storm predicted never developed. When do you recommend to avoid traffic if applicable

[ILikeDVD]

HEy El Scorcho, i can, but the fine print mentioned no guarantee on my choice of non smoking/2 beds, which is not new, but i really need it

[El Scorcho]

At this point, beggars can't be choosers, really. If you wanted a guarantee, you should have booked it months ago.

[pedagogue]

Originally posted by El Scorcho
At this point, beggars can't be choosers, really. If you wanted a guarantee, you should have booked it months ago.

Seriously. I was researching vegas a few months ago, and couldn't find any decent deals...let alone now. I settled for AC, but couldn't get any of the casinos.

-pedagogue

[ILikeDVD]

This Travelaxe search program is pretty cool, its like buying tickets through ticketmaster. THe deals i find aree like 10 miles away. Waiting for more cancellatons so i can get a good deal. About an hour ago a Motel 6 popped up at $80. Had a rating of 1(low) I had to ask my friend but it was too late. Plus it didnt have 2 beds.

[heimerSWT]

I'm finding the Flamingo for Dec 31 @ $190, using Travelaxe.

[ILikeDVD]

any advice on the traffic on the way back on the first?

[griz]

Originally posted by Red Dog
Really? I've flown to Vegas 6 times and never flown over the Strip.

Well, not exactly over the Strip.
Twice in probably the last 6 flights or so (in the last 4 or 5 years), we came in parallel to the strip. The strip was just to the right of the plane. I would assume this would be part of the off limit area being imposed, since it's literally seconds from the strip. Another interesting note is the Stratosphere Tower is the same height as the flightpath as you pass by it.

I'm not an expert, so I may be incorrect about some of these facts, but the Stratosphere comment was told to me by a pilot after I commented about our interesting flightpath (my first time on that path). Unfortunately, this last time (in Sept.) when we took that path, we were sitting on the left side of the plane, so I couldn't exactly see what was on the right side of the plane (although I was trying hard to look).

[Borst]

I've been looking for airfare for a vegas trip for the past 2-3 months and every time I check Orbitz its the exact same price $292. The last time I went (May 2003) I could search for airfare and get prices and search again a few hours later and get different prices, have airlines gone to straight pricing on flights now? I remember a news story here last spring when they asked 50 people on a flight what they paid for thier seat and when/how they booked it and they got like 45 different prices ranging from $110-$450 and they gave tips to check often cause they changed prices 3 times a day.

The price might be more because I'm going thurs-sun over a 'holiday' (Valentines days weekend) but still you'd think in the over 100 times I've checked prices there would be some difference lower or higher but its the same every time.

[rocketsauce]

hey all planning on going in about mid march. i want to stay in a reasonable rated hotel near the four corners so im thinking the flamingo. can anyone tell me about it. also is it better to book both airfare and hotel as a package through sites like orbitz and expedia, or can i save doing it seperately? any other tips would be appreciated.

[Sdallnct]

Originally posted by rocketsauce
hey all planning on going in about mid march. i want to stay in a reasonable rated hotel near the four corners so im thinking the flamingo. can anyone tell me about it. also is it better to book both airfare and hotel as a package through sites like orbitz and expedia, or can i save doing it seperately? any other tips would be appreciated.

I use to do packages all the time. But since 9/11 the hotel rates have really dropped when booked directly thru them. Since 9/11 I have not booked a packed (tho I'm pretty close in PHX).

I would look at both. Especially look at Southwest airlines packages (if they fly in your area). Otherwise, go to every hotel net site you are interested in staying in and sign up for at their site and if you can their players cards. You should start getting e-mails and some snail mails for deals. Recently I got TI for $69.00 per night mid week, NYNY $69.00 per night mid week. If you haven't figured it out yet, you will save $90+ per night staying mid-week, vs. the weekend.

Typically I when I find a decent deal, will go for it. Then continue to watch for a better deal as trip time comes up. All strip hotels I know of allow you to cancel 48 hours in advance with no penalty. Also booking direct thru the hotel will often allow you more success in the $20.00 tip trick....

[rocketsauce]

ill keep that in mind

[Xander]

Flamingo - great location, great pool, decent rooms. We usually stay at the cheaper Strip hotels (Tropicana, Excalibur, Flamingo), and it's the best one we've stayed at. Especially the location. I've found great deals both in a package and by booking separately. My advice is to check both as you get closer and see what's cheapest.

X

[succubiss]

flamingo has a fun pool with a little water slide. just walk in, find a pool chair and lay out. you don't even have to stay there to swim.

i've never been to the mandalay bay pools, and I hear they have stricter pool access. but i hear their facilities are second to none.

[Red Dog]

I've stayed at the Flamingo my last 2 trips - I really like it. I'd book them separately mainly because it doesn't take much gambling there to get the VIP rate for a room. As the pool at Flamingo, I remember having to show a room key to enter the pool area.

[Borst]

not sure the pools will be open in march, dont remember them open when Ive been there over St Patricks day before

[Xander]

Borst, good point. I was there for spring break one year, and it was NOT warm enough to go swimming. So pool may not be a factor that time of year. And yes, we did have to show a room key to get into the Flamingo's pool. It's still a great location for a decent room at a decent price.

X

[Borst]

We just booked for Feb 5-8 at Riviera wasn't my first choice of hotels because it's way up the strip and I wanted the following weekend of feb 12-15 because the 15th is my 30th birthday but that's also Valentines weekend (the 2-3 other guys I'm going with are all married) and it was $100/person more

Whenever and where ever we are staying it still VEGAS BABY VEGAS! I haven't been out there since last April 1 so thats longest stretch without going since I started going back in the mid-90s

[Flashback]

I'm going back in March - this time Paris is my choice to check out (or in ).

Anyway, I have a question, last Sept. I was there at the airport waiting outside before my bags came out where the limos are...what is the best deal you can get from there to the strip....I saw some guys get a quote of $25 from the driver....is this about the best you can get? I ask because the last 2 times in Vegas the taxi lines were insane....what would you tip on that also?

[BigDave]

My wife and I are staying at the Luxor later this month. This will be our first trip to Vegas.

From a photographers standpoint, any cool places I should check out?

[Xander]

Originally posted by Flashback
Anyway, I have a question, last Sept. I was there at the airport waiting outside before my bags came out where the limos are...what is the best deal you can get from there to the strip....I saw some guys get a quote of $25 from the driver....is this about the best you can get? I ask because the last 2 times in Vegas the taxi lines were insane....what would you tip on that also?

The Las Vegas Limo company does limos and shuttles from the airport to the strip. You have to share the limos with other people, and sometimes you have to take a shuttle instead, but it runs about $8 a person. Not too shabby if taxis are scarce. Depending on the people in the vehicle with you, it may take a while, though, because you may have to stop at a lot of hotels.

Originally posted by BigDave
My wife and I are staying at the Luxor later this month. This will be our first trip to Vegas.

From a photographers standpoint, any cool places I should check out?

The inside of MOST of the hotels are pretty cool. Luxor is cool, New York New York is awesome. Tropicana is old-school. Excalibur is worth one look. MGM Grand is a neat theme, plus it's gigantic. Monte Carlo is nothing special, IMHO. Bellagio and Venetian are very fancy. Caesar's is neat. If I were you, I would try to walk through as many as possible at least once. They all have their charms. Okay, maybe not the Boardwalk.

X

[El Scorcho]

Ok, the next vegas trip is just about ready.

Deftones and I will be stone cold slummin' it downtown. 4 queens, $50/night during march madness.

Kickin it ghetto fabulous in Sin City. Can't get any better. We've always vowed to stay downtown at least once and now is that time.

Plus all the strip hotels were enormously priced for that weekend. Go figure.

[Borst]

Originally posted by El Scorcho
Ok, the next vegas trip is just about ready.

Deftones and I will be stone cold slummin' it downtown. 4 queens, $50/night during march madness.

Kickin it ghetto fabulous in Sin City. Can't get any better. We've always vowed to stay downtown at least once and now is that time.

Plus all the strip hotels were enormously priced for that weekend. Go figure.

4 Queens aint kickin it ghetto fabulous, that would be staying at the Westward Ho or Gold Spike or for real ghetto fabulousness one of the lovely motels that are like 3-4 blocks off Fremont downtown, I stayed at one of the motels once when we drove into town and thought we'd get a room on saturday night (well we could have for $450) we saw 2 drug deals go down in the courtyard area and you could get the crackwhore hooker of your choice within 20 seconds of stepping out the door, room was actually fairly clean but was a bit scary going to/from the room and even in it we were a little worried and braced a chair against the door just incase someone tried to break in

[Borst]

El Scorcho - I see you're going to Vegas a little over a month after me, I'm going to leave a bunch of my money in the little slot on the blackjack tables so go around and collect that up for me ok, it'll be $20s $50s & $100s keep a few for yourself too

[El Scorcho]

Originally posted by Borst
4 Queens aint kickin it ghetto fabulous, that would be staying at the Westward Ho or Gold Spike or for real ghetto fabulousness one of the lovely motels that are like 3-4 blocks off Fremont downtown, I stayed at one of the motels once when we drove into town and thought we'd get a room on saturday night (well we could have for $450) we saw 2 drug deals go down in the courtyard area and you could get the crackwhore hooker of your choice within 20 seconds of stepping out the door, room was actually fairly clean but was a bit scary going to/from the room and even in it we were a little worried and braced a chair against the door just incase someone tried to break in

Well, it's as ghetto fabulous as we want to get anyway. Compared to what we're used to staying in on the strip!

I'll look for your money. Any evasion techniques I should use when I get chased after by about 18 security guards?