Upcoming Vegas trip/adventure/vacation (Feb '09)

I'm looking at a trip to Vegas in mid-February '09. Does anyone know of any deals? I saw that some casinos have a full pay, non-refundable price which are really good (Monte Carlo, $375 for 4 nights (sun-wed nights))

Planning on staying 4 nights at a nicer theme casino on the strip in the Caesars to MGM area. Yes, I know that covers a lot of ground.

All ideas are welcome.

Cindy and I recently stayed at the Paris. We took the gondola ride around the inside and outside of the hotel. The top of the Eiffel Tower is a great photo opportunity. Take the monorail to Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. It’s got a nice sandy beach almost as good as Hawaii if you drink enough “Hula Girls” After lunch, jump on the Roller Coaster at New York New York and then rent an Electra Glide and cruise the strip. Above all, Have Fun!! :D

Here's a list of all the Vegas hotels with prices.

http://www.tripres.com/destinations/vacations.aspx?cityID=181&dest=Las+Vegas&v=hotels

I haven't booked yet, but I'm supposed to be at the Tropicana Feb 11-14, 2009. It's about a 10-hour drive for me, so I'll be taking the RL... :)

Make some rediculously low offers on priceline.com and you might find some real deals. I've stayed at the MGM Grand for $24 per night (which ends up at $30 something with taxes) and Excalibur for $30 per night (ends up at $40 something).

Hotels are hurting everywhere (including Vegas). Make low offers and you might get lucky. Just make sure you include high standards (higest star offer on a hotel on the strip or wherever you want to stay).

Priceline runs hot and cold. I've had offers refused one day and accepted a few days later.

If you book at the right time, you can get fantastic deals here in Vegas. The trick is finding a slot when: (1) Low convention volume, or (2) no 'Vegas' events (such as big poker tournaments, etc.), or (3) related to certain Asian holidays. February typically has two large conventions (though I couldn't tell you which weeks) and Chinese New Year falls on Jan 26 so you should have no worries from that Holiday.

I'd suggest just what the csimo said and play the priceline game. It can work to your advantage.

A Sun-Wed at the Monte Carlo for $375 is not a bad price. The hotel has a good South strip location (situated between NYNY and the Bellagio). It is not as swanky as the other MGM/Mirage group hotels. It was orginally a joint venture between Steve Wynn's Mirage group (Pre-buy out) and CircusCircus Hotels. The Mirage group provided the land and part of the building costs, Circus provided the management. As such, it was not up the standards of the Mirage/Bellagio and its aim was to bring in middle-income guests wanting a sample of elegance at budget prices.

Decent hotel overall with a very good location. Others that are 'good' quality are NYNY, MGM, Paris, Caesar's, Mirage, TI is okay. Exaclibur is pretty low-ball (it was an old CircusCircus property and reflects their management ideology), the Trop is old and nasty, the Flamigo is old, but has some decent rooms, Harras is situated nicely, but is also bargain level. The Venitian (sp?) is quite nice, but can also be quite pricey.

If you are looking to 'get out' while you are here, I'd suggest taking a trip to Red Rock Canyon and/or The Valley of Fire. Both nice 'local' trips. Lake Mead is in a sad state right now, but Hoover Dam is still an interesting side trip (take the tour, its worth it, though its not as nice as it was pre-911). Grand Canyon is about 4 Hours by car, or you can take a 'helicopter tour' of the Grand Canyon as well.

We usually stay at the South Point on South Las Vegas Blvd. We are there next week for about $72 per night. But it's not on the strip(which I like). Has large rooms, nice casino, restaurants and sports Book. Check on Vegas.com. :eek:

Keith, I'm admittedly a cheapskate, so take that into account with any of my advice. When I've traveled to Vegas, I've always stayed in Jean, NV. It's about 30-40 miles down the Intersate from Vegas (West), but I've found some great deals there. But if you can get the kind of deals ROC members are posting for the major Vegas hotels, no reason not to stay there.

Don't know how much you're into the outdoors, but Death Valley is not too far away from Vegas. Definitely one of my all-time favorites. Also, Red Rock Canyon (just north of Vegas) is a great site. If you decide to go to Death Valley, PM me for some incredible sights to see there.

Hope you enjoy your trip!
Tom

I'm leaving tomorrow for 4 days at the Excalibur , i hope it's not that bad over there .... i really want to go see the Grand Canyon by helicopter , is there a kiosk right on the Strip ?? i'm also curious what is there to see at Death Valley ?

:) marriage is sunday !!!

I'm leaving tomorrow for 4 days at the Excalibur , i hope it's not that bad over there ....

Its not 'bad' just a low-end older 'Circus Circus' property (part of the current MRG of course). Good location at the south end of the strip, the property is showing its age, and was never terribly 'nice' to begin with.

It shouldn't be a problem, particularly if you are planning to spend more time out on the strip, than in the concrete castle.

We went at the beginning of December and stayed at the Rio Suites. It was $60 a night, stay 3 get one free. We were considering the Orleans as it was $57 a night, stay 2 get 2 free and after visiting it, I wished we'd stayed there. Both are "off the strip". They both offer shuttle buses, which left every 15 minutes or so and dropped you off on the strip. We enjoyed it, great dinner in the Rio on the 50 (or 52) floor with a view of the strip.

If you can time your trip up the Eiffel tower, you can watch the fountain show at the Bellagio from up there. That was really great.

My in-laws did the Grand Canyon tour. They'd done their research on the internet. They phoned when they got to Vegas and were quoted one price. When they said they'd had a different price on the net, they gave that one to them. The company was Papillon Tours. My in-laws loved it, but it was too pricey for us ($400 each)

We went at the beginning of December and stayed at the Rio Suites. It was $60 a night, stay 3 get one free. We were considering the Orleans as it was $57 a night, stay 2 get 2 free and after visiting it, I wished we'd stayed there. Both are "off the strip". They both offer shuttle buses, which left every 15 minutes or so and dropped you off on the strip. We enjoyed it, great dinner in the Rio on the 50 (or 52) floor with a view of the strip.

If you can time your trip up the Eiffel tower, you can watch the fountain show at the Bellagio from up there. That was really great.

My in-laws did the Grand Canyon tour. They'd done their research on the internet. They phoned when they got to Vegas and were quoted one price. When they said they'd had a different price on the net, they gave that one to them. The company was Papillon Tours. My in-laws loved it, but it was too pricey for us ($400 each)

I agree about the Orleans. I have gone there once or twice a year for the last dozen years. I've already done the Rio, Ceasars, etc. stays and they are for the tourists and suckers. The Orleans is away from the strip and that is a good thing, at least for me. It is cheap, has good rooms, good buffets, excellent spa and pool and the shuttle to the strip runs back and forth frequently, if you need to go down there that is.

I don't need the strip as this is what I do: arrive and get to the room to unpack and relax for about 45 seconds. Then, hit the craps until 1am. First night, nothing but craps as the Orleans crowd is mostly local and lower class, rowdy types which makes the tables a lot of fun. At 1am I go to their Courtyard cafe and have a cheap ham and eggs.

Next day I sleep until 6am then hit the slots until noon. The Orleans has loose slots but they are really loose in the early morning. My Judi usually has a lot more luck than me and she is the one who put me on to the early morning slots. I've seen her destroy an entire bank of dollar machines before breakfast! Don't play them after about 12:00, however. They become cold as ice.

Noon to 6pm is relaxing time sitting at the sports book, usually betting on simulcast races but sometimes ball games as well. All depends whats on but at least they have all the tracks telecast so races are run someplace every five minutes. If there is football playing that time or something like that that is a bonus. The cocktail waitresses have the best outfits in Vegas and are ready with the drinks whenever you are. I eat my main meal at the Rib Loft. Great, cheap prime rib and outstanding Rusty Nails!

Then, the serious work begins with more craps until I loose my limit there, then on to black-jack until I loose more. It's 2am again before I know it and back to bed for four more hours until the loose slots hit at 6am. So on and so forth until I leave five days later. I always go Sunday night to Thursday afternoon, sometimes Friday but never there on Friday, Saturday nights when the rates become stupid, even at the Orleans.

Unless I go to the pool, I never see the sun or breathe fresh air from arrival to departure. Hell, I can do that at home. I've been to all the casinos and all the shows I want to see starting with Dean Martin in the early 70s to Mamma Mia, Mystere and Ka. If you want the glit and glimmer of Vegas this is not the place for you. If you want big broadway like productions just outside your room, this is not the place for you. But if you like the sight, sound and smell of sleaze covered within a somewhat acceptable environment, cheap entertainment and rooms, good food and fair games, the Orleans can't be beat.

There is always Hooters Casino Hotel. A little Dumpy but clean and near the strip. They are running a special rate of $29 per night :eek:

A little Dumpy

Lol. That's an understatement.

That property has changed hands quite a few times. Bad location.