Being a popular tourist destination Las Vegas has many more hotel rooms that one
would imagine. There are over 100,000 rooms on the Strip alone. The prices of
these hotels fluctuate a lot and a little bit of search can get you a great deal
and save you money.
My favorite sites to find a deal for Las Vegas hotel or a travel package are:
1. Travelzoo
2. TripRes
3. Expedia
4. Vegas.com
5. Priceline
6. Southwest airlines website
Compare the prices listed on each one of them. Follow them going up and down for a day or two and find the best deal. I usually start hunting for the deals 45 to 60 days in advance. Often there are great last minute deals too on the unfilled rooms, but I mostly book in advance. To get good prices avoid the busy travel season. Prices are highest on Friday - Saturday nights, moderate on Sunday nights and cheapest on weekdays. If you are flying to Vegas then book a package deal (hotel + car + airlines) which should save you a lot of money combined than booking individually. Also after booking over the internet call up the hotel after a few hours to check if they have received your booking confirmation.
WHICH VEGAS HOTEL IS THE BEST FOR ME - HOW MUCH SHOULD I PAY
Vegas is not a place where most of you will spend much of your time in the hotel room so go for the best deal you get on the Strip (I prefer a rating of 3.0 or better on Expedia). I learned it the hard way when we booked an expensive room with a lot of amenities in my first visit and later realized I just came in the night to sleep and crashed on the bed till the morning. In the following visits I selected good but relatively cheaper hotels like Hooters, Stratosphere, Flamingo and Excalibur.
* Las Vegas Hotel prices are highest on Friday and Saturdays and sometimes on long weekends.
* Sunday night prices are moderate and Monday to Thursday are the cheapest.
* Have a good and filling breakfast before going out. I suggest taking a breakfast buffet, many places offer good breakfast for about $10 or less per person.
For a good deal, you can expect to pay under $60 per night for a hotel on the Strip. Also do check the cancellation fee or any service or hidden charge that may apply later. Do check the amenities the room has and if it fits your needs. Sites like Expedia have a rating for each Las Vegas hotel, as mentioned above I prefer a hotel rating of 3 or higher.
Again everything is relative
- A price of $250 for a five star hotel like Wynn is a great deal.
- $200 is a good deal for Bellagio.
You need to find a balance between how much you want to pay and which premium facilities you want. You can compare them on the websites mentioned above.
COPY OF MY LAS VEGAS HOTEL BILL - HOW MUCH DID I PAY FOR MY MOST RECENT HOTEL ROOMS:
( Stratosphere Hotel - 3 nights - 2 Jan 2007 - Priced were really low just after New Year)
2 rooms for 3 nights - total $195. That is less than $35 per night, per room.
They even upgraded me to a better room for free during the check-in at the hotel lobby.
On another occasion I paid less than $60 per night for a room in Hooters hotel on Tropicana Avenue, very close to the Strip.
WEATHER - WHEN SHOULD I GO
* Check the weather forecast, never go during the rainy season.
* Summer time is very hot and the prices are cheap (except during the summer school break season). If you do still decide to go in summer then utilize the peak heat time (12:30 PM to 6:00 PM ) in playing inside the air-conditioned casinos, watching shows and having your lunch. You may even take a short nap in the hotel room so you have more energy to keep you awake late night, its a common saying that Vegas never sleeps. In the mornings and evenings go outside and see the various casinos.
http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USNV0049.html - weather forecast
http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/USNV0049_f.html - Average year round temperatures
