Las Vegas

munster87

The Elara right beside Planet Hollywood, doesn't have a casino but may be one of value too.

Savage_Henry

you can save on hotels by playing myvegas - you can get free rooms, but you might need to combine 2 hotels. We spent 2 nights in excalibur and 2 in monte carlo for free.

BTW which dates will you be there? Prices differ drastically for sun-thu and fri-sat

Savage_Henry

also book cheapest room and do the 20$ trick (google it), you will probably get some decent room upgrade

January

Check out the Linq it's beside ballys and Paris. Check out smarter vegas.com for hotel deals. Don't forget to factor in the resort fee.

The Backwards Man

The likes of Venetian/Palazzo, Wynn/Encore, Aria/Cosmo, Bellagio and Caesar's are definitely out on that budget, with everywhere else on the strip there are that many variables that it's hard to give a definitive answer. Someone mentioned the Linq, I just checked a random weekend in Feb and it was €150 before resort fee, while Harrah's next door is €50.

It's just a matter of searching for the best deal, there are no 'bad' hotels on the strip, as long as you stay between Mandalay Bay and the Fashion Show Mall you'll be grand location wise.

CaliforniaDream

What dates are you looking at? It really does make a difference if it's weekend or weekday. February also has a few conventions on so prices will be higher if you're in town during one.
Do you want a nice hotel or just somewhere to base yourselves?

You can usually book somewhere like Vdara on Hotwire in your budget. Rooms are really nice there. It doesn't have a casino but it's in the centre of the strip so location is perfect.
I wouldn't recommend the Linq (I work there) because there's a lot of problems with check in and elevators, things like that.
Monte Carlo, Paris, NYNY, MGM, mirage, are all decent to stay in. Mid priced, nothing wonderful but nice.
Bellagio, Venetian/Palazzo, Aria, Cosmo are all higher priced but much nicer.
If you had the budget for it I'd recommend Palazzo over everything. Fantastic rooms.

jinkybhoy

CaliforniaDream wrote: »

What dates are you looking at? It really does make a difference if it's weekend or weekday. February also has a few conventions on so prices will be higher if you're in town during one.
Do you want a nice hotel or just somewhere to base yourselves?

You can usually book somewhere like Vdara on Hotwire in your budget. Rooms are really nice there. It doesn't have a casino but it's in the centre of the strip so location is perfect.
I wouldn't recommend the Linq (I work there) because there's a lot of problems with check in and elevators, things like that.
Monte Carlo, Paris, NYNY, MGM, mirage, are all decent to stay in. Mid priced, nothing wonderful but nice.
Bellagio, Venetian/Palazzo, Aria, Cosmo are all higher priced but much nicer.
If you had the budget for it I'd recommend Palazzo over everything. Fantastic rooms.

Heading over 19th Feb - 3 nights

Savage_Henry

you picked the worst nights
if youre there for 3 nights (19-22) i would stay central strip, anywhere else just doesnt make sense. i would pick treasure island or maybe monte carlo in your price range, as one level up hotels will be over 400. its around 300eur for + resort fee which is about 25$ per night payable at hotel. do the 20$ (or more) trick at check in, its worth it imo.

i checked the prices through trivago

they also have free trams (i think its 2 lines) to get up and down strip + there is monorail.

also - there are coupons for a lot thats going on there - for example 2for1 nyny ride, discount for paris tower etc. are you going to do the stratosphere rides?

Jim Stynes

Vegas isn't the same unless you stay in a 5 star! You'll not stay in a hotel for the price with that kind of quality anywhere else in the world. People always say that you are never in the hotel anyway! Bull****, you spend the majority of your time knocking about round the hotel/casino. They're simply massive places and can take half an hour to get from your room to the strip. Save money elsewhere and go for the proper Vegas experience and stay in Encore, Palazzo, Venetian, Cosmo and that type of standard.

aaronm13

Stayed in Ballys last week for the second time and it's well within your budget. It's a grand hotel, fairly basic by Vegas standards but rooms are very big and clean. Casino is ok but is linked with Paris so has good bars and food options. It's dead center of the strip so the location is perfect and has a bus stop right outside of Paris to get the Deuse and SDX so is perfect if you're only there a few nights. Remember everything is further away in Vegas than it looks.

I've stayed in the Bellagio and Monte Carlo before, both nicer hotels but Bellagio is out of your budget, Monte Carlo should be in budget but it's location isn't as good.

Savage_Henry

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Vegas isn't the same unless you stay in a 5 star! You'll not stay in a hotel for the price with that kind of quality anywhere else in the world. People always say that you are never in the hotel anyway! Bull****, you spend the majority of your time knocking about round the hotel/casino. They're simply massive places and can take half an hour to get from your room to the strip. Save money elsewhere and go for the proper Vegas experience and stay in Encore, Palazzo, Venetian, Cosmo and that type of standard.

Yeah, but there is a big difference between 400 and 700 eur, i even think 400 is too much for Vegas.
BTW if you apply for the hotels players card, gamble enough, charge your restaurant bills to your room you might have a chance that you get something back during checkout http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-g45963-i10-k5756560-Question_about_comps_charging_things_to_your_room-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

Jim Stynes

Savage_Henry wrote: »

Yeah, but there is a big difference between 400 and 700 eur, i even think 400 is too much for Vegas.
BTW if you apply for the hotels players card, gamble enough, charge your restaurant bills to your room you might have a chance that you get something back during checkout http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-g45963-i10-k5756560-Question_about_comps_charging_things_to_your_room-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

That is very expensive alright! We are going back over Easter 2016 for 7 nights and in total it cost £1200 sterling for Encore+ flights and 2 people!

jinkybhoy

CaliforniaDream wrote: »

What dates are you looking at? It really does make a difference if it's weekend or weekday. February also has a few conventions on so prices will be higher if you're in town during one.
Do you want a nice hotel or just somewhere to base yourselves?

You can usually book somewhere like Vdara on Hotwire in your budget. Rooms are really nice there. It doesn't have a casino but it's in the centre of the strip so location is perfect.
I wouldn't recommend the Linq (I work there) because there's a lot of problems with check in and elevators, things like that.
Monte Carlo, Paris, NYNY, MGM, mirage, are all decent to stay in. Mid priced, nothing wonderful but nice.
Bellagio, Venetian/Palazzo, Aria, Cosmo are all higher priced but much nicer.
If you had the budget for it I'd recommend Palazzo over everything. Fantastic rooms.

I was actually looking at the Linq hotel - liked the reviews, location and look of the place. So you wouldn't recommend? I was also looking at the Rio but I think that might be a bit from the strip but I don't mind shuttle busing it or taxiing.

razorblunt

jinkybhoy wrote: »

I was actually looking at the Linq hotel - liked the reviews, location and look of the place. So you wouldn't recommend? I was also looking at the Rio but I think that might be a bit from the strip but I don't mind shuttle busing it or taxiing.

The Rio looks good from here, but after two trips across the motorway you'll be so annoyed.

I'm just back from the Cosmo, got it as part of a deal with flights at about $120 a night. Got a room upgrade then on top of that.

Keep in mind alot of places don't allow that $20 trick, what we did was ask for an upgrade and keep the money in your hand but obvious that it's going to be handed over. Handshake at the end and it was handed over.

Quick note on Bally's, I found it quite dirty compared to most other casinos on the strip, it does have a connection to Paris thats relatively short by LV standards so you could always spent your day time in Paris and hit the hay in Bally's.

jinkybhoy

razorblunt wrote: »

The Rio looks good from here, but after two trips across the motorway you'll be so annoyed.

I'm just back from the Cosmo, got it as part of a deal with flights at about $120 a night. Got a room upgrade then on top of that.

Keep in mind alot of places don't allow that $20 trick, what we did was ask for an upgrade and keep the money in your hand but obvious that it's going to be handed over. Handshake at the end and it was handed over.

Quick note on Bally's, I found it quite dirty compared to most other casinos on the strip, it does have a connection to Paris thats relatively short by LV standards so you could always spent your day time in Paris and hit the hay in Bally's.

cosmo coming in at 776euro for that time - Bit out of my price alright.
The rio - i kinda thought that it was bit further out alright.
I think I'm going to push my budget to €500 excluding resort fees - Don't want to regret not spending the money on a nice place. The difference is only a weekend of drinking money reaslly when you look at it!!!

razorblunt

Yeah you definitely want to be on strip in my opinion.

There's a great bar just opened called People's Republic, it's across from the Aria (stay on the side with the Harley Davidson restaurant at the corner). Great selection of beers on tap, steins are $12, food is surprisingly decent too.

Savage_Henry

i dont think 500 hotel will be much different to linq, treasure island or monte carlo, also on that side there are the free trams http://www.vegas.com/transportation/las-vegas-monorails/

The ARIA Express tram is a three stations free tram with stops at Monte Carlo, Crystals retail and entertainment district (closest to ARIA) and Bellagio/Vdara Hotel & Spa

Tram service between The Mirage and Treasure Island runs approximately every 8 minutes. Normal hours are Sun - Thu 9am - 1am; Fri - Sat 9am - 2am. Check on property for schedule changes. Cost: Free.

youd have to go Palazzo / Bellagio level to feel the extra star, Palazzo is 626 eur for the stay

Savage_Henry

forget about taxiing in or using public transport and staying off strip. in 3 nights youll only scrape the surface of the strip and its just not worth staying elsewhere

jinkybhoy

So booked the Aria for the 3 nights - got it for €377 excluding resort fees - pretty happy with it to be honest!!! Thanks for all the advice guys.

Next question in relation to Aria - Best Breakfast/Brunch buffet and Best Dinner buffet? Thanks

Savage_Henry

emm where did you find this price? is it 19-22 feb?

Dodge

I'd stay away from buffets if they're not comped. Not that they're bad or anything but you need to eat a ridiculous amount of food to make it value for money. Particularly with so many restaurants (to every taste and budget) on the strip

InTheTrees

razorblunt wrote: »

Quick note on Bally's, I found it quite dirty compared to most other casinos on the strip, it does have a connection to Paris thats relatively short by LV standards so you could always spent your day time in Paris and hit the hay in Bally's.

+10000

Bally's is in a great location. The views from the rooms are amazing, personally I;d say better than Bellagio or Paris because it faces down the strip.
And its connected to Paris so they're almost one and the same.

aaronm13

jinkybhoy wrote: »

So booked the Aria for the 3 nights - got it for €377 excluding resort fees - pretty happy with it to be honest!!! Thanks for all the advice guys.

Next question in relation to Aria - Best Breakfast/Brunch buffet and Best Dinner buffet? Thanks

The Ceasars buffet is great but expensive. We went when it just opened and it was around $18 for breakfast when we went two weeks ago it was $36. For the one off experience I think it's a must but go hungry. Try and time it for the switch over between breakfast and lunch 11am and you get the best of both.

Aria is a nice looking hotel. Todd English gets great reviews but I didn't like it. Take the team to the Pub in Monte Carlo, pretty good food and cheap happy hour.

Hash house a go go in the Linq is great for breakfast, ridiculous portions and reasonable enough. The Peppermill near Circus Circus is great for the old school Vegas feel, good food too.

jinkybhoy

Savage_Henry wrote: »

emm where did you find this price? is it 19-22 feb?

Hi - My uncle is travel agent. Booked it through a crowd called bookabed. It was originally coming at 500 odd when I started on this thread but went in this morning and got that price. I'm not paying him commission so think that saves me 30-40euro - Was well pleased when I saw it!!

Idbatterim

just coming across this thread now, you have the really top tier hotels, then a level below them, still very nice ones. I just checked trivago for your dates. for your budget, I would have booked the Marriott's Grand Chateau for E130 night, just off the strip. The MGM starts at E167, but that is for rooms that dont even have windows and are pretty small. Getting cabs there constantly is total BS, better off staying on or near strip. Dont forget you will have the resort fee of about $25 a day. Rates change so frequently for the vegas hotels...

jinkybhoy

Idbatterim wrote: »

just coming across this thread now, you have the really top tier hotels, then a level below them, still very nice ones. I just checked trivago for your dates. for your budget, I would have booked the Marriott's Grand Chateau, just off the strip. Getting cabs there constantly is total BS, better off staying on or near strip. Dont forget you will have the resort fee of about $25 a day. Rates change so frequently for the vegas hotels...

Hi - yeah have that noted as well - 32 dollars a night for aria at the moment

razorblunt

jinkybhoy wrote: »

So booked the Aria for the 3 nights - got it for €377 excluding resort fees - pretty happy with it to be honest!!! Thanks for all the advice guys.

Next question in relation to Aria - Best Breakfast/Brunch buffet and Best Dinner buffet? Thanks

Wicked Spoon in the Cosmo is $39.
It's great and all but you'd want some serious eating to justify that. I used the first day there when I was jetlagged and appetite was a bit mad and the last day as I pretty much stocked up for an overnight flight.

The burger restaurant, can't recall the name in Cosmo would be my preference, you'd get a burger and milkshake for less than that.

Jim Stynes

Been 5 times now and the last 3 times I have been the $20 trick helped get rid of those resort fees! $50 dollars in the Venetian and Encore though! Got rid of resort fees and they moved us to a different room (not an upgrade but better view).

The breakfast buffets are unreal! Wicked Spoon and the Wynn's buffet are amazing! You wont eat for the rest of the day!

Glad you got a good price from Aria, my mate is just back from there and loved it.

jinkybhoy

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Been 5 times now and the last 3 times I have been the $20 trick helped get rid of those resort fees! $50 dollars in the Venetian and Encore though! Got rid of resort fees and they moved us to a different room (not an upgrade but better view).

The breakfast buffets are unreal! Wicked Spoon and the Wynn's buffet are amazing! You wont eat for the rest of the day!

Glad you got a good price from Aria, my mate is just back from there and loved it.

yeah - might try $50 in Aria - never know. Thanks for those 2 places - Wicked spoon mentioned already as well so will check out!

Jim Stynes

For food I love the Cafe Lux in the Venetian, cheap and good food. For wings, nachos and mexican food I like Diablos just up near your hotel. There is an endless amount of nice food places in Vegas! Shopping check out the Premium Outlet Centres. Not like the usual outlets here! Although sometimes there are no good deals. I got lucky last time in Hugo Boss, picked up loads of nice stuff and a suit that was £400 cheaper over there than at home!

Dont try and fit everything in otherwise you will be exhausted and come away from Vegas saying 'it was good but I could only spend a few nights there'. It is a mad place but you can make it as relaxing as you want it to be. The hotels are ridiculous and lying at the pool or at the spa are a good way to escape the madness from time to time. I had my stag there and I go with the wife to relax! 2 very different holidays to say the least but equally as good! (well maybe the stag was better!!) In work so cant get a proper reply but that will get you started. Vegas is some spot! You will love it.