[dlv] Diva Las Vegas 2024 latest updates, hotels, etc. ...

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Welcome and updates
Hotels and lodging
Activities and schedules
Things to come
Administrivia
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Welcome and updates:

Welcome to those who just joined us. If you have any questions or
concerns, please let us know. Simply reply to this mailing.

Plans are progressing nicely for our Diva Las Vegas 2024 event, which
will happen from Sunday, September 29 through Friday, October 4, 2024.

Thanks go out to our DLV Volunteer Group for making a great schedule of
fun and rewarding things to do while attending our event.

Please see the item on "Activities" below.
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If you are new and wish to participate in our event, here's what you
will need to do:

1. Read our web site carefully. Please be sure that you know what DLV
is and what DLV is not. Please note that Diva Las Vegas is not based on
the model that has been used for most other large TG events.

https://divalas.vegas/

The "About Us" page will give you a good quick overview of our event and
let you know, in general, what to expect.

https://divalas.vegas/about/

Our Frequently Asked Questions section (recently updated) gives you
quick and reasonably detailed answers to the common questions about our
event.

https://divalas.vegas/faq/

If you want some in-depth insight into what has happened at our events
in the past, please view the Gallery Of Previous Years, which is
accessible via the menu item at the top of our home page:

https://divalas.vegas/
. . . . .

2. Make your travel and lodging reservations (if needed).

Most North American airlines and many international airlines serve the
Henry Reed International Airport in Las Vegas. Air reservations can be
made directly through airlines which serve your home area or via any of
the common travel sites.
. . . . .

3. Register for Diva Las Vegas.

Registration will open in early June.

Please see further notes in "Things To Come" below.
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Sign-up for the Big Sister Program, both for veterans who wish to volunteer
to be a Big Sister, and for new attendees who wish to be matched with a
volunteer Big Sister, will open in early June, at the same time as DLV
2024 general registration.
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Hotels and lodging:

If you have not yet made your lodging reservations for DLV 2024, please
read this item carefully and thoroughly.

It is suggested that you make your lodging reservations as soon as
possible in order to have the most options and lowest prices.

Unfortunately, our tentative plans for group rates for DLV 2024 have
fallen through. This means that we will not have a group rate plan for
this year.
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Suggested hotels:

The Flamingo will be our primary suggested hotel for Diva Las Vegas
2024. We've had attendees stay at the Flamingo each and every year
since 1998 with very few issues or complaints.

The Flamingo is, as of this writing, the lowest-priced major
full-service hotel on the main portion of the Las Vegas Strip.

Nearby sister hotels of the Flamingo are The Linq, Harrah's, Cromwell,
and Horseshoe (formerly Bally's). These are located side-by-side
along the east side of the Las Vegas strip.

For those who wish a more upscale lodging experience, Caesars Palace and
Paris Hotel and Casino are both affiliated with the Flamingo and are
located in the immediate vicinity.

Further information on the Flamingo is on line here:

https://divalas.vegas/dlv2024/2024hotel.html

You may book your reservation at the Flamingo or the other hotels listed
above here:

https://www.caesars.com/
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If you are on a tight budget:

About one in every three queries that we have received this year have to
do with hotel prices, specifically along two lines:

1. What hotels are in the same vicinity as the primary hotels but offer
lower rates?

2. Is there any way to obtain cheaper rates at the primary hotels?
. . . . .

The lowest-priced lodging in the Center Strip area which is affiliated
with a major hotel group will be the Casino Royale Best Western Plus,
which is one door north of Harrah's and three doors north of the
Flamingo.

This is known to be clean and comfortable, but will be very basic and
along the line of the major tourist hotels and motels in the US.
. . . . .

Two additional lower-priced casino-hotels are located off-Strip, but
within a reasonable walking distance to the Flamingo and the center of
the action.

These are:

Tuscany Hotel and Casino. This is located on Flamingo Road just east of
Koval Lane.

Ellis Island Hotel and Casino. This is on Koval Lane, just south of
Flamingo Road.

According to Google, the walking distance from the two above hotels to
the Flamingo is 0.6 miles with a walking time of 14 minutes.

Reservations may be made for the two above properties through most of
the major travel sites.
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Money-saving hints:

* Most of the major travel sites and some airlines have discount deals
when combining flights with hotel reservations. The depth of the
discount ranges from modest to significant and tends to be deeper when
reservations are made for two or more individuals.

Check with the travel sites for prices from airports near your home.
. . .

* Individuals who have casino play history with the major gaming chains
can often times qualify for reduced "Casino Rates" or even complimentary
hotel rooms at hotels affiliated with their brand(s).

Those who are members of Total Rewards (Caesars, Flamingo, etc.) can
check rates at the Total Rewards web site or through an assigned casino
host.
. . .

* Use a desktop computer to book and not a mobile device!

Posted hotel rates are often (but not always) a bit higher when using
mobile devices. Even though you may prefer to use a mobile device, it
often times is worth it to check prices using your home or office
computer.
. . .

* Book early! Check often!

Room rates for Las Vegas hotels are known to change day-by-day and even
hour-by-hour!

If you see a semi-reasonable hotel rate, BOOK IT! The most you will
usually pay is a refundable deposit for the first night.

Check back frequently, checking both your preferred hotel and nearby
hotels, and if you see a rate you like better, BOOK IT and cancel the
existing reservation. It is suggested to always book and confirm the
new reservation before cancelling the old one.
. . .

* Consider the "total cost of ownership" of bargain-basement rooms.

This is particularly important when dealing with hotels which are
located away from the center Strip area and for those who will not be
driving a vehicle.

The cost of transportation can easily offset the savings of a hotel room
which is lower in price but a significant distance away. Saving the
cost of a rental car can easily be the difference between a far away
off-Strip hotel and a full service hotel in the center of the action.

Even 2-3 taxi or Uber rides per day can cost enough to make the
difference!
. . .

* Share a room.

Two per room cuts the price in half!

You may use the DLV Discussion Forum, on line at the link below, to
coordinate room-sharing arrangements.

https://divalas.vegas/mydlv/mainforum/viewforum.php?f=2
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* Avoid the weekends!

Prices escalate, very significantly, for most Las Vegas hotels when
staying Friday and/or Saturday nights. Booking sites often quote the
average rate per night. Check the price for a Sunday check-in and a
Friday check-out and it will almost always be significantly less than if
staying over a Friday and/or a Saturday.
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Activities and schedules:

Our schedule is shaping up nicely. Big thanks go our to our team of
volunteers for making this happen.

As soon as some blanks are filled in and a few items are confirmed, we
will begin publishing summaries of our working day-to-day schedules in
these mailings.
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Schedule highlights:

Although our schedule is incomplete and in a state of development, here
are some of the major activities which are unlikely to change timeslots.

Our two large major gatherings will occur on Monday (September 30) and
Thursday (October 3) evenings of DLV week.

Both of these gatherings will use nearby restaurants which will offer
their full regular menu at regular prices to DLV attendees. Both will
have many moderately-priced menu selections and full beverage service at
reasonable prices.
. . . . .

Golf will be happening on Wednesday morning, October 2.
. . . . .

The Pool Party (swimming and sunbathing, not billiards) will be
happening on Thursday afternoon, October 3.
. . . . .

Tuesday, October 1, will be our "Downtown Day", with many of our
activities happening in Downtown Las Vegas.
. . . . .

Our annual Limousine Tour will happen Thursday evening (Oct. 3)
immediately following our major gathering.
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Many other activities, both small and large, have been planned or are in
the works.

Please keep an eye on these mailings for details and updates.
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Things to come:

Registration for Diva Las Vegas 2024 is on schedule to open around the
first of June. General registration for new attendees will open at this
time and will be announced in one of our mailings at the time.

As always, there is no charge to register.

Previous attendees can expect to receive their re-registration emails
toward the end of May or early in June.
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Activity Sign-Up is when you tell us which of our many optional
activities you wish to do.

Most of our activities are "No Sign-Up, Just Show Up" in nature, meaning
that all you need to do to participate is show up at the correct time
and location.

Some activities, however, may require a reservation, a headcount, some
other action such as a ticket purchase, and sometimes payment in
advance.

We take care of all of that at Activity Sign-Up time.

Activity Sign-Up is on track to begin toward the end of August.

See these mailings for details as the date approaches.
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Information on our Big Sister Program will appear in these mailings as
the registration date approaches.
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