Where Are We Staying?

[Sara]

(split off & modified from my Riviera post)

It might be helpful to have a thread about "where are we staying", to share info on...well, where we're staying and also to comment on rates.

I was looking at booking a regular tower room at IP but it wasn't all that much more per night for MGM Grand, $89 per night. The reviews on MGM are overwhelmingly positive, I think it was rated a top ten reviewed hotel in Vegas on Expedia. The other thing Expedia had was a rate for Paris at $116 which was also very enticing but I went with the larger room at MGM.

No matter where someone wants to stay, there seems to be some great deals on Expedia & vegas.com.

[annie]

>Thanks - I was unfamiliar with MyDLV, I assume it is reached through the
>registration link. I tried it, however it would not connect - I will try
>again later.

The main entry point for MyDLV is here:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/mydlv/

It's definitely up and running. There's no link to it from the registration system, but MyDLV members have an easy link to registration and activity sign-up.

>Sara's comment about the MGM Grand was helpful.

One thing that has not been brought up is the topic of "resort fees" and other nuisance fees. These are mandatory charges, per day, which are not quoted in the base rate. This allows the property to show up more desirably on travel sites, but the quoted rate is not an "apples to apples' comparison with properties which don't have such fees.

All MGM/Mirage/Mandalay properties have them, varying from $15 to $20 per day, so figure that into your budget as well.

For our suggested hotels this year, only MGM has resort fees. All others, which are under Harrah's management, do not.

Even with nuisance fees, it's still a buyer's market in Las Vegas. If there is a silver lining to the cloud of the slow recovery, it's that hotel rates in Las Vegas are surprisingly affordable. Demand is down, plus there's a glut of the high end and mid-high rooms.

[Sarah Doepner]

I've returned to my old favorite, the Palace Station motel rooms. But with the cheeeeep rates and 'resort fees'", I still have a useable room for less than $250 for Sunday-Friday. The small rooms have recently been remodeled and are generally clean and, my favorite thing, access to parking without elevators of having to go thru the casino. I've never had a problem there and if you are doing DLV on a shoestring budget, this isn't bad. The room discount is greater the farther out you book.

[Delaney]

The Imperial Palace indicated no resort fees, but does add a credit card use charge of $10 for the stay. I didn't ask if you can get around this with cash, but it probably isn't worth the trouble, as they put some fairly large dollar deposits against your charge card for "incidentials". I believe it was $250 + $100 per day for the hold.

[annie]

>as they put some fairly large dollar deposits against your charge
>card for "incidentials". I believe it was $250 + $100 per day for the
>hold.

I've stayed at several Harrah's properties over the past year and all of them do this unless you say something about it at the desk. I've avoided the exorbitant hold by simply "paying out" the full price of the stay on a credit card. This usually comes out far less than the hold they would issue.

The one downside is that you don't get room charge privileges doing this, as it's essentially the same as if you were a cash customer.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Alice B
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I have booked at IP from the 3rd through the 8th. Delux room. It was
just under $300, with the Friday night being the most expensive.

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(This posting was entered by Alice B, an external user of MyDLV.)

[VivianChen]

I'm looking at Travelzoo for deals for DLV week but it's still a bit early for April deals to appear. The two hotels that looks interesting are Rumor and TheHotel at Mandalay Bay. I may stay at the Cosmopolitan if I can get deals for it. BTW, I visited the Marquee nightclub this past week at the Cosmopolitan...wow..what a view. Looking at all the ladies there, my skirt was the longest by about 6 inches...

~Vivian

[annie]

> I may stay at the Cosmopolitan if I can get deals for it. BTW, I visited the
> Marquee nightclub this past week at the Cosmopolitan...wow..what a view.
> Looking at all the ladies there, my skirt was the longest by about 6 inches...

I just recently saw this. Very impressive place.

I'm sure it's a bit out of my price range, however.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: ChrissyNsteve
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The Cosmopolitan looks wonderful however this year we are taking
advantage of comps. So far we have M Resort booked, not sure where else
yet (keep going back and forth). But can't wait to check the
Cosmopolitan out- we are not club people but would love to have a drink
at the Top Of The Chandelier.

Chrissy

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(This posting was entered by ChrissyNsteve, an external user of MyDLV.)

[Delaney]

Annie,

Thanks for the advice on buyibg out. I was strongly considering the IP, but it seems there is some concern. Does anyone know if the newly renovated tower(3 years, I'm told) at the IP is any nicer ? Thanks.