Las vegas may long wknd

Movowelling

Hey all,

Just looking for some tips on the best time/way to book this vacation.
Looking at 6 of us going down and staying thurs thru sun.
We would like to stay at a 4+ hotel, but would like to get for best price (obv)

Looking at packages now, its about 1000-1100 at the wynn may 16-19.

Is it better to wait?
Is it better to book flight and hotel seperately?
Apreciate your help!

And yes, this will be my first time.

-Mo

JimmyHo

Movowelling;341688 wroteWe would like to stay at a 4+ hotel, at the wynn may 16-19.

Like how you roll :) I usually like to book separately just so I have more flexibility. Better if certain people need to come and go on different dates. Personally, I would hold off to book the hotel for now until they have a good promo. Sign up for their email promo offers. You can always book the hotel now and cancel down the road if you get a better rate. I would also consider Pallazzo which often has a $129 rate promo. It is a 5 star hotel and connected to Venetian.

For airfare, its hit and miss. I usually wait for seat sales which come up pretty often. Westjet has a good promo on their Visa right now. Cost $99 but they give you a $99 roundtrip companion flight and $250 Westjet credit. If any of the six can qualify, can basically get one flight free per person. I usually fly on points.

Hope that helps.

WestJet Rewards | WestJet RBC MasterCard

moose

If you are chopping on a room(s) then definitely do not get a package.

Popkorn

I always book separately, and if I had to pay for a room (I usually use up comped rooms when I get a chance) I would book through hotwire/priceline. Hotwire is easier, less hassle than priceline if you don't know what you're doing. There are sites that also help you figure out what hotel you are getting before you book on Hotwire based on the amenities.

For flights, I would just check day to day since the price always changes. Connecting flights are always cheaper with any of the US based airlines, but if time is an issue, it will definitely cut into your Vegas time.

I always rent a car in Vegas, it's super cheap, and Vegas isn't that hard to get around, especially if you know the back roads since the Strip traffic is really annoying. You can always book your car rental, check every week, if the price drops, re-book and cancel your old reservation. I know at least expedia.ca lets you do that.

GTA Poker

Palazzo is nice I've stayed there a couple times...and slightly more central than Wynn...it is also connected to the V poker room, which is my favorite place to play so I may be a bit biased in that regard.

I usually just book through expedia and also check directly on the hotel's website for other promos/rates. I find that expedia is usually the best rate or close to it and I can't be bothered wasting my time comparing rates on 100s of sites.

For flights, SWest is great if you live in Cali:)

JimmyHo

GTA Poker;341705 wroteI usually just book through expedia and also check directly on the hotel's website for other promos/rates. I find that expedia is usually the best rate or close to it and I can't be bothered wasting my time comparing rates on 100s of sites

I would suggest hotels.com in the future. They will match any other site's price and you get a free night after 10 nights booked. They often beat expedia as well on price.

Wynn/Venetian much nicer end of strip IMO.

JohnnieH

Call the hotels directly for the best price.

GTA Poker

pokerJAH;341706 wroteI would suggest hotels.com in the future. They will match any other site's price and you get a free night after 10 nights booked. They often beat expedia as well on price.

Wynn/Venetian much nicer end of strip IMO.

I thought expedia owned them so I never bothered checking, but will do so in the future

Wetts1012

JohnnieH;341709 wroteCall the hotels directly for the best price.

Really? Ive never done this. Ive always booked some kind of comped rate through total rewards.

Are the comp rates even better by calling direct?

JohnnieH

Wetts1012;341718 wroteReally? Ive never done this. Ive always booked some kind of comped rate through total rewards.

Are the comp rates even better by calling direct?

From my experience, yes.

moose

Sometimes they will work a little magic for you. Sometimes they just match online or aren't interested in helping. Be aware total rewards charges a $20 booking fee for call ins unless you ask them to waive it. ie. had some trouble with the online site etc.

Movowelling

pokerJAH;341690 wroteLike how you roll :) I usually like to book separately just so I have more flexibility. Better if certain people need to come and go on different dates. Personally, I would hold off to book the hotel for now until they have a good promo. Sign up for their email promo offers. You can always book the hotel now and cancel down the road if you get a better rate. I would also consider Pallazzo which often has a $129 rate promo. It is a 5 star hotel and connected to Venetian.

For airfare, its hit and miss. I usually wait for seat sales which come up pretty often. Westjet has a good promo on their Visa right now. Cost $99 but they give you a $99 roundtrip companion flight and $250 Westjet credit. If any of the six can qualify, can basically get one flight free per person. I usually fly on points.

Hope that helps.

Well its not how i always roll. Its a group of guys that all grew up together and we are turning 40 this year.

moose;341700 wroteIf you are chopping on a room(s) then definitely do not get a package.
Good point-we will have 2 a room or more depending on finances
JohnnieH;341709 wroteCall the hotels directly for the best price.
will do

Movowelling

I really failed on that first quote from the multi quote reply.

Movowelling

Probably will fly direct since its only a 3 or 4 day excursion. Buffalo or Toronto?

Wetts1012

Movowelling;341723 wroteProbably will fly direct since its only a 3 or 4 day excursion. Buffalo or Toronto?

It depends where you stand financially and where you live.

Is it marginally cheaper to fly out of Buffalo? sure.

But I would rather spend the extra $100 - $150 to not have to deal with driving to and from Buffalo ( I live in the GTA ).

JohnnieH

Wetts1012;341726 wroteIt depends where you stand financially and where you live.

Is it marginally cheaper to fly out of Buffalo? sure.

But I would rather spend the extra $100 - $150 to not have to deal with driving to and from Buffalo ( I live in the GTA ).

Plus it's direct. South West out of Buffalo is cheaper, but usually there's usually a stop somewhere like Dallas-Fort Worth or Chicago.

I've always flown direct with Spirt Air out of Detroit, but getting there from KW is inconvenient and absolutely brutal driving home. I think next time I will look at flights somewhere in ON.

compuease

All good suggestions, Buffalo can be quite a bit cheaper, sometimes 1/2 especially mid week. Southwest also flys Buffalo-Vegas non-stop at least 2 flights a day.
Definitely book hotel/flight/car separately, always better imo...

Also use Matrix - ITA Software to find flights.. best around..You can't book it from there but to compare it's great. Once you find the flight just book it directly with the airline involved... note that Southwest flights do not show up on that site however.. You have to go directly to their website. Parking is also much cheaper in Buffalo... Weekly rate is like $55.

Also keep in mind going Thu-Sun you will pay a premium for both flights and hotel... Best is Sun-Thu...

Movowelling

Wetts1012;341726 wroteIt depends where you stand financially and where you live.

Is it marginally cheaper to fly out of Buffalo? sure.

But I would rather spend the extra $100 - $150 to not have to deal with driving to and from Buffalo ( I live in the GTA ).

I think thats legit. Your time has to have some value. Not going to drive the 3 hrs round trip (without delays) plus fuel to save 100$...plus i'm lazy.

Wetts1012

Movowelling;341731 wroteplus i'm lazy.

I was going to say this, but, it pretty much sums up how I feel about not flying out of YYZ.

compuease

Wetts1012;341734 wroteI was going to say this, but, it pretty much sums up how I feel about not flying out of YYZ.

Well from Milton it is pretty much a wash as far as time goes..
Home to Buffalo, 1 hr 30 min, park and get through security max 30 min.
Home to Pearson, 30 min, park, get through customs plus security, easily 1 - 1 1/2 hrs.

For me it is pretty close to a wash, just way less hassle..

Plus if you get to the gate 30 min ahead in Buffalo you are fine, try that at Pearson.. Only variable is border crossing times.. As long as you are avoiding peak times or holiday weekends and check ahead that shouldn't be more than 10-15 min.

Also if more than one person is travelling the savings is multiplied...