Priceline Hotel: 4* Las Vegas (Fremont Street) Golden Nugget

[jishaq]

Hi, I've used this board once in the past and successfully got a great rate at a Seattle hotel, and posted my results. I'm interested in staying at the Treasure Island over a weekend for a wedding, and I'd appreciate some bidding help. I understand that I can use Hotwire to zero in on Treasure Island (but there's a risk of getting NYNY), but I'm not sure about priceline.

Treasure Island's website, as of 6/4/2004, report the following room rates:

(Deluxe / Tower / Petite King / Tower)

June 18/19: 149 / 174 / 219 / 285

June 19/20: 159 / 184 / 229 / 285

June 20/21: 258 / 308 / 458 / 570

If I search for the whole stay in one block, the rates are less:

June 18-21: 407 (-159) / 482 (-184) / 677 (-229) / 855 (-258)

What's the best way to bid this hotel, and would I need to stick with Hotwire (and risk getting NYNY)?

Thanks!

-Jeff

[bbbb]

The only way to target this hotel is to check the boards everyday and hope someone else gets accepted there for your dates.Then you make your bid,but theres still a chance you wind up some where else.The only hotel you can target in vegas is the Venetian.

[jishaq]

Ok, that's good to know, thanks. Probably I'll just stay downtown then.

-Jeff

[thereuare]

I'm a bit confused... you began by saying that you wanted to stay at Treasure Island but in your last post you say that you'll probably just stay downtown.

If you don't need to stay at Treasure Island than Priceline/Hotwire may prove to be a good option. On the otherhand, Downtown Vegas is certainly cheap enough, but expect cab fare (or bus fare) to begin to add up if you really need to be at Treasure Island.

Please clarify your plans and we'll try to help further.

[jishaq]

Given my druthers, I wanted to stay at TI because that's where my friend is getting married (on the pirate ships!), but I wasn't sure if I could target it. I sure as heck wasn't going to pay normal-joe price for a room there! So when you bbbb told me I couldn't target that particular hotel through hotwire/priceline, I decided instead to try for the Golden Nugget in Downtown. I've been to Vegas countless times so I know that this is really the place to stay for the best value and gaming. Sorry for the confusion!

Here's the info on my bidding process.

First I went to Hotwire, and saw a 4* hotel in downtown with: Resort, Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business Center, Spa listed for $87. I figured this had to be Golden Nugget based on the Nevada Hotwire hotel list, so then I hopped onto Priceline:

6/19 - 6/21 Downtown Vegas (Freemont Street) 4*, targeting Golden Nugget

Initial bid $55. Failed, but I could take a 4* in Downtown for $78 if I wanted (I'm sure this was Golden Nugget)

Next bid: $60, $65, $70.

$70 was the winning bid. My rooms were indeed at Golden Nugget!

-Jeff

[thereuare]

Thanks for clarifying.

Glad it worked out for you and you're happy with your results.

Have fun in Vegas.

[TravelGuy]

The only hotel you can target in vegas is the Venetian.

There are actually several, including the Golden Nugget, the only 4* in the Freemont St. zone.

I would advise bidders for 4* in the Freemont St. zone to always check the Golden Nugget website before bidding, as they often have surprisingly low rates, sometimes with extras. For example, for the dates of this bid, goldennugget.com is showing 94/94/59 ($82.34 average nightly rate), plus they're throwing in two free tickets to Spirit of the Dance ($45 each). So unfortuntely the savings here is not that great (and actually more expensive than going directly through the hotel for those who would want to see Spirit of the Dance.) In addition, the hotel also has a frequent stay program where you can get one free night after staying as few as four nights, but only if you book directly with them.

Hope this helps for the future and have a great stay!

[bbbb]

I thought about that after my post,when I think of Vegas I only think of the strip because I won"t stay DT.The other hotels you can target,using Hotwire are Embassy Suites and Rio.You can be about 99.9% sure your going to get the Venetian on a winning 5* bid.