Hotwire Hotel: Vegas Sat 5/27 (1 night) ideas around $100

[travelAlot]

Howdy, just checking in case any of you are looking at Vegas Memorial Day weekend or have any tips on how to get a decent (3* or above UNLV/Conv Ctr PL -- East of Strip on Hw...or 4* or above Strip) hotel around $100/night.

My dilemma is that I locked in 3 of 4 nights at unbelieveably cheap published ($39 @ Excalibur Thurs-Fri 25-26th) or price-matched ($36.50, Ballys), leaving the Sat night 27th to be gotten in zones where either a 2-night stay or a non-Sat arrival is required. Even though I have a rental car cheap if needed, I'm trying to avoid hotels that would require one and/or that have shuttles but are isolated (i.e. 3-star west of strip is a n-no given the Artisan's upgrade). Also trying to avoid Circus Circus and Strat at any cost so hence no 3-star Strip on PL. What I have done is lock up a Comfort Inn on Paradise (across from Hard Rock, external room entrance and next to strip club is the negative) for $90 and the Alexis Park Resort for $103/$112 w/taxes (some so=so reviews but on Harmon across from Hard Rock, more ammenities et al). On the latter Hotwire looks to have the Alexis for $120 with a total cost of $138, so the double-your-difference policy would only net $7-8 with the very outside chance that the $120 3-star isn't the Alexis...plus my res is flexible, fully cancellable should I do better (vs prepaid nonrefundable on Hw).

The other "X" factor that I need some thoughts on -- and this may be a re-rating by Hotwire -- is a 4-star just started appearing at $133/night. In that zone, unless Westin was pulled off Strip (unlikely as $133 is a bit low for Sat of holiday weekend), it can only be the Hilton (my guess, given Hilton's say-so with Hotwire and Priceline) or Hard Rock Hotel (sold out, much higher weekend rate when available than Hilton). Reason I think this is the ammenities include "casino" feature, which eliminates Renaissance Hotel (available on some non-opaque travel sites but not via Marriott). It isn't Tuscany Suites (casino but has suites) and Atrium Suites (no casino, has suites). But I am thinking that the Hilton, with all its renovations and so forth, convinced Hotwire -- maybe insisted lol-- it should be 4-star from now on (in your ratings, you mention that Hilton used to be a 4-star so it's not that far-fetched an idea).

For me, as of now, I'm just going to wait and see if any rates go way down if inventory increases (doubtful for holiday weekend's Saturday) and then use one of my existing reservations in worst-case scenario. If anyone has any ideas from experience or in general, I'd be most appreciative. Eother way, wanted to alert to Hilton being a 4-star possibility for East of Strip.

PS Hotwire has started offering hotel-car packages that ID the specific hotel ala air-hotel packages -- looks like slightly less hotel inventory (tried a few dummy dates and car-hotel offerings were about 80% the quanity of air-hotel ones.

[thereuare]

The other "X" factor that I need some thoughts on -- and this may be a re-rating by Hotwire -- is a 4-star just started appearing at $133/night.

What are the full list of amenities and the zone it is in?

[travelAlot]

Zone is Near Strip East. The ammenities are:

Casino

Restaurant(s)

Pool(s)

Fitness Center

Spa Services

High-speed Internet Access

Golf Nearby

Business Center

If it helps, notice no designation for "suites" (eliminates Alexis, Atrium, etc) and this listing's "casino" designation (eliminates Renaissance). Also, when this 4-star started coming up yesterday at this more reasonable rate (4-stars have been pushing $200+), I tried several Priceline 4-star bids yesterday and today(with the available rebid zones), getting to about $110-115 with no success nor even the usual PL counteroffer. Only other hotel besides Hilton, based on the ammenities, could possibly be the Westin if it were re-zoned on Hotwire but makes no logical sense (Starwood Hotels wouldn;t allow it #1 and #2 this is a prime Sat night of holiday weekend with retail lowest rate of $195). I've seen the Hilton, on its website and on non-opague travel sites, occasionally showing in the $135-140 range with a 2-night+ stay. So hence my idea that the Hilton as being upgraded to 4-star once again.

Hope this helps,,,

[thereuare]

The above matches the Westin, and as per Hotwire's zone boundaries, is not on the strip but in the 'near strip east' zone (as previously reported on the board).

I also just looked for another user and believe the Westin to still be in the 'near strip east zone', but you can compare maps yourself and let us know if you disagree with that conclusion.

[travelAlot]

Good catch...sorry I didnt clue in to your Hotwire zone list sooner, I'm so used to PL's zone that I never thought the Westin would be in a non-Strip zone. One thing, in case it helps any others looking at booking this hotel, PL is very tight on its 4-stars vs Hotwire unlike most other times. As I already have 2 back-up reservations and am willing to go to about $125 (ncluding taxes/fees) max, I tried bidding up to 85% of Hotwire's $133 4-star price (about $112) without success on PL. So the Westin may be a Hotwire-only offer especially for a one-night stay given how much 4-stars are still going for.

Thanks for the info, I'll keep on watching Hw and Pl and see what happens.

[travelAlot]

Just in case anyone else is trying to nail down a 4-star for Memorial Day weekend, thought I'd share my patient but unsuccessful efforts. Patient because I already have decent backup plans for Sat May 27 and Sun May 28 -- split between two decent hotels (Alexis Parkand Ballys), with total after-tax cost of $150.

When it was determined (via ammenities description) that the Westin was starting to come up alot on Hotwire -- and now on Priceline, judging by recent successful bids -- I tried a few strategic bids for the one night, May 27. Went toward $110 or so (usually is more than successful when Hotwire is around $129-133 for the same property); only trick is PL consoders Westin Strip zone, Hotwire Near Strip East. What I determined, especially with no counteroffer and the Westin's general policy (esp on non-opague websites) that requires a two-night stay if a Saturday is involved, is that PL's system is adhering to the two-night stay requirement. In fact the PL non-opague booking system just recently showed a rate reduction from $195/night to $165/night.

For me personally, especially because I already have cancellable reservations in place at a great price, I only tried moderate bids for May 27-29 (2 nights) that were most likely way below an acceptable bid. I.E. for one night (Sat), $110 PL bid is in my range; for two nights (because I have a $40/night rate in place), I can't go much above $75 a night. So I stopped when my incremental bids were successful at $75. My guess is that the $105-110 range would be accepted for two nights.

Anyhow, just wanted to share my experiences (more than screach for an "SOS," lol)...in case anyone else was facing similar challenges without backup reservations already in place.

[travelAlot]

Just thought I'd share (as I've been finagling where to stay on Sat May 27 and have backup reservations already). Looks like some decent hotels are available, including ones like te Golden ugget -- most decent ones tend to require the two-night minimum stay (over a Sat night) and/or won't permit a Saturday arrival. As I've been costantly monitoring availability, this is the 1st I've seen the GN available on 5/27 a s asolo night reservation on pretty much every site ($134-141 range, $139 on GN, $153 on Hotwire). Hence, I know it will be available on PL, question is for how much. Being that I'm happy staying on the Strip, UNLV and Near West Strip (knowing the hotel options if I don't get the GN), I'll be trying a sequence of bids and rebids to see if something comes up under $100 (with all taxes/fees). A long shot, I know, but OK because of the backup reservations if I don't get the GN or another 4-star. And I'll use the appropriate links from here.

In case this info isuseful to anyone else intheir travel challenges for that weekend, PL or HW, or otherwise, thought I'd share.

[travelAlot]

While doing my perpetual daily search for May 27, Hotwire showed:

2-star for $102 with amenities of: Pool(s), Fitness Center, Kitchenette, Internet Access, Business Center, Laundry Facilities.

3-star for $126 with amenities of: Airport Shuttle, Restaurant(s), Complimentary Breakfast, Pool

I tried a VP search (with air-hotel and with air-car) to see if anything'd match up, no success. More providing this info in case it's helpful to the board and Hotwire hotel listings, as I already have reservations for that day at a better price. Seeing the Clarion Suites Emerald (on Flamingo) nightly rate go down leads me to think it may be the 2-star.

FYI

[travelAlot]

See hotel rates, happened to notice that the Aladdin is coming up at $199/night if you arrive Fri 5/26 and stay 3 nights. Being that a lot of folks are looking for Strip 4-stars, just thought I'd share. (Rate is $299/night for a Sat arrival for 2 nights......same total price as 3 nights). Knowing how PL prices are lined up to hotel's inventory and rates, am thinking that Strip 4-star (esp with all the free rebid zones) would be getable in the coveted $150 range -- or even lower.