Priceline Hotel: Priceline/Hotwire 4* 5*

[jhunter23]

Hi, I love this forum, it is so informative!

I am planning on coming to vegas with my girlfriend for the first time in December. I was going to stay at the Tropicana for $35 a night thru their website, but am reconsidering.

We are from Michigan and want a nice place that has a pool open in the winter and especially a place that has nice hot tubs we can go in. I am sure most have them, I am just unsure of winter hours.

Anyways, I am reconsidering. I found The Mirage has a deal on their site for $79 a night with free upgrade and $20 food and beverage credit. I also got a deal with MGM for $79 a night, with lots of other perks ($35 dining credit, etc.) with a King Bunglalo room, which is usually $129 a night at this time I beleive. Finally, I was thinking about the Monte Carlo for $49 thru their website.

My question is, are these good deals or would I do better using hotwire or priceline? I have looked at your Hotwire refernce and it appears the deals are not better on there, but I am not sure.

Thanks so much for your help, this site is awesome!

Jake

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding and thanks for the compliments on the site.

I think you need to decide if you want to go budget or luxury. Usually this is an easy decision based upon the amount you are willing to spend, but fortunately for you your dates are a very slow time in Vegas and there are deals to be had.

On the budget end:

If that Tropicana room is a Garden Room... stay away!! Tower rooms usually can be had for $10-$15 more and are well worth the extra money, but overall the Tropicana is an older hotel and given the time of year i think you can get much better value for your money. One advantage of the Trop is that they have a 'covered' pool... this is not an indoor pool, and indoor pools are extremely rare in Vegas... whether or not you can use an outdoor pool at this time of year will be hit or miss depending upon the weather. The pool of most hotels stay open year round, but the hours may be limited in the winter time (ie- closing at 6pm instead of 10pm)

On the High-End:

If you can swing the money i think you can likely get the Venetian at/near/under $100/nite. This is one of the premier properties in Vegas and will be the nicest $100/nite hotel room you've ever stayed in... as this rate is only available during slow times of year you may not ever get a chance to stay here again for such a low rate. Then again it is indeed more than your other selections and i understand that most of us don't have unlimited resources, but i do think that it would make your first time stay in Vegas extra-special. I have posted pictures of the Venetian at RealHotelPhotos.com

Of the other 3 hotels you've selected the Mirage has the nicest pool (but right now i can't seem to recall seeing hot tubs there, although i'd think they do exist); but again, actual weather on your day will determine just how useful the pool will be... i've been in Vegas in April and not have been able to use the pool due to a cold spell (and i've also been in Vegas during a rainstorm, so maybe i'm just not weather-lucky in Vegas).

Let us know if the Venetian is something you'd like to consider and we'll supply a strategy to try for it. If it's beyond your budget then let us know what the most you'd like to spend is and we'll try to find the best deal for your dates.

One last thing... i woudl be careful getting lured in by many food vouchers and such that often get tossed in with Vegas packages. Food can be had very inexpensively in Vegas (or expensively if you want finer dining), but there are plenty of "2 for 1" coupons and such everywhere you turn which makes the value of restaurant 'credit' much less worthwhile (since most can't be combined with the credit you received from the room).

[jhunter23]

Hi again and thanks for the great advice. I would really like to stay at the Venetian, but we were thinking that might be a bit too much considering how much we will actually be in the room and since we are going to Spain in May. I think we will stick with the 4 other properties, leaning toward the Monte Carlo ( I was going to call them to inquire about the pool/hot tub situation) for $59 on the 20th and $49 the 21-22, with our second choice probably being the MGM ($79/night for Bungalo Suite). I called the Mirage and they said their pool area is going to be closed most likely at that time, but we could use the pool at TI, which would probably be very inconvenient.

Really we are more interested in going to a place that has a nice hot tub that is accessible during the winter months, perhaps anything open late too. A pool isn't neeeded really, more like a pool area with a nice hot tub.

I know that you reccommend that using Priceline would not be the best idea for these properties, but do you think Hotwire could provide any better deal? Thanks again for your advice, you are great!

[thereuare]

Monte Carlo @ $49/$59 is a much better deal than MGM @ $79 (i'm not a fan of the MGM... good to go and see, but i wouldn't want to stay there). I would also call Bally's ($69/nite) to see their pool/hot tub hours... they have a 30 person hot tub that may suit your needs well. I think they have this 30 person hot tub outdoors and smaller jacuzzis indoors (by the spa) but get further confirmation and information when you call.

I'm usually not a fan of spending extra money, but you may also consider spening your last nite of the stay at the Venetian... at least it gives you a one nite experience there and you can say that you have been.

I think the deals you have are pretty good and aren't likely to do much better with Hotwire (although i did see the Boardwalk for $19/nite... a good deal for a guys weekend, but not probably a place i would choose to stay with a 'significant other')

[jhunter23]

For the Venetian, I think it would maybe be possible for us to stay their the first night, 12/20. That would make sense b/c the Monte Carlo is $10 more that night. What do you think the rate would be for that day at the Venetian?

Also, you really think that the MGM is not that great of a deal at $79 a night for the Bungalo Suite? Those are quite expensive, but I wasn't sure about your views on the hotel itself. By the way, the Promo Code for this deal is INB053, if anyone wants it.

[thereuare]

I'm just not a fan of the MGM, as well i prefer the other side of the strip (Venetian, Mirage, etc).

First nite at the Venetian also works... i just suggested the last nite so it would be something to look forward to.

Assuming you know about PRICELINE RE-BIDDING (if you don't, are unsure in any way, or just want to confirm your re-bid zones with the board feel free to ask questions before proceeding):

Select 5* Las Vegas Strip and...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone and...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone and...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone and...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone and...

Bid $97, if rejected add re-bid zone and...

Bid $99.

My best guess is that if you find success at this point in time it would be north of $90.

[knagl]

Really we are more interested in going to a place that has a nice hot tub that is accessible during the winter months, perhaps anything open late too.

I'm going for the first time in January, and the hot tub thing has been on my mind, too.

A friend of mine suggested the Palace Station, and one site I looked through mentioned that their hot tubs are open 24/7/365. They're slightly off the strip (just across I-15), but their rates are really reasonable, and I have heard good things about the place. I've booked two of my four nights there, but am still keeping my eyes open for other options.

I have read some negative things about the "Courtyard" rooms there, but a lot of positive things about their tower rooms. Having never stayed there, I have nothing to offer insofar as personal opinion.

Good luck -- let us know where you end up staying and what the hot tub situation is! :)

[jhunter23]

Tropicana now has promo code ITS1104 which is $35 a night, and free Island Tower upgrade. I know they have an all night pool and hot tub. I think I may go with this since it is right on the strip. Thanks for all your help!

[thereuare]

Thanks for sharing the promo code.

As an FYI, i would still go with Ballys, Monte Carlo, etc. at $50-$60 per nite vs. the Tropicana at $35. I stayed at the Trop about 7-8 years ago and the tower rooms were just renovated and it was very nice. However, a few times ago (maybe 2 or 3 years) i was in Vegas and i stopped by the Tropicana and it was very old and tired looking. I can't speak for the rooms, but in my opinion the public areas of the hotel weren't as nearly up to par with the rest of the strip.

Just my .02, but perhaps others would disagree and prefer the $20 per nite savings.

[jhunter23]

Yeah, I wasn't as concerned about the $ thing either, but now I am going to rent a car and we are going to travel to nearby attractions, and since we won't be in the room too much, we might just go with it.

Also, any advice on a rental car for a 23 year old driver? I found thru Orbitz a deal for like $75 for 3 days, but then $10 extra for "underage driver" fee. This was the lowest fee I could find. Thanks again, I will make sure you use your site and your link whenever I travel now!

Jake

[thereuare]

To each there own, and maybe some other Vegas fans will chime in (pro or con), but i wouldn't be planning the same itinerary or plans that you are... and i think your plans go against conventional wisdom.

First, i would stay at a decent hotel. Check out the REVIEWS of the Tropicana.... they're quite mixed. With rates so reasonable for your stay and tens of thousands of hotel rooms on the strip there is no reason to take your girlfriend to a second class place. Sure, if this hotel was $50 and everything else on the strip was $150+ it would be a different story, but one of the best things about Vegas is that during slow periods you can stay at some of the great hotels at a fraction of the cost of anywhere else in the country. You may be getting a cheap room, but i don't think you're getting any value.

Second, you go to Vegas to see Vegas... why leave?!?! What nearby attractions are you intending on visiting?!?! You're only going to be in Vegas for 3 nites... there is enough to see and do that i don't think you need to leave the city limits. Again, different story if you are in Vegas for a week, but for 3 nites there is enough to keep you occupied (imo). Did somebody recommend leaving the area?

I'd encourage you to have an open discussion here and/or do some additional research on some Vegas boards, and re-think your plan. I love Vegas (admittedly it's not for everyone), but given your hotel choice and the fact that you're making side trips, i'm not sure if you're going to leave with such a great feeling about the city.

[jhunter23]

Well, providing we can get out of bed in the morning, we were just going to see the Hoover Dam and then Red Rock Canyon another morning. I figured those would be 4 hours tops each, and we would be back by 1-2 PM.

I also thought since it would cost money for cabs, and if we wanted to do one tour, we might as well rent a car since it is only about $105, and it would cost about that much for cabs and a tour.

I Understand what you are saying about the hotel, I know she doesnt really care about the hotel thing, but I do like to stay in nice places and wasn't always too sure about the Tropicana, but she seemed fine with it, and since we got a free upgrade, the pool is open, and it was $35 a night, I thought we would go with it. I would like to stay at the Monte Carlo, they are the only hotel I haven't called about the pool being open and all that.

Please feel free to comment and anyone else chime in, thanks a lot for your help again, I appreciate you going out of your way with your input.

Jake

[Nunu]

Jake, we are going to Las Vegas for Christmas as well> We are driving up to the Valley of Fire state park. It is absolutley stunning, and then we may go on up to Zion National Park in Utah. Take advantage of the rental car and see the region. It may be the biggest mistake imho that travellers make when they go to Vegas but never leave the strip. Of course if you're just there to gamble thats a different story.

Scott.

[jhunter23]

Thanks Scott-

We have just added another day to our trip, now the 19th-23rd, so that we will be able to see more. We do want to gamble, but we are also going to see things, we love going outside. It will also be a huge improvement from the weather in Michigan at the time! As far as the Valley of Fire goes, which is better, that or Red Rock Canyon? Or are they the same?!!? Thanks a lot!

Jake

[CrankiestOne]

I'll chime in as well; we're going in January (girls' weekend) and planning to rent scooters from Sin City Scooters (I think its sin city scooters dot com) and going to red rock. Just an idea for a half-day-plus excursion outside of the casinos. :)

As an aside, almost any hotel my fiancee' chooses would be agreeable; however, I am ALWAYS impressed with a better place, better view, etc. . . . I'll "categorize" myself as a bit high maintenance (in other words, my benchmark hotels are those with valet parking), but I've also been camping, etc. My point is, if you can afford to spend a few extra dollars, a nicer room is likely not forgotten.

[thereuare]

... and i'll add that i'm not opposed to leaving the strip, but on a three nite trip it's a bit much. I would sooner use the time to see the strip and do off-strip activities on another visit. Now that you're looking at four nites, i think it's 'ok' to leave the strip on one of those days (and no sense in keeping the rental car), although i would probably still be spending all of my days on strip and downtown.

Here are some Cheap and Free Things to Do in Las Vegas

[jhunter23]

Thereuare-

What did you mean about the "no sense in getting a rental car?"

[thereuare]

I would only be traveling outside the strip for one day (if at all), and therefore would only rent the car for one day, not keeping it for the entire stay... of course factoring in the tranportation costs to get to the airport (if that's where you're renting the car from) and returning to the hotel.

[bbbb]

$10 to $15 max to get from the airport to the strip. Don't let the cab driver take you on the freeway,thats the long way!

[dhammer53]

If I recall correctly, it's about 1 hour to Hoover Dam (southeast).

If I recall correctly, it's 45 minutes or so to Red Rocks (west), depending on what part of the city you're coming from.

Hoover Dam ... do the tour. You won't regret it.

And just for the record, even though I love Mrs. See's candies, don't bother going on the free tour.

Red Rocks...you can drive the loop road, or get out and walk around. This place is beautiful.

I might add that there is a September 11th memorial; around back of the visitor center. As a New Yorker, I was moved.