Priceline Hotel: March Madness help!

[pjkdog]

Any suggestions on how to get a a place like Aladdin, Rio or above level for a decent price during this March Madness. I booked the Sahara fro around 160 a night from the 18th to the 21st but would love to get a nicer place for similar price. Any tips?

[thereuare]

This is going to be a very tough call.

Are you willing to SPLIT YOUR BID in order to get part of the stay?

[pjkdog]

I'll be honest, I would rather not split it, as we are already planning to stay up late, and keep our stuff in a friends room, when we arive late at night on the 17th. I found a rate of 209 for 18th through 21 on your off the record for the Monte Carlo, I hope I can get that.

[thereuare]

Have you already submitted a request for a room at the MONTE CARLO?

If you're not successful, just as an FYI, it is available for the 19-21 at an average rate of $189 ($250 the first nite... $130 the second nite). I know you're not favorable to splitting your bid, but compared to staying at the Sahara for the entire stay, it may be a good alternative: stay at the Sahara for the first nite, then move on to the Monte Carlo for the last 2 nites.

Just something to consider... but hopefully it won't come to that and you'll get all 3 nites at the Monte Carlo. Just trying to think ahead. :)

Please keep us updated as to your progress.

[pjkdog]

My friend has the request in, so hopefully it will go through. The worst part of this is that his brother comes out alot and is rated at the Mirage. He got a group rate of 150, of course we were late in the game and that casino rate was gone by the time we went to book! I will keep you updated, thanks for the suggestion. Not only will I consider splitting, but we could always have the split set up, and then try to see if a low rate opens for that first night a few days ahead at the monte carlo, and cancel the Sahara.

[pjkdog]

Well the Monto Carlo off the record bid was unsuccessful.

[TravelGuy]

After doing some checking, rates are really through the roof for your dates. The Sahara is actually looking pretty good. Hotwire has a 3* for $196 with the following amenities: Resort, Casino, Restaurant(s), Pool(s), Fitness Center, Spa Services, Golf Nearby, Laundry Facilities. Not sure what that is, but perhaps it can be identified as something good.

The only other option I can think of is to make a "Hail Mary" 4* bid on Priceline up to your limit. The worst that could happen would be that you get the Westin Casuarina (although they're showing sold out for those dates), which, at least to me, would be preferable to the Sahara.

[pjkdog]

Yeah, it is a tough time to be going. My hope is that maybe people booked more than one place, or extra rooms for friends, and that maybe those places will open up closer to the date with cancelations. I think I will hold onto the Sahara right now, since it is at leat a cheap place to gamble!

[char540]

Tripreservations.com usually has some good prices for Vegas and they are showing:

Circus, Circus - $135 a night average

Palace Station $195 a night average

Clarion - $190 a night average

Imperial Palace $206 a night average

Flamingo - $266 a night average

These are the best I could find for these dates.

[alfbo]

This might be helpful: I did some checking around on the Con Expo convention, and 2/11 is the deadline to reserve a hotel through their website. So there may be rooms released after 2/11 that were part of hotel blocks being held for attendees...

[pjkdog]

Well, I was going to be happy keeping the Sahara, but there was a cancelation for the casino rate at the Flamingo. It is incredible how much cheaper you can get your room. My advise if your planning a trip for one of the crazy periods of high mark-ups, try and piggyback with a high roller if you know any or get more people and book a group rate. Anyway the Sahara has already gone up from my initial booking of two weeks ago, by a lot. At the time of my booking it was about a 156 a night average, and that was just through the site.