Best time to head to Vegas

[jinkybhoy]

Hi

I've decide to come over to Vegas from Ireland for a go at the tables - not much in the way of casinos in Ireland unfortunately!

I'll be flying from NY and was wondering.....

Whats the best time of year to head over (I'm leaving it till the later part of the year) - for Hotel prices, weather etc?

How many days do you suggest is a good length of time? I love gambling and when I do get to hit the casinos in Ireland and UK, I normally sit for about 10 hours straight - I'm still at the stage that I love it!!

What hotel would you suggest? I want a nice room - doesn't have to be huge, just comfortable, clean and close to the action.

Appreciate any help guys, as I read other posts and everyone seems really helpful.

Jinky

 

[JulieCA]

Hi

I've decide to come over to Vegas from Ireland for a go at the tables - not much in the way of casinos in Ireland unfortunately!

I'll be flying from NY and was wondering.....

Whats the best time of year to head over (I'm leaving it till the later part of the year) - for Hotel prices, weather etc?

How many days do you suggest is a good length of time? I love gambling and when I do get to hit the casinos in Ireland and UK, I normally sit for about 10 hours straight - I'm still at the stage that I love it!!

What hotel would you suggest? I want a nice room - doesn't have to be huge, just comfortable, clean and close to the action.

Appreciate any help guys, as I read other posts and everyone seems really helpful.

Jinky

Summer is considered "off season," because it's just so damn hot in Vegas. Prices go up in the winter. Sunday - Thursday is cheaper at almost all the hotels. I believe the "season" ends in April or May and begins in October or thereabouts. If you hit the edge of the season, it won't be quite as hot, but the best deals are going to be in June - August, when the thermometer is likely to top triple digits every day. This might be far too much sunlight for the Irish complexion.

My suggestion is to sign up at the casino web sites so you get their e-mailed deals and newsletters. For example - The Sahara has been running a special for $25/night and (I believe I remember this right) token chips for playing at the tables - something like $25 if you stay 2 nights.

The Orleans is a fairly nice place off the strip and they regularly offer rooms at $30/night, plus a free shuttle that goes between their properties, including one on the Strip - so you get a free ride to the strip and from there you can walk or take public transportation to downtown if you want to go cheap. You don't get chocolates on the pillow or anything fancy, but the rooms are large and clean.

I haven't stayed at any of the downtown (Fremont Street) casinos, so someone here might be better qualified to answer as to the quality of those places. I understand most of them are cheaper than the Strip casinos and the rules at the tables are better. When I was in Vegas in January, almost all the Strip casinos had gone to 6:5 payout on blackjack, even on the shoe games, so I went to Fremont Street and played.

 

[SystemsTrader]

Some more info might be helpful in answering your questions.
Do you like hot weather or something more comfortable? Vegas winters can be quite cool and if you plan on swimming many pools close in the winter months.
Are you just going to gamble or do you plan on sight seeing, going to shows, or doing outdoor activities?
Are you travelling with anyone else?
What shape are you in? Can you handle a lot of walking, this matters where you stay?
Do you plan on renting a car?

 

[shadroch]

Actually, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are the best times to get bargins on rooms. Trouble is that many of the shows are closed as the europeans head home for vacations, and it's not pool weather. with the advent of the day-clubs this year, summer is not an off-season.

 

[kewljason]

Actually, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are the best times to get bargins on rooms. Trouble is that many of the shows are closed as the europeans head home for vacations, and it's not pool weather. with the advent of the day-clubs this year, summer is not an off-season.

I went in earlier this year in February, which although it can be cool, too cool for swimming, it sure beats the weather in Philadelphia or NYC. :laugh: My second trip this year was in June, end of a month long driving trip. Just starting to warm up, but not nearly as bad as two years ago when I was there in august (won't make that mistake again, even though prices are cheap) Next month am heading out in October, which weather wise should be perfect. So what is a day-club?? not familiar with that??

 

[irobinson]

Ahhhh....the high desert. Blisterning hot in the summer and cold in the winter (sometimes it snows!)

 

[shadroch]

So what is a day-club?? not familiar with that??[/QUOTE]

Take a hotel pool, add a DJ, cheap drinks and velvet ropes and you have a day-club. Instead of dancing the nite away wearing your finest clothes, you dance the day away wearing as litle as possible. Rehab at the HR was the first, but almost every major resort jumped on the bandwagon.

 

[jinkybhoy]

Some more info might be helpful in answering your questions.

Do you like hot weather or something more comfortable? Don't mind hot weather - quite enjoy it aswe don't get much over here

Are you just going to gamble or do you plan on sight seeing, going to shows, or doing outdoor activities? - not too much outdoor stuff

Are you travelling with anyone else? with one of the inlaws - fella

What shape are you in? Im grand - he's not great

Can you handle a lot of walking, this matters where you stay? above

Do you plan on renting a car? I don't but he would - hes from NYC

Thanks

 

[JulieCA]

Personally, I like having a car in Vegas. I've never had trouble finding a parking place. But - even if you rent a car, you might tell your friend to start working out. You may not have any trouble finding parking, but the parking lots are usually at the very far end of a very large property. (The Planet Hollywood parking situation is, IMO, utterly ridiculous.)

Traffic on the Strip is horrendous - you wouldn't take your car out of the parking lot at Caesar's to drive to the parking lot at the Venetian - you'd walk. It's faster. And probably less walking. He's going to be dragging his ass just walking through the casinos and from parking lots to the casino area. If you plan on covering a lot of ground in a lot of casinos on the Strip, he's going to slow you down.

 

[SystemsTrader]

I would suggest you stay on the strip. Start checking sites regularly like http://www.expedia.com and you will get a feel for pricing. Avoid the north end of the strip, its kind of a no mans land those hotels would include the Stratosphere, Circus Circus, Riviera, and Sahara. Look more for the center strip locations like Monte Carlo and Planet Hollywood they are more affordable and still very nice. Plus for yourself you can walk to most casinos from there and the monorail is close by as well. December is a low period for Vegas with many shows going dark so prices come down. Around New Years Vegas gets very pricey. From Late October to early March the days are very comfortable especially for walking but the nights can get very cool so bring a light jacket or sweater for the evenings.

 

[shadroch]

EVERY casino in Vegas offers free valet parking. Why anyone would self-park and walk hundreds of yards is beyond me.
While driving on the strip sucks, theres really no reason to do it. There are streets behind the casinos that run parallel to the strip and are much easier to navigate. Should you rent a car, just mapquest the area a few days before arrival and familarize yourself with the general area. A google search will show you the best entrances to use to get into the major casinos.
My recommendation to first time visitors is to break up your stay. Stay mid-strip a few days and downtown on the weekend when strip rates skyrocket.
T.I., Harrahs,Monte Carlo, Imperial Palace, Flamingo and Casino Royale often have very cheap mid-week rates. I listed them in order of where I would stay,all things being equal. Downtown, I'd choose between El Cortez or 4 Queens. Golden Nugget is nice but overpriced most times.
If you are a red chip player, you'll find better games downtown. If you play Green, most MGM casinos will have good games, but you need scout out the games as tables next to each other may have different rules, and there may be a hidden pit with superior rules tucked away while the games right inside the entrance are lousy.
American Casino Guide costs about $15 and has a bunch of stay one night, get one night coupons for downtown, lots of BOGO buffet and food discounts and a bunch of matchplays. The Las Vegas Advisor book cost $37 but has a much better group of coupons. A dinner at The Palms at 50% off will cover the price of the book in one sitting and you'll get free access to the best Vegas website there is.

 

[JulieCA]

EVERY casino in Vegas offers free valet parking. Why anyone would self-park and walk hundreds of yards is beyond me.

Call me cheap. I believe in tipping when I use a service - therefore, it isn't free. I also can't stand waiting for the valet.