Tony

We will be visiting Las Vegas for a week in February with our 12 year old daughter. We have booked flights but have not yet booked accomodation. As we are arriving late on Saturday night (when hotel rates are higher) would it be better to check into a hotel near the airport on Saturday and transfer to a hotel on the strip on Sunday. Also I have read many bad reviews about Circus Circus, Stratosphere and Boardwalk but could anyone recommend a similarly priced hotel on the Strip.
Finally we plan to go on excursions to Death Valley, Grand Canyon etc.Are all operators offering these trips of a similar price and standard.
Thanks for your help

xxx

I think you would be best to just go to your hotel and be checked in for the week rather than trying to find something close to the airport. Circus Circus is not worth staying at in my opinion. For moderate prices, I would go to the Flamingo, Tropicana first. I think these 2 are similar in prices.

Andy

Tony - The airport is very close to the strip - probably less than 2 miles - so I doubt there is much cheaper hotels. I fly from the UK last year - we stayed in the Stratosphere at the weekend and the Luxor during the week - The Stratosphere is not nearly as nice as the Luxor - but weekend rates at the Luxor are steep - but about 50-60 pounds a night during the week.

Patrick

I would not consider the inconvenience of switching hotels just to save one night's "weekend" extra fee. If you are staying a full week, perhaps a hotel will give you a break on the week rate, making up for the weekends. I agree if it is price you are looking for try the Flamingo. But don't rule out places like Treasure Island, Luxor, or even Caesar's. All of them may offer a week rate. I'd try their websites and see if you can get a response by email.

If Circus Circus were the only hotel available in Las Vegas, I'd change my plans and go to another town!!!!

monica

Tony,
Keep in mind that there are some of the big hotels on the strip that do not allow a saturday night check in - so, depending on where you end up wanting to stay, you may want to look elsewhere for the 1st night.

leno

I stayed at the MGM and it was okay. I think we could have paid less at hotels like the Tropicana and Excalibur. I did manage to get a deal on helicopter tickets to the Grand Canyon over the internet. We saved about $100.00 per person booking through the internet and not buying the tickets at the hotel. Our tour was fantastic (the company was sundance and the pilot was burl)and we landed in the Grand Canyon and had a lovely picnic. Totally worth the money!

Mike

Less expensive hotels like Circus Circus and Stratosphere are usually CHEAPER than the non-strip hotels close to the airport.

Are you booking the room yourself? (Hopefully not through a travel agent).

What dates do you need? What's your limit on room rate? Februaury is usually an inexpensive time in LV.
It's rather cold, no swimming, fewer conventions. You should be able to bargain for a room someplace decent and get a good rate.

Tony

Thanks for all the information. We are arriving at the end of February. I have checked several websites and, as Monica mentioned, have found that some will not allow Saturday arrival. Does this mean it will be necessary to book well in advance to ensure getting a room on Saturday or are there likely to be last minute offers available. In response to Mike, we are not intending to use a travel agent and are looking to pay $60 to $70 per night. Once again, thanks for the replies

monica

Tony,
With the hotels that do not allow the Saturday night arrival- - it won't matter how far out you book - they don't allow a Friday/Saturday arrival at any time. I have noticed that while that is a "norm" at some hotels, depending on the need to fill rooms, this can change. Good luck!

x

try flamingolasvegas.com---they have $120 for Sat. the 22nd and $65 for SUN,Mon,TUES,WED,THursday...look on their calendar for their rates for Feb...I think it`s on their special/hangover page...and sign up for e-mail specials on hotels website to be sent to you...the`ll credit you if the price goes lower after reservations..ck out cheapovegas.com---you can click on hotels from there...Bally`s -Flamingo,etc are good value..ck ou actiontours.com----don`t know how much cheaper a airport hotel would be...but ck out lvonline.com and see a map of hotels and then ck their websites...also ck-orbitz.com

Frank

Tony:
I've been to LV dozens of times over the past 20 years. Here are some tips on getting what you want.

Most important: the sale rates for late February at the non-luxury hotels aren't yet available.
Anyone booking a room right now for late Feb is likely to pay a bit more than if you book 3-5 weeks from now.
Why? The hotels throw out moderately uncompetitive rates months in advance to 'test the waters'. If no one 'bites', they drop rates as time passes. If people start reserving, they raise rates.

As such, there is no way to predict in advance what room rates will do from one week to the next. They can change daily or weekly during busy periods.

This is what you should do: given your budget, find the best deal you can now and make a reservation. At least weekly, check other places which are a bit better, and switch reservations if and when something pops up which meets your criteria.

In your range, these are the places you MAY be able to book, which would be highly preferable to Circus Circus and such, and which would make your stay much better:
Paris, Aladdin, Monte Carlo, Treasure Island and Luxor.

Late February rates are often low, but the best deals don't usually begin to pop up until around Christmas...even January.
Check places like 180069hotels.com, orbitz.com and vegaswatch.com for deals.
Often the best deals pop up only on the individual hotel websites.

It can be a good deal of effort to get a good rate on a good room, but it can really make a difference in LV.

Good luck. Let us know what you find.

Barbara

Tony - Just receive an advertisement from the Tropicana. They have rates as low as $15 a night mid-week until January. It's their VIP special and includes a free show ticket to the Magic of Rick Thomas, which your daughter would enjoy. While this is not one of the newest hotels on the strip, for the price, I think it would be a good choice for you. It also has a somewhat indoor pool you could use in February. Their web site is www.tropicanalv.com. If you wait until next month, I'm sure they'll have great specials in February as well.

xxx

I have to agree with poster who says to wait it out. They throw out higher prices now. When certain hotels do not book up, then they reduce the fee. I would wait a bit longer to see what developes. Or if this idea doesn't work for you stick with the specials you see now. Tropicana and Flamingo are fine for your budget.

Lori

I don't think there are any "airport hotels" in the true sense of the word in Las Vegas. The strip is very very close to the airport. I'd get a firm reservation at one of the hotels in your budget who will allow a Sat. night checkin and then just keep checking rates. The Flamingo is very good (very nice pool area, penguins, swans, waterfall, etc.) and extremely central. Budget-wise I think it's a very good deal. We've stayed there several times simply because the location is so good. Rooms are fine (sure it is not the Bellegio, but neither are the prices). Stay away from Circus Circus if you can.
Expect the weather to be on the cold side in Feb. It can get quite nippy there in the winter, so plan your wardrobe accordingly.

Vic

There are most certainly "true airport hotels" in LV. Several on the road leading into the airport and adjacent.
One clue would be a hotel with the name "at Mccarren Airport" affixed to the title, like the Best Western.

Phil

When you take a taxi from the airport to your hotel, make sure your driver drives down the strip and avoids the (so-called) expressway. The expressway is out of the way and results in a higher fare.

xxx

Last month I stayed at the Aladdin for $65.00 a night- Monday-Thursday. Called the hotel directly. EXCELLENT price for this hotel. I'd give them a call and check out prices. Don't let them fool you with a high price. Ask if you can do better than what they quoted you. I did and it worked for me. I even had a room facing the fountains at Bellagio.
Good Luck!!!