Gosh...I didn't realize how difficult it is to share close quarters for some people! I've shared MANY a hotel room with other couples (one time there were 6 of us in a suite with one bathroom) and I think it's a great way to save money. As long as you are up-front about the bathroom situation, then who cares? Especially in a place like Vegas where you'll spend very little time in the room. I say go for it...and to be honest, there are times when we didn't share how many people were in the room (although if asked, we would tell the truth). In a big hotel the chances of them noticing are slim to none, but you run that risk of getting stuck in a king room.

Oh, and I think the suggestion to "stay in a cheaper place and get two rooms" is off base. Maybe the whole idea is that you get to stay in a much NICER place with better restaurants, shows, casinos, pools, etc. by sharing the room.

Enjoy, SDA1!

To rb: You may be right, but if one makes a reservation online, and clicks 4 adults, or calls and says 4 adults, how is the hotel to know what the composition of those adults is? It could be 2 parents and 2 adult kids. It could be 4 men. It could be 4 women, etc. I don't believe any large hotel in an large city such as LV really cares about anything other than the number of occupants.

And as mentioned above, LV has become increasingly security conscious. Most places now require you to show your hotel key card to access the guest elevators as well as the pool area, so you really need to be upfront about this.

"Is this allowed by hotels? Do they charge extra for this? Or, is it best to not mention anything about the other couple at check in?"

I think this was more than concern about a tsk-tsk reaction, this was concern about being caught at something underhanded.
Budgets are budget, inconvenience aside, people can quadruple up in rooms expensive or cheap, if it is permitted by the hotels. If it isn't, then it's dishonest. One can quibble about the profits of multi-national hotel chains,gambling incentives, or how many people stayed in the room on the spring break in Lauderdale 20 years ago, but it is still dishonest and cheesy.
I notice the original poster hasn't been back, maybe embarrassment kicked in.

SDA has been back. If posters are to be embarrassed for comments made on this thread, I think there are several here that should qualify.

i am sure this would be allowed. This isnt much difference than two parents and two teenage kids sharing a room. Just request a 2 double beds and let them know there will be 4 adults in your room. This really happens all the time. I like me privacy, so unless it was a large room, i would rather spring for the extra space, but if that is not important to you, i say knock yourself out!!

Hi there. Thanks to all of you for your input, thoughts, ideas, advice, and well-wishes. Just a few comments. No, I am not embarrased by my original post. From the time I posted my last response until now I've been working, sleeping, walking the dog, spending time with my wife, paying bills, etc. etc. Quite honestly I have been surprised by some of your responses. Everyone is different. I get that. Some responders here don't, I guess.

Let me say clearly: we have NO problem sharing a room with our dear friends. We four are very close in a conventional way. The bathroom situation may present a minor problem. The last time my wife and I went to Vegas (last month and just us) we stayed at the Bellagio. We spent much time enjoying our room and the hotel in general. This time we plan on spending almost no time in the hotel. Just to sleep a few precious hours before it is off again to enjoy Vegas to its fullest.

The idea of a shared room was to save money. If, in fact, sharing a room won't save money then obviously we'd rethink our plan. Our budget, ideally, is to spend a total of $100/per night or $200 total (excluding taxes). We could even afford $300 total but no higher. We'd like to go the first weekend in July when rates seem to be skyhigh -- thus the idea to split a room.

After reading your posts I am convinced that being upfront is the best policy and I will do that. That seems to be the one unambigious message that comes across on this thread.

The idea to not being upfront was one that I actually picked up from another thread on this board.

I hope that clears some of the issues up. For those of you who disapprove of 4 to a room or the idea of the non-rich travelling I am sorry to have offended your delicate sensibilities. My post was honest and truthful and I was looking for honest advice not moral condemnation.

Quick update. On expedia changing the "number of people" from 2 to 4 doesn't change the price at all. Any thoughts about that?

VERY well said. SDA!

I'd take some of the money you are going to lose in LV and invest it in separate rooms. Just a thought.

One place I've used when trying to keep the lodging end under control is the San Remo, which is right across from the MGM Grand:

http://www.sanremolasvegas.com/main.htm

Could be that you're seeing higher rates because the first weekend of July is a holiday weekend. Las Vegas used to be a place where low hotel rates were common as a draw. That's no longer the case much of the time and for many of the hotels these days.

I have not seen anybody suggest an off strip suite hotel. If the OP is willing to spend about $100 per couple, why not get a very nice suite at Embassy Suites, Renaissance Suites, etc. They are usually located close enough to the Strip, yet offer very clean modern 1 and 2 bedroom suites. The going rate for these places is between $150-$250 per night.

Hilton also has Grand Vacation Clubs right on the Strip. If available they do have 1 bedroom condos for as low as $150 per night.

My point is that there are many options available if you don't need to stay at the typical Strip hotels.

Is the Pope Catholic? Do bears walk in the woods? Which way is up? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Call a hotel and tell the reservation clerk that you want to book a room with two queen beds for four adults. See what happens. There is often a charge ($10 or so) for each extra person. You will want them to know there are four of you so you will have plenty of towels and keys. Many of the casinos have large rooms. Rio, for instance--though I don't like the location. Bally's is a good choice. If money is a factor, Monte Carlo also has a good location and is usually cheaper.

SDA1,

I just read something you wrote after posting your question.

Those who respond here are a very diverse group. Some look for the best places; others look for the cheapest. Sometimes they just can't resist having fun with a question--as they did with you. I couldn't.

Bally's rooms are 500 square feet. The location is great. If you book a room there, somebody in your group is bound to sneak back to it to get away from the crowds while the others are losing at the tables or slots.

Tacky!!!......but then is IS Las Vegas..go figure.

I guess whatever floats your boat, and it's really nobody elses business. ....But as others have said,...be honest up front with the hotel.

SDA1

Yes, Expedia does allow you to enter 4 adults and then lists the available hotels. If you read the details, some rooms accomodate only 2 adults while others say two queens and a pull out couch, etc...go for it. You have honestly requested what you need...I just wouldn't chose a hotel that specifically indicates it is a 2 person room after you have indicated there are 4 of you.

Some of these are two bedroom suites and fairly cheap (in Vegas). Good luck and have fun.

I love Vegas!

NannyJan

The guy asks 3 very logical questions... What is wrong with all you people and your accusations and insinuations? So what if it's not for you; he's not generating a poll! SDA, I think you've answered your critics very politely and patiently, all things considered. And he didn't say he was going to lie - just the opposite. He did ask in the OP if he'd better off with a sin of omission. He was advised against it, and concurred. All those with a tsk-tsk at his "dishonesty" should take a look at their own pasts before the stoning. This post is done, now buzz off.

Dreamer2 is correct.

This post has been beaten, flogged, tortured, and ripped. Let's lay it to rest! (in a double double of course heh heh)

Actually, it's not quite done as SDA1 asked another question in his latest post.

I'm not at all shocked by the people giving SDA1 a hard time - not because he deserves it, but because people can be total jerks when someone wants to do something that they themselves would not do.

But really, I'm amazed at the amount of misinformation in this post! Please, don't spout off "facts" when you don't know what you're talking about. LV does NOT have the cheapest hotel rates of any major tourist destination. It used to, but now they are as high as any other location. Summer is usually better, but July 4th weekend is not cheap in Vegas. I'm planning a trip to Chicago that weekend where I expect to get a priceline room for about $70/night in a 4* hotel. I don't think you could do that on that weekend in vegas, but maybe you could. Also, in LV it's not typical to only pay $10/night per extra person.

SDA1 - as to Expedia, I'm certain there was a post I read here just recently about someone booking a room for 4 people on Expedia and getting a room with only 1 bed when they got to the hotel. You will almost always get the best base room rates (for 2 people) through the hotel directly rather than through expedia. But I would not trust that when expedia says you're getting a room for 4 that you really will.

Would you consider using priceline or hotwire? With priceline you'd have to book 2 rooms, but still may get them under $100/night. With hotwire you can specify 4 people per room. You can get more info about bidding on priceline at www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com and better bidding also has hotwire info. Better Bidding was also showing that www.quikbook.com had rooms at the Imperial Palace for $93/night for the first weekend in July. Not sure of the exact rates for which dates, but it might be worth checking out. The location is pretty good. Also, have you looked at downtown hotels?

So is this what happens when you get old and vacations are no longer fun, just ways to show money when you're not working? I think having two couples in the same room is great, shows that you have a rich friendship with someone other than yourself and spouse.

In response to your question about entering 4 people vs 2 people and the rate not changing on Expedia.....

Alot of hotels use flat rate pricing vs. an extra person charge. Hoteliers know that oftentimes rooms are booked for 1 person but will more often than not have more than 1 person per room. When I was in the industry we just took this into consideration and charged a higher flat rate period.

Many hotels, especially in resort locations, do in fact charge the extra person rate. Just make sure with any online booking agency to read what type of room you're reserving.

Again enjoy your trip!