I'm nervous about only having a confirmation number ( hotel room ) for a stay in Vegas during a very busy conference week-end. We travel alot, but usually book rooms through travel agents, so I usually have vouchers for room. All I have now is my sticky paper with my confirmation number. Anyone have any problems ?

You should be okay. Just call and reconfirm with that number a few days before your departure.

Ask them for a written confirmation.

I always have them Fax me a confirmation number. Always.

Now that's an interesting thing...I called the hotel ( Bally's ) directly, and they would not send me a written confirmation. They followed up with an e-mail to me, stating all I need is my number and picture ID ????

Have done hundreds of hotel stays with nothing more than a confirmation number and have had problems only twice - in both cases the hotels were in disarray and I doubt that a fax or e-mail confimration would have done me any more good than the number did. (One eventually gave me a suite at the basic rate when their national resevations system confirmed the number. The other was completely overbooked - but I ended up at a much better hotel - and got a voucher for 3 free nights from the chain that bumped me.)

Photo ID? That's a new one on me!

I suppose we all have different definitions....but I would consider an email a "written confirmation" of a reservation. Just be sure to print it out and take it with you. I'm assuming the email included the reservation number along with telling you to bring a Photo ID.

I've been told I would need a photo ID to prove that I qualify for a particular rate or for a pre-paid reservation. Otherwise, usually all they seem interested in is your credit card -- although sometimes they don't even want to see that if you want to leave it on the card you used to guarantee the room.

Another thought -- wagonwheel, did you by chance book through the conference agency? In which case they may need to verify your identity to qualify for conference rates or to put you in one of the rooms blocked for the conference.

Vouchers? Unless I am on a tour or other package trip, vouchers are almost unheard of.
Reconfirm at least a week prior to travel to make sure that they have the reservation, room type and special requests, if any.
Do that and you should have no problems.

Stayed hundreds of times all over the world with only confirmation number. Never had a problem, never had to produce any printed confirmation but I always bring printed e-mail confirmation with me. Just if there is a problem.
Relax, you are going to be fine.
The last time we had vouchers it was on our first trip to Belize and that was in January 1992 or 1993.
We were asked for our photo ID only once and it was in Sawgrass Marriott resort in Florida.

Bally's sent an e-mail to advise they don't give out written confirmations...so using that e-mail is useless. I to have used only confirmations numbers for business trips, but it's this particular week which is soo busy,and a late flight in that has me nervous. I'm putting it out of my mind. Thanks for the replies.

This question mirrors my own anxiety when airline e-tickets were first introduced. I felt much more comfortable with that little booklet of paper in my hand. Now we are all so used to e-tickets that it is hard to remember paper tickets. I think same applies to hotel. I like the idea of checking with hotel once before you go to make sure reservation is intact - also a good time to make any special preferences/needs known. Do not call the hotel a zillion times like my mother does - I think by the time she gets there they have her pegged as a lunatic and are tempted to put her in a broom closet.

Print off the email stating all you need is your number and picture ID. On it, print the name of the person you spoke to, the time and the number they gave you.

Keith

Confirmation number is enough. And I always have to show my ID at check-in with the credit card. I use the confirmation number few days before the trip, calling hotel directly to confirm reservation. Never had a problem in Vegas or elsewhere.

Now check-out may be a different story. This is where I need the confirmation print-out: sometimes they try to charge more then I have in writing. Never works the other way

Why don't you call Bally's now to "confirm" your reservation, and then again a week or so before you go. I just reserved 2 rooms with them a few nights ago and called back the next day with my confirmation number to make a change. If they couldn't find the reservation, it would have been detected then. If that puts you at ease, go for it. Happy travels!

Print that email, and you're good to go. Also agree that you should call the hotel a week or a few days before your trip and re-confirm. Get the NAME of the person who re-confirms you and make a note on your confirmation email.
I've been saved on several occasions because I wrote down the name of the person I spoke to (at the store, hotel, whatever).