Las Vegas hotel and show advice for June 04
 

I am mostly in charge of planning a trip for myself and several other girlfriends in June. We plan to fly into Vegas on June 18 and fly home on June 21st. Our objective is to see all three of the Cirque shows, hotel hop, shop, and eat at a couple of nice restaurants. So the main concern is hotel and getting tickets for "O". I believe from what I have read that you must stay in Bellagio or Mirage to be eligible to call 3 months in advance to get the O tickets. Is this still correct? If I make reservations in one of these hotels are my chances pretty good for getting 5 or 6 tickets to O during that time of year? I tried to get tickets the other time I went to Vegas when I was not staying in those hotels and I called on the first possible day and they were sold out. So I am fine with staying at Bellagio or Mirage, probably Bellagio since it is so highly recommended. But if we can't get tickets, then that sort of ruins our reason for going in the first place. Can anyone advise? Also, can you get better rates at the Bellagio by going through one of the discount sites like Expedia, Travelocity, or Orbitz? Thank you.

You'll virtually never get a better rate for Bellagio through a room broker. I've never heard of such, anyway. Bellagio sells out so often that it doesn't need to sell rooms thru discounters. Best rates are usually from the website or calling the hotel (sometimes one is cheaper, sometimes the other).
You likely ran into a situation with several conventions in town last time you tried to book "O". You can check for conventions on your dates at the LV Conv and Visitors Bureau site.

The best rate you will receive is through the site itself!

While I agree that usually the best rates are found at the hotel website, it isn't always true, so it is good to check around. For example, we are going to Vegas in April. For our dates, Mirage price is $149/nt., and vegas.com has the same type room for $109/nt.This is true for a couple of the other hotels as well.

We saw 3 Cirque shows last year,Varekai in NYC, Dralion in CT,and Mystere in Vegas. All of these seats were purchased 3mo. in advance (or even a smidge earlier) because I had joined their email list and club. They will send you advance notice when tickets go on sale. We bought them thru their website. This was a great way to do it & we had Wonderful seats for each show...For Mystere (we stayed at Mirage too, but already had the tickets) we chose 1st row center. People warn about doing cuz its so close to the stage. It was, but my husband ended up being picked to participate in the show. That experiance was worth more than the cost of our tickets for his Vegas Debut! So far my favorite show is Varekai...go to http://www.cirquedusoliel.com/cirque...il/default.htm

To "jd": my comments were in reference only to Bellagio, not Mirage or Venetian etc.
Bellagio is in a very unique situation in which they have great market clout and pricing power. They don't need to broker their rooms.
That will change when more high end competition arrives with time (the openeing of Le Reve next to Venetian will be the next event which will eat into Bellagio's "pie").

Places like Mirage and Aladdin will occasionally sell rooms thru brokers depending on how fast they're booking in advance.

Also, Las Vegas is a unique market in all the USA since only a few of the casino-hotels are a part of big national hotel chains which would allow discounts thru points programs, etc.

If you know which resort you would like to stay at, SUBSCRIBE to their Email promo's. You will get specials that are not offered even on their website! We took advantage of a MIRAGE special via their email & booked a deluxe tower room for $95,..this included an upgrade to the 24th.floor & private elevator and larger bathroom. ALSO included was a $20 food credit and a pair of tickets to the Secret Garden ($24value)..We thought it a great deal & a great time! When I got emails from Bellagio the specials came thru generally around $139..I got one recently for that price & certain dates, and it included an upgrade to lakeview room! SUBSCRIBE!

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I will definitely check out the convention site and subscribe to the two hotels today. disneynan, I actually do belong to the cirque club too. I have seen La Nouba, Mystere and Dralion as well. I was not aware that you could get "O" tickets through the Cirque club website, and I am still wondering if that show might be an exception. Does anyone know?

Go to Aladdin site and sign up for promotions, you will receive promotions from all their partners. Also, we stayed at the Aladdin and got tickets for "O" thru the desk. Best seats we ever had for any show, had choice of 2 nites at cost, we did slip him $20. Couldn't get tickets past 3 years trying thru the web, unless you paid 2 or more times actual cost.

Jet: yes you can get O tickets thru the Cirque site, but they do make sure its the 3 month mark before the sell them...(We were going to get them too, but we had already done 2shows over the summer and Vegas was the 3rd.)..When we looked at the what was available though, the day they went on sale at the site, there was really no seats down on the floor..only the logia, and balcony...Then we called TI direct and they could not do any better for seating either..So we will save O for the next trip. I see at their website they are selling tickets now for Varekai in Boston & Denver for JULY...Last summerI could not get any of the tickets again,before that 3mo. mark...

Usually the hotels own websites offer specials that are better than the hotel discount web sites.

Below is a link to Caesars Entertainment for Las Vegas. Caesars Entertainment, formerly Park Place Entertainment, owns Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Ballys, Paris, and the LV Hilton in Las Vegas. They also own several other gaming resorts in other locations. You can get all of the information about each property regarding rates, availability, specials, shows, dining, etc.

http://www.caesars.com/Corporate/LasVegas

I strongly recommend the show Jubilee at Ballys. We also enjoyed the Gladys Knight show at the Flamingo.

You can also buy O tickets directly from the Bellagio website. I believe they only sell 3 mos. in advance there, as well.