My husband and I are planning our first trip to Vegas, September 8-11, 2005. We have no idea where to stay on The Strip....too many choices. We would like to spend around $150-225 per night. I think this will put the Bellagio out of our price range. Is it better to book directly through the hotel or on Expedia / Orbitz? I saw a 5-star on Priceline for $169 but I've never used their service before. Thanks for the insight!

Your best bet is almost always to book directly with the hotel. The rate is usually cancellable (but check before you book) and the best rate available. Check hotel web sites to get a feel for prices for your dates and then you can narrow your options down a bit.

www.vegas.com/map.html

is a good map to show you where the properties are located.

Bellagio is offering rates of $159/$259/$299 for your 3 nights, though specials may be offered as it gets closer. The only 5* that I am aware of that associates with priceline is the Venetian. On their web site they are showing right now $169/$199/$219. I think what you must be talking about is priceline's new transparent hotels option, which is totally different from bidding. If you bid 5*, you should be able to beat the venetian's direct prices, but maybe not.

For other hotels in a high-end category check out the new Wynn hotel, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay and Mirage. Many of the other hotels are also perfectly nice and will cost you less, leaving more money to spend in other areas if you desire. Check their web sites to see what's what and it will be easier to make a choice.

www.cheapovegas.com gives great (and funny) reviews of all the hotels in Vegas. Each hotel definitely has a different "feel" and the reviews help describe that for you.

The Venetian is just fantastic, and has been having some great deals of late. Sign up with the hotel website, and they will email offers. I received one last week for rooms for $100!

We got the Venetian a while back for $100.00/night. WELL worth the money!!! We had a 750 sq foot suite. It was the only 5 star on the strip that worked with Priceline then, I think it is still.

The Bellagio is also a 5* Priceline hotel, but it has only come up once since I assume it has a higher PL rate. I would definitely do Priceline for the stay. When you place a bid through PL you need to understand the free rebidding process, which is explained at biddingfortravel.com. Have stayed at the Venetian twice on PL bids, great stays.

You may also want to keep an eye out for those Bellagio rates, since the Wynn hotel just opened there may be more competition.

Kelpatho,

I recieved an email a month ago regarding the Venetian's centennial.
I just looked at the rates and
they show:

Sept. 8 $100
Sept 9 $199
Sept 10 $199
Sept 11 $100.

This is a steal at a 5* hotel. The rooms are huge and the best for the price. The bathroom is wonderful.

This was on my email in fine print:

"please call (866) 403-8046 and mention code: GRED38D"

We might be there from Sept 4-8! We will be passing at checkin!

Wow... those rates are a steal! I would book the dates if they are cancellable and continue trying PL bids for less

The email says that you can't cancel, but you can always ask. If it were me, I would book it and forget the stress of trying all summer to get the $99 rate on Priceline, that may never happen on a weekend anyway.

Book it, relax.

I respectfully disagree.

kelpartho mentions in her first line that this is their first trip to Vegas.

For first timers, the Venetian is just outside of the real action and views that are great for a first timer. Sure it is luxurious and impressive. Lots of strip hotels are impressive.

Please consider: Paris, Aladdin, NYNY or Monte Carlo. If you want to spend more try: Caesars, Mirage or Bellagio if you can.

NYNY and Monte Carlo are toward the South end of the strip but not as far as Luxor or Mandalay Bay.

Whatever you do, have a blast and leave it there..as they say!

? Caesar's and the Mirage are across the street from the Venetian and a block away from the new Wynn resort. All of the above mentioned hotels are within a short walking distance of each other.

placeu2 - I think you're being a bit misleading by stating that the Venetian is outside of the real action. That is far from true. Venetian is much better location IMO than south end of strip.

I'm with placeu2, I think the location of Caesars and Bellagio makes a big difference. The Wynn opening improves the location of the V, but there really is a lot less walking closer to mid strip. Especially if you want to shop at Desert Passage and the Forum Shops. And the east side of the strip from BC up to Harrahs is kinda trashy.

The Forum shops are inside Caesar's Palace which is across the street from the Venetian The Bellagio is directly across the street from Caesar's Palace, and again they are all in walking distance of each other. All of the mentioned hotels are part of the famous "four corners" of Las Vegas.

I should say the Bellagio runs parallel to Caesar's Palace, they are next door to each other. And the Venetian is opposite Ceasar's Palace and the Mirage

LOL, I love this stuff...

On the West side of the strip it runs: (from Tropicana Ave.) Monte Carlo, Boardwalk, Bellagio, Caesars, Mirage, Treasure Island, Frontier, Stardust, etc.

Across from Bellagio on the East side going North is: Ballys, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Harrahs, Casino Royale and then Venetian with Wynn to the South of that.

Now in reality (at least in my world) Venetian is across from Treasure Island and perhaps Mirage depending on your perspective. Certainly they are all within walking distance depending on one's mobility. There is no chance that Venetian is across the strip from Caesars.

Well, you can argue their accuracy, but check out a map:

www.vegas.com/map.html
http://www.cheapovegas.com/vegas_map.php?map=strip
http://www.lasvegas.com/maps/strip_map.htm

Looks to me like Venetian is a bit of a hike from Caesars Palace. I don't think it's a horrible location for a first time visitor to LV, but it wouldn't be my top choice. It's about personal preference, though. Also, I suppose, thinking about walking from Venetian to CP in September doesn't appeal to me, but when I was there in February we walked the entire 4 miles of the strip and plenty more!

I always thought it was a very easy & quick walk from Venetian to Caesar's Palace, even in the heat, and that Venetian has a very good location. To me, the best location is the Bellagio.

Also an FYI, if you are a member of AmEx Membership rewards, the Bellagio is one of their hotels. I just booked a Lakeview Dlx for $129.00 p/n...the Bellagio was charging $199p/n for a Wed night and 299 p/n for a Sun night- huge savings. AND AmEx includes breakfast and 4pm check-out!

Just for informational purposes, the Venetian faces the Mirage and Treasure Island and the end of the Mirage is about 15 steps from the entrance to the Forum Shops at Caesar's. Again if one if is able to walk it is a short distance this is not a problem. The distance between the Bellagio and the Venetian is about a mile or less, or about a 15 min walk depending on how fast your pace Both are great properties, I also like the Bellagio more but if one can get a significantly better deal at the Venetian either choice is great