Planning our first visit to Las Vegas in May 2004. Can someone tell me which web site has the best prices for LV shows? I have checked the hotel web sites but can't book May reservations now. We will be staying at the Bellagio and would like to see "O" and Folie Bergere and possible Mama Mia. All the web sites that I have found charge 5.00 to 10.00 per ticket sur charge. Is this the norm??

Call the Hotels that have these shows directly. The exception is Follies, buy that when you get there and have a chance to scour the magazines for a buy one, get one deal.

For the other 2, you will pay face for the tickets...just get em direct.

Call the reservation line for the Bellagio, 800-963-9634. I think they only sell ticket for "O" 90 days in advance. However, be sure to tell them that you are staying at the Bellagio. They set aside the prime seats for hotel guests. You must show your hotel key when you pick up the tickets to qualify, but the seats have no additional fees and they are great locations. I just got wonderful center section seats for March.

Yes, that charge is the norm. There is a new entertainment tax that took effect Jan. 1.

I wasn't charged an "entertainment tax" above and beyond the face price of the ticket. I think Diane is talking about sites like TicketMaster which tack on a big "service fee" for tickets. If you call the hotel directly, you only pay face value of the ticket. While it may include an entertainment tax, there is nothing extra added on.

As of Jan 1 there will be 10% tax on shows seating 300-7500, more than 7500 seats will have an additional tax of 5%. I do not know it it is included in the ticket surcharge or not.

I believe some shows have integrated the tax into the price of the tickets. For O, the price of the tickets include all taxes. If you call the hotels directly, they can tell you their policy.