Thinking of visiting Vegas in early december. I want to try priceline to see if I can get a possible good rate on a hotel on the strip.

My question is what if I am not happy with the hotel offered by Priceline? Is it very hard to get a refund?

As I understand the way Priceline works, once you hit "buy", it is not possible to get a refund.

"Is it very hard to get a refund?"

Yes, almost impossible unless the hotel
they offer you does not fit the criteria you were told it had. (example, told there is a restaurant on site, and no restaurant there. Although that would be highly unlikely)

Historically for Vegas at least, the best rates are through the hotels directly using one of their promotions if available.

Early December tends to be a time of good bargains offered by the hotels. I would take milemarker's advice, and sign up on hotel websites than you are interested in for the email promotions. Also check the rate calendars on the hotels websites for the ones you are interested in.

"Is it very hard to get a refund?"

(One should never use Priceline if there is any chance you'd cancel. You get a winning bid - you "own" it. No refunds. Yes there are the VERY rare refunds - but unless you plan on kicking the bucket don't count on it . . . . . . )

the whole point of cheap rates on priceline is that you agree to whatever you will be given. no refunds.

early december is a good time for good rates. Palms and MGM are having a sale for those dates right now. Checl Travelzoo and the hotel websites. Weekdays especially are under $99 per night around that time.

I have been to Vegas at least 4-5 times/year. You definitely want to know where you are staying, especially on the strip. There are so much competition on hotels right now, finding a good bargain is not that hard. Travelzoo.com always has something specials going on. The way I look at it, if you can blow $500 on gambling, use that money instead and stay in a nice hotel.

check out:
http://www.vegas-promotions.com/index.php?page=1

for the latest Vegas deals...

NY NY hotel and casino is offering $79/room Sun-Thurs Dec 16-20 and other time in the fall. Downtown the 4 Queens is $34. Go on the hotel websites, look at their calendars.
December (but not right before Christmas) is a GREAT time to get good hotel deals. I wouldn't bother with Priceline; keep your flexibility by making arrangements directly with a hotel--just be sure to get their cancellation policies.

The best offers are found by booking using promotional codes, you can find an updated collection here:
http://www.smartervegas.com/Promotio...untsCodes.aspx

to make sure you get the best rate book ONLY from the official hotels.

complete hotels list with codes:
http://www.smartervegas.com/Hotels.aspx

What about late December, a week after Christmas- first week of January? Do the hotel prices tend to go up or down?

"What about late December, a week after Christmas- first week of January? Do the hotel prices tend to go up or down?"

W/ New Year's Eve/day being the Monday/tues after Christmas, LV room rates will be sky high then. The weekend after Christmas will be very busy and then NYE will be slammed.

Stay away from the New Years weekend and you will be fine - Late Dec and early Jan are OK - Just don't get to close to the CES show dates in January.

Check out this link for great specials on Hotels:
http://www.fatwallet.com/t/63/704925/