We will be going to Las Vegas Sept. 9 with a group of eight people. I have searched various hotels on the strip and found no specials being offered at that time. Is it too early to book, or just a busy time and no need for hotels to offer specials? Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

The specials usually come about 6 weeks in advance. Check the convention schedule, though, and make sure nothing big is going on that week.

If no conventions, start checking 3 months in advance.

Thanks to both of you for your help. One more question - is it better to book air and hotel seperately, or does booking as a package tend to get a better price? So far I haven't found much difference between the two.

I'd book now. I booked a room at TI for $109 and later found it on the TI web site for $79. I called TI and they gave me the lower rate.

I usually book separately as the hotel's websites have specials or I am with a tour starting in Vegas. But you never know, just do the math.

i'd book now and just check back every week or two. one hotel i booked fluctuated frequently. i booked at one rate, the next week it had droppped $20. just called and they put my reservation at the better rate. by the time we went there, the room was $80 more per night then what we paid. i don't know any hotel that charges a cancellation fee so you have nothing to loose up to 24 hrs before arrival.

I agree that you should book now, as you really have nothing to lose. Just remember that most places have a 24-72 hour cancellation policy, and that they may charge your credit card for the first night right now as a deposit. However, it will be refunded if you cancel within the appropriate period. If the package deals you have looked into are close to what you can get by booking air & hotel separately, I'd book separately for two reasons:

1) As previously mentioned, should the hotel rate go down, or you find a better deal at another hotel, you can cancel & rebook without penalty. I don't think you can do that with a package.

2) If you plan to do a fair amount of gambling, you can sign up for a player's card at your hotel, and you may be eligible for some comps upon checkout, such as their removing a night's stay from your bill, etc. However, my understanding is that this is only possible if you booked directly with the hotel, and not as part of a package or tour.