A few days in Vegas…
A quick trip to Vegas can get real expensive real quick. On our recent trip we decided to see if we could enjoy the city without breaking the bank. I thought this might be difficult since we were planning to stay there for several days and it’s easy to spend a lot of money there.
On this trip we decided to fly, since we were flying mid week and returning on Saturday. Flights on Friday or Sunday tend to be the most expensive, so if you are trying to save some money it is best to avoid those days.
For our hotel I used priceline to bid on a room. I know this may sound risky since you don’t know what you are actually getting until you pay, but if you pick a higher star rating you really can’t go wrong. If you want to get an example of what priceline considers a 3, 4 or 5 star hotel just browse their regular hotel page at http://travelc.priceline.com/hotels/ once you have decided what star level you are interested in you can select the area or areas you would like to stay in. I suggest narrowing it down to one or two areas and increasing as needed if your bid is not accepted. Priceline will show you the median retail price for the star rating and area you selected, I suggest starting your bid at 40% of the median price. Remember that taxes and fees are not included in the price you are bidding so make sure you do not bid more than you want to pay. If you bid is not accepted priceline will want you to increase the bid by at least $20 or $25, there is a way around this. Close the window and go back to the site to bid again.
On this stay we booked a room at Vdara. The hotel is a 5 star resort with no casino, so no smoke filled common areas. The room was spacious with a great view. We requested a high floor upon check in. One thing to remember is that many of the 4 or 5 star hotels will charge you a non-refundable resort fee when you check in. Resort fees range from $15-$20 plus applicable tax. The fee usually covers wireless Internet, use of pools, etc.
Vdara Bedroom
If you plan to see a show while in Vegas there are lots of websites that offer discounted tickets or seating upgrades to shows that haven’t quite sold out. Some sites I’ve used have been http://www.vegastickets.com/ and http://www.tix4tonight.com/. Tix 4 tonight has a few booths set up around Vegas that sell tickets for the same night.
Last but certainly not least…dining. I was able to find some great deals for dining on http://www.restaurant.com/ they currently have most of the restaurants at Mandalay Bay and THEhotel. There are also some at the Palms and various other locations. We chose Mix at THEhotel. The atmosphere was great, with a sleek white dining area and unbeatable strip view from the 64th floor. Ask the hostess to be seated on the Southern strip side for the best view. If the weather is nice you can also request to be seated outside on the terrace for an even better view. The food was amazing and the service was great! The restaurant has received a couple Michelin stars and the AAA Four Diamond Award two years in a row. After dinner we went over to the bar for a glass of champagne on the balcony (drinks average about $16 each but the view makes it worth it). Another place we loved is “Pizzeria” hidden on the third floor of the Cosmopolitan hotel. You can get a huge slice from $3.50 – $5 or a whole pie for around $25. The place is a bit hard to find, located down a long hallway with no signage in front.
I suggest signing up for every slot club card you can get. You can get several comps or reduced priced items. Also check your phone for deals on Yelp or Foursquare. We got a couple buy one get one free drink tickets for checking in at Ballys Casino.
Another deal we got grabbed before our trip was an hour massage at La Riva Spa. https://livingsocial.com/redeem_invite/29021279-adamag?ref=lnk offers vary on livingsocial but you can log in and check what they are currently offering in your city or a city you plan on visiting soon. Make sure you reserve in advance though, we were lucky enough to have them squeeze in our appointments during our stay.
I hope this will help you plan your next trip to Vegas or give you some inspiration to plan your next trip. As always feel free to post any comments or travel related questions you may have!
Category: Quick getaways, Travel, US Destinations | Tags: Airfare, blog, Cirque du Soleil, Cocktails, Deals, Hotels, Ka, La RIva, Las Vegas, Massage, Mix, Restaurants, Shows, Vacation, Vdara | 36 comments
36 comments on “A few days in Vegas…”
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This is great information! since we are a family of five and are always looking for great deals i will for sure take your advice when me and my husband decide to go away for the weekend. Thanks again and looking forward to reading more of your blogs!
Hello. I was searching for my own domain name for my children’s party business, and I came across your page. I cannot believe how much detail and research went into your blog. My daighter and I have already scheduled oiurselves a flight to vegas using your advise. Thank you and you have been Bookmarked! Keep it comin doll!
Really great info. I was always afraid to try the Priceline thing, but I totally will give it a shot now. Congrats on the blog, and on becoming my new travel agent… lol!
Wow! I can’t believe how much useful info you managed ti pack into this blog. As someone who travels extensively and thought this would be frivolous I am very impressed!! Thanks for the detailed info. I’ve had bad experiences with Priceline in the past but this gives me re-newed faith in their services.
Good job! Looking forward to your next trip.
OMG – I love you for doing this!!! The info here is very helpful and I look forward for more to come! Xoxo
To answer your questions Tiff, we bought a $50 gift certificate from http://www.restaurant.com/ but always remember before checking out to google “restaurant.com discount codes” for additional savings. Or check out http://www.retailmenot.com for discount codes. We paid $6 for a $50 discount at Mix. Total bill with tax and tip (2 dinners and 2 drinks) was $89.
Thank you so much to everyone who read our blog! We appreciate your comments and look forward to sharing more tips with you!
I Never respond to anything online blogs included. However I came across this from yelp review and THANK YOU!!!!!!! Im going to Vegas for a wknd surprise trip for my husband its our anniversary and the restaurant discounts are a budget saver lol. Thanks really doing a awesome job… Keep it coming.
Thank you Bibi,
I appreciate you reading and commenting. If you do buy a restaurant.com gift certificate remember you can google “restaurant.com discount codes” to save even more money of their gift certificates. Have a great trip! If you have any specific questions please feel free to post them and I will do my best to answer.
I do have a ?…. When and where can I sign up for the slot club cards?
Bibi,
You can sign up in advance for some of the slot club cards at the Casinos website. Or you can visit the slot club card desk at the actual casino.
And on restaurant.com do their prices change? Because im looking for the 50 gift card for 4-6 bucks like you and the other guy purchased but I dont see that. Do they change them up from time to time?
Before you check out enter a discount/promo code. The code will reduce the price by 50-80% off. The code I used was “dessert” or “new”. You can also try “save” or “cabin”. If these are expired you can Google restaurant.com discount code. http://www.retailmenot.com is a good site to find discount codes for just about any site.
Thank you soooooo much, you should have your own segment on tv. Great advice….
Thank you for your comments Bibi. I appreciate you reading my blog. I really enjoy helping everyone find travel deals and making their trip more affordable.
Quick ? Dont know where to stay in vegas toooooo many options. I booked a rm at Palms Place then I was told it not worth my money.. Have u stayed at Palazzo? How much u end up paying for Vdara?
Yes, I agree there are too many options. It can be hard to narrow it down. If you are going to be spending a lot of time enjoying the room or hotel then you may want to pick a really nice room. If you are seeing a show or have dinner planned somewhere you may want to pick a hotel closer to those things.
I paid $101 (including tax) a night for Vdara, this was by bidding on priceline. I have stayed at the Palazzo and it is nice. I also enjoyed staying at The Trump. I would suggest checking out the deals on Jetsetter.com http://www.jetsetter.com/search?source=linkbin&type=linkbin&q=Las+Vegas%2C+Nevada. Good Luck! If any other questions come up I’d be glad to help.
Thank you I will def check that site out. Your sooooooo helpful.
Great deal on Vadra I may do that im going in Jan.
Bibi,
Jetsetter just posted a new Vdara sale. You may still be able to get a better rate through Priceline.
http://www.jetsetter.com/sale/ariaresortandcasino3/ariaresortandcasino?ep=20111108&et=weekly&oeid=20111108CG_h0s0f0&ect=gilt&ept=thisweek-0-0&eca=sale
Hi Bibi,
I’ve added a new post on Las Vegas. I remember your trip is coming up soon.
Regards,
Jacob
Great advice. I tend to spend more when I get down there because I forget to look for the deals online. Thanks.
Jaime,
I think my best advice is to plan what you’re going to do in advance. This takes out a lot of the variable costs of any trip. Especially in Vegas where you may have had a extra large drink at Fat Tuesday’s.
U r a fb friend of a friend and I am goin to Vegas. She insisted I read ur blog. I wasn’t gona do it but I’m so glad I did! We r gona be ‘eatin good in Vegas this time ’round! Thanks! I’ll be back!
Tamika,
Thank you for taking some time to read my blog! If you ever have any travel related quested please feel free to post a comment and I will do my best to answer it.
P.s. Who the hell knew that restaurant.com would work in vegas? I’m sure I’ve checked b4 and it was there yet!
Jacob, Misael,
As always our time together in Vegas was priceless. We enjoyed the strip, some gambeling at the Cosmopolitan, some dinner at the Pizzeria, a Fat Tuesday or 3, a jacuzzi celebration and toasted just before hearing Daphne’s story about the Periplaneta americana’s. Talk about laughing ourselves to sleep. Lol, Yes I learned the hard way that driving down Las Blvd when your in a hurry, is a bad idea. I have to say, the view from your seductive yet stylish room at the Vdara was amazing. I’m still in awe when I think about the cost of your stay. Talk about “access to an intimate boutique experience and an escape to an ensemble of some of the finest amenities.” The savings alone is what I’d call a five star vacation at a two star price!! I’m still speechless. With your travel Blog, we can stay connected, journey to an unknown place recommended by you and others who love to travel. Traveling and vacationing is about creating unforgettable experiences but you sharing the experiences in your travel blog, is priceless. I look forward to taking part in some of your getaways and learning how you and the others not only vacation, but save in the process. Congrats to the launch of your new travel blog!! Always, Lance
i can’t help but think that you copied this from some travelogue because well, it doesn’t sound like you at all! honestly, why don’t you get a job from the national geographic society. they always send ppl to places and i bet they are willing to send you to places like sierra leone. that place is of great luxury for someone like you. you love diamonds, right?
Impressive. How lucky am I to have direct access to the new update “web present” Rand McNally!
Thank you for introducing me to restaurant.com. After reading your blog I visited the website to inquire about such deals. Luckily, the website was offering 80% off gift certificates. I am visiting Las Vegas this Labor Day weekend and will be staying at THEhotel @ Mandalay Bay and thought it would be advantageous.
I bought a $50.00 certificate for Mix restaurant for only $4.00 that will be used, happily. I noticed that they offered certificates for a number of restaurants in the Mandalay Bay resort. I then proceeded and purchased a few more totaling $8.00 with a face value of $100.00.
I would just recommend to read the requirements of the certificate before purchasing. Some prohibit using them on Holidays and require a minimum number of entrees, etc.
Overall your blog is on the right path in providing tips on how to save money whether it’s a weekend getaway or an evening dinner in your own town.
And GREAT price on your hotel I may try priceline. Im going in the end of january.
Vdara’s Winter Offer 2011
Now through March 31, 2012 and enjoy:
• Rates from $109
• 2-for-1 Cocktails at Bar Vdara (limit 2 rounds)
• $20 Credit for Market Cafe or In-Suite Dining
• $30 per night Upgrade to City Corner Suite
For assistance please contact room reservations at 866.359.7757 and mention offer code VRWNTR2P.
Promotion Runs
November 8, 2011 – March 31, 2012
Offer Expires
January 31, 2012
https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?pid=938&host=offer&code=VRWNTR2G&kbid=3007663&sub=lvdd-VRWNTR2G-vda
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Interesting article and one which should be more widely known about in my view. Your level of detail is good and the clarity of writing is excellent. I have bookmarked it for you so that others will be able to see what you have to say
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