Hello everyone,

the situation is this, i am a student on a budget http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif and I am planning to go to Vegas from 12/23 to 12/27. I have narrowed down my choices to 3 scenarios.

1. stay at strastophere for $153 total including tax, rent a car for $180 total including tax and the stupid underage fee of $10 per day.

2. stay at imperial palace for $170 total, rent a car for 2 days for $85 total.

3. stay at flamingo hilton for $225 total


I never really walked in vegas before, i know the cabs are really expensive and the wait time can be long. a rental car, on the other hand, will always be there for you, plus addition tips for valet service. but i can switch between downtown and the Strip anytime i want.

so any opinions? thanks

I personally would look for packages like from expedia or something similar. I found some great deals. As for renting a car, DON'T unless you want to leave the strip quite a bit.

I have really never had trouble waiting for cabs and it really hasn't been that expensive. Also, the wait for a cab for me has typically been 5 minutes. $10 to Fremont street from the strip including tip. If you want to go see Hoover Dam, go on a tour or rent a car for a day, but I have never rented a car on any of my trips and find I don't miss it.

well guess what, i checked Imperial's Palace homepage and they had a special for winter. It's $20 a day plus $3 per day energy charge for a total of $25.07 a night which I already booked http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

so that settles my hotel

and i cannot book a package because i am using southwest's free award travel

Excellent hotel package, indo79. My congratulations!

When deciding whether to rent a car, you may want to consider that there is a city bus that goes up and down Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip), running between the south end of the strip and downtown. It's the 301 and it runs very frequently. Last time I rode the 301 the fare was $2.00. As I recall, the Imperial Palace is a block or so away from Las Vegas Boulevard, not a tough walk.

BBReBozo

thanks,

i will look into that.

Most likely i will not rent a car since the IP is pretty close to everything. I got great help from www.cheapovegas.com (http://www.cheapovegas.com) and www.lvol.com (http://www.lvol.com)

anyone interested in going to vegas should really look into this hotel deal!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BBRebozo:
As I recall, the Imperial Palace is a block or so away from Las Vegas Boulevard, not a tough walk.
</font>

Correction, the Imperial Palace is actually on the strip/Las Vegas Blvd.

You're right! I was thinking of Maxim's.

If you are going to rent a car, consider renting from an off-airport location to save quite a bit on taxes. Avis has a location in the Aladdin, not too far from IP.

Have a great time!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BBRebozo:
You're right! I was thinking of Maxim's.</font>

Maxim has gone out of business.

Well, if I could rent from Avis, I am only 22 and they slap me with all these underage fee...so if I rent away from the airport, i do not pay taxes?

I know the breakdown of the taxes is 7.25%, 6% and 9% although I do not know what they are for

I also recommend the Cheapovegas site. Best deals I have found have been through hotel websites. I was seraching the other night and found some great deals mid-December:

Las Vegas Club (Downtown) $15 - $25
Harrahs - $45
Flamingo $45-55
Barbary Coast $39 (great location, next to Flamingo)

The IP casino is a dump, and I have heard the same about the rooms. I have heard good things about the Barbary Coast, and you can't beat it's location.

Note these were all Mon-Thurs stays.

Tom

I believe you only get stuck for the 7.25% sales tax if you rent off-airport. At the airport you get to pay all three.

The extra airport tax is a concession recovery fee of about 5-15$ which you won't have to pay if you rent away from the airport.

there is a thread under travel buzz about the imperial palace--not very flattering. I have stayed at the flamingo a few times. it is very convenient to the action & rooms are decent---ask for one with a view. i think it's a little nicer that barbary coast which is right next door. sahara has great rates but it is out of the way. if you don't mind walking or taking the bus to the center strip, this is your best bet. Driving in vegas is a royal pain in the ... & you'll probably have to pay for parking at the hotel.
check out www.cheapovegas.com (http://www.cheapovegas.com)
it will answer all your questions!

I have been at some stage of the game to just about every casino in Vegas NOT ONE
charges for parking unless you use valet and even then "your charge" is the tip to valet.

Driving in Vegas is not that bad providing you stay off Las Vegas Blvd, get a map for example say the MGM Grand to Venetian it is much easier to enter the parking from the rear (which provides the delivery access to the properties) and very often drving is much easier than walking from say Mandalay to Bellagio.
One final thing rental cars rates in Vegas is probably the lowest in the country my last trip Nov 9-13th, 4 days National Emerald isle = $73.00 (not the cheapest by any stretch) if you need to worry about other incidental charges, taxes etc then you should NOT be gambling.
Mike

I would recommend a rental car. When my friends and I were there during spring break, we found it necessary to have a rental car to get around. Some of those walks can be pretty long on the strip, plus you want to have the freedom to drive around. We rented from Dollar and it was a 5.00 dollar surcharge for under 25. By the time you figure in all of your cab fare plus tip, you will be better off with a car.

You might also want to have a look at:

www.VegasWatch.com (http://www.VegasWatch.com)

Their forums and comments may be helpful for your trip.

Good Luck, and WIN!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

bj-21.

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'Tis better to have played and won, then never to have played at all.

Jeff