bluwater

I'm headed to Las Vegas the weekend before Easter with my 17 year old who is visiting a college in Arizona. Due to ease of arrival from the East Coast, it was easier to fly into Vegas than say TUS or PHX....and we decided to make a week of it and see Arizona.

The plan is to arrive at LAS on Friday night and stay 2 nights in Vegas just for the fun of it...then drive into Arizona on Sunday.

The hotels in Vegas are incredibly expensive that weekend. Right now I am considering staying at SLS, but the reviews aren't great. I have enough Hilton points to use the pay+points plan for $100 per night +24k points per. I know about the resort fee, which doesnt make me happy since we wont been there long enough to use much of the resort. We won't be gambling so I don't need a hotel casino. We'll do some shopping and experience the hotels on Saturday. Should I stay with SLS or maybe go further out and consider non-strip-area properties? I'd like to stay under $150/nt. Thanks!

Travel K

I toured the SLS just before they opened and really loved the decor. It is fun and whimsical and I think a 17 year old would like it. Plus, it is on the monorail, so you can hop on it to go further south on the strip if you decide to check out some of the other sights on the strip. I haven't stayed at it since it opened, but have had clients stay there with no issues.

I have stayed off site and traveled to the strip and it can be a pain. For instance, I decided to park at Cesaers to go to the buffet and it took 45 minutes to find a parking spot. This was a Saturday in November (a couple years ago). Spring break weekend - it could be nuts trying to drive around.

I think for the ease of things, stay with the SLS.

kettle1

Wow. Terrible timing. First off, weekends in LAS are usually double or triple the price of a weeknight (with no major conventions in town). I am seeing 2* Palace Station (off the strip) pricing at $110+ that weekend (per night + resort fees). It should be around $50 weekend/$25 midweek. Something must be going on that weekend. I am out of town, so I can not check. Crazy pricing. Since you are headed to Arizona, you may want to stay in Laughlin, NV for around $60 per night that weekend (avoid The Pioneer).

Just a guess? Is the College you are looking at GCU? (Grand Canyon State Univ). If it is ASU - that is the #1 ranked party school in the USA!

Good luck and happy travels.

ibdsux

March Madness is likely the culprit. I'd go with the SLS, or look for a non gaming property off strip. You also could consider Priceline.

kettle1

I agree it is March Madness and Spring Break going on at that time. Hotel rates are crazy that weekend. I see no major conventions, concerts, UFC or Boxing that weekend (I may have missed something, as I am out of town). I take it the OP has a rental car? If so you have a few options and price is a concern. Like I said up-thread, even a 2* such as Palace Station is going well over $110 per night (plus taxes and resort fees).

ibdsuz is correct with Priceline, but be careful with Priceline. I would start with a $100 bid for a 5* hotel "ON" the strip (which Priceline includes Trump). You may get the Trump International (nice hotel with no casino, not actually "on" the strip, but if you have a car, no problem). I would not bid more than $130 for a 5* on that weekend (you will not get the Bellagio, Wynn, Venetian, Four Seasons, etc). Almost all rooms at the Trump are filled with Priceline bids. It is a very nice hotel (not a true 5*).

Priceline can be your friend over this weekend, but remember you will have taxes, service fees and resort fees added. You could try to combine the rental car and hotel for additional savings (airfare as well). Other websites do the samething.

Do not bid over $70 for a 4* hotel in Las Vegas on that weekend. Never bid below 4*, ever, if you do not want to be placed in Circus-Circus, or similar (2* locations)! Priceline has a funny way of overvaluing properties. 5* = 4*, etc. But, Priceline works on weekends like this.

Since you are traveling with a 17 year old, I would skip LAS and head to Laughlin or somewhere prices are lower on this weekend. Even Motel 6 is very, very high this weekend.

Safe and happy travels. Good luck OP!

Jimgotkp

See if there are able BRG-able rates at the V/P. Had luck with one last weekend.

bluwater

Thanks everyone. So far, we have stuck with the SLS reservation. I agree about the monorail. Hotels in Arizona are equally as outrageous for the week. I would guess I'm spending $1k above normal rates for the week, based on research.

Visiting UA.

Trip looks like LAS - Sedona - Scottsdale - TUS....fly out.

Even the rental cars are ridiculous.

appreciate all of the good advice!

RyanNYNJ

Make sure you check rental car prices everyday...even the morning of. Last time I was in LV I had a mon - Fri rental for $68. Checked morning of and prepaid $55 with avis. Was over $100 just a few days before my trip on avis.

kettle1

I usually do not recommend Priceline, but this weekend (March 27-29) in LAS, Priceline could work very well. I am seeing 2* hotels for $45, 3* for $77 before bidding. I would bid $70 for a 4*.

Rental cars picking up and dropping off in LAS for a week are around $30 per day midsize. Priceline is very good with rental cars, and they only use major brands (Hertz, Avis, National, etc).

All of this is before taxes/fees/resort fees.

Like I said above, Laughlin, NV could work. It is on the way to AZ and rooms March 27-29 are $45 at the Colorado Belle and $77 at the Aquarius (former Hilton with NO resort fees). The Aquarius is nice.

You could also stay Downtown Las Vegas at the Fremont for $107 with no resort fee. It is rated a 3* and the food Downtown is very low priced and good.

I would personally do Priceline on this weekend for the room and car and see if you can combine them and LOWBALL the bid.

I am guessing you are picking the car up in LAS and dropping in LAS? If not there could be a large drop off fee if picking up in LAS and dropping in PHX or TUS.

Please PM me if you have any questions.

Have a great trip to LAS and Arizona. The weather is great. It is 6PM and 79 degrees right now.

Safe and happy travels!

TacaCopaFlyer

The week before Easter Sunday is Holy week throughout Latin America, with the Thursday and Friday actually being more special than Easter Sunday. It is very common for people to take the entire week off, and Las Vegas and the US Southwest are popular destinations during this time.

If you check on some of the concerts that week in Vegas, you will see a Latin influence.

What University? UA, ASU, or NAU?

kettle1

OP: How was the trip? Trip report please.