Las Vegas 2007 bargain hunt + tips

timster123

Hi, i really want to make the effort to visit Vegas whilst 'The World Series Of Poker' events are going on (they run from 1st June through to July)
I really need some advice about travel arrangements though.
I'd obviously like to fly out as cheaply as possibly, i had a look at Virgin Atlantic's website and i typed in roughly the dates i'd want to go (end of june/beginning of July time) and i was a bit shocked at the price of £620 per person for a return flight. that seems a bit over the odds for just a flight nowadays, i've been on package holidays cheaper than that.
Is it just the time of year that makes it so expensive?
Does anyone know of any good package deals or just flights departing from London airports in June/July?
Finally, do you think it's wise to book hotels before you leave? Or find the best deals when you're there?
That reminds me, any recommendation's for hotels for the poker player on a budget? (if you mention that fact do you get 'comps' or a special room rate?)
Lastly, i heard it was 100 Fahrenheit everyday, does that just make it unbearably hot all the time? Or is everything air conditioned to death?

stoneman

Hi Timster. Just try other airlines. You will have to stop over somewhere, but thats no big thing. Chance to stretch your legs. As for stying on a budget, if you are watching the WSOP (which I think is now at Rio, not Horseshoe) try some of the hotels Downtown, and not on the Strip, where prices are now getting silly.
As for the weather, you will be lucky if it's only 100 degrees!!! We are going next week, and it is already showing 90 at 1AM. I was there last July and it was 110-115 most days. When you walk outside you feel like someone is blowing you with a hairdryer, and your eyeballs burn!!! So just stay in the nice casinos and let the AC do its job:T
P.S.
UNDER NO SURCUMSTANCES LEAVE IT UNTIL YOU GET THERE TO BOOK!!!
Start having a look on https://www.travelaxe.com to compare hotel prices about 8 weeks before you go, when you find the one you like and can afford, go DIRECTLY to their website and see if its cheaper, usually is. Joy of going direct is that almost all hotels only charge 1 night to your card, and you can cancel up to 24 hours before without penalty

photome

timster123 wrote: »

Hi, i really want to make the effort to visit Vegas whilst 'The World Series Of Poker' events are going on (they run from 1st June through to July)
I really need some advice about travel arrangements though.
I'd obviously like to fly out as cheaply as possibly, i had a look at Virgin Atlantic's website and i typed in roughly the dates i'd want to go (end of june/beginning of July time) and i was a bit shocked at the price of £620 per person for a return flight. that seems a bit over the odds for just a flight nowadays, i've been on package holidays cheaper than that.
Is it just the time of year that makes it so expensive?
Does anyone know of any good package deals or just flights departing from London airports in June/July?
Finally, do you think it's wise to book hotels before you leave? Or find the best deals when you're there?
That reminds me, any recommendation's for hotels for the poker player on a budget? (if you mention that fact do you get 'comps' or a special room rate?)
Lastly, i heard it was 100 Fahrenheit everyday, does that just make it unbearably hot all the time? Or is everything air conditioned to death?

Are you talking June/July this year?

If so It may be to late to get really good deals on hotels as the best deals are usually 8 to 12 weeks before you go. Still check out the usual suspects though...lasvegastalk...fatwallet etc....mentioned loads of times in previous posts.

If you read through this thread you will find most of what you want to know and some.

If you mention you are a player on a budget it wont get you anywhere, you need to sign up for the players clubs abd get some points before you get a comp.

Flights with virgin are mostly full for that period now but you can get about £200 off your qoute by signing up for their flying club and buying 2000 miles per passenger.ie 4000 miles cost £75 but you would save £400.

Check out mytravel from manchester.

And yes it will be 100 Degrees plus another 20.

LIke stoneman said DO NOT LEAVE HOTEL BOOKING TILL YOU GET THERE.

ferf1223

re poker players and comps - I don't think comps for poker play work the same way as other table games and machines...I think some casinos offer $1/hour in comps or thereabouts...not sure if everyone offers something or how much it varies by casino to casino.

I know my boss gets rooms at a poker rate at Mirage, but that's based on years of play and I think he plays relatively high stakes...not sure how much in the way of comps would be available to the average poker player as they aren't playing against the house and the house's take of the pot is minimal compared to edge on other games.

my point is not to expect too much if you're limiting your gambling to poker.

trets77

That reminds me, any recommendation's for hotels for the poker player on a budget? (if you mention that fact do you get 'comps' or a special room rate?)

let us know your budget

ferf is right you have to be a very big stakes long haul player to get comps worth a damm for poker. but join the players club of anywhere you play anyway as you will at least have the chance of taking advantage of players club only room offers if you plan on a 2nd vegas trip.

poker is the casino's least favorite game because they have no seat at the table, all they effectively do is rent out floor space for the players, in the form of rakes in ring games and fee's in Tourneys and Sit and Go's.that and the possibilty of attracting a few poker players to drift around to gaming tables / slots before and after they play. unfortunatly for the casinos poker is now such a big craze that they cannot afford to ignore or excluded the players wants.

this prev posted site will give you everything you need to know as regards poker in Vegas.it also has a very busy forum for posting specific questions

https://www.allvegaspoker.com

it also has a full up to date tourney listings with buy ins and start times.print it off to take with you

http://www.allvegaspoker.com/tournaments.php

i advise you try to buy in early for MTT's as i found it next to impossible to get into a tourney at MANDALAY BAY even showing up over a hour before seating :mad: . also long waits at MGM GRAND for sit and go's.

i take it you already play live poker in your local casino and are not going to be a fresh off the net player when you arrive. if you have never played live poker a few games here will help you get up to speed in table etiquette. string bets and talking about folded hands while play is in progress ect. also Sunglasses scream fish even in Vegas

as has already been stressed you must book accomadation before you leave other wise you probably end up paying rack rate for rooms which is pretty much the Maximum you can pay !!, that and you must have your first nights accomidation booked for the Visa waiver anyway.

keep your eye on https://www.mytravel.com flights and BMI out of manchester and try to avoid school holidays and be able to fly mid week for the best chance of getting a cheap flight . if you are determined to go from London you will have to have connections or pay Virgins prices i,m afraid. http://www.airline-network.co.uk/specialOffersGatewayWeb/Gateway.aspx?DESTAREA=NUS&DESTCOUNTRY=USA&DESTCITY=LAS&OFFERID=7fa1b4ad-1c3c-487b-8c97-1be5ebfb4936 for offers ( very little showing for July i,m afraid !!!). don,t discount https://www.maxjet.com in your searches either as £300 one way flights have come up before !!

Or is everything air conditioned to death?

it sure is , and you will be mightly glad of it if you are going in July. it's a desert out there you know

happychuck

trets77 wrote: »

MY TRAVEL

flying in

tomorrow (9/5/07) £159 (was £236 2 weeks ago , £161 last week)

1 week (16/5/07) £179 (was £368 on 17/4/07 £175 last week)

2 weeks (23/5/07) £236 ( was £315 on 24/4/07 )

1 month (5/6/07) £280

6 months (7/11/07) £500

Congrats BTW to all thoose who have booked up :beer:

Wow they are amazing prices for direct to Vegas. It makes my booking with Virgin look expensive. I originally booked a "miles plus money" flight for next Dec for £280 but I had to change it. I have now paid £50 to change it to Oct plus an additional £100 making a new total of £430. I keep thinking how many buffets I could have bought with the extra money. Still I am glad I was able to make the change as they will not allow it on some flights. I would be dead chuffed to go for £159 but could never leave it that late. The trip to and from Manchester would be a bit grim but I would do it for that price. I hope loads of our people manage to get on these bargains.

photome

Woooohhh Hooooh

Just booked my next trip...well flight anyway March 08 .. £290 plus 2000 miles

trets77

congrats photome :beer: :beer:

i take it Virgin out of Gatwick ?

photome

trets77 wrote: »

congrats photome :beer: :beer:

i take it Virgin out of Gatwick ?

Yes it is.....only 10 months to go !!!!

tashawasha

photome wrote: »

Woooohhh Hooooh

Just booked my next trip...well flight anyway March 08 .. £290 plus 2000 miles

Hi photome. This is my first post so hope I am doing it correctly.
My friend has already booked with Virgin to get married in Vegas next March staying at the Bellagio. My OH and I have been invited to attend but Virgin Holidays is showing £1000 per person for 1 week at Circus Circus. This is way over our budget and we would prefer to stay more in the middle of the strip. Date is 14th March 1 week.
Can you tell me how you managed to get your flight so cheaply and how do we go about signing up for Virgin miles.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks Tasha