Vegas General Help (Flights, hotels, food, shows, etc)

[gunsfanoldie]

Apologies if there is already another thread about this. Maybe this becomes a sticky to help people with traveling, or Mods feel free to delete it if it doesn't seem useful.

Doing some preliminary searches for flights and hotels in Vegas. I'm not familiar with the area at all, so if anyone was that would be a MAJOR help. I'm sure I can't be the only one thinking that.

I don't fly much so does anyone know the cheapest or easiest site to purchase plane tickets? Off the top of my head I think of Expedia, but I don't have much knowledge on either since I rarely use them. Maybe someone goes to Vegas a lot and knows a preferred flight, or flies a lot in general and knows the best site for details.

Furthermore, although a bit less important, I'm looking for the best place to stay in Vegas. I'm from Jersey, so I've been to Atlantic City. In my mind, its laid out pretty similar, with everything rather close together. Maybe I'm dead wrong. My preference is something close to the arena within walking distance, but obviously I don't know whats out there. Maybe the best website to look up that info, or just hotel recommendations in Vegas for people that have been there.

Penny pinching as much as possible for this trip, so just trying to do all my homework. I figured others may need help with this as well, or maybe some people here just have great advice in this area. I assume I should start buying now before prices go up, but again any and all help is welcome and greatly appreciated!

[ZoSoRose]

Coming from MI

Never been to Vegas

HALP

[slash23579]

The last time I stayed in Vegas I stayed at Hooters. Affordable, great food, and within walking distance to the Arena

[darknightfan]

When I read the title I thought this was going to be a gofundme thing. lol

[Estranged1]

Check all the travel sites as well as the airlines individual sites....also- stay on the strip (you'll have a blast). There are a ton of places...I always stay at MGM. MGM is across the street from venue and has kick ass pools.

[Axl_morris]

Use Skyscanner for flights. very useful.

[Rileyiggy]

Use Skyscanner for flights. very useful.

Seconding Skyscanner. I think it's the best site/app for finding the cheapest flights.

[gunsfanoldie]

When I read the title I thought this was going to be a gofundme thing. lol

Lol I tried to make it as clear as possible! I thought without the question mark people would click on it hoping for info only to find me looking for tips lol.

Thanks so far for the help. Will definitely check Skyscanner, but really interested to see what other examples keep coming up. Could be really useful for everyone.

[dalsh327]

What airport would you be flying out of and how much are you budgeting for (not counting GNR tix)? Gas is cheap enough to do a road trip from just about anywhere but that can change in a few months.

Vegas and AC are very different.

Edited January 20, 2016 by dalsh327

[gunsfanoldie]

What airport would you be flying out of and how much are you budgeting for (not counting GNR tix)? Gas is cheap enough to do a road trip from just about anywhere but that can change in a few months.

Vegas and AC are very different.

I just meant the layout of both. I assumed everything was close, but again maybe I'm way wrong. I was hoping even the cheapest hotel is still relatively close to the arena.

I'm either flying out of New Jersey (Newark airport) or Baltimore (BWI). Whichever ends up being cheaper. My friend is leaving from Baltimore, so if its cheaper that way I'll just drive down and fly out with him. But if its cheaper to fly from where I live I'll just do that.

No real set budget. At this point its whatever it costs, it costs, which is looking like $300 round trip. In all honesty, I would drive out, but in the end with gas and staying in cheap motels the difference in price probably won't be THAT much. I'd rather pay the extra $50 roundtrip (if its even cheaper to drive) and save myself from the hassle. I feel it'd be a fortune to park in Vegas anyway. But again, I don't actually know anything. I'm just going by what I'm assuming, but really all options are on the table.

Realistically, my goal is to fly round trip less than $300, but that seems impossible. Right now I've spent a little over $500 on tickets. I'm trying to do the whole trip in under $1000, if I'm lucky under $800.

[Subtle Signs]

My flight to California for Coachella, round-trip from Buffalo is about $330. For Vegas,flights are coming up around $630. That seems like a lot. I've sold my weekend one Coachella tickets and may sell weekend two if I score tickets Saturday and can find a decent flight out.

[oachs83]

New York New York and Monte Carlo casino hotels are going to be your closest and also one of the more reasonable priced rooms for the show. The Monte Carlo is basically next door to Tmobile arena and New York New York is basically a parking lot away. Friday and Saturday nights are your most expensive nights always in Vegas. A room that goes for $54 on Wednesday will be $200 on Friday. I was able to get a room for Friday night at the Monte Carlo for $187 not including resort fees. That will imo be your best bet as far as price and location. Don't be fooled by wanting to stay at the Hard Rock it is a great place but many see their gift shop on the map which is on the strip and sometimes think it's also the hotel. It is not the hotel is pretty far from Tmobile arena. The Monte Carlo also has a free tram that runs from Monte Carlo to Aria to Bellagio. It is a HUGE help when you don't want to walk. Seriously it has to be one of the biggest optical illusions in Vegas when you look down the strip. You look down and go "Oh Caesar's Palace is only two block away". Then you start walking and a block takes you about 15 minutes to walk so the tram is awesome. As of last night New York hotel and Monte Carlo are priced around $200 for Friday or Saturday but they will not last long. The rooms are not anything special like Aria but seriously we are all going to be at that killer concert who cares what the room looks like when we will be out partying all F'n day. GnFn'R!!!

[RussTCB]

Coming from MI

Never been to Vegas

HALP

Southwest is your best bet to Vegas from Detroit. Make sure to select the Wanna Get Away rates which are always the cheapest. You get 2 bags for free along with a carry on. It's hands down the best deal to Vegas from Detroit.

Oh.... And as always, I personally recommend staying off the strip, somewhere on Paradise Blvd. It's way, way cheaper and you can taxi or Uber to and from the show for cheap.

[ZoSoRose]

Coming from MI

Never been to Vegas

HALP

Southwest is your best bet to Vegas from Detroit. Make sure to select the Wanna Get Away rates which are always the cheapest. You get 2 bags for free along with a carry on. It's hands down the best deal to Vegas from Detroit.

Oh.... And as always, I personally recommend staying off the strip, somewhere on Paradise Blvd. It's way, way cheaper and you can taxi or Uber to and from the show for cheap.

Thanks Russ

[IncitingChaos]

The Tropicana looks cheap, so if your staying just one night it's only $127 right now.

[RussTCB]

One word of caution for first time or infrequent Vegas visitors:

Make sure you're looking at what the "Resort Fees" are for each hotel!!

This is something that started 3 or 4 years ago and now pretty much every hotel does it. They're going to take a fee (sometimes as low as $15, sometimes as high as $60!) on for each day you're there which is charged at check out. So say, for example, you book through their site or a travel website and you get a killer deal. You're still going to pay the Resort Fee upon check out. Even if you get a free or several free nights at any of the hotels, you'll still have to pay the Resort Fee for each day.

This can and has thrown a wrench into a lot of people's budgets so I thought I'd mention it so everyone remembers to look into while setting their travel budgets.

[Estranged1]

One word of caution for first time or infrequent Vegas visitors:

Make sure you're looking at what the "Resort Fees" are for each hotel!!

This is something that started 3 or 4 years ago and now pretty much every hotel does it. They're going to take a fee (sometimes as low as $15, sometimes as high as $60!) on for each day you're there which is charged at check out. So say, for example, you book through their site or a travel website and you get a killer deal. You're still going to pay the Resort Fee upon check out. Even if you get a free or several free nights at any of the hotels, you'll still have to pay the Resort Fee for each day.

This can and has thrown a wrench into a lot of people's budgets so I thought I'd mention it so everyone remembers to look into while setting their travel budgets.

I hate the fucking resort fees. WTF. Seriously- just name the price of the damn room. But with that said I always bend over and take it (I love Vegas).

[RussTCB]

One word of caution for first time or infrequent Vegas visitors:

Make sure you're looking at what the "Resort Fees" are for each hotel!!

This is something that started 3 or 4 years ago and now pretty much every hotel does it. They're going to take a fee (sometimes as low as $15, sometimes as high as $60!) on for each day you're there which is charged at check out. So say, for example, you book through their site or a travel website and you get a killer deal. You're still going to pay the Resort Fee upon check out. Even if you get a free or several free nights at any of the hotels, you'll still have to pay the Resort Fee for each day.

This can and has thrown a wrench into a lot of people's budgets so I thought I'd mention it so everyone remembers to look into while setting their travel budgets.

I hate the fucking resort fees. WTF. Seriously- just name the price of the damn room. But with that said I always bend over and take it (I love Vegas).

Yep. I cannot understand why they don't just raise the rate of the rooms and call it a day.

I'm the same way though....I always just deal with it because I love the damn city. I'm going on vacation in May and I've got 4 nights comped at Mirage, but I still have to pay like $35 a day for the damn resort fees.

[oachs83]

Also if you are planning to stay there more than just the one night look at the hotel promos and sign ups. For example I am a part of Mlife that can be found at mlife.com. It is a MGM service that all MGM owned casinos (which is like over half of Vegas) gives you the card to throw in the slot machines etc. when you are gambling. It's all free and why not it's nothing but perks. If you gamble X amount they usually always waive the resort fees at checkout. You have to give them the card at the desk before they process the checkout. Also in conjunction with that is a game on Facebook called MyVegas Slots. You basically play virtual slots on your free time all year round but you can use your winning on the game for real items in Las Vegas from buffets, shows, and even free rooms. I have played the game for about 18 months and I booked April 6th and 7th at New York New York for Free. Both nights and I did not spend one dime just from playing the MyVegas game online. All this stuff is free to do and just helps out saving a few bucks here and there.

[Estranged1]

One word of caution for first time or infrequent Vegas visitors:

Make sure you're looking at what the "Resort Fees" are for each hotel!!

This is something that started 3 or 4 years ago and now pretty much every hotel does it. They're going to take a fee (sometimes as low as $15, sometimes as high as $60!) on for each day you're there which is charged at check out. So say, for example, you book through their site or a travel website and you get a killer deal. You're still going to pay the Resort Fee upon check out. Even if you get a free or several free nights at any of the hotels, you'll still have to pay the Resort Fee for each day.

This can and has thrown a wrench into a lot of people's budgets so I thought I'd mention it so everyone remembers to look into while setting their travel budgets.

I hate the fucking resort fees. WTF. Seriously- just name the price of the damn room. But with that said I always bend over and take it (I love Vegas).

Yep. I cannot understand why they don't just raise the rate of the rooms and call it a day.

I'm the same way though....I always just deal with it because I love the damn city. I'm going on vacation in May and I've got 4 nights comped at Mirage, but I still have to pay like $35 a day for the damn resort fees.

Sweet. I usually can get 1 or 2 nights of resort fees waived (on a 4 night stay) with the right kind of bitchng.

[oachs83]

I always hear how Vegas use to be so cheap to stay and eat but that is not the case anymore. I feel it still can be cheap to stay and eat if you just find your way around things and do the extra leg work to make it cheap. Vegas realized that there is so much brass running around that town that so many people don't even bat an eye at the extra jabs and prices they now throw at you. If you speak up, look for deals online or join the casinos "rewards" programs you can typically get a lot of it waived or reduced. Rich people ruined Vegas HAHA

[Carne_asaDA]

Isn't there a mygnrforum member or two that lives in Vegas? Let motherfuckers crash at your place. Charge 40-50 bucks a head. Lol

[Estranged1]

Also if you are planning to stay there more than just the one night look at the hotel promos and sign ups. For example I am a part of Mlife that can be found at mlife.com. It is a MGM service that all MGM owned casinos (which is like over half of Vegas) gives you the card to throw in the slot machines etc. when you are gambling. It's all free and why not it's nothing but perks. If you gamble X amount they usually always waive the resort fees at checkout. You have to give them the card at the desk before they process the checkout. Also in conjunction with that is a game on Facebook called MyVegas Slots. You basically play virtual slots on your free time all year round but you can use your winning on the game for real items in Las Vegas from buffets, shows, and even free rooms. I have played the game for about 18 months and I booked April 6th and 7th at New York New York for Free. Both nights and I did not spend one dime just from playing the MyVegas game online. All this stuff is free to do and just helps out saving a few bucks here and there.

Yep. I booked MGM the 7-10. $45 bucks for Thurs and then $200 Fri/Sat.

[oachs83]

Side note: Just from my experience and many I have talked to as far as things to do if you are staying a couple nights. First off go see the show Rock of Ages. It is so badass, I loved every minute of it. Talented musicians killer sound system great story that is funny and good acting. For those that love the television shows beware when it comes to Pawn Stars. Absolutely a huge waste of time, way to long of standing in line to see their hut of a store and unless you are one of a million you will not see any of the guys that are on tv. Instead all you will realize is you waited in line to buy pawn star memorabilia. Alternative go check out Count's Custom's as it's a great display of some of the vehicles they did on tv. If you get hungry check out Danny's restaurant Vamp'd. It's a few miles off the strip but the food isn't half bad and the beer is priced reasonable. The Hash house next to Vamp'd is also very good place to grab some breakfast.

[DizzyReed63]

All the advice in here is spot on. My personal pref - I'll be staying at the Luxor or Tropicana. They are both kind of old, but very affordable and walk-able to the venue. If you really want to go old school and cheap, do the Excalibur! Treasure Island is usually affordable, too. Also - got married at the Luxor, so hoping for a "welcome back buddy!" discount :-)